Reading from a Manuscript

Reading from a manuscript (or manuscript speech) is done when a speaker

reads to the audience a prepared text or manuscript, which may be prepared
by someone else or by the speaker himself or herself. This is usually given when
the manuscript will be part of an official record wherein extremely careful
wording is required. For example, an official spokesperson is provided with a
proclamation, a formal public announcement, and reads it exactly as written. A
speaker may also opt to use this method when he or she feels that the important
points are best conveyed by reading the manuscript, especially when it is
remarkably written.

Giving a manuscript speech has its merits and drawbacks. Below are some of
the advantages and disadvantages of reading from a manuscript.

Guidelines on Reading from a Manuscript

Reading from a manuscript presents a huge challenge since the speaker is
mainly limited to the written speech. If you choose to deliver a manuscript
speech, follow these guidelines:

First, write a good speech. Since you will likely be reading most of the words,
make an exceptional speech that contains logically connected paragraphs
and well-supported topic sentences. Carefully choose each word and make
sure that your speech conveys a clear message.

Second, format your speech properly. Formatting your speech properly makes it
easier for you to read it. Here are some tips on how to format your speech for
readability:
 1. Indent each paragraph and include only two to three paragraphs per
page.
2. The right margin should not be justified so that the words are equally
spaced.
3. Double-space between lines.
4. Use only one side of the page.
5. Use a font type that is easy to read and a font size that is large enough to
be read. The standard font type is Times New Roman with a font size of 12
points. You can use another font type, but make sure you can clearly
read it.

Third, practice your speech repeatedly. Know your speech “by heart” by
practicing it repeatedly. Record yourself and then identify areas in your speech
and in your delivery that need improvement.

Fourth, vary your voice. Varying your voice in terms of volume, pitch or
intonation, and emphasis allows you to make important points stand out from
those that are less significant, and to express your feelings or attitudes. Use also
appropriate pauses within the sentences.

Finally, look at the audience from time to time. Do not read the manuscript word
for word looking down. Glance at the audience when highlighting keywords or
when beginning a long sentence. (Short sentences are eventually memorized
when practicing the speech repeatedly.) Questions written in the speech should
be spoken while looking at the audience.

Even if you are reading from a manuscript, you can still sound natural. To do this,
speak clearly and at a normal pace, make eye contact with the audience at
appropriate times, and be relaxed.

Memorized Speech
A speaker gives a memorized speech by committing every word of the speech
to memory and then delivering it in front of an audience. The speaker does not
bring with him or her any notes or manuscript. Unless you are an exceptionally
proficient speaker, speaking from memory is usually appropriate for relatively
short speeches such as when presenting or accepting an award, making an
announcement, giving opening or closing remarks, or introducing a speaker.

Before deciding whether to give a memorized speech or not, learn about its
advantages and disadvantages first.
Tips on Delivering a Memorized Speech
Delivering a memorized speech can be nerve-racking as you are never sure
that your memory will not fail you. Here are some tips to help you successfully
deliver a memorized speech.

1. Keep it short. Make sure that your speech is not too lengthy and wordy so
it will be easier for you to memorize it. Create an outline of your main
points and familiarize it. Also, write your speech as if you are speaking
naturally.
2. Practice. Once your speech is put together, practice it. Find a quiet place
and read your speech out loud. Read it repeatedly so you can memorize
the words and internalize the message. You may divide the speech into
parts and memorize each part until you have committed all parts to
memory. Then, rehearse the delivery. Watch yourself speak in front of a
mirror so you can identify nonverbal cues that you can do (e.g., smiling,
making eye contact, pacing) or avoid doing (e.g., fidgeting, slouching,
swaying).
3. Visualize. When memorizing, you may get stuck on certain words or parts
of the speech. One technique to get back on track is to visualize or
create a mental image of the difficult word or part. Assign an image that
you can easily associate with the word or part which you have trouble
remembering. The next time you practice your speech, recall the image
and the content will likely get back to you.
4. Project your voice. How you project your voice may make or break your
speech. If you speak too softly and without energy, the audience will not
 be able to hear you and will lose interest in what you are saying. However,
if you speak too loudly, the audience might feel that you are yelling or
shouting. When giving a memorized speech, speak with projection and
energy. Good voice projection entails good posture and breathing. When
practicing your speech, stand straight with your head up, take deep
breaths, and speak at a volume that will be heard by all audience
members.
5. Use appropriate pauses. Pauses can enhance your memorized speech
when used appropriately. A pause has many functions. It can build
suspense or create a dramatic effect as the audience anticipates what is
to come next. It can also give them time to reflect, allowing the words to
make meaning in their minds. Moreover, it can be used to keep the
speech dynamic. So, incorporate pauses in your speech, but use them
effectively.

A memorized speech requires extra effort with a lot of practice and careful
preparation. Practice your speech repeatedly until you have learned them by
heart. If you do forget a word or a small part of your speech, do not panic and
just take a deep breath. Give yourself time to recover. To buy time, you may
engage the audience by asking them what your last point was, or you may also
use humor. If you still cannot remember, just continue speaking.

Impromptu Speech
Most of us, if not all, have been asked to speak with no warning or notice. In
school, teachers often call on students to express their opinions on some issue. At
a wedding reception, a family member or close friend is asked to say a few
words about the newlyweds. At a party or gathering, someone is called upon to
say grace before meals. All of these situations may involve an impromptu
speech. An impromptu speech is made with no advance planning. Unlike in
manuscript and memorized speeches, an impromptu speech is delivered with
very little or no preparation. It is generally brief, and it is unrehearsed. The
speaker does not have time to practice the speech.

