Speeches

• A speech, like a play, must be written to be heard, not read.

Paint a Picture with WordsNobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

• Somehow you never forget what poverty and hatred can do when you see its scars on the hopeful face of a young child.

"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people — women as well as men."

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

How many words?

Rate of Speech

Words per minute

Words per 20 minute speech

115 2300130 2600175 3500

What is your purpose?

• What is your specific purpose and central idea?

• Your resources should suggest main points and supporting points for your speech.

• Analyze your audience—know the “who, what, where, when, and why” situation for each speech you have to give.

Introduction

• Give your audience a reason to listen.

• Relate to your audience• Relate to your topic

Relating To Your AUDIENCE

Governor George W. Bush, NAACP

Convention, July 10, 2000

“I’m pleased to be here. I’m also reminded of what the great Jackie Robinson once said when President Kennedy did something to upset him. Robinson said that he was sure the President was a ‘fine man’ – but he reserved the right to change his opinion.

For those who support me – I see one or two here – I hope you won’t change your opinion. For those who don’t, I hope you take Jackie’s position as your own and give me a chance to tell you what is in my heart.”

Organization

• Use verbal signposts in your speech• In a speech, the listener cannot

rely on:paragraphs page breakspunctuation

• Let your listener know where you are, and where you are going

• Begin by getting your audience’s attention– Ask a question– Make a reference (refer to people in the audience,

the situation, physical surroundings, other speakers, the occasion)

– Make a startling statement– Give a quotation– Tell a story

Introduction

• After the Attention Getter, use a “link”• This statement connects your attention getter

to your topic introduction so that your listeners are not confused.

• It also connects the audience to the topic– It makes them motivated to listen

Intro continued

• After the link, introduce your topic– For this speech, introduce yourself! You are the

topic

– Then spend some time leading to your thesis—a little more info about the topic

– Directly address the audience, and give them a reason to listen.

– Then present your thesis statement.

Intro continued

• Like in an essay, a speech thesis is a statement that gives the main idea of a speech.

• In a speech, the thesis must include the main topics that will be covered.

• Main idea: Who I am.– Main topics: past experiences

• Present experiences• Goals for the future• Thesis: Who I am is a direct result of my past and present

experiences as well as my ambitions for the future.

Thesis Statements

• The body is split up into sections called “Main Heads.”

• A main head is equivalent to a body paragraph in an essay.

• Use 3-4 main heads in a speech.

The Body of a Speech

• Begin with a topic sentence: A sentence that introduces the main topic of a main head.

• Use solid supporting details and explain how each detail proves your topic/thesis.

• A good rule of thumb is three supporting details, but you may have two solid choices that would sufficiently support the Main Head’s topic.

Develop Your Main Head

• A clincher is a sentence that wraps up the Main Head. You should also provide a transition into the next main head.

• Ex. This sweatshirt represents my past and who I have become well, but my family also has impacted who I am and will be.

End With a Clincher/Transition

• Begin by restating your thesis in a new way• Summarize the main point of each of your

main heads.• Provide closure by referring back to your

attention getter, by providing food for thought, or by calling for action

• Remember, you can repeat attention getting devices here or provide food for thought.

The Conclusion

Between Writing and Presenting

• Practice your speech from your detailed outline.

• Create speaking notes containing only memorable words and phrases.