You have been given the nerve-racking task of writing a speech. Like it or not all college students must encounter this at least once in their college careers.
Many students shy away from speech writing while others seem to thrive in front of their large audience of peers. One of the most important things to remember is to be prepared.
Whether you have experience writing a speech or not, we want to be of assistance to you.
Here are 6 monumental ways you can wow your professor and peers while enjoying excellent grades to compensate your efforts. Are you ready to make a great impression? Here goes.
1. Make It Catchy.
Include that one sentence that your audience will remember!
While preparing for your speech you may be thinking of all information you wish to share while maintaining a confident posture. These are great things to remember, however, you might be missing one key ingredient to capturing the attention of your crowd.
John F. Kennedy’s Example
Take John F. Kennedy for example. He spoke one of the most memorable speeches known worldwide in his 1961 inaugural address.
One line that continues to touch his crowd and generations after is, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can do for your country.”
This one line is clever in that it sums up his enter speech within a few words. Although his crowds may never remember another point in his speech, he included a simple yet thought-provoking theme that continues to live today.
When considering the example of John F. Kennedy, it would be in your best interest to get a little creative. Think about the message you wish to convey. Condense your message down to one sentence.
If you want to be extra fun, find a way to make it rhyme. Speak this one line with strong authority. This will keep your message etched into the minds of your audience and leave a lasting impression.
2. Remember Your Mistakes.
Let’s face it. We all have done a speech that made us cringe years later when thinking back. This is completely normal.
I remember in my earlier college career, I was given the task of acting out a monologue. (While this was for a theatre class, the same applies for speech on all levels.)
I chose one that I thought would best suit me. I stood in front of the class and my nerves took over. I could barely speak a word without feeling my heart beating rapidly. My problem was not that I was a nervous wreck.
The issue was that I had not adequately prepared myself. Thus, I felt overwhelmed with fear.
Preparation is Key!
Before presenting your speech, take some time to fully read it through. Consider paper writing help if needed by visiting.
Get a great idea of the message. Repeat it as many times as you need to until you feel confident.
Share your speech with a trusted friend or family member. Ask them for their honest feedback. Go back and make necessary changes. Be confident in your message.
Failing to consider these tips will lead you to make the same mistake I did.
Perhaps your mistake might have been something else. Prevent future mistakes by simply evaluating what went wrong.
Do not beat yourself up over the things you should have said or done. Focus on how you can improve and you will always come out winning.
3. Condense Your Speech.
No one wants to sit through an hour long speech. Remember that your audience has a very short attention span. It would be in your best interest to find ways to shorten your speech so that you can make the most out of the time they are most alert.
Take for example President Abraham Lincoln. He presented a speech after a very lengthy oration given by Edward Everett who spoke nearly 14,000 words. Lincoln speech followed up during two-minute and included only 10 sentences.
Which do you think made a more powerful impact? Why Lincoln of course!
Short and Sweet Is The Way To Be!
Consider his tactic when preparing for your next speech. Condense your ideas into as little time as possible.
If you are able, try writing a five minute speech rather than a thirty minute one.
You might find that your audience will give you their full, undivided attention. Paper writing help can be a great way to receive the feedback from another individual in order to improve your preparation.
4. Think Of Your WHY.
Never think you will offer your very best by simply just “winging it.”
In addition to the other tips, remember the purpose of your speech. Endeavor to fully communicate the meaning and search for creative ways to compel your audience to action. This will put your nerves at ease while you focus on a greater meaning for presenting this speech.
5. Get to The Point.
While it may seem proper to begin your speech by giving honor to all the individuals that helped make your speech possible, try to avoid this portion of your speech.
It may work for the State of the Union Address, but it might damage the impact on your crowd.
The reason for this is like we shared in tip #3, your audience will most likely have a very short attention span. If you start your speech with a long list of dignitaries and thousands more other people, your audience will have lost interest, focus, and desire to navigate the following message.
Start strong and get to the point.
6. Address Their Humanity.
We have said it many times in this article: Your audience is human. Always remember this – especially when you have the overwhelming urge to debate an issue with a bunch of information.
Who is your audience? Consider this and address them accordingly.
Your audience do have emotions. If you would find a way to connect with their heart, you will win them over every time.
Conclusion
Speech writing does not have to be the “big bad wolf” of your college career. This can be considered one the most important opportunities to exhibit your people skills and knowledge.
With a little paper writing help, a well-prepared speech, and an awareness of your crowd, you can knock the socks off of your audience. Consider these tips and thank us later!
About The Author
This is a guest post by Christina Battons, a web content writer and blogger from LA.