Fundamentals of
Public Speaking:
Four Types of
Speeches
Speeches can be categorized into four broad areas depending on
the amount of preparation that is undertaken and depending upon
the nature of the occasion. The four types of speeches are
MANUSCRIPT, MEMORIZED, EXTEMPORANEUOUS, AND
IMPROMPTU
(Lumencandela, 2020).
The aim is to acquaint you with these four different modes of
delivery, to provide suggestions for when you are asked to
make impromptu remarks, and then to focus most of your
time on the preparation, practice, and presentation of
extemporaneous speeches.
When you listen to the President deliver a State
of the Union message, you listen to a wellcrafted speech being read from a teleprompter.
The speech has been polished by a staff of
speechwriters and has been practiced many
times.
Manuscript Speech
(Lumencandela, The President will know how to anticipate the
reaction of the audience and will know when to
2020)
pause for applause and when to expect
laughter. This form of speaking is used when
the exact words matter and when much time
and energy is expended on getting everything
just right.
Manuscript Speech
(Lumencandela,
2020)
There are times when people who are not
leaders of countries deliver manuscript
speeches as well. They are used when people
testify before Congress, when people read
important statements in a public setting, or
when people deliver reports at professional
meetings. All call for exact words in the correct
order.
While the President has access to a staff of
speech writers and teleprompter, most of us do
not. If you were given this type of assignment,
you would have to read your manuscript speech
from printed notes.
Manuscript Speech
(Lumencandela,
2020)
In that case, you would want to ensure that
you had prepared your manuscript carefully,
using large fonts so you could read it easily
without burying your nose in the pages.
Reading the speech does not allow you to
skimp on the preparation.
Practice the speech many times. This allows
you to make changes, if needed, and to
select the best words to communicate your
exact meaning.
Remember to speak clearly and naturally -strive for a conversational
tone. It shouldn’t sound read -even if you are reading. Also, remember to
speak slowly; there is a natural tendency to speed up when we speak in
public. Delivering a speech is not a race; you do not receive bonus points
for finishing early.
Unless you are specifically told by your instructor to prepare and deliver
a manuscript speech, you should never write out the entire speech.
Spend your time developing your outline, organizing your ideas, and
determining where you can best insert your supports. Then practice
using the outline while speaking.
Memorized Speech
(Lumencandela, 2020)
When you were in elementary school, did you
ever have to memorize a poem
or a part of a speech? If you are like most
students, the answer is “Yes.” There is
nothing wrong with memorization.
Memorized Speech
But
if
you
try
to
memorize
a
speech,
you
risk
(Lumencandela,
forgetting what you planned to say and coming
2020)
across as completely unprepared. Memorizing
your speech is even worse than reading it. All
the objections that apply to the read speech
also apply to the memorized speech.
Spontaneity is gone.
Memorized Speech
(Lumencandela,
2020)
The speech can sound stilted. Often, delivery
is too rapid. Concentration is on the words,
not the ideas. Sometimes the speech sounds
too formal, like a written essay. There is
minimal feedback or other contact with the
audience. And what happens if your mind
goes completely blank or if an audience
member interrupts?
The entire presentation will likely fall apart.
Memorizing a speech puts entirely too
much pressure on the speaker.
Impromptu Speech
(Lumencandela,
2020)
There will come a time for all of us when we are asked to “say a few
words” without much preparation. You haven’t prepared any notes, you
haven’t practiced what you’ll say, and you’re being asked to “wing it.”
While this may seem incredibly scary, impromptu presentations are the
most common type of public speaking. You’re in class and suddenly the
professor wants to hear how group projects are going. You, as the
leader of your group, are asked t stand and briefly discuss what the
group is doing and how much you’ve completed so far. That’s an
impromptu speech.
You didn’t know when you headed to class that day that
you’d be speaking in public, but you did it. No sweat! Or
maybe you’re in a meeting at work and the boss
announces that he wants you to brief everyone in the
meeting on the new equipment being installed that
afternoon. Again, no prior planning, no notes, you just do
it.
That’s impromptu speaking.
Extemporaneous
Speech
(Lumencandela, 2020)
The focus of most college courses in public speaking is
the extemporaneous speech. This is because this is the
type of speech used most in business, education,
preaching, and political affairs. Few of us will ever have a
professional staff of speechwriters or ever deliver a
speech with the aid of a teleprompter. But when you do
have a speech or presentation to deliver, you’ll want to
sound prepared, authoritative, and clear.
Simply stated, an extemporaneous speech is one where you will have
time for preparation and practice but will not be expected to read from a
manuscript or to have the speech memorized. When you speak
extemporaneously, it means you’ve had ample time to prepare and
research and that you have rehearsed your speech (many times) using
an outline or notes to remind you of the progression of ideas you wish to
present. You will follow all the normal steps outlined in the earlier
chapters.
Choose a topic, narrow appropriately, analyze your audience, choose
your supports, and create an outline. You will know your speech so well
and will amaze your audience!