Do You Have Anything To Say?

You probably have the confidence to speak in front of so many people, but do you have something to say? Well here are tips, starting from:

• how to gather your material,
  
• in planning your speech,
  
• developing the outline
• preparing to speak extemporaneously
  

GATHERING MATERIAL

When you talk, say something worth listening to. Don't be the class Rambler, Broken Record or Vague Fellow sounds familiar?

Rambler wanders on and on from topic to topic with a sentence there, but with nothing of interest or importance about anything in particular.

Broken Record says something; he says it again and again and again till the audience is ready to yell, "Oh keep quiet!"

Vague Fellow says something, he thinks, but no one knows exactly what, and to tell the truth he isn't sure himself.

All these suffer from the same complaint-lack of knowledge of their subject. Be sure to to gather plenty of worth-while material for your speech. Consult the magazines and reference books in your school and city libraries. Whenever possible, question people who are experts on your subject or have had experience in the field. Never base a speech on just one source. Investigate several, select the best ideas, combine the information, and add your own thoughts and experience. Search for facts rather than for opinions; learn to draw your own conclusions from the facts.

A good speaker keeps his eyes and ears open for firsthand material. Wherever he goes-to the movies, to the theater, on a shopping trip- he collects information or ideas. He recalls experiences of his own and of his acquaintances and uses them in his speeches.

PLANNING YOUR SPEECH

Outlining your speech forces you to see your facts and ideas in relation to one another and to your purpose. IT is an aid to good thinking. The completed outline, the backbone of your talk, gives you a sense of direction and confidence.

First, find the main props supporting your contention or the big divisions of the subject and jot them down in order. This statement of main points may be very simple and next arrange appropriate facts and examples under the main points

DEVELOP THE OUTLINE

Your outline is only the skeleton of a speech. It must have flesh and blood before it can face the audience. Do you know how to transform a topical outline into a fully developed speech the following methods of development will help you solve your problem.

• Statements from authorities. The authorities on a subject are the leading men in the field.
• Statistics. Present them accurately and interestingly. When possible, dramatize them.
• Examples. You can hardly cite too many. Select those that are the appropriate and have punch.
  
• Quotations. Try to say or mention some quotes from people who are experts on the field on the topic of your speech. Try to research the Dictionaries of Quotations.
• Analogies. An analogy is an inference that two objects which are alike in some respects are alike in another particular. Analogies arouse interest and help to clarify a subject but should be used sparingly, if at all, as proof. False analogy is evidence of loose or dishonest thinking.
  
• Personal Experience. Whenever possible, enliven your speech with pertinent stories from your own experience.

PREPARE TO SPEAK EXTEMPORANEOUSLY

After completing the outline, think how the main topics are linked in thought and fix them in your mind so thoroughly that during your speech you will also know what point comes next. When delivering a short prepared talk, use no notes except for a long quotation, a number of quotations, or a set of statistics.

Prepare to talk your speech; don't memorize it. An extemporaneous speech is prepared but it's wording is not memorized while Impromptu speaking is offhand, unprepared. The ability to speak extemporaneously is much more valuable than skill in reciting memorized speeches.


As the saying goes practice makes perfect. When you have already your speech it's best to practice. Practice out loud alone at first. As you practice, stay relaxed, breathe deeply and regularly, talk slowly and regularly, talk slowly. Don't try to fix the exact word in your mind. Every repetition will make you more at home with your speech. Time your talk and adjust its length to the time assigned.

How about trying the mirror technique it's good. As you stand there speaking consider your posture, your facial expression grim, your hands. Is your posture good? Is your expression grim or cheerful. Do you look like a lively young person or like a dummy in a store window.

When you have made corrections that satisfy you, try your speech on someone else. A friend or a member of the family will usually be willing to share as audience and critic. Profit by the criticism of any one who will listen to you. Then you can deliver that wonderful speech with confidence.