A SPEAKER’S GUIDEBOOK
4TH EDITION
CHAPTER 17
Methods of Delivery
Conversing with Your Audience
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“I wish you to see that public speaking is a perfectly
normal act, which calls for no strange, artificial
methods, but only for an extension and development
of that most familiar act, conversation.”
– James Albert Winans
Discussion: If public speaking is no more than a
conversation, why are most people nervous about
giving a speech when they are not nervous when
conversing with a friend?
Qualities of Effective Delivery
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Effective delivery is the skillful application of
natural conversational behavior in a way that is
relaxed, enthusiastic, and direct.
Appearing natural means that you appear relaxed
and unrehearsed, even though you practiced
extensively to be able to be confident and clear.
Extemporaneous speaking is conversational,
because you can adapt your words, and how you
deliver them, during your speech delivery.
Question: Methods of Delivery
Which method of delivery are we learning in
this course?
A. Manuscript
B. Memory
C. Impromptu
D. Extemporaneous
The Manuscript Method
Requires that the speaker write out their speech
in essay, not outline form.
 The speaker reads the speech verbatim, word
for word without deviation from the printed text.
 Professional speakers sometimes speak from
manuscripts using a Teleprompter.
 Politicians often use manuscripts, because
professional speechwriters write their speeches.
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The Memorized Speech
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In oratorical style, the speaker memorizes
the speech and delivers it from memory.
This works for short speeches such as toasts or
other special occasion speeches, but not for
research speeches.
Debaters, however, often are required to
memorize their speeches.
Discussion
If you attempted
to deliver your
informative or
persuasive speech
from memory,
what might go
wrong?
Impromptu Speaking
Impromptu means spontaneous and improvised;
the speaker delivers a speech with no time for
planning.
 Many speakers procrastinate instead of
spending adequate time planning for the speech.
 Professionally, you are more likely to be asked to
speak impromptu during a business meeting than
to give a planned presentation.
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Speaking Impromptu:
Give It a Try!
Pick an item from your book bag, off your
person, or in the classroom, and quickly
develop a one minute, three point impromptu
speech:
What
is it?
What is it commonly used for?
What is an unexpected use for it?
Extemporaneous Speaking
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You must prepare well and practice extensively.
You speak from a keyword outline, not from a
manuscript or from memory.
Speakers make changes to the speaking plan to
meet the immediate needs of the audience.
Organization of thought must be evident; be careful
to not get off on a tangent while speaking.
Effective Speech Preparation
Step 1: Keep your topic appropriate for the
audience and occasion.
Step 2: Prepare a thesis statement that serves as
your central idea for your speech.
Step 3: Research your topic to add credibility to
your ideas.
Step 4: Outline your speech.
Step 5: Practice your speech 6 or more times.
Chapter 17 Key Terms for Review
effective delivery
elocutionary movement
speaking from manuscript
TelePrompTer
speaking from memory
oratory
speaking impromptu
speaking extemporaneously