Fundamentals Of Speech Writing
Speech and speaking are distinctly different. This is the primary thought a speaker needs to remember while preparing his speech. While you speak, you have ample time and disposition to convey your message, whereas in a speech you need be structured and precise. A speech calls for organisation. A few basics to preparing a good speech are discussed below:
1) Purpose: A speech needs to have a definite purpose.
a) What is it that you intend to convey? – This question needs to be answered in a single line.
For Ex: At the end of my speech, my audience need to understand the effects of Climate change in the world.
Climate Change is the General purpose and aids in the construction your speech.
b) When you prod further – What about Climate Change do you wish to enlighten your audience to?
Ans: The current impact of climate change and a call for a reduction in emission in order to save the planet – This provides you with the specific purpose of the speech.
You now have a fair idea of the objective of your speech – A speech on climate change, calling for an action on reducing emission for a safer planet.
2) Connect to Your Audience:
a) Are you addressing an informed audience or the layman?
Every person in the audience will have a question: ‘ What is in it for me?’
If your addressing a group of climate change activists, you could right-away get into the finer aspects and deal with issues impacting climate change. Whereas, if you’re addressing a layman, he needs to be educated of the impact of climate change, thereby arousing his interest and concern in the subject. The best speakers are those who adapt to an audience; Always remember, “ Audience is king”
3. Language and Style: Speak to Express, Never to Impress
Communication does not call for being sophisticated and using high-end terminology. On the contrary simple and short sentences help build a good speech. A good speaker is one who prepares his speech in a manner that a high-school student would be able to grasp his speech. A well-written speech transcends barriers of age (people of all age groups would relate to it).
4. Value Time:
Speakers need to value their listener’s time and cannot take them for granted. Speakers who adhere to time are more respected by the audience. I have come across some seasoned speakers who had developed a negative reputation of exceeding the allotted time. This can hamper the effectiveness of your speech. On a personal front, I have lost a contest, because I overshot time by 1 sec!
“Value time, else you will never be valued “.
5. Word Count/Pace of Delivery:
The pace of delivery plays a pivotal role in the effectives of your speech. Many people have a natural pace of150-180 words/minute, which others are unable to grasp. The ideal speed needs to be between 100-120 words/minute. An emotional or humorous speech calls for effective pauses at regular intervals in order to elicit an audience response and could be paced at 90-100 words/minute. The thumb rule I follow while preparing a speech is
“ Prepare a 650-680 words text for a 7-7.30 secs speech “. It works!
6. Organise Your Speech:
Every speech calls for a distinct Opening that leads into the Body of the speech and a Conclusion, that reiterates your message and calls for action. This is popularly called OBC (Opening, Body and Conclusion). Any speech needs to adhere to an OBC structure. The methods of organising your speech and OBC would be dealt with in detail in my next article in this section called- Organising Your Speech.
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