ESCOLA SECUNDÁRIA DE ALCOCHETE

English 12th Form

Writing Skills – Writing a speech

TECHNIQUES FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING

BE AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKER
Believe in yourself and be positive
Make the audience feel wanted and appreciated
PRESENTATION
Be sincere
Stand with a relaxed and confident manner
Don’t rush through your speech; pace yourself ; articulate and
project yourself
Use facial and vocal expression
Avoid ‘urs’ and ‘ums’
Pay attention to volume; pitch; pace; pause and infliction.
AUDIENCE CONTACT
Create a rapport (friendly relationship)
Use eye contact; body language and gestures
KEY/ CUE CARDS
It’s public speaking NOT public reading
Make sure to only use key words; this will help you avoid reading
your speech
Number your cue cards
THE SPEECH Hold your cue cards at a comfortable level
Referring to your notes must be natural and remember if you
CHOICE OF TOPIC look down your voice goes down.
a. Decide on your purpose; are you
trying to persuade, inform or entertain?
b. Be original and fresh
c. Choose a topic that you can
communicate to the audience
d. You can only keep the audience’s
attention if you are Interested and
knowledgeable
e. Be sincere and sensitive Balance your opinions with
PREPARATION OF SPEECH facts, data and statistics.
Plan; structure; edit and re-edit
Brainstorm, plan and research
Avoid regurgitating from other sources
CONSTRUCTION OF SPEECH
Your introduction must grab the audience
i. Try using a A good speech
Remember to
quotation/anecdote/ rhetorical question/ takes time and
contentious (arguable) statement greet your
thought!
The body should be logical audience!
i. Use fact; opinions and
quotations
ii. Don’t humiliate or insult but
use humour when appropriate.
c. The conclusion is when you restate
your main points and summarize them. Always
end on a positive note with a rousing
(energetic, enthusiastic) effect.
PRACTISING YOUR SPEECH
If you practise your speech will be good.
Use a mirror or tape yourself and study it.

Teacher: Antónia Furtado