Olivia Mitchell has written a great post on "How to craft a memorable key message in 10 minutes". Her post is an excellent model of how this works. It gives us 9 ways that the key message can be created - all incredibly relevant and useful. Sometimes it's good to be reminded, like this, to stay focussed.
Tag Archive for: speech writing
Writing an essay, taking a pop quiz, and giving a speech probably are three of the tasks students dread most. Speaking in public terrifies many people of all ages. Adolescents are not immune. It doesn't matter that they may be speaking only to their closest friends; most students feel very nervous because peer pressure is so intense. Usually there are a few students who delight at being given a chance to address their classmates. Over time with practice, the rest can learn to enjoy making oral presentations. They simply need to learn a few secrets.
The steps involved in writing a good essay are the same as those used to prepare a good speech. Both require the student first to organize his ideas and then to present them systematically. This helps readers and listeners to understand his line of reasoning.
Secret #1 is to write an "outline essay."
The first sentence answers the question, or makes a general statement. Each of the following sentences expresses a single reason or argument to support the first sentence. Think of these sentences as "bullet points;" students will elaborate on these points with facts and details in subsequent paragraphs. The last sentence offers a preliminary conclusion.
The "outline essay" becomes the first paragraph of the paper. It provides an overview of what the student is going to tell the reader. Then he actually tells him in the paragraphs that follow. Finally, he uses the final paragraph to remind the reader what he was told. The "outline essay" provides the student with a road map for presenting his ideas in an orderly manner.
The outline essay also can function as a "crib sheet" for presenting the essay's content orally to the student's classmates. So what? How does this make it any easier to stand up in front of the class and give a speech?
Here is secret #2: It is not necessary to memorize every sentence in the essay.
The other people in the class won't have a copy of the essay in front of them. They don't know what the student wrote. It won't matter if he leaves out a few minor details. All that matters is presenting the ideas in a logical sequence to make it easy for classmates to understand them. Think about it: What do folks fear most about giving a speech?
A) They are afraid of appearing foolish.
B) They are afraid of losing their train of thought.
No one enjoys listening to someone reading a speech word for word. It sounds awkward and stilted. More important, it prevents the speaker from making eye contact with individuals in the audience. A relaxed speaker can use vocal tones and voice inflections to add another dimension to the content of a paper, causing it to be even more persuasive.
Accomplished public speakers always know their material well, yet they present it as if they were merely having a conversation with the audience. After writing the essay itself, a student should be familiar with its content. It should be fairly easy to address his or her classmates about the essay's topic, referring to the outline essay occasionally to stay on track. Giving a speech provides students with a taste of what it's like to be in "Show Biz." The fear of ridicule is offset by the delicious sense of power that comes from delivering a speech, which is well received by the audience. Presenting an essay orally to classmates is excellent training for becoming a competent public speaker. This skill can be useful to students for the rest of their lives..
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Michael Strong created the ColorCode System to teach his daughters afflicted with A.D.D. how to write an essay. By demonstrating visually the format of a properly structured essay, the ColorCode System enabled his daughters to grasp this important concept in less than 30 minutes. The pattern of the colors helped them think logically and organize their ideas. They used those ideas to write an outline essay, which became the first paragraph. By following the format illustrated in the color-coded sample essay, they learned how to present their ideas systematically for every essay assignment, regardless of topic. They began writing good essays and getting better grades. Both daughters gained admission to their "first choice" college. You can learn more about the ColorCode System at http://essaywritesystem.com Michael Strong earned a Diplome from the University of Lyon, France; a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During the '60s, he served as a Page Boy in the British Merchant Marine, a Private 1st Class in the US Marine Corps and a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy. During the '70s, he taught school; opened Town Hall - the legendary Chapel Hill nightclub; managed Brice Street Band and ran the UNC Campus Mail Service. From 1983 until he retired in April 2009, he worked as a stockbroker and as a Certified Financial Planner. He and his wife Nancy have been married 38 years and live on 12 wooded acres 5 miles south of Chapel Hill NC. |
by Peter Jeff
End your speech with an attitude, not a platitude.
Instead of firing off a perfunctory “thank you,” consider launching fireworks of final passionate thoughts from the podium.
Here’s a quick and effective method for preparing a presentation when you're under the gun and can't spend a lot of time brainstorming. Ask yourself the following 5 questions: >>>
Many tools can be implemented for success in delivering your speech, whether you are giving a speech to a public audience, talking with members of a company board meeting, or simply offering a sales presentation. Such tools comprise explaining detailed examples, designing statistical charts, in addition to providing influencing testimony. Below, we will add another public speaking skill to the list and explain four special tips for using “evidence” in a influential speech.
Using a pertinent activity as an opening gets the audience's attention because it makes them active. It gives them the opportunity to move physically which makes them more alert and comfortable. It lets them learn and participate with one another. Finally, it put you in charge. That's right, when you cede temporary authority to your audience you get larger in their minds.
Three keys to using a pertinent activity
The three keys to make this work are to organize the activity, set the limits, and debrief the activity strongly and smoothly. Let's walk through an opening activity you might try out. ... more
Here is a secret for all speakers:
“You will never fit everything in”
I have seen many presentations where the speaker says “I have three points to share”, and then about five minutes before the end, he says, “Ok, and now my second point…”. This inevitably ends up in his presentation going overtime, or on him rushing through the last two points of his presentation.
This usually happen because the speaker is desperately trying to fit everything in!
The trick is to realise that you will not fit everything into your speech.
http://www.craigstrachan.com/blog/2009/01/you-will-never-fit-everything-in.html
Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases to Use to Communicate Your Strategy and Vision When the Stakes Are High ( Perfect Phrases)
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by Alan M Perlman
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There is a wide variety of phrases, many of them already familiar. So if you need somewhere to start, this is a good place. If you are new to speaking, lack confidence, or are a non-native speaker of English, the material will be a great basis for your presentation. It presents exact phrases, even entire speeches, for a variety of situations (including formal events). The are also useful for any international businessperson who is new to making presentations to Americans and is not 100% confident speaking in English.
So use the book as a starting point for your speech and use the examples I you are having difficulty finding words. Then make the speech you own by adding your own enthusiasms and unique ideas.
Your conclusion should do much more than simply tell your listeners that your presentation is over. Your entire presentation, in fact, can hinge on the final impression you make. It's that last impression that can linger the longest. So preparing a strong ending to your presentation is every bit as important as preparing a strong opening
