How to write a speech Adopted and Compiled By: Portland 4-H Clubs, From Public Speaking For Dummies.

Learning how to write a speech is a daunting task. Where to start? The journey usually starts with a blank piece of paper and a few scattered ideas in your head. Here's my first tip: That blank sheet of paper is your worst enemy, and will continue to be so until you take the first tentative steps to write your speech. But wait! Don't start writing just yet. Writing a speech is like many things. There is no single right way to go about it but there are many ways to do it badly. My purpose in showing you how to write a speech is not to force you to use a system that may not work for you. Rather I will take you step by step through a system that has worked for many people I have taught how to write a speech. You should take it, learn from it, and shape it so that it works for you. With a little bit of work, a dash of perseverance and equal parts perspiration and inspiration, this course will guide you from blank page to standing ovation. Of course that takes us back to our friend, the blank page. The next part of this course, planning a speech will help you shape your thoughts prior to committing them to paper. Don't worry; this is a highly worthwhile and enjoyable part of learning how to write a speech.

Planning a speech
Like any earnest endeavor, there is only one place to start when planning a speech, and that's with a plan.

I know that's not what you wanted to read. It's only natural to want to dive head first into your first speechwriting endeavor. In your mind you can see the words Ladies and Gentlemen forming on your blank piece of paper, but I beg you to hold back. By taking the time to develop a great plan for you speech, your planning efforts, not to mention your patience, will reap the benefit tenfold. The purpose of planning a speech phase is to discover what you want to write, what you ought to write, and what you should omit from your completed speech. Don't be the best man who forgets to thanks the bridesmaids, the eulogist who omits their fondest memory of the deceased, or the speechmaker who is babbling on or worse, lost for words. Planning your speech well will also give you confidence every step on the way to your speech.

Public Speaking Occasion

This lesson will prepare a solid foundation for your speech and assist your confidence in your own public speaking abilities. It will also ensure that you avoid one of the most common mistakes when delivering a speech, the mistake of omission. The nature of the occasion will obviously have a great bearing on your speech. The occasion will dictate not only the content of your speech, but also the duration, the tone, and the expectations of your audience. For example, humor may be inappropriate during a business presentation or a eulogy, while it may be welcome during a wedding speech, or a sports event. You should also be aware of your role and any observances that you should make during your speech (For example, a Best Man ought to close his speech with a toast to the Bride and Groom). Digging deeper, The Occasion is fairly self-explanatory, or so we think. But you should never stand in front of a large group of people and make a speech based on assumptions. The very first thing we must get to know before speaking in public is the occasion itself.

Perhaps you think you know the occasion and are tempted to skip to the next chapter. It's a best man speech, what else is there to know? You may ask. Let's have a closer look. You've been asked to be the Best Man of a good friend who you know through work. You start thinking about the guy you know though the office, the joker, and the work-related social gatherings you've attended. You figure you've got some great material for your speech. But, you think smartly, it's time to find out if there is more to the occasion. Aspects to his life of which you are not aware. You contact the groom's sister and ask whether there is anything to consider. Yes, she tells you, their mother has a grave illness and will not be able to attend the wedding. Also, the groom's brother is serving overseas and also not be able to attend the wedding. Suddenly a simple best man speech has become something completely different. It is a bittersweet occasion due to the absence of close family. There is also serious illness in the family. You also realize that you have likely been asked to be best man due to the absence of a brother in patriotic duty overseas. You have an idea. You contact the groom's sister and ask if she thinks the family would object to you featuring a message, a recorded message, from the groom's absent brother as part of your best man speech. She loves the idea! The point being of course, that a speech is never just a speech. There is always an occasion, and labels such as wedding, retirement, eulogy do not constitute an occasion while marriage of childhood sweethearts, retirement of much loved lifelong company man whose grandson has just joined the firm and eulogy for first generation immigrant, mother of four and grandmother of eleven certainly are occasions. Knowing this distinction, and taking the time and care to do your research, set you on the road to a very special, memorable speech.

