English 11 Writing/Communication Mr. Rinka Lesson #20

English 11 Writing/CommunicationMr. Rinka Lesson #20 Public Speaking Formal Speech

Writing a Formal Speech A formal speech demands more discipline than a presentation. When writing a formal speech, understand your purpose and the audience you will be addressing. A formal speech will be similar to an essay with the emphasis on how it sounds rather than how it reads.

You should write the theme of your speech in one declarative sentence, much like a thesis statement. You will be standing behind a podium with few, if any visuals, and the audience will be entirely focused on what you say. Present the speech as it is written without reading or relying too heavily on notes.

Writing a Speech It is very important before you make a formal speech to write out your speech carefully and in its entirety.

Writing Your Speechhttp://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Speech #1 Remember that all great speeches, and even some not so great, require "shape". The old saying is hard to beat: "Tell them what you will tell them; tell them; then tell them what you told them."

#2 Prepare to persuade your audience by your credibility, emotions and logic. Reasoning supports your points. Word choice affects the logical response of your audience, as well as their emotional response. Presenting your best reasons substantiates your point of view. (thesis).

#3 Use appropriate words for transparency/clarity -- but do not use vocabulary that causes you to lose your connection with your audience: stay away from confusion, from complexity, or obscurity of references that few know or care to learn about.

#4 "Shake hands" with members of your audience by "grabbing" their attention. You have something worthy of hearing. Former Ambassador Robert Strauss used to begin his addresses like this: "Before I begin this speech, I have something to say." This passage was always composed in a style that

enabled him to reclaim a powerful tone for the instructive portion of his remarks. Wear your sincere smile; breathe deeply but slowly to calm your nerves, then get to work. You may want to begin with an amusing one-liner or amazing anecdote.

#5 Rise to your occasion. Feel passionately about your topic. Recall old Uncle Ned's tear jerking toast at the wedding? Even ordinary folks can deliver great moments of oratory -- when they rise to the occasion. The audience must feel how important the topic is, so that they begin to think about why they should care.

#6 Build clear and sensible transitions from one thought to the next. The biggest mistake speakers make is to assume people will follow leaps of logic. Indicate to the audience when you are taking a turn in your thoughts with phrases like: "As an example of this" or "This brings us to the larger problem of," and so forth.

#7 Focus: avoid rambling or going on... But, a "great" speech does not need to start out great and stay great to the finish. It engages the listeners. It makes allowances for a dip in interest in the middle. Then, it gathers anticipation for its key moment.

#8 Choose a clear purpose. A speech should be made for a good reason. To inspire, to instruct, to rally, and to lead are noble purposes. To sound off, to feed a speaker's ego, to flatter, or to intimidate are not. You may wish to research "common logical fallacies" to avoid them in your speaking (rhetoric). http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/fallacies/

For"common logical fallacies" read this web site: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/fallacies/

#9 Know your theme. If you cannot answer the question "what do you want to say?" in a single, declarative sentence, do yourself and the audience a favor: decline the invitation.

#10 Write with one particular person in mind, someone you actually know. This helps you to keep the message real and personable. This helps you anticipate reactions and keep your language down to earth.

#11 Illustrate: in the form of slides, visuals, stories, jokes, or dramatic gestures. Your goal is to make some portion of the speech stick to the mind of the audience. If someone asks about it afterwards, they should say something like, "I enjoyed the story Tom told about his sister." or "That joke was so funny.”

#12 Give your audience a sense of completion. Bring them back to the beginning, but with a louder spirit. This can be done by starting the last paragraph with a quiet, declarative sentence that makes your point.

#13 Start writing as if you are creating an essay, and when you complete your draft, read it aloud. Listen to a recording. The style should be different than a typical essay or article. You can't have paragraphs that drone on. Don’t pack your talk with boring facts and figures. It's OK to repeat or revisit important points for emphasis.

R. F Kennedy’s Speech #20 Speech on the Assassination of Martin Luther King

Delivering a Formal Speechhttp://www.wikihow.com/Speak-Confidently-in-Public #1 Stand up straight. #2 Adjust microphone. #3 Breath easily. #4 Smile periodically. #5 Do not hurry. #6 Speak clearly, don’t mumble. #7 Use gestures but do not point.

#8 Know your speech very well. #9 Rely on note cards when necessary. #10 Maintain eye contact. #11 Do not make up stuff. #12 Avoid long pauses and “fillers” like “ah” and “um”. #13 Modulate your tone and strength of voice.

#14 Allow applause or laughter to calm down before continuing. #15 Relax and make the speech enjoyable for you and the audience. Do not be afraid to show your passion for what you are saying.

A College Commencement Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5x6gZTA

Additional Assignment #1 Prepare a formal speech promoting something you believe in. Examples: Education Volunteering Arts Athletics Dedication Kindness Loyalty Self-discipline etc.

Additional Assignment #2 Present your speech to the class.

English 11 Writing/CommunicationMr. Rinka Lesson #20 Public Speaking Formal Speech

English 11 Writing/Communication Mr. Rinka Lesson #20