The Opening-Body-Conclusion (OBC) method is the most tested approach while preparing a speech. Any well-written speech adheres to this guideline, simply because OBC effectively helps prepare a complete speech. Each of our speeches has a definitive objective –either to Inform, Persuade, Entertain or Inspire. A speech could also be a combination of both – Inform and Persuade, Inform and Inspire etc. For Ex: -

• A speech on ‘Why to Quit Smoking’ could deal with the ill effects of tobacco and provide statistical data of the number of deaths due to lung cancer and associated diseases. The speaker by way of quoting examples or videos could effectively persuade the smokers to’ kick the butt’. An informative speech calls for extensive research, while a persuasive speech needs to have powerful examples and a forceful message to persuade the audience.
• A speech on the life of Mahatma Gandhi could be an informative speech providing the audience with greater knowledge of the trials and tribulations in his life and also inspire the audience to adopt his ideology of ‘Ahimsa’ or non-violence. An effective inspirational speech would prove to be a life changing experience for the listener!

A speaker needs to first define his objective, understand his audience and the prevailing culture of the location. These are the basic pre-requirements to preparing a good speech. Speakers often tend to underestimate their audience or fail to understand their taste. A good speaker is the one who does his homework right!

Once you have a good understanding of your objective and the target audience, it’s time for you to formulate the magic decoction to serve the purpose- Your Speech

Opening: The opening lines are the most vital lines of a speech. This is because a speaker is judged at the first instance. The audience is extremely sharp, sensitive and are selective listeners. Ideally the first 30 sec-1 min is when you ought to grab their attention. If you falter at the first step, your speech fails.

A speaker is mentally judged -his style, confidence levels, posture, language and most importantly the intent of the speech are deciphered by the audience during the first minute. If they disagree or dislike, they mentally disconnect from your speech. An effort to either persuade or inspire the audience could prove to be futile if you have a weak opening, despite having comprehensive material to support your viewpoint. It is prerogative for the speaker to inform the audience of his intent in the Opening-“Tell them what you want to tell them”. Some of the common practices for an effective opening are:

• A puzzling question or an interesting (lesser known) fact that arouses audience attention.
• An appropriate quotation to suit your purpose.
• Display of an object/picture, which creates interest.
• A sudden –unexpected action/display (body movement) that gels with the purpose, arousing audience interest.
• A well-intended (apt) joke to establish a connect. In a formal presentation it’s a nice practice to have humour incorporated at regular intervals of your presentation to prevent monotony and boredom, else the audience would be tired of listening to ‘similar talk’ from all the speakers.

Avoid: Please avoid being apologetic or negative at the beginning of a speech. Any unrelated statement or joke can create a disconnect.

Body: The Body is the main part of the speech, where you substantiate on the viewpoints and ideas you wish to present. In the body of a speech – “Tell them all you want to tell them “. The body of the speech needs to be comprehensive and clear. It could be further sub-divided into 3 smaller parts for simplicity. Every point stated by the speaker needs to be validated. For Ex-

• “Smoking is a killer Disease. An estimated 400, 000 deaths are caused directly by cigarette smoking” – A statement ‘Smoking is a killer disease ‘has been supported with a statistical data.
• “Passive Smoking is equally injurious to health. A good friend of mine, Mr Michael, a non-smoker died of lung cancer due to an overtly exposure to cigarette smoke at workplace. A death caused by others ill behaviour. We all need to be sensitive and avoid smoking in public places or at a gathering “ – The above statement is backed by a personal example and the speaker urges/persuades the audience to be more sensitive to their surroundings.

“Point-Example-Point” is a good method to employ while preparing the Body of the speech. A maximum of 3 points with supportive data / examples is advisable, since the audience have limited attention span and grasping powers. A line in the speech cannot be repeated, unlike a book where you can revisit the previous paragraph!

The supporting materials commonly used in speeches are:

• Statistics- ideally employed to inform the audience.
• Testimony- Used to further substantiate your viewpoint.
• Stories/Anecdotes/Examples- People love stories and are undoubtedly the most effective way of enlightening an audience. A personal experience adds value and effectiveness to a speech and it is always advisable to include them as an integral part of your speech.
• Visual Aids- ‘Seeing is believing’. A picture can convey the message of a thousand words. Based on the topic – pictures, diagrams, charts, drawings, models etc can be used to effectively convey the message.

Conclusion: A befitting conclusion leaves behind an ever-lasting impact in the mind of the listener. The conclusion needs to be –‘short, definitive, reiterative and powerful ‘. In the conclusion “Tell them what you told them “. While concluding a speech you need to summarise your views and ‘Call for Action’ towards attaining the purpose. For Ex:

• “The ill-effects of cigarette smoking have caused over a million deaths in the last decade and as I speak the number is only growing. It’s time for each of us to act, take a step forward and vouch never to smoke again for our well –being and also in the larger interest of humanity. Make a promise, be the difference!” –The conclusion summarises the ill effects of smoking, calls for action and seeks a promise from the audience.

An effective conclusion has the “Take Home Message” embedded in it. A poor or weak conclusion renders the speech ineffective and incomplete. Always conclude on a high note!

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