Making preparations
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Read the memo below. Use your common sense or knowledge to complete it.
Memo
To: Staff
From: HRD
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(分配) time.
4. Do your research. Make sure the information you present is correct and
significant.
5. Tell story. Personal story 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 hand. 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 hand 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.
2.
3.
4.
Are you ready for the presentation?
Are you getting nervous or is this easy for you at this
point?
Are you all set up for the speech?
Have you done trial run(預演) yet?
5.
6.
Are you going to use index card or teleprompter?
Can I bounce a few ideas off of you?
Talking about a
speech or
1. I’m a little nervous but I know I work hard on it, once I go
one more time I will be fine.
presentation
2. I just hate to 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 stomachs.
4. I want this to go perfectly, I’m pretty sure I’ve doted all the
is and cross all the ts.
Talking about
1.
I think I’m going to use slides
visual aids for a
speech
2.
3.
Is the project set up? Where’s the projection screen?
I’m going to use a flip chart.
Make a presentation like Steve Jobs
Go online and search for presentation appliances. Make a list.
1. Lighting
2. Speaker Timers,
3. AV Carts
4. Presentation Mice & Laser Pointers
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Display & Screen Cleaning
Microphones
Laptop
Portable Screens
Easels
Data Projectors
Accessories