Thursday, May 14, 2009

Speech Planning and Writing

SPEECH PLANNING AND WRITING

Steps in Planning a Speech

A. Topic Selection
The first step in speech process is to select an interesting topic that can excite the audience.

Suggestion in Choosing a Topic

Ø Have a message.
Question: What shall I talk about?
Answer: I must have something to say. I must have a message.

Dos and Don’ts in Choosing a Topic

DO
1. Choose your subject with care and thought. You should believe in it and sell it.
2. Select a subject early and explore it.
3. Know your audience to suit the topic and occasion.
4. Examine your KNOW – FEEL – DO areas.
5. Choose subjects from variety of fields. Your interest should guide you when your knowledge is limited.

DON’T
1. Pick a subject at random. Haphazard selection is dangerous.
2. Wait on the day of schedule and cram on the preparation.
3. Choose a subject blindly without considering the needs and desires of the audience.
4. Copy thoughts from books without putting them in your heart and mind.
5. Be afraid of the subject about which you know little. If you are interested, nothing will stop you from getting facts and researching about it.

General Fields to Consider in Choosing a Topic
Sports Literature
Arts Technology
Crime Famous People
Business Vacation Experiences
Medicine Traffic Problems
Journalism Scientific Discovery
Hobbies Music
Movies Travel

Note: One must come up with specific topics out from his chosen general field.

B. Researching your Topic
The next concern after selecting the topic is to get sufficient information about the topic. The kind of material that makes speeches interesting, lively, challenging, and convincing is that which is concrete, vivid, and which comes within the experience of the listeners.

Possible Sources of Information
1. Personal Experience
A personal anecdote or testimony can add interest to a speech.
2. Reference Areas
Look for references like encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, and other sources
which can give valuable data for the speech.
3. Card Catalogs
One needs to go to the library and look for information catalogs. One needs to look at the author, title and subject either cards or on computer.
4. Internet
The internet can give an updated source of information that contains internationally accepted principles.
5. Government Agencies
Most municipal agencies give out pamphlets or brochures that contain updated information.
6. Interviews
People with specific specialization are good sources of information.

Items to Look For

1. Facts – to be used as the basis of a talk
2. Illustrations or Examples – to throw light on a statement, helping to make it clear and moor easily understood
3. Quotations – to add weight to what the speaker says
4. Statistics – to prove a point
5. Anecdotes – to attract the attention of listeners
6. Incidents – to catch the attention and interest of the listeners
7. Analogies – to add color to what the speaker says
8. Epigrams – to summarize a general idea
9. Visual Material – to help the audience see what you mean

Speech Purpose
Every speaker must ask himself, “What am I trying to inform, persuade or entertain?” If the purpose is clear, he is now ready to structure and organize his speech.
*Textbook (pp. 107 – 124)


C. Speech Outline (Farell, 2000)

Title of Speech: ___________________________________________________
Purpose of Speech: ________________________________________________
Thesis: __________________________________________________________
Time of Speech: ___________________________________________________
Type of Audience: _________________________________________________

I. Introduction
A. Use one or a combination of suggested approaches.
B. Preview the speech.
1. Se the tone.
2. Give your thesis or main idea. Make sure your focus is clear.
3. Give your intentions for the topic and set the parameters of your
speech.
4. Arouse interest in yourself as a speaker.
5. Arouse interest in your subject.

II. The Body or Discussion Area
A. Support your thesis
B. Use the most appropriate pattern of organization.
C. Elaborate on main points.
1. Give major ideas larger treatment.
2. Divide speech to accent those major ideas.
3. Subordinate minor or lesser ideas.
4. Develop ideas well enough for the comprehension level for the comprehension level of your audience.
5. Check your logic fro these points: unity and continuity, coherence, and emphasis.
6. Never make a statement without considering the support you will give it.
7. Ask yourself if you fulfilled expectations and intentions of your introduction.

III. Conclusion
A. Use one or more of the suggested approach.
B. Sum up, review, or refocus the main areas of the speech.
C. Make the last word of your speech appropriate for your audience.
D. Disengage yourself positively from your audience. Know exactly how you are going to conclude and always be decisive. One you have concluded, thank the audience for their attention, and then sit down.



SAMPLE

Your Name: Valerie Ongchangco Aquino
Title of Speech: A man for All Seasons
Purpose of Speech: To reinforce the high opinion of the audience for Jose Rizal
Thesis: Jose Rizal’s love of country, courage, and intelligence are sources of inspiration to us all.
Time of Speech: 10 minutes
Types of Audience: Graduating students major in Social Sciences

I. Introduction
A. Refer to the audience and the occasion.
B. Use factors of attention: familiarity, reality and proximity.
C. Preview

II. Body of the Speech
A. Give reasons for praising Dr. Jose Rizal.
B. Use the chronological sequential pattern.
C. Discuss Rizal’s love of country, courage, and intelligence.
D. Provide examples and illustrations of these qualities.
E. Use testimonial by fellow writers, linguists, and poets.

