The Public Voice of A Leader

The American University of
Nigeria
AUN 101
ORATORICAL PREPARATION 101
BYRON S. BULLOCK
VICE PRESIDENT FOR CAMPUS LIFE AND
DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
NOVEMBER 6, 2021
WHAT MAKES A GREAT SPEECH?
• A powerful and captivating INTRODUCTION
• A highly organized BODY
• A lasting and inspiring CONCLUSION
• Practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!
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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA: AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY
TIPS FOR EXCEPTIONAL ORATORY
• Create your own style. Don’t try and copy the style of other speakers
you’ve heard.

• Be excited and animated as you deliver your speech. Move around, use
hand gestures, and smile at the audience.

• Establish eye contact with your audience and bring them along your
oratorical journey.

• Scan your audience so that they feel a part of your oratorical experience.


•Avoid using the same words over and over. Become familiar with the
use of a Thesaurus. Find new words to use. Good vocabulary is
important. Avoid words you have trouble pronouncing.

•Particularly in a timed speech, be careful not to talk too fast. Pace
yourself and breathe. This should not be a race. Speak slowly and
deliberately.
•Show some passion. Get involved with your speech. If you show interest
in the topic, so will your audience.

.

• You don’t have to be perfect. Public speaking is
a form of communication, not a performance.
• Be sincere, not pretentious.
• Be energetic and upbeat. People will remember
7 percent of what you actually say. They will
remember 25 percent of what they write down.
They will remember 65 percent of the way you
move around and how you express yourself.
• If you have the opportunity, videotape your speech so that
you have an opportunity to critique it before your final
delivery.
• Posture, Pronunciation, and Presence are important to any
oration. Stand straight and avoid slouching.
• Dress for success! If you look impressive, people will be
drawn to you.
• Avoid memorizing your speech. It is best to use an outline
to prompt you. The more familiar you are with your
speech, it will flow more naturally.
• Be mindful of your use of the “uhms”, “ahhs”,”you knows”,
“know what I’m sayings”, and any other non-words or
phrases you use over and over.
• Be encouraged. People want you to succeed at the
podium. Audiences want you to be interesting,
informative, entertaining and inspiring. They don’t want
you to fail.
• Remind yourself that you are a great speaker and that by
giving your speech, you have an ability to bring attention
to your topic or your cause.
• Be relevant. As you research your speech, look for
what’s hot and what’s new. Use new and relevant
sources. Quote from recent publications or news articles
about your topic. Infuse some statistics where possible.
• Be familiar with your topic. That’s the way to develop
the passion that makes good speeches greater.
• Enjoy the experience of public speaking. You are among
an elite group of your people who can carry an
important and impactful message.

OVERCOMING NERVOUSNESS
• Prepare your speech well in advance of your deliver. This will
help you become more familiar with your topic and will
eliminate last minute mistakes.
• Practice, Practice, Practice! The more you practice, the more

ownership you take in your speech.
• Establish a positive attitude. You should look forward to your

opportunity to light up the podium. The audience will be left
with the best that you have to offer. Don’t disappoint them.

• Imagine yourself as a great orator.
• Visualize the audience and how they will
positively react to your speech.
• Calm yourself by taking several deep slow
breaths.
• Tell yourself, “YOU ARE THE BEST” “YOUR
SPEECH IS A WINNER”. Smile to yourself. It’s
the power of positive self-talk.
• Think of your self in the most relaxing place you
know.
• Familiarize yourself with the instruments of oratory.
Understand the dynamics of using a microphone, a
podium, the lights in the audience, the venue, the
stage floor, etc.
• Realize the distance between you and your notes.
• While delivering your speech, pretend you are
talking to only one person.
PHYSICAL & VOICE PRESENCE:
MAKING YOUR SPEECH COME ALIVE
• VOLUME – This is the loudness of sound and can be
used to reach the audience or stress a point.

• PITCH – This is the lowness or highness of a sound
that can express emotions.

• RATE – This is how fast or how slow one talks and can
be used to convey confidence, impatience or many
other feelings.
PHYSICAL & VOICE PRESENCE:
MAKING YOUR SPEECH COME ALIVE
• The impact of a speech is

• 7% Words
• 38% Voice Tones
• 55 % Body Language

• The main point here is that the way a speech is
given has a greater impact than the words spoken.
GREENBURG’S 9 WAYS TO REDUCE PUBLIC
SPEAKING ANXIETY
• ACCEPT THAT BEING NERVOUS IS NOT A BAD
THING.
• DON’T TRY TO BE PERFECT.
• KNOW YOUR SUBJECT MATTER.
• ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE.
• BREATHE.

GREENBURG’S 9 WAYS TO REDUCE PUBLIC
SPEAKING ANXIETY
• VISUALIZE YOUR SUCCESS.
• PRACTICE OUT LOUD.
• AVOID CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL.
• MAKE EYE CONTACT.


The Public Voice of A Leader

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The American University of

ORATORICAL PREPARATION 101

Excellence Integrity Service

Excellence Integrity Service

Excellence Integrity Service

Excellence Integrity Service

• Practice, Practice, Practice! The more you practice, the more

• Establish a positive attitude. You should look forward to your

Excellence Integrity Service

Excellence Integrity Service

Excellence Integrity Service

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