MAKING A SPEECH
AND
PRESENTATION
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 resources 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, 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
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
sentence that can sum up the point of your speech.
Analyze your audience. Tailor your speech to their level of
knowledge and understanding.
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.
Do your research. Make sure the information you present is correct
and significant.
Tell stories. Personal stories can draw listeners in. Quotes can also
be a good way to add personal interest and humor to a speech.
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 aid, make sure you do at
least one practice with them as well.

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 it this easy for you at this
point?
3. Are you all set up for this speech?
4. Have you done the trial run yet?
5. Are you going to use this index cards, or will they have a
teleprompter?
6. Can I bounce a few ideals off of you?


Talking about a
speech or
1. I’m a little nervous, but I know I work hard on this. Once I
go over it (review) one more time, I will be fine.
presentation
2. I just have to try not to get stage fright.
3. I hate public speaking, but I got use to it. I still get awful
butterflies in my stomach.
4. I want this to go perfectly. I’m pretty sure I dot all the I’s
and cross the T’s .
Talking about
1. I think I’m going to use sliced.
visual aids for a
speech
2. Is the projector set up? Where is the projection screen?
3. I’m going to use a flipchart.
Make a presentation like Steve Jobs
Go online and search for presentation appliances. Make a list.
1. Projector
2. Replacement bulb
3. Mouse and mouse pad
4. Microphone
5. Laptop
6. Speaker
7. A boom box
8. Security cable
9. Monitor
10. Flip chart
11. A laser pointer
12. White board
13. Marker
14. Projection screen