Public Speaking - The theme of your speech

At the heart of every speech is a message. Your job as a public speaker is to pass that message to your audience and in so doing, convey a theme, evoke an emotion or elicit a response be it emotional or otherwise. The first step is to identify the single most important idea, theme or message you want to convey in your speech. This message will likely be informed by the public speaking occasion you identified earlier. For example, if you identified the occasion as the retirement of much loved lifelong company man whose grandson has just joined the firm, some potential themes you identify may include:

Family (grandson & grandfather, also the company family) Continuity Gratitude Respect The future

Once you have identified 3-7 potential themes, it's time to decide which of theme will be the dominant one. Again, there is no right and wrong answer. It's your speech; pick the theme that resonates most with you. It's important to note that the themes not selected as your primary theme should still play a part in your speech. DO not discard them just yet.

People
Our lives revolve around people - the people we know and love, strangers we interact with, those who influence us. A speech is very similar. Most first-time speechwriters or novice public speakers spent much of their time focused on one group: the audience. Of course, the audience is not the only group of people you should consider when planning your speech. Let's look at the people whom you should consider when planning or making your speech.

The subject(s) of your speech

Most speeches are about a single person, a couple, or a group of people. (I will touch on speeches that are about subjects other people later). The Ancient Greeks carved the words Gnothi Seauton, meaning "Know Thyself", on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. If the Temple of Speechwriters existed, I am sure that the words "Know Thy Subject" would appear somewhere on it. At the outset of the speechwriting process, you are likely (but not always so) to have a familiarity with the subject of your speech be they a friend, relation, work colleague or even a celebrity. As such, you should try to organize what you know about your subject(s) on paper. My favorite way to collect my thoughts about the subject(s) is to use a piece of paper with helpful headings over blank paragraphs as an aid to your brainstorming. Samples of headings could be:

First impressions Fond memories Favorite Quotes Funny moments Features & Characteristics

The next part is fun. Take your time, and think about everything you can remember about the subject(s), in keyword form, under each heading. Time will pass quickly and before you know it, you will have a page that should summarize the subject perfectly and act as a terrific tool when writing your speech. Tip: Once you have delivered your speech, this brainstorming page (preferably framed) can act as a wonderful gift and touching memento for the subject(s) of your speech.

Associates of the Subject(s)

Associates of the subject(s) may include parents, siblings or other family members, friends or colleagues, and especially their

husband, wife or fianc. These people are extremely important as a source for additional information about the subject of your speech. They will likely know aspects of the subject(s) life that you don't know; this will surely enrich your speech. There are additional benefits in consulting the friends and family of the subject(s) as they will appreciate your decision to involve them in your speechwriting. You should also bear in mind that as they are certain to be in attendance at the event, you will already have won over some of the audience!

Other public speakers

It is very likely that you will be a co-speaker at the public speaking event. If this is indeed the case, you should consider contacting the other speakers before your speech. This will ensure that you are not duplicating content and that there is a nice flow of themes and/or contact from one speaker to another. It may also be an opportunity to share ideas and provide moral support to one another.

The audience
The audience, of course, is a critical part of delivering a speech. We will discuss the audience in detail under the topics writing a speech and How to deliver a speech. At this stage of planning, it is important to realize that your audience is not there to be lectured at. Your public speaking goal is to do one or more of the following:

Engage your audience Stimulate your audience Entertain your audience Pique your audience's interest Convey a message, theme or order

There are countless other ways and reasons to communicate with an audience. How many more can you think of for your speech event?

Non-human Speech Subjects

Of course, you may be asked to speak about things too, be it a product, a country, an argumentative thesis, and so on. Of course in those instances you should consult authoritative sources such as encyclopedias, college professors and local library resources, to name but a few. Note that even when the topic is non-human, a compelling story can often be told by focusing on the people involved - for example the inventors or engineers of a product, modern or historical figures of a country, or proponents or opponents of an argumentative thesis.

