Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              use quotes, give name or originator and quote precisely.
Giving the source of statistics is, usually, more
effective.
Now, study all information until you feel
knowledgeable about and comfortable with the whole
subject.
Step Four: Focus Topic
The subject of a speech can be very general. For
instance, if you were asked to speak on " Environment",
you would have many topics within that general theme;
saving it? using it? enjoying it? studying it? etc.
If you decided on " Saving the Environment",
you would then need to decide what part of the
environment; Water? Air? Soil? Forests? Wildlife? etc.
Refined to " W i l d l i f e " still leaves Animals, Fish,
Birds.... and then maybe to a specific species.
Even when you determine this specific, for
instance " The Bald Eagle", you must still determine the
actual focus you wish to address; an awareness speech on
the threats to its' existence? a plea to the audience to
help? information about individuals and organizations
who are involved? ( or maybe a combination of these).
R e m e m b e r . . . . T h e shorter the s p e e c h . . . t he
narrower you should refine the focus.
THERE ARE THREE BASIC " TYPES" OF SPEECH:
Informative ( or Instructional),
Entertaining
Persuasive.
Now, go through all your research notes and set
aside everything that does not bear directly on the focus
you have chosen.
The audience research will help you determine
the actual focus they want to have addressed. You may
also be influenced by what you want to say about the
subject.. but not at the expense of their wishes.
Step Five: Organize Data
List the points you wish to make. Generally it
is best to stick with one main point
and up to four related ones. This is the basis to a clear
concise statement in your speech. More ' cluttered' may
be confusing.
Now, below each point, list all examples, statistics,
quotes that will support or explain that point.
Roughly pencil in any visual aids that might
help make a point or support your facts, ( charts,
illustrations, maps, etc,)
Step Six: Write the Speech
First make an outline.
Write down what overall message you want to
convey.
Determine in what sequence you wish to place
your points. There should be some ' o r d e r ' in
this... chronological, order of importance, etc.
Then decide how many " supports' ( verbal and
visual) each will get. There should be a balance here,
too... don't overload one and make another seem weak by
comparison.
Refine outline.
Make sure that each point and i t ' s supports
relate DIRECTLY to the message you wish to leave
with the audience.
If points are in order of importance, should they
be from least to most important or the reverse of that.
Try both to j u d g e effectiveness. Sometimes the best
point first grabs the audience, sometimes it is better to
increase importance, therefore attention, as you go
along. Chronological is usually best in normal sequence,
but reverse has been used effectively in some cases.
Now check it one last time... Is this what you
want to say? Is it what they want to hear?
Wnte the speech.
Following the guidelines, under " Parts of
Speech" [ this chapter], write the speech. ( Double
space to allow changes and refinements.)
Many speakers find it best to w n t e the body
first, then write the intro and conclusion to fit.
IDEAS: Decide what ' slant' you want.
Are you ' f o r ' or ' against'. Sometimes you can
play ' d e v i l ' s advocate'... appearing to be ' f o r ' , then being
strongly opposed in conclusion. In the ' B a l d Eagle'
speech, it might be effective to speak as the eagle. Think
about different techniques.... but be careful not to be too
' c u t e ' . For more, see " Learning Objectives", this
chapter.