Preparing your Speech

The following steps will help you prepare your speech:

  • Choose your Topic: You should speak about something that interests you, is relevant to the audience, and is a significant issue in the world today.  
  • Determine your Purpose: Your speech can be either Informative or Persuasive. 
  • Informative Speeches educate, explain or clarify.
  • Persuasive Speeches influence beliefs, change or reinforce attitudes, or motivate people to take action. 
  • What is your Goal?  
    • How do you want the audience to respond or feel?
    • What do you want your audience to learn or understand?
    • Develop the 3 Parts of your Speech:
      • Create an clever introduction
      • What are 3-4 main topics that you want to discuss in your speech?
      • Support each Main Point with evidence. This means including various forms of research (facts, statistics, quotes, stories, testimony) and citing sources during the speech. 
      • Use transitions between your main points.
      • Conclude by reviewing information and have a memorable ending.
      • Please see the Suggested Outline Format document for more detailed information. 
  • Practice your Delivery:
      • Rehearse until you really “know” your speech
  • Consider practicing in front of a mirror or other people 
  • Recording yourself is useful so you can see your delivery 
  • Think about body language, posture, eye contact and your voice. 

Please Note: The use of PowerPoint slides or electronic visual aids are NOT allowed.