Writing a speech
Writing a speech can be a daunting task for many people. Perhaps you're worried about the quality of your writing skills, you're nervous about your public speaking inexperience or maybe you just don't know what to write. By setting out a few clear goals before you start writing your speech, you will be better equipped to judge its progress and success of your speech prior to its public airing. A hilarious Best Man speech may have your audience rolling in the aisles, but if you fail to give tribute to the Bride and Groom you will have failed in your role. By setting clear goals, you will be better positioned to judge the likely success of your speech. This section will show you how to write a speech, subsequent chapters will show you how to deliver that speech, and yes, conquer your public speaking nerves. At this stage you should have a great plan for your speech. That is to say: you have considered the occasion at which you will be speaking, potentially speaking to a selection of people who can help you write your speech. You have also thought about the potential themes of your speech and identified one primary theme with a small number of sub-themes. You have also given

thought to the people key to your speech including the subject(s) of the speech and those who know them, other speakers and the audience. This set of lessons will show you how to turn this collection of thoughts and ideas into a great speech. We will look at the structure of a speech and then return to the concept of key messages or themes of your speech. It will then be time to start writing your speech, first by creating outlines of the speech, then by moving onto drafts, before reaching the final version.

Speech Structure - How to organize your speech

Most good writing, we are told, must have structure. A good speech is no exception. By providing your speech with a beginning, a middle, and an end, you will lay the foundations for a successful speech that fulfills all of your aspirations.

Opening
The first thirty seconds of your speech are probably the most important. In that period of time you must grab the attention of the audience, and engage their interest in what you have to say in your speech. This can be achieved in several ways. For example you could raise a thought-provoking question, make an interesting or controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation or even recount a joke. Once you have won the attention of the audience, your speech should move seamlessly to the middle of your speech.

Body
The body of your speech will always be the largest part of your speech. At this point your audience will have been introduced to you and the subject of your speech (as set out in your opening) and will hopefully be ready to hear your arguments, your thoughts or even your ramblings on the subject of your speech.

The best way to set out the body of your speech is by formulating a series of points that you would like to raise. In the context of your speech, a "point" could be a statement about a product, a joke about the bridegroom or a fond memory of the subject of a eulogy. The points should be organized so that related points follow one another so that each point builds upon the previous one. This will also give your speech a more logical progression, and make the job of the listener a far easier one. Don't try to overwhelm your audience with countless points. It is better to make a small number of points well than to have too many points, none of which are made satisfactorily.

Closing
Like your Opening, the Closing of your speech must contain some of your strongest material. You should view the closing of your speech as an opportunity. It is an opportunity to: Summarize the main points of your speech Provide some further food for thought for your listeners Leave your audience with positive memories of your speech End with a final thought/emotion (e.g. with well wishes to the Bride and Groom, with fond memories of a departed friend, with admiration for winners and losers at an awards ceremony).

Create a speech outline

Outlining is a popular pre-draft technique when writing and it is one I commonly recommend to aspiring speechwriters. An outline is a hierarchical representation of the content of your speech. Think of it as the skeleton upon which you will add the flesh of your speech. Let's take a Best Man Speech as an example. Start your outline at its very simplest:

Opening

Body Closing

That was easy. It gets a little trickier though. The next step is try to flesh out some additional points, using the notes you have about the occasion, the theme, the subject and other information you have gathered from people relevant to the speech (family, friends and colleagues of the subject of the speech, other speechmakers etc.).

Opening o Introduce myself Body o Pay tribute to key participants o Recount how I became friends with groom o Describe some of the groom's best traits - with humor o Words of advice to Groom from a married man Closing o Ask the audience to be upstanding o Raise a toast to the bride and groom

For the first time, a speech is taking shape! Your speech will take further shape as you take each element of your outline and, where appropriate, you add more additional outlines. Let's take the element Pay tribute to key participants above. The next level of outline might look like:

Pay tribute to key participants o Compliment & raise toast to the bride o Thank & compliment the bridesmaids o Pay tribute to parents of bride and groom

Continue to iterate through your outline until you feel you have captured the essence of your speech. Be sure not to mistake the outline for the speech itself. That's the next step. For now, be happy to achieve a great framework that will guide you as you write your speech.

