Agricultural Leadership/FFA
Individual/Team
Development Thru FFA
Opportunities
Prepared Public Speaking
Things to consider when writing,
preparing for and giving a public
speech.
Introduction
• Speeches are given to inform the audience,
persuade the audience, or to integrate the
members of an audience.
• People also listen for the same reasons
• Speaking skills increase a person’s effectiveness
and influence the decision of others.
• Speaking in public is an art form nearly as old as
humanity itself.
• Effective public speaking is INFLUENCE.
• INFLUENCE IS LEADERSHIP!!
PLANNING A SPEECH
• As as a speech is
planned, consider the
following:
• PURPOSE
• AUDIENCE
• OCCASION
• If you can empathize with
the audience, you will be
able to plan a better
speech!
Analyze the Audience
• Find out as much
information as
possible about the
audience.
• It will be helpful to
know the following in
advance.
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# in group
Ages
Interests
Formal or informal
Setting
Time frame
Room size
Place on program
Analyze the Audience
•
Keep in mind the following 3 questions when
analyzing your audience:
1. To whom am I speaking?
2. What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a
result of my speech?
3. What is the most effective way of composing or
presenting my speech to accomplish my aim?
Select a Topic
1.
Choose a topic that
interests you.
2. Choose a topic in which
you are knowledgeable
or want to become
knowledgeable.
3.
Choose a topic of
interest to your audience.
FFA Topic Areas
• When searching for a topic for an FFA
speech consider using these three general
areas:
– Production Agriculture
– Agribusiness
– Agriscience
Brainstorming
• List topics within each area that interest you.
• Jot down words or phrases you know related to
those topic areas.
• Spend no more than two minutes on each topic
area.
• This process is called brainstorming.
Gather Information
• Benjamin Franklin once said:
– “An empty bag cannot stand upright.”
• Without solid material, your speech will fold like
Franklin’s bag.
• Start research by checking personal books and
magazines.
• Consult organizations and experts.
• Do research in a library and use the librarian to
help you search.
Gather Information
• If the subject is controversial, make sure to get
expert opinions from both sides of the issue.
• Speaker’s can find quotations to support their
ideas in sources such as:
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Bartlett’s Familiar Quotes
Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
Granger’s Index to Poetry
Record your Ideas
• When gathering material, write each item of
information on a note card with:
– Name of Source
– Page #
– Author
• Use quotations and statistics when they are
needed to make a point.
Make an Outline
1. To help you recognize the speech’s
strengths and weaknesses.
2. To help you organize and develop your
ideas.
3. To help you save time when writing the
speech.
Outline Format
• Main Points are indicated by Roman
Numbers ( I, II, V, VI)
• Major Subdivisions by capitol letters (A, B)
• Minor subheadings by Arabic numbers (1,2)
• Further subdivision by lower case letters
(a,b,c,d,k,t,)
Outline Example
TITLE
I.
INTRODUCTION
II. BODY
A.
First Main Point
1.
2.
B.
Second Main Point
1.
2.
III.
Sub point #1
Sub point #2
Sub point #1
Sub point #2
CONCLUSION
WRITE THE SPEECH
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Write the way you talk!
Write the Body of the Speech first.
Begin with the main points.
Arrange them in logical order or sequence.
Then write the Introduction.
Finally, write the conclusion
Write the Speech
• “Words, are the garments with which speakers
clothe their ideas.” J. Regis O’Connor
• Wise speakers choose their words carefully.
• Choose effective language.
• Refrain from using statements that criticize other
people or organizations. (Ethical Issues)
Introduction
• Do something to gain the audiences attention:
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Tell a joke
Pound the speaker’s stand
Make a loud noise
Ask a question
Tell a story
Use a quotation
Use a personal reference
Create suspense
Give a compliment
Introduction
• The introduction must grab the attention of
the audience, but it must also focus on the
goal of the speech.
CONCLUSION
• All’s Well that Ends Well - Shakespeare
• The conclusion offers the speaker one last
opportunity to remind the audience of the speech
content.
• Summarize the main points.
• Use a story.
• Be humorous.
• Appeal and
• Make an emotional impact.
Practice the Speech
• Practice Time Limits
• Practice Methods
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School Classes and Teachers
Home and Mirror
Auditorium
Civic Organizations
THE VIDEO CAMERA
THINGS THAT NEED
PRACTICE
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Your Smile
Gestures
Head and Eyes
Sincerity
Present the Speech
• A good speech starts with good preparation.
• Things to consider when giving speech:
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Salutation
Being Deliberate
Using the Hands (Need to appear natural)
Using the Body (Do not sway, rock, fidget)
Humor
Dress and Physical Appearance
Where to stand
Notes
Special Considerations
Answer Questions
• If you are asked questions afterwards, keep the
following in mind:
– Be deliberate, take time to think through answer and
then reply.
– Be complete
– Answer with confidence
– If you do not know the answer, says so without
hesitation, do not bluff.
– If you did not hear or did not understand the questions,
ask the person to repeat or rephrase.
FINALLY, Listen and Evaluate
• Evaluate speeches and presentation after
each time.
• Evaluation allows for an analysis of where
the speech went right and/or wrong.
Other Points To Consider
• Keep the voice well
modulated, use variety of
pitch and tone.
• Strive for correct
pronunciation and
enunciate clearly.
• Cultivate a sincere interest
in people.
• Constantly strive to
increase your vocabulary.
• Open the speech with a
sentence that will secure
the attention of the
audience.
• End the speech in a
forceful manner.
• Take appropriate pauses
and do not allow yourself
to run out of breath.
• Maintain good posture
while speaking.
Your Assignment
• You will be given 4 class days to write a
3 minute speech to present to your Ag
Class.
• Good luck, choose wisely, research
wisely, use time effectively.
• Typed written draft is due the day you
present.
• You may only use note cards when
presenting in front of the class.