47 Preparing a Speech

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Preparing a Speech Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

To help your students become more comfortable with speaking in front of people, have them read out loud to small groups of classmates. Ask each student to select something that is interesting to them and that they would enjoy sharing—a news article, the lyrics from a popular song, a favorite poem, and so on. Then split the students into groups and have group members introduce the topic of their reading and read it out loud.

Think About It

“There are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.” 

—Mark Twain

Page 418 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing Guidelines: Prewriting

Review the tips for planning a speech. Make sure students understand the difference between informational, persuasive, and demonstration speeches.

Then lead students through "Selecting a Specific Topic" at the bottom of the page. Show them how to move from a general subject area to a specific topic in each of the three types of speeches. Ask students to think of at least two topics for each speech type. Here are some additional topic ideas for students who get stuck.

  • Informational speech: history of a local business, the life of a famous person, culture in a foreign country
  • Persuasive speech: why the federal minimum wage should be raised, a case against organic food, why students should play an instrument
  • Demonstration speech: how to show a horse, communicate with sign language, or stretch properly
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Page 419 from Write on Course 20-20

Collecting Interesting Details

Have students read about the different ways to collect interesting details for their speeches. Provide time for students to carry out their research. Recommend that they use note cards, gathering grids, or digital bookmarks to keep their research organized. 

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Page 420 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing—Organizing Your Speech

Review the different ways to organize the content of a speech (list, outline, graphic organizer). Recommend that students use the technique that they are most comfortable with.

Next, review the strategies for writing an attention-getting beginning. Highlight the importance of starting in a way that draws listeners’ interest, and have students try out some of the beginning strategies. When they've finished, they should confer with one another to choose the best one.

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Page 421 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing a Convincing Middle Part and a Strong Ending

Have students review the information for “Writing a Convincing Middle Part” and “Preparing a Strong Ending.” Encourage them to use note cards to record the important supporting details that they plan to include in the middle part of their speech. Stress the importance of numbering the cards, so that students can keep them in order. After they have gathered their supporting information, have them practice the strategies for ending the speech.

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Page 422 from Write on Course 20-20

Note Cards

Have students study the parts of the sample note cards. Note that the beginning and ending cards write out the speech word for word, while the middle parts include only bullet points. Also point out how the student numbers each card, so that he can keep his speech in order.

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Speech

Ask for a volunteer to read aloud the sample speech. Note that some speakers give their speeches using only note cards. 

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Revising and Editing Your Speech

The tips on this page provide a guide for practicing and delivering speeches. Remember that some students may feel a great deal of anxiety about public speaking. Make sure to encourage them throughout the process. Remind students that with practice will come fluency. Recommend that students practice their speeches multiple times in different settings. If possible, they should do so in front of other people.  

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Page 425 from Write on Course 20-20

Creating a Multimedia Presentation

Have students review the tips for creating a multimedia presentation on this page and the next. Also provide these other tips for different components:

  • Visuals: Use photos or video that will hold your audience’s attention.
  • Text: Keep text to a minimum. It should be little more than a caption for the visuals.
  • Audio: Provide most information in audio with each visual.
  • Links: Add text links to other sources to provide more information.
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