Draft your speech

It is now time to add flesh to your outline and create a first draft of the speech. Before we start, note that a draft is just that, a first-cut at your speech. Your first draft of a speech should never, ever be the final draft. The outline we created in the last step will serve as the basis for our first draft. We take each element of the outline and apply our creative writing juices to turn that outline into a portion of a speech. There is no right or wrong way to move from outline to draft. Be yourself, use your own voice and remember, you can change anything and everything you write later. For now it's just important to establish that first draft. Let's take some examples from the outline in the last step. The conversion from outline to draft can be simple, exchanging an outline element for a speech sentence...

Outline:

Introduce myself

Speech draft
"As my perspiring brow and nervous demeanor might suggest, I am honored to introduce myself as the Best Man for today's wonderful occasion. I will not be speaking for long today because of a throat problem. John says he will cut it if I bring up any embarrassing stories about him." ... or more likely the process is less direct and more creative...

Outline:

Pay tribute to key participants o Compliment & raise toast to the bride o Thank & compliment the bridesmaids o Pay tribute to parents of bride and groom

Speech draft
"I know it is a clich but I would just like to comment on how stunning Sarah looks today, she is beautiful, John is a very lucky man. And without further ado I would like to raise a toast for Sarah. <Toast> "As is traditional in any wedding I would like to complement the Bridesmaids on their help with the wedding, particularly for managing to get Sarah to the church today. It's amazing what a pair of handcuffs can do. The Bridesmaids look beautiful, outdone only by our stunning bride. "I would like to pay special tribute to John and Sarah's parents. They have helped make this a very special day. Can I also say how beautiful both mom's look, they are simply divine." Once you have finished your first draft of the speech, it's time to take a rest. Put the speech down and forget about it for a day or two. First, you need a rest. But second, your critical eyes will function much better in the cold light of day. You will be amazed at how much your speech will improve when you go from first to second to third draft - but only if you leave time between each draft. There is no scientific way to know when you have reached your speech's final draft, but here is a good indication: If you find yourself broadly happy with the speech and find yourself making minor changes from draft to draft, it's time to stop.

Getting feedback on your speech

At this stage you have got the speech to a point where you are quite happy, possibly even very happy. That's great. The day for your public speaking debut is fast approaching. It's now time to do something that many people are loath to do. It's time to get some feedback on your speech. This is an invaluable step that will only enrich your speech and potentially save you from much controversial. It's much better to

learn of any problems with your speech now, than when you are delivering your speech on the podium at your public speaking event. Ideally you should seek feedback from 2-3 people, at least one of whom is not directly related to or attending the event - an impartial critic, if you like. Examples of feedback you should seek include:

Inappropriate content Error(s) of omission Grammatical problems Appropriate use of humor

On the topic of grammatical problems, I'm a strong advocate of natural language when it comes to writing non-formal (e.g. business, award ceremonies). In other words, if you're writing a best man speech, it's much preferable that the voice is yours, rather than perfect English. This familiarity will help your audience engage with you and put you at ease when delivering your speech.

Final version of your speech

Congratulations! You started this process with a blank piece of paper. You now have a final version of your speech. That's great! Even though we label this version of your speech the final version, there is still room to change. In particular, as you progress through the How to deliver a speech section of this course, you may find that a part of your speech that works on paper, doesn't do so when spoken aloud. That's absolutely fine. Without further ado, let's move on.

How to deliver a speech

It's time to commence your public speaking career and deliver a speech in public. You're probably nervous now, but that's okay. There is much preparation you can do that will put your mind at ease and make your public speaking event a comfortable, even enjoyable, day. You have already learnt how to write a speech. Hopefully you now have a speech with which you are happy. This set of exercises will take you from nervous speechwriter to successful speechmaker. It's time to lose your novice public speaker wings.

