Making preparations
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Read the memo below. Use your common sense or knowledge to complete it.
Memo
To: Staff
From: HRD (Human Resource Department)
Date: Nov. 23, 2015
Subject: Preparing for a speech
The most important thing to know about a speech is its purpose.
Before you do any other preparation, figure out exactly the purpose of
your speech. Are you going to persuade, entertain, build excitement, or
achieve another purpose? Once you know the purpose of your speech,
you can take the next steps to prepare.
1. Choose a key theme (topic), if possible. Keep your speech as
focused as possible. Referring back to a key theme will help keep
your speech unified. To help you find your theme or goal, try to
write one clear sentence that can sum up the point of your speech.
2. Analyze your audience. Tailor your speech to their level of
knowledge and understanding.
3. Know your time limit. Design your speech to fit the amount of time
you have. Practice your speech to be sure it fits the allotted time.
4. Do your research. Make sure the information you present is correct
and significant.
5. Tell stories. Personal stories can draw listeners in. Quotes
(Questions) can also be a good way to add personal interest and
humor to a speech.
6. Make an outline and write your speech out. Don’t worry if you
write several versions. Make sure you know the outline of your
speech by heart even if you haven’t memorized every word.
7. Use your voice and your hands. Listening to a monotone speech is
boring. Use your voice to create excitement by pausing and rising or
falling in pitch as appropriate. Use your hands for emphasis.
8. Practice, practice, practice! Practice your speech, using gestures
and vocal changes. If you are using visual aids, make sure you do at
least one practice with them as well.
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Sample sentences (jot down at least 2)
Function
Sample sentences
Asking about
preparations
for a
presentation or
speech
1. Are you ready for your presentation?
2. Are you getting nervous, or this is easy for you at this point?
3. Are you all set up for the speech?
4. Have you done a trial run yet?
5. Are you going to use index cards, or they have a
teleprompter?
6. Can I bounce a few ideas off of you?
Talking about a
speech or
presentation
1. I’m a little nervous, but I know I work hard on this, once I go
over it one more time, I’ll be fine.
2. I just try not to get stage fright.
3. I hate public speaking, but I’ve got used to it. I still get awful
butterflies in my stomach though.
4. I want this to go perfectly, I pretty sure I’ve dotted all the i’s
and crossed all the t’s.
5. I think I’m going to use slides.
6. Is the projector set up, where is the projection screen?
7. I’m going to use the flip chart.
Talking about
visual aids for a
speech
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1.
2.
Make a presentation like Steve Jobs
Go online and search for presentation appliances. Make a list.
1. Projector and replacement bulb
2. Mouse and mouse pad
3. Remotes
4. Microphone
5. Headphones
6. Appropriate cables, including a dual mini plug
7. Video adapter
8. Amplifiers
9. Easels
10. Audience response systems
11. Flip chart stuff
12. Gadgets for slide presentations
13. Interactive whiteboards
14. Markers
15. Timers
16. Pointers
17. Props