1. PREPARING YOUR
FIRST SPEECH
NES English Department
Fall semester 2012
Anna Tsvetkova

2. Stages of preparation
 Developing the speech
 Organizing the speech
 Delivering the speech

3. Developing the speech
 Focus your speech
 Do not try to cover everything in one speech
 Observe the time limit
 Do not narrow the topic too much
 Develop your topic
 Think of creative ways to capture your audience’s attention
 Give vivid examples to prove your point

4. Organizing the speech
 The classic three-part organization:
 Introduction
 Body
 Conclusion

5. Organization: Introduction
 Get the attention and interest of the audience
 Pose a question
 Tell a story
 Make a startling statement
 Begin with a quotation
 Reveal the topic of your presentation

6. Organization: Body
 Order the information
 Follow a certain sequence: chronological, spatial, causal, problem-
solution, topical
 Single out your main points
 Focus each point on one idea
 Limit the number of points depending on the time
 Use transitions
 Transitions help the listener follow you

7. Organization: Conclusion
 Let the audience know you are about to finish
 Reinforce your central idea
 If possible, end on a dramatic, clever, or thought-
provoking note.

8. Organization: Conclusion
 Let the audience know you are about to finish
 Reinforce your central idea
 If possible, end on a dramatic, clever, or thought-
provoking note.

9. Delivering the speech
 Speak extemporaneously
 Extemporaneous speech is a carefully prepared and rehearsed
speech that is presented from a brief set of notes
 Rehearse the speech
 Looking silently over your notes is not enough!
 Presenting the speech

10. Presenting: start
 Move to the front of the room
 Face the audience
 Assume a relaxed and upright posture
 Plant your feet a bit less than shoulder-width apart
 Allow your arms to hang loosely by your side
 Arrange your notes before you start to speak
 Take a moment to take a look over your audience
 AND SMILE

11. Presenting: Gestures
 Feel free to use your hands to gesture, but don’t plan your
gestures ahead of time – move naturally
 Avoid nervous mannerisms, such as twisting your
hair, wringing your hands, shifting your weight from one
foot to the other, rocking back and forth, tapping your
fingers on the table
 Try to appear calm and relaxed

12. Presenting: Eye Contact
 Look at the audience as often as you can
 Be sure to look to the left and right as well as to the center
 Avoid the temptation to speak exclusively to one or two
sympathetic individuals
 If you are too nervous to look your classmates in the
eye, look to the side of each person or just above his or
her head

13. Presenting: Voice
 Use your voice expressively
 Speak loudly so as to reach the back of the room
 Speak slowly, do not race through your speech

14. Presenting:
Overcoming Stage Fright
 Gain speaking experience
 Prepare, prepare, prepare
 Think positively
 “I wish I didn’t have to give this speech” -> “This speech is a
chance for me to share my ideas and to gain experience as a
speaker”
 Use the power of visualization:
 Picture yourself delivering the presentation smoothly and
confidently before you go on stage
 Know that most nervousness is not visible
 Don’t expect perfection

15. Source
 Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking. 11th ed.
New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. Pp 9-15, 63-75. Print.