1. Seven Essential Steps to…
PREPARING A SPEEECH

2. Step One: Analyze Audience and Occasion
To WHOM are you speaking?
Number?
Age?
Interests?
Previous knowledge on your topic?
WHERE/WHEN are you speaking?
Room size and arrangement?
Time of day?
Reason for gathering?

3. Step Two: Determine Your Purpose
There are Five Basic Speech Purposes:
To Inform
To Persuade
To Convince
To Impress
To Actuate
To Entertain
Often, a speech has MORE THAN ONE purpose. For instance, you may want to both inform and entertain your audience. Although, there should be a primary purpose.

4. To Inform
The goal of a speech to inform is that your AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS THE INFORMATION.
Examples: lectures, seminars
Keys will be:
Structure and organization
Supporting information
Clear preview and review

5. To Impress
The goal of a speech to convince is that your AUDIENCE STRENGTHENS AN ALREADY HELD BELIEF.
Examples: Pep rallies, sermons
Additional Keys will be:
Passionate delivery
Emotional appeals
Style strategies

6. To Convince
The goal of a speech to convince is that your AUDIENCE ADOPTS YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
Examples: sales presentations, political speeches
Additional Keys will be:
Audience adaptation
Persuasive appeals

7. To Actuate
The goal of a speech to convince is that your AUDIENCE TAKES ACTION.
Examples: political rallies, fundraising appeals, infommercials
Additional Keys will be:
Persuasive appeals
Adaptation strategies

8. To Entertain
The goal of a speech to convince is that your AUDIENCE ENJOYS your speech.
Examples: toasts, roasts, “after-dinner speaking”
Additional Keys will be:
Conversational delivery
Audience adaptation

9. Step Three: Select and Narrow your TOPIC
Is the topic suitable for ME as a speaker?
Am I interested enough in the topic?
Can I get my audience interested?
Do I know enough about this topic?
Do I know where to find more information?

10. Step Three: Select and Narrow your TOPIC
Is the topic suitable for
my AUDIENCE?
Will my audience be interested in this topic?
Is my audience capable of understanding this topic?
How much background information will they need?
Do I have enough time to give them the necessary background info?

11. Step Three: Select and Narrow your TOPIC
Is the topic suitable for this OCCASION or ASSIGNMENT?
Does the occasion demand a serious or light topic?
What is my audience expecting of me?
Will this topic allow me to demonstrate the goals of this assignment?

12. Step Three: Select and Narrow your TOPIC
Is the topic suitable for the amount of TIME available?
How much time have you been given?
Can you cover this topic in that amount of time?
Can you limit the topic to fit?

13. Step Four: Gather Supporting Material
Sources:
Yourself--what do you already know about this topic?
Other people--do you know any “experts” on this topic?
Research--library, databases, websites, etc.

14. Step Five: Organize Your Message
Chronologically
First, second, third…
By subtopics
Point A, point B, etc
Spatially
Area by area
Cause-Effect
Step A lead to Step B, etc.

15. Step Six: Put It On Paper
Make an Outline.
Transfer it to note cards (or to your final script).

16. Step Seven: PRACTICE OUT LOUD
Practice in a mirror.
Practice for a willing “trial audience”

18. Types of DELIVERY Impromptu Extemporaneous Manuscript Memorized
With little or no planning
Extemporaneous
Planned out, but not written out
Speaking from an outline
Manuscript
Read from a script
Memorized