English: Speech Theory
Name ______________________________
Actuation Speech:
Tips for Success
Okay, folks—speeches begin tomorrow, so it’s time to buckle down and think about how you’ll attack
your speech performance. You have a copy of your rubric already (and if you lost it, remember that
there’s an extra copy on the website!), so you know the official grading breakdown. For added success,
read through the following tips to ensure you have everything covered.
Before your speech…

Use your cards wisely. Carefully plan and organize your note cards—these are your lifeline
during your speech! A few quick tips:
o Write in large print. You should only glance at your cards occasionally, so your text
should be large enough to see easily. Consider using 2 card lines for each line of text
(with a space between each line of text) or writing large text on the unlined side.
o Write clearly. Again, you want your cards to be readable! If your handwriting isn’t the
greatest, consider printing your cards.
o Keep it simple. Cramming half of your speech on one card may save paper, but it won’t
save your grade. Stick to just a few major ideas per card to keep things neat and
readable.
o Number everything! The last thing you want is to drop your cards and panic because you
can’t figure out which card came first. Number each card as you write it to safeguard
against unwanted shuffling!
Number denotes order
Sample note card:
3
Christopher Columbus sailed
toward America in 1492.
Large, clear printing
with space between

Prep Your PowerPoint. A beautiful PowerPoint does little for your speech if your slides aren’t
timed well—or worse, if you forget to change your slides at all! Practice your speech with your
PowerPoint to ensure you know when to move forward.

Practice, Practice, Practice! I can’t stress this enough: Not only can I tell when you have
practiced your speech, your audience can as well. Stand in front of a mirror, a friend, or even
your pet goldfish and practice until you’re satisfied with your performance.
On Speech Day…

Feed the Machine. To perform your best, make sure you feel your best. Get a good night’s
sleep, and eat a decent breakfast.

Dress Appropriately. Remember that your ethos is part of your grade, and you won’t win over
your audience if you look sloppy. Dress well for your speech to show you care. (Keep in mind
that a particularly professional look may win you a few brownie points!)

Take a Pre-Speech Breather. When the person before you is presenting, you will be permitted
to prepare in the hallway. Take these few minutes to run through your notes, remind yourself
when to change PowerPoint slides, and clear your head.
During Your Speech…

Pace Yourself. Most people who struggle with time constraints do so because they speak too
quickly. Take a breath before you start and take your time through your introduction. If you
start at an easy pace, you are more likely to continue that pace throughout. (I will gladly let you
know when you hit the 4-minute mark—just ask!)

Remember Your Audience. Your classmates are your audience, not me—so resist the urge to
look my way! I promise I won’t do anything too exciting while you are speaking. 

Hold On to Let Go of Stress. We’re all friends here, so no one should be afraid of their speech.
That being said, if you still feel a bout of stage fright coming on, I will gladly provide a small
item that you can hold on to (without penalty) as you speak. Believe it or not, it works!

Forget the Foibles. Small errors are okay unless you allow them to become big errors. If you
trip up on a word, simply pause and restart. Even the most seasoned presenters make mistakes,
so I will certainly not fault you for a small slip-up here or there. Show me your confidence by
continuing on and slam-dunking the rest of your speech!
Any other questions? Ms. Cook will be available on e-mail this afternoon to answer them!
bcook@pennsbury.k12.pa.us
Any important questions will be posted on our class website under the “Assignments” tab.
If you have a question, check there first!