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Public Speaking and Speech Writing: Speech Presentation

This guide will help you learn public speaking foundations and writing the best speeches for your classes.

Speech Presentation

The key to presenting a clear, coherent message in your speech is through practice and delivery. Communicating your message effectively will depend on how you practice and deliver you speech.

Practicing and Delivering

Practicing your speech does not mean memorizing your speech, mentally running through it, and then speaking it aloud over and over. Instead, you need to identify the weaknesses in your delivery, improve upon them, and build good speech delivery. Here are some tips to help you effectively practice your speech:

  • Practice in front of others before it is time to present your speech. You will be able to see what aspects of our speech and delivery can be improved.
  • Record yourself. You can discover your own strengths and any weaknesses that need to be strengthened. You will also be able to see for yourself how effective you are at initiating and maintaining contact with your audience.
  • Watch this video from Toastmasters International for tips on how to rehearse your speech.

Tips to Practice Public Speaking

The key to presenting a clear, coherent message in your speech is through delivery. Communicating your message through verbal and nonverbal delivery techniques show the audience that you have mastery of your information and makes the speech compelling and purposeful. Here are some tips to help you perfect delivery of your speech:

  • Cultivate a conversational style. This allows the audience to perceive you as expressive and natural.
  • Maintain visual contact with the audience. This allows the audience to feel like you are speaking to them, not just rattling off information at them.
  • Keep track of your pace and vocal variation. Speak loudly enough for all audience members to hear you, enunciate clearly, and use appropriate pitch, pauses, and vocal variety.
  •  Use your body to emphasize meanings. Stand up straight, move throughout your speech (unless you have to be behind a podium), use a variety of gestures.

Tips for Speech Delivery