Advanced Speech Project #1 (Speaking to Inform Manual): The Speech to Inform

Objectives:

• Select new and useful information for presentation to the audience.
• Organize the information for easy understandability and retention.
• Present the information in a way that will help motivate the audience to learn.

Speech Project #10: Inspire Your Audience

An inspirational speech motivates an audience to improve personally, emotionally, professionally, or spiritually and relies heavily on emotional appeal. It brings the audience together in a mood of fellowship and shared desire, builds the audience’s enthusiasm, then proposes a change or plan and appeals to the audience to adopt this change or plan.

Objectives:

• To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.
• Appeal to the audience’s needs and emotions, using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama.

Speech Project #9: Persuade With Power

The ability to persuade – to get other people to understand, accept, and act upon your ideas – is a valuable skill. Your listeners will be more likely to be persuaded if they perceive you as credible, if you use logic and emotion in your appeal, if you carefully structure your speech and if you appeal to their interests. Avoid using notes because they may cause listeners to doubt your sincerity, knowledge, and conviction.

Objectives:

• Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action.
• Appealing to the audience’s interests.
• Use logic and emotion to support your position.
• Avoid using notes.

Speech Project #8: Get Comfortable With Visual Aids

Visual aids help an audience understand and remember what they hear; they are a valuable tool for speakers. The most popular visual aid are computer-based visuals, overhead transparencies, flip charts, whiteboards, and props.

The type of visual aid you choose depends on several factors, including the information you wish to display and the size of the audience. Visuals must be appropriate for your message and the audience, and be displayed correctly with ease and confidence.

Objectives:

• Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience.
• Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.

Speech Project #7: Research Your Topic

Your speech will be more effective if you can support your main points with statistics, testimony, stories, anecdotes, examples, visual aids and facts. You can find this material on the Internet, at a library, and in other places.

Use information collected from numerous sources and carefully support points with specific facts, examples and illustrations, rather than with just your own opinions.

Objectives:

• Collect information about your topic from numerous sources.
• Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples, and illustrations gathered through research.

Speech Project #6: Vocal Variety

Your voice has a major effect on your audience. A lively, excited voice attracts and keeps listeners’ attention.

A speaking voice should be pleasant, natural, forceful, expressive, and easily heard. Use volume, pitch, rate, and quality as well as appropriate pauses to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message. Your voice should reflect the thoughts you are presenting.

Objectives:

• Use voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message..
• Use pauses to enhance your message.
• Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally.

Speech Project #5: Your Body Speaks

Body language is an important part of speaking because it enhances your message and gives you more credibility. It also helps release any nervousness you may feel. Stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact help communicate your message and achieve your speech’s purpose. Body language should be smooth, natural, and convey the same message that your listeners hear.

Objectives:

• Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact to express tour message and achieve your speech’s purpose.
• Make your body language smooth and natural.
• Focus on methods of delivery, but do not overlook speech content.