THE DEMONSTRATION SPEECH ASSIGNMENT
1. Purpose: To demonstrate something to your audience by making, doing, or repairing something. You will not
simply inform us about something, but rather show us the entire process by actually doing it.
2. Developmental Skill: To gain experience speaking before a group, utilizing the correct outline format, supporting
the main steps through demonstration, description, and explanation. In addition, provide specific reasons for
doing something the way you do it.
3. Time: 4-6 minutes. Four point deduction for every thirty seconds short or over.
4. Grading: 100 total possible points. (Presentation-70 points, outline-20 points, visual aids-10 points)
5. Presentation: You may bring note cards up with you. These note cards are called a key word outline. In other
words, as opposed to having your full sentence outline, you utilize only key words to help jog your memory. The
key word outline should be made after practicing your speech so that you know where you may need to jog your
memory during the course of the speech. Your key word outline will should also be derived from your full
sentence outline to keep symmetry between the two. Do not use a full sentence outline while speaking since it is
difficult to locate what you need and the tendency is to read up there instead of talk to us. Certain things can be
written out for accuracy such as quotations, definitions and your introduction and conclusion.
6. Outline: A complete sentence outline that is typed is required to be turned into the instructor before you speak.
Organization and completeness are essential aspects of the outline and are what the grading is based on for the
outline. Examples of outlines follow.
7. Visual Aids: Visuals are usually inherent to the demonstration speech. In order for you to make, do, or repair
something, you need to have the object that you are demonstrating. So for the most part, ingredients, materials,
models, or even you make up the visual aids. If you would like to enhance your speech with an additional visual
such as a poster board etc. with directions, recipes, etc. that would be helpful.
8. Other Stuff: Remember that you are the expert or authority on your topic. Your audience may have no idea,
some idea, or even by highly aware of your topic, so make sure to be as clear as possible so the audience can
follow the presentation easily. Principles that will help the flow of your speech include organization method
(usually chronological for demonstration speeches), vocal variety, transition statements, good directions and
explanations, and a pleasant, friendly, and lively delivery so that listeners will be receptive to you and your
message. When you are excited about what you are talking about, your listeners will be too.
Definition
A demonstration speech is a speech, which pursues a practical goal of instructing the audience how to perform an action
easily and effectively.
Characteristics
A demonstration speech is a complex one since a speaker combines verbal explanations, visual aids and practical
showing. With the help of a demonstration speech one can teach how to acquire a skill, accomplish some procedure, and
understand the nature of a process.
Preparatory research
Careful preparation should precede writing a demonstration speech. A speaker should necessarily answer a set questions
as follows:
1) Will the group be interested in the topic of the demonstration speech? In case the answer is negative, a speaker
should think over some additional attention-getters such as visuals aids, testimonies, statistics to justify the
indispensability of learning a skill;
2) Is the process of a skill acquisition properly timed?
3) Is the audience prepared for learning a skill?
4) Which are the hardest and the easiest stages of learning a skill?
Structure/outline
Structurally, a demonstration speech consists of three parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. A model outline for
a demonstration speech is represented below:
1) Introduction:
a. Attracting attention to the problem in question;
b. Announcing what you are going to demonstrate in your speech and which exact results you are going to
achieve;
c. Giving preparatory technical explanations (e.g. facilitating the perception of new terms you will use in
your speech);
2) Body:
d. Explaining how to perform an action, acquire a skill, accomplish some procedure;
e. Warning the audience against possible errors, giving helpful tips;
f. Showing the results;
3) Conclusion:
g. Short review of the previous stages of the demonstration speech in order to foster memorizing the new
information;
h. Making a summary and referring back to introduction and initial statements.
Topics/basic concepts
A demonstration speech otherwise called a "how to speech" supposes shedding light upon issues such as "how to install
Windows XP", "how to join a blog", "how to cook a barbecue"
Requirements
A demonstration speech should meet a number of basic requirements such as:
1) Brevity: a model demonstration speech is 4 to 6 minutes long;
2) Logicality and simplicity: a demonstration speech is normally dedicated to learning the most effective way to
fulfill a task;
3) Having a definite ending point: an evident result of activity is the only acceptable culmination of a successful
demonstration speech;
4) Visual support: a demonstration speech must be focused around a visual presentation because the people are not
able to recreate all stages of presentation in their imagination.
Example:
Hello. My name is Brendon Johnson, and I will show you how to tie a tie. At first sight it may seem more complicated and
time-consuming than nuclear physics, but as soon as you understand the basics it becomes merely a matter of practice.
Believe me; it is much easier than learning to ride a bike or tying a shoelace.
I will demonstrate how to tie a Windsor knot. It is "a thick, wide and triangular tie knot that projects confidence", "your
knot of choice for presentations, job interviews, courtroom appearances", "best suited for spread collar shirts" (4). In
fact, making it is not tricky at all. Everybody can make a Windsor knot on his tie; however, it is highly recommended for
men with a long neck, for the wide knot will visually diminish the height of the neck and thus balance the appearance.
What do we need for tying a Windsor knot? Let us start from the essentials. To
succeed in our goal you need three things: a tie, a mirror and motivation. It is highly
desirable that you wear a suit or at least a shirt, for a tie was initially designed to
conceal the buttons on a shirt, so that you will vividly see why a tie is necessary, and
how long it should be. So, ensure that you have all the essentials, stand in front of a
mirror, place the tie on you neck and follow the instructions.
The process itself falls into four simple steps (please refer to the diagram on the
blackboard).
1. Ensure that the wide end is approximately 30 cm lower than the narrow end and
cross the wide end over the narrow one. This will create a loop between the collar
and your will-be tie. Pass the wide end through this loop and then down. So the wide
end will again be on top of the narrow one.
2. Put the wide end under the narrow one; pull it to the left and across the top of the
narrow end. By this time the wide end should encircle the narrow one, forming the
first outline of a knot. The wide end should be located to the right of the knot.
3. Put the wide end beneath the narrow one again, then between the collar and the
knot, and afterwards push it through the loop.
4. Finally, push the wide end through the knot. Next, hold the knot with your left hand, while adjusting the ends of your tie
and pushing the knot to the collar.
Here is the result - a perfectly tied Windsor knot. As we can see by now, tying a tie is much easier than nuclear physics,
and not time-consuming at all. With a tie, a mirror and proper motivation it took us two minutes to accomplish the task
according to the instructions. If you practice for a couple of times, you will be able to bring the time required to less than
half a minute. From now on you know the secret, and you are welcome to use it for the benefit of your appearance.
Demonstration Speech:
Introduction:
Attention to your Speech: ____________________________________________________________________________
Announcement of your presentation: ___________________________________________________________________
Preparatory Technical Explanations - Jargon
New Terms:
Term 1: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Term 2: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Term 3: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Term 4: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Term 5: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Body
Step 1:
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Step 2:
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Step 3:
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Step 4:
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Step 5:
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Step 6:
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Conclusion
Review of the steps
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Summary & Reference Back to Initial Statements & Introduction
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Items Needed For Demonstration Speech:
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