How to make a good speech, great
Is my written speech ready to deliver?
You've found a topic that you feel passionate about. You've given it a title that is a question that needs a 'yes' or 'no' answer. You've decided on your stance. It's a 'yes' (or was it a 'no'). You've found evidence that proves you are correct. Everything is in a logical order. And you're ready to deliver your speech.
Perhaps not.
Writing a speech and saying a speech can be completely different. In a written speech, if the reader does not understand something, they can pause and reflect. They have time to consider options. They can read your ideas at their pace.
In a spoken speech, the audience has to work to your pace. They are processing what you have just said and trying to understand what you are saying now. They do not have time to reflect. As a result, your meaning must be clear.
How do I make my written speech sound more natural?
Your aim now is to make a list of the points you want to make in your speech. Give each piece of evidence you have found a 'keyword'. A keyword is a word or words that summarise the point you want to make.
eg Climate Change: Evidence - "The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years, there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives." Keyword = Climate change happens
Next, summarise each example you want to give with a keyword. Next, summarise each comment on the statistics with a keyword. And so on.
Reduce your written speech to a series of keywords.
I've reduced my written speech to a series of keywords. Now what?
Practice, practice, practice. Your aim is to use your keywords to jog your memory. As soon as you see your keyword, you know exactly what you want to say.
What you are now rehearsing is your SPOKEN speech. It is what you want to SAY. You are recalling your thoughts and SAYING what they mean.
Your written speech is now a SPOKEN speech. It is ready for an audience to HEAR.
Conclusion
In this session, you have been given tips on how to turn a 'written' speech into a 'spoken' speech.
You modify the written word so that it sounds natural. You refine the written words, phrases and sentences so that the audience hears the verbal points you want to make.
You are there to prove your point. You want to tell them what you believe. Your speech is the answer to the question asked by the title. You are correct. Here are the reasons. And your reasons are summarised in your 'keywords'.
Practice your speech using your keywords. Modify what you are saying to make it better. And you will make a good speech into a great speech.
End
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