How to Prepare Your Speech

"How to Prepare Your Speech," by Malcolm Kushner (Part of the Public Speaking For Dummies Cheat Sheet)  --  When you speak in public, you have to prepare your speech by selecting and organizing material, and writing a clear message. Once you’ve written the perfect speech, you need to prepare for the delivery.

• Writing your speech

• These guidelines will help you organize your material and write a speech.

• Resist making a speech that you don’t want to make.

• Organize your information in a simple pattern that the audience can easily recognize.

• Use various types of material — examples, stories, statistics, quotes — to maintain audience interest.

• Use your introduction to set the audience’s expectations.

• Have a special conclusion ready that you can go right into if you run out of time. Never omit a conclusion.

• Anticipate the questions you’ll be asked and have answers ready.

• Practice out loud.

Delivering your speech

• Practice these tips to deliver a speech that wows your audience:

• Try to establish eye contact with your entire audience.

• Vary the rate, pitch, and volume of your voice, as well as its tone.

• Use your hands to gesture instead of keeping them clasped in front of your crotch.

• Look at the audience more than your notes.

• Don’t pace back and forth, jingle change in your pocket, or play with your hair.

• Stand behind a podium if it makes you feel more comfortable.

• Convey enthusiasm for your subject — it’s contagious.   (Part of the Public Speaking For Dummies Cheat Sheet)