Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long
-
Upload
the-international-association-of-business-communicators-washington-dc -
Category
Education
-
view
1.035 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long
![Page 1: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Speechwriting:
The Basics, and Fast
Michael Long
Georgetown University
703.408.7570
![Page 2: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Speechwriting: Philosophy
Nobody wants…
Speeches v. Presentation v. Oratory
Oratory: Mainly emotional
Speeches: Mix of information and emotion
Presentation: Information (Power Point)
![Page 3: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Speechwriting
Six Steps 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 4: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 1 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 5: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Collaborative
w/principal (rarely)
w/staff (usually)
Timetables
Iterations
Getting it down on paper
The rule: 1 minute = 100 words
Speechwriting:
Practicalities & Mechanics
![Page 6: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Speechwriting
THE
KEY IS
ORGANIZATION
![Page 7: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
The Big Secret:
The Music Man and
The Custom Garment
![Page 8: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Speechwriting Before you write a word, spend
time thinking.
How much time do I have to write it?
How long is the speech?
What form for delivery, cards or text
or other?
Who is the audience?
What is the speech supposed to be
about?
What do you want the speech to
achieve?
How to write
What to write
![Page 9: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 2 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 10: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Speechwriting
Prepare Spec Sheet
Mechanics
Speaker
Date
Location
City, building, room
Duration
Text / Notes /
Outline
Audience
Personal connection
Last time there
Personal ties
People to acknowledge
Order
![Page 11: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Speechwriting
Prepare Spec Sheet
Content Topic
from before
What do you want the speech to achieve?
also from before
Three main ideas
“The Meeting”
![Page 12: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 3 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in
Order (“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 13: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Speechwriting
Identify and Prioritize
Write the middle first: Outline the Structure
Nothin’ fancy
Make a list of the big points you need to make
3 or 4 max
No more than that, ever
These will be the tent poles, the tree branches, etc
![Page 14: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Speechwriting
I. Opening – DON’T WRITE THIS YET
II. Middle
A. Big Point #1
B. Big Point #2 Main points
C. Big Point #3
III. Closing – DON’T WRITE THIS YET
![Page 15: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Speechwriting I. Opening
A. Big Point #1
B. Big Point #2 Here’s what’s coming: bite-size
C. Big Point #3
II. Middle
A. Big Point #1
B. Big Point #2 Here’s what’s coming: bite-size
C. Big Point #3
III. Closing
A. Big Point #1
B. Big Point #2 Here’s what I told you: bite-size
C. Big Point #3
![Page 16: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 4 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 17: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
The Writing: Structure
II. Body
– Point 1: Subjective assertion • Support: Objective evidence = EVIDENCE
– Point 2 • support
– Point 3 • support
![Page 18: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Kinds of Evidence Anecdotes
Personal experiences
Statistics
Facts
History
Jokes
use of humor
Step-by-step logic
Props
Case studies
![Page 19: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 5 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 20: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Speechwriting
Write Opening and Ending
I. Opening
A. Acknowledgements (speech only)
B. Rapport/Attention-getting
C. Topic
D. Subtopics (depending on length)
1. Big Point #1
2. Big Point #2
3. Big Point #3
II. Middle
III. Closing
A
R
T
S
![Page 21: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Speechwriting
Write Opening and Ending
I. Opening
II. Middle
III. Closing
A. Big Point #1
B. Big Point #2 Here’s what I told you: bite-size
C. Big Point #3
D. Personal remarks (if desired)
E. Call to Action (if necessary)
![Page 22: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Speechwriting
Also at the end...
If you want to plant a single take-away message in the
mind of the audience, state it here—clearly!
Make it a simple, memorable sentence or phrase.
Repeat it throughout the talk.
