How to Write a Damn Good
Speech
The first step to
delivering a damn good speech is writing a damn good
speech.
Taking the time to write a quality
speech with useful content will do wonders for your confidence
and delivering the speech is about confidence.
Choose Your Topic
Choosing a topic you like is probably the single most
important step in writing your speech. It is very difficult to
write about something in which you have no interest. So, give
careful thought to the subject of your speech and choose a
topic that will interest you as well as your audience.
Once you have chosen the topic of your speech, write a
sentence that clearly states your topic and your position.
Remember, that until you can express your subject in one
sentence you're not ready to write the speech.
Develop Your Points
You will need to decide on how many points you use to
support your main topic. The average number of points in a
speech is three. But if your time is less than ten minutes, you
may have time for only one or two points. Likewise, if your
speech is longer than thirty minutes you need to add more
points. The decision is up to you. But remember don't cut the
closing, it is far more important than the points.
Once you have determined which points you are going to use,
write a paragraph dealing with each point. You should use
facts, statistics and stories to develop your content. The best
speech will use a combination of stories with facts or stories
with statistics. A speech with only facts and statistics will
be dry and boring. Don't let that happen to you.
Create Your Opening
You want your opening to grab the audience's attention and
prepare them for the message you prepared. If you have chosen
your topic and developed your points putting the opening
together will be easy. Your opening should state your topic,
your position and your points. So your audience knows what to
expect.
A great way to get people's attention is to start your
opening with a question. A question can get everyone thinking
an involved. Another possibility is to open with a quote that
pertains to your topic or start with something controversial.
Any of these will get the audience involved and keep them with
you.
Create Your Closing
The most important part of your speech is the closing with
the opening being a close second. Your closing should recap
what you were saying in your points, have a story that relates
to the audience and have a call to action.
If your speech was important then you will want to end with
a call to action. The audience wants to know what should they
do next and they expect you to tell them. So, tell them exactly
what you want them to do and how to do it.
A powerful technique for ending your speech is to use a well
crafted question followed by a moment of silence. This is a
powerful technique you should work at developing.
Read It and Rewrite It
Now take your opening, your points and your closing and
bring them together in one document. Read it and then rewrite
it. Every time you read it and rewrite it you will improve it.
Do this until it flows smoothly and effortlessly for you.
Follow this formula and you will have a damn good
speech.
Remember:
- Choose an interesting topic.
- Develop your supporting points. (body)
- Write an exciting opening.
- Create a compelling closing.
- Read and rewrite.
I invite you to get learn more at http://GreatPublicSpeaking.net
|