Preparing to make a speech

From afar, public speaking is a daunting task, a journey into the unknown for the novice public speaker. However with adequate preparation, the art of delivering a speech becomes a much easier task. In this section we take a large imposing task and breaking it into a small number of very manageable tasks. In this section you will learn how to familiarize yourself with my Four Corners of Speechmaking:

Your speech Your audience The public speaking venue Yourself, the novice public speaker.

By tackling each of these, you will overcome the source of your worst fears. In the subsequent section, you will learn some tips and techniques that will add the final polish to your public speaking abilities.

Your speech
I'm amazed how many public speakers are not familiar with their own speeches. They recite the speech like a stranger to it, lose

themselves in the delivery and seem surprised by each subsequent line. Without a great familiarity with their speech, a speechmaker is putting themselves at a significant risk of failure. They will not be at ease, will not be Techniques to Your speech include:

Reading and re-reading the speech Recording the speech on mp3 and listening to it while mobile Recounting the speech from memory

The goal is not to learn your speech word-for-word. It will seem mechanical and deliberate. Besides, where's the fun in that? Instead, find the story of your speech. The outer outline of your speech is a great place to start. If you can remember the flow of your speech, its story, from start to finish, then you're in a great place! It is very, very unlikely that you will lose yourself when making your speech and you will be very comfortable during your delivery. After all, your speech is now an old friend.

Know your audience

Whatever the occasion, your speech must always be targeted at your audience. If you are familiar with your audience, for example if the occasion is a large family gathering, then your speech should acknowledge and build upon your existing intimacy with your audience. The use of names and personal details of members of your audience can help to engage your listeners. If the speech is to an unfamiliar audience then an early goal of your speech must be to build a degree of trust with the listeners. You must know who your audience is in order to best decide how to affect your message upon them. The audience at a public speaking event is the most common source of fear for novice speech makers and public speakers.

That's absolutely understandable. It's not natural to stand in front of a large group of people, all of whom have expectations of the speaker and his or her speech. However, the surprising truth is that, in most cases, the audience is a sympathetic friend. Whether or not the audience knows who you are, human nature dictates that they are very sympathetic to you and what you have to say. Most people appreciate the difficulty of your role, they understand that you have something to say and they want the time they spend listening to you to be worthwhile. In other words, before you start speaking, most audiences have a vested interest in wanting you to succeed, and that translates into an attentive, supportive group. Of course, it is important that you maintain their interest and attention, but if you have followed the steps so far, especially seeking feedback on your speech then you are sure to be on solid ground. There are exceptions where an audience may be more skeptical at the outset. Examples of such events could be the presentation of a product to an unqualified audience or the presentation of a controversial scientific paper. In such cases the best way to overcome such audiences is with the conviction of your argument and your confidence in what you have to say. You are unlikely to get every person to agree with the tenets of your speech, but you will certainly gain their respect for your position.

Know your public speaking venue

While knowledge of the location of your speech has only marginal benefits to you, the potential pitfalls of not knowing your venue can have a devastating effect on the day of your public speaking event. I do consider certain props (e.g. availability of microphones, computers with presentation software, spotlights on the face of the public speaker etc.) relevant to the venue, but I also cover public speaking tools and props in a separate section. Please consider that section hand-in-hand with this one.

This checklist should act as a guideline to items you should consider when preparing for the speech What is the capacity of the venue? How full will it be? Is the venue wide? Or long? Is the venue on a single level or tiered? Will you be at the same level as the audience or on a raised level? Will you be speaking with or without a microphone? Will there be a power source at your speaking location? Will there be a computer at your speaking location? Will there be water available at your speaking location? Will the computer be connected to a screen visible by the audience? Where will you be positioned prior to the speech? Will you be standing, or more unusually, seated, during your speech Will there be any one sitting or standing behind you? Will there be a lectern or table? If so, will it have a lamp? Will the house lights be on? Or just the stage? Will there be any spotlights on you?

Answering these questions, and any other considerations pertinent to your speech, will ensure you have thought through every aspect of your public speaking experience and will not face any surprises on the day. In fact, you may well be in a position to use some of the knowledge you discover about the venue to enhance your speech.

