Unit 18
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Making preparations
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, 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 (修改) 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 (指定的) 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 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 the presentation?
2. Are you getting nervous? Or is this easy for you at this
point?
3. Are you all set up for the speech?
4. Have you done a trial run (預演) yet?
5. Are you going to use index cards (備忘稿) or will they have
teleprompter (提詞機)?
6. Can I bounce (提出) a few ideas off of you?
Talking about a
speech or
presentation
1. I’m a little nervous, but I know I’ve work hard on this once I
go over it one more time.
2. I have to try not to get stage fright.
Talking about
visual aids for a
speech
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
3. I hate public speaking, but I’ve got used to it. I still get awful
butterflies in my stomach though.
4. I want to go perfectly, I’m pretty sure I’ve dotted all the i’s
and crossed all the t’s. (pay attention to all details)
1. I think I’m going to use slides (幻燈片).
2. Is the projector set up? Where is the projection screen?
3. I’m going to use a flip(翻轉) chart.
Make a presentation like Steve Jobs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHX-xnP_G5s
Go online and search for presentation appliances. Make a list.
1. Computer
2. White board
3. Black board
4. Microphone
5. An overhead projector
6. Light
7. Audio
8. DVD PLAYER
9. A voice recording
10. Screen
11. Earphone