![Page 23: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Speechwriting
Step 6 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends
![Page 24: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Speechwriting Add Polish
Think like a fourth-grader/sound like a PhD:
“talk it out”
![Page 25: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Speechwriting Add Polish
Convert to text or turn in an outline
Avoid “leading” interstitial language
Replace weak/placeholder anecdotes with stronger
ones
Add more color, detail and evidence
Revise recognitions/acknowledgements
Look for better rapport/personal connections
Wordsmith/clean up language
Keeping inspired...
![Page 26: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Speechwriting Test it by reading out loud
Write for the ear, meaning...
Use
short, declarative sentences
Avoid
STAGE DIRECTION / PAUSES / “WAIT FOR
LAUGH”
“lost in the weeds” detail – consider what a listener can
easily hold in his head, not on paper
![Page 27: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Speechwriting: Social Media
• BEFORE
Use Twitter hashtags to ask audience what
they want to hear (as appropriate)
Tweet/FB pithy quotes from the speech
In catchy language, identify
questions/issues you will address
Occasionally countdown to the date
![Page 28: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
• DURING
Encourage liveblogging, tweeting and FB-
ing as you speak
Offer hashtags to identify the speech and/or
topics
Have someone tweet/FB on your behalf
matching quotes/stories with links to further
information or documentation
Speechwriting: Social Media
![Page 29: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Speechwriting: Social Media
• AFTER
Post a short video of the opening on FB; link
to text or video
Post grafs/quotes; link to text or video
Convert to multiple blog entries
Post distilled elements as “Note” on FB
![Page 30: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Yes, it’s necessary
The great forgotten task of speechwriting
What if the speaker gets asked later?
Speaker just wants to know
Endnotes, not footnotes
Not mixed in with text
Separate page
Embedding sources in the spoken text
When and when not to / length of citation
“According to…”
Speechwriting: Sourcing
![Page 31: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Speechwriting: Sourcing • The Rule:
– The more controversial the fact, the greater
the need to document its source
300 million
people live in
the US
50 million children
in the US go to
bed hungry every
night
“That sounds
right.” “Are you sure?”
The need for sourcing M O R E L E S S
![Page 32: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Make Writing Easy on Yourself
The Printing-Proofing Trick (Font &
Size)
Give it a title
Use subheads and/or section marks
One sentence = one graf
White space
![Page 33: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Your Questions
How can I write talking points that are
effective, and how can I do it more efficiently?
Talking Points are
phrases,
sentences and
very short paragraphs
that a speaker can use as a basis for an extemporaneous
talk.
![Page 34: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Your Questions
Talking Points Keep them short.
Get to the point.
Write for the ear – when possible, use catchy phrases
Alliteration, consonance, assonance, imagery
Use this thinking for writing sound bites, too.
Use white space and labels so the speaker can sort
through the material at a glance.
Also okay: Jumping off points to jog the memory to
further comment
![Page 35: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Your Questions
When given a broad topic, how do I narrow it down
to something manageable? (e.g., professionalism)
How do I write quotable, memorable lines – sound
bites?
How do I drive home a line – how do I get reporters
to pick up the line and how do I get audiences to
remember it?
![Page 36: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Your Questions
How do I “break into” speechwriting inside the
office?
How do I capture the tone and voice of the speaker?
![Page 37: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Your Questions
What are some source materials for commencements,
general remarks and other events that are oriented
more toward mood than toward fact?
“Condemned to Repeat It” by Wick Allison
“This Day in Business History” by Raymond Francis
“Tunesmith” by Jimmy Webb
“Theatre” by David Mamet
“Get some art in you…”
![Page 38: Speechwriting: The Basics, and Fast, by Michael Long](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022052618/549ea52eb37959d7618b4732/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Speechwriting
Review: Six Steps 1. Assess the Event and the Speaker
2. Create a Spec Sheet
3. Identify the Big Ideas and Put Them in Order
(“Identify and Prioritize”)
4. Add Evidence
5. Write the Open and the End
6. Make it Better: Social Media, Sourcing &
Loose Ends