Public speaking tools and props

There are two categories of props - those you introduce yourself (e.g. something as simple as your notes on 3x5 cards) and those introduced by the venue, the sponsors or some other outside party. Each one is governed by a golden rule that will ensure the use or misuse of props will not have a negative impact on your speech.

Public speaking props you introduce

Golden Rule: Keep it simple. Don't over-rely. I've attended many speeches where props introduced by the speaker brought the house down, from a group of Irish dancers to an embarrassing wall-to-ceiling photo of the groom in Speedos to an hysterically funny PowerPoint presentation. Of course, props can be simpler such as the ubiquitous 3x5 index cards with notes. Ultimately a prop is an external element, even your own prop, and as such they are potential liabilities. My golden rule, okay, two golden rules, are designed to prevent a public speaking disaster when you make your speech and minimize the damage if anything does go wrong. Keep it simple - The fewer moving parts and dependencies your props have, the less likely they are to go wrong. Don't get smart, don't get clever. Just keep it simple. Example: Don't bring a PowerPoint presentation, 3x5 index cards and some notes to the stage. Use one tool and use it well. Don't over-rely - Knowing that things can go wrong, you cannot over-rely on your props. A speech based entirely off a PowerPoint presentation bombed when the screen failed and no backup print-outs were available. The public speaker who could not deliver his speech without his cue cards, discovered too late that they were completely out of order (quick tip - if using cue cards, make sure they are numbered, and you use large text that can easily be read at arms length).

Other public speaking props

Golden Rule: Be prepared. Be prepared for mishaps. Be prepared - As discussed when we looked at knowing the public speaking venue, it's critical to know what props you will be

expected to use. If you will be using a microphone, make sure you're shown how to use it first. If there is a large screen in use, make sure your PowerPoint notes are available, or instead, a simple title page with your name and the name of your speech. Be prepared for mishaps - So you know what props you will be required to use and you even know how to use them. You know how to use that remote control and infrared pointer? Great! But what happens if the batteries fail? If the microphone fails, will you know what to do? (Move your location if it helps being heard, shorten your speech, if appropriate). Of course, it is impossible to legislate for every mishap, but minimizing the impact of mishaps can only make your job easier.

Summary
The I told you so stories are endless. Use props wisely, treat them with respect, but also with suspicion.

Delivering a speech
It's your time to deliver a speech. If you are nervous or inexperienced, you will probably want to choose to read your speech from a script or from notes. Here's a look at each option.
Reading from a Script

Reading your entire speech from a script may give you confidence and ensure that nothing is forgotten or omitted, however it is the least desirable option for delivering your speech. You will find it more difficult to see your audience, and make it harder for them to get emotionally invested in you. When reading from a script it is extremely difficult to deliver your speech to your audience, rather than just read it aloud.
Using Notes

If you are not confident enough to recite your speech from memory, then the use of notes is a much more desirable option than using a complete script. Your notes should consist of the keywords or points of your speech - a skeleton of thoughts or

words around which you can build your speech. You may refer to your notes occasionally to maintain the thread of your speech, but for the most part you should be able to speak directly to the audience.
Reciting From Memory

You may prefer to recite from memory. However you should only do this if you are comfortable speaking publicly and not prone to loss of concentration (or memory!). As with reading from a script, you should be careful not to lapse into a monotonous recitation of your speech.
Summary

If you strongly favor one option, then go for it. If using any written (or printed) materials during your speech, be aware that the text should be in large print, clearly sequenced and easily read at arm's length.

Speech Delivery Tips

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Make sure that your appearance is well presented Speak clearly, and adjust your voice so that everyone can hear

you. Don't shout for the sake of being loud o It is common to speak rapidly when nervous, try to take your time speaking o Effectively used, a pause in your speech can be used to emphasize a point, or to allow the audience to react to a fact, anecdote or joke o Make eye contact with your audience. This helps to build trust and a relationship between the speaker and the listeners o Do not fidget or make other nervous gestures with your hands o Do not keep your hands in your pockets o Do use hand gestures effectively o Be yourself, allow your own personality to shine in your speech
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