Tips to Prepare for a Speech
Posted by
James Freeman
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Top tips to help you prepare a winning speech that will wow the audience.
Here are some simple yet effective tips to help you prepare for a speech contest.
Tip 1. Know Your Audience
- Learn the audience's background and interest.
- Combine what you want to say with what the audience want to hear.
- Keep it simple so that its is understandable and memorable.
- Keep it relevant and helpful to your audience.
Tip 2. Do Research before Writing
To gain high quality output, ensure high quality input.
- Learn from experts in that field. Get familiar with the topic to speak about it knowledgably.
- Collect various sources of information, such as online, library resources to gain up-to-date, creative ideas.
- Gather diversified materials - statistics, anecdotes, quotes to support your topic and make it interesting.
Tip 3. Prepare an Outline and a Detailed Script
The outline helps you grasp the structure of the whole speech. A detailed script may include the entire speech, which can help you speak fluently during the delivery.
- Start with a catchy beginning. Offer a preview. Give an organized body. Eng with a clincher.
- Revising your script is a must. Check the grammar mistakes.
- Use simple words to replace big, complicated words. Only use jargons or terminology when really necessary.
Tip 4. Rehearse Your Speech
- Practice before a mirror when no audience is available. Speak aloud, practice articulating your words clearly and confirm the timing of your speech (We speak more quickly when we simply recite a speech in our heads).
- Ask your friends, mentor or families to be the audience to practice eye contact, body language.
- Take video of your rehearsal to check the mispronunciation.
- See what are the evaluation standards and rehearse based on these standards.
Note: even after your speech, it is not the end yet. Try to collect some feedback from your audience and judges so that you can prepare better next time.
Conclusion
1 minute of speech requires at least 1 hour of preparation. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you will feel.