People who are asked to give an impromptu speech are usually knowledgeable
about the topic or subject. Some politicians, for example, are asked by reporters
about certain issues almost anywhere and anytime. In a department meeting, a
manager might ask a staff member for an update on a current project. At a
birthday party, a shy best friend may be prodded to say something about the
birthday celebrant.

Impromptu speaking is not for everyone. It can be unnerving to a person who is

not used to speaking in public, let alone on the spot. As a result, the impromptu
speech may be incoherent because the person feels anxious and
uncomfortable. What should one do when asked to speak on the spur of the
moment?

Tips on How to Deliver an Impromptu Speech

At some point in your life, you will be asked to deliver a speech spontaneously.
You will have no time to organize your ideas or to research information about
the topic or subject. Since you are unprepared, you may have difficulty in
expressing your thoughts. Below are some tips you can do when asked to give
an impromptu speech.

1. Gather your thoughts. Think first before speaking. Relax, take a deep breath,
look around, and smile. Pause (for 2–3 seconds) to reflect and think about what
you are going to say.

2. Consider the three major parts of a speech. Since you do not have time to
prepare a detailed outline, in your head, just think of an introduction, body, and
conclusion for your speech. Make a good introductory sentence about the
topic to engage the audience.

3. Identify your main point(s). Think of the main point or idea you want to convey
to the audience. Then, support it briefly with details or good examples.

4. Keep your speech short. Be mindful of the time. Stop when you have made
your point(s). Remember, an impromptu speech is generally short.

5. End on a strong note. Give a memorable conclusion by tying all your points
together. Relate your conclusion back to the introduction.

6. Be confident. As you deliver your speech, show confidence and speak with
conviction. Never show the audience that you are nervous or frightened. Keep
yourself together and just talk naturally.

Practice thinking on your feet. Say the first thing that comes to mind when you
hear each of the following words:

Extemporaneous Speech
Extemporaneous speaking is the most preferred method of delivery among
many public speakers because it is a middle ground between a manuscript
speech and a memorized speech. An extemporaneous speech is given from
notes or a speech outline. A speaker does not read a manuscript word for word
nor does he memorize every word. In this type of speech, the speaker uses his or
her prepared notes or outline as guide and elaborates it using his or her own
words.
Here are other characteristics of an extemporaneous speech:

• It sounds natural. It uses a conversational tone because the speech is not

read verbatim or committed to memory.
• Its exact wording is chosen at the time the speech is being given. The
speaker is not tied to specific wording.
• It allows the speaker to practice in advance the flow of the speech using
the prepared notes or outline.
• It enables the speaker to engage the audience more and freely interact
with them.
• It is flexible. It gives the speaker more room to adapt to the situation, and
it allows for elaboration, explanation, or restatement of ideas if the
audience seem to be confused.

Although extemporaneous speaking is the most popular method of delivery, it

may not be appropriate in some very formal occasions where precise wording is
required such as in an inaugural ceremony and other political addresses.
However, in many speech situations such as meetings, oral presentations,
lectures, and business proposals or presentations, extemporaneous speaking is
recommended.

Tips on How to Deliver an Extemporaneous Speech

Like manuscript and memorized speeches, an extemporaneous speech also
requires planning and practice. When preparing and delivering an
extemporaneous speech, you need to keep these helpful tips in mind:

1. Prepare the notes or outline. When you have already chosen a topic, the
next step is to prepare your notes or outline about the topic. The outline,
whether a topic or sentence, lists the main points and subpoints that
support the thesis or the central idea of the speech. The main points are
divided into subpoints that provide supporting details about the main
points. Write the outline on notecards (e.g., 3 x 5 index cards) to keep your
ideas in order. On each notecard, write a main point and its subpoints,
and include some keywords or relevant phrases about them to serve as
your guide for elaboration or explanation. Number each notecard for
easy browsing. Then, review your outline and familiarize it. If you do not
want to use an outline, you can use a graphic organizer (e.g., flowchart,
mind map) instead. Choose the graphic organizer that best suits your
topic and purpose.
2. Rehearse your speech using your notes. After you have finalized your
outline, practice your speech repeatedly. Rehearse for several times using
the notecards to stay on track and until you get the feel of your speech.
However, during the actual speech, do not spend more time looking at
 the notecards than on expressing your ideas and interacting with the
audience. Only glance at your notes when you are citing statistics or
quoting an authority, or when you suddenly do not remember a key idea.
3. Speak in a conversational manner. When you deliver your speech, speak
as if you are actually conversing with someone. Sound natural by using
shorter sentences and by speaking clearly in a friendly tone. Also, do not
keep your eyes glued to your notes. Rather, make eye contact with the
audience to connect with them. Hold eye contact with a single person
and then with the other persons in the room.
4. Pay attention to the audience’s feedback. Remember, communication is
a two-way process. Even if the audience members are not expressing
themselves verbally, they are still communicating with you through
nonverbal cues. Be aware of the audience’s nonverbal cues and respond
to them. For example, when you notice that the audience look confused,
you can restate your point using visuals or you can explain it by giving an
example. In an extemporaneous speech, you have room for adaptation
or flexibility, and you are in control.