Purpose: To inform the audience on your chosen topic. To give them information on a subject they may not be familiar with.
Organization:
I.
Introduction
A.
Attention Getter (see below)
B.
Statement of purpose – why you are giving this speech
C.
Statement of relevance – why should the audience care about this speech
D.
Preview the body of the speech
II.
Body
A.
3 main points about the topic
1.
Supporting materials – stories, facts, statistics, quotes, visual aids, etc
III.
Conclusion
A.
Brief summary of the body’s main points
B.
Restate the purpose of the speech
C.
Motivational Statement – leave you audience excited about your topic
Examples of Attention Getters
 Identify with audience – “We are all in the same boat and have to give a speech.”
 Statement of purpose – “The Titanic is a historically tragic event”
 Startling statistic or fact – “More than 1,300 people died on the Titanic”
 Story or Anecdote – a short story that leads to the main point of the speech
 Comparison – compare your topic to something else that is familiar to your audience
 Rhetorical Question – a question that does not expect an answer – “Can you believe the
Titanic was referred to as the unsinkable ship?”
 Quotation – The Unsinkable Molly Brown once said, “April 15, 1912 is a day that will never leave my memory”

Clear Voice – refers to the speaker’s ability to get their information across to the audience in an understandable way. Suggestions:
 Reduce the number of technical words
 Be specific in your explanations
 Pronunciation – if you cannot pronounce a word, find another way to say it
 Avoid verbal distractions – um, ahs, like, well, okay, etc.
Eye Contact – refers to the speaker’s ability to stay connected visually with the audience throughout the speech. Suggestions:
 Scan the audience with your eyes
 Avoid reading speech from note cards
 Use notes as a resource, glancing occasionally
Posture – refers to the speaker’s ability to maintain a strong physical presence. Suggestions:
 Stand up straight
 Avoid disturbing gestures – podium dancing, hands in pockets, folded arms, inappropriate or excessive hand gestures, etc
 Practice when to use hand gestures in your speech
 Wear clothing that shows you respect yourself, your topic, and your audience
Time – refers to the speaker’s ability to deliver their speech in the required time
Visual Aids:
 A visual aid is a visual representation that will add to the understanding of the topic. The visual aid shows support the speech and not dominate.
 Examples – Posters, PowerPoint, Models, Webpage, Demonstration, Diorama, Shadow box, etc.
Note Cards
 The note cards will contain a few words which act as signals so that the speaker remembers what to say next during the speech.
 See additional handout
Hints:
 Define a purpose for your speech
 Be organized
 Practice, Practice, Practice
 Have organized note cards
 Dress appropriately
 Create a visual aid that will be effective to the purpose of the speech