III. Conclusion
A. Refer to another illustration; refer to the audience; end with a climax.
B. Use a quote from former Rizalista and Masons and disengage from the audience.
C. Ask for applause from the audience for the late Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Methods of Speaking

There are four types of speeches according to the manner of delivery.


METHODS OF SPEAKING
Impromptu Speech
Extemporaneous Speech
Read Speech
Memorized Speech


IMPROMPTU SPEECH
- ideas and the language are thought out only at the moment of delivery

Advantages
- spontaneous and natural
- makes the listeners more attentive

Disadvantages
- rambling
- repetitious
- disorganized

Preparation
- during the speech itself

Delivery
- requires mental alertness

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH

Definition
Ø It is one where the ideas are prepared but the language is definitely composed only at the moment of delivery.

Advantage
Ø It has some spontaneity and naturalness without the disadvantage of disorderliness of the impromptu speech.

Disadvantage
Ø It does not have the precision and carefulness in language of a written speech.

Preparation
Ø The speaker gathers his ideas, puts them in order, and practices delivery.

Delivery
Ø The speaker should be at ease with the extemporaneous delivery for he is already supposed to be prepared with the content of the speech.
Ø The speaker can concentrate more on refining and beautifying his language as he speaks.
Ø Written notes are generally important to assure the speaker of proper sequencing and a smooth flow of ideas, as well as remembering which is important.

READ SPEECH

Definition
Ø It is a speech that is written out and read word for word during delivery.

Advantages
Ø It enjoys the qualities of precision, organization, beauty, and depth of language.
Ø Its presentation is smooth and formal.

Disadvantages
Ø The delivery is not as spontaneous and natural as in impromptu and extemporaneous speeches.
Ø It may suffer from artificiality, if the speaker does not take care.
Ø The speaker may lack rapport with his audience.
Ø The audience may feel that the speaker is reading someone else’s words.

Preparation
Ø The read speech enjoys all the benefits of preparation.
Ø The speaker gathers more materials for his speech, decides on those he will use and the support he needs, puts them in outline form, writes out the speech, then practices delivery.

Delivery
Ø The speaker must make the audience feel that he is not talking to his manuscript.
Ø The most basic rule is: Look at your audience eye to eye as often as you can.

MEMORIZED SPEECH

Definition
Ø It is a speech that is committed entirely to memory and delivered from memory.

Advantage
Ø It has the same advantage as the read speech – precision, organization, beauty, and depth of language.

Disadvantages
Ø It has the same drawback as the read speech – lack of spontaneity and naturalness, or artificiality, unless the speaker is experienced and makes it appear that the delivery is extemporaneous.
Ø The speaker has a tendency to forget.
Ø If the speaker is not well prepared, his effort to recall his lines distracts him from the more important “feeling and spirit” of the speech.

Interview

GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEW

Interviewer
Ø Introduce yourself simply and politely.
Ø Make the interviewee feel comfortable.
Ø Allow the interviewee to express his/her thoughts fully.
Ø Give the interviewee the opportunity to discuss his/her views on the subject.
Ø Keep an eye contact with the interviewee throughout the interview.
Ø End the interview by telling the interviewee of your appreciation for sharing with you his/her ideas and time.

Interviewee
Ø Check your appearance.
Ø Be ready to answer questions.
Ø Show alert mind when answering questions.
Ø Do not be embarrassed by personal questions.
Ø Maintain an eye contact with the interviewer throughout the interview.
Ø Express your appreciation for the time given to you by the interviewer.

Types of Interview

Job Interview – this is done to determine the applicant’s qualification for the job.

Counseling Interview – This interview focuses on the personal problems of the person being interviewed. This type of interview requires a high degree of skill and psychological sophistication on the part of the counselor.

Research Interview – The objective of this interview is usually to obtain beliefs, attitudes, feelings or other data from the interviewee. The sources of the data are generally authorities on the subject matter.

Sales Interview – This is done to promote services or products. The interviewer (salesman) wants to sway the interviewee (customer) towards adopting his point of view.

Survey Interview – This is conducted to gather different opinions or reactions about a problem or issue which is of great concern.

Press Interview – This is conducted by the press people who ask government officials and other important persons about local, national or international issues.

Diagnostic Interview – This is done to determine the psychological or medical problems. The interviewer is usually a specialist in the field. The medical and psychological interviews are designed to diagnose the problems of the patients in order that proper intervention can be administered.

Exit Interview – This is usually done on an employee before he is allowed to resign. The company wants to know the reasons for leaving his/her job. Through the reason given, the company will know the areas which need reforms.

Extemporaneous Speech (outline)

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH OUTLINE

A. TOPIC

B. INTRODUCTION

C. BODY

MAIN POINT I:
SUB POINTS:

MAIN POINT II:
SUB POINTS:

MAIN POINT III:
SUB POINTS:

D. CONCLUSION