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Public Speaking
Outlines:
1. Introduction.
2. Public speaking can be learned only by practice.
3. Preparation of a speech.
4. A speech should never be memorized.
5. Importance of voice management.
6. Conclusion.
Public speaking is an art; and like every other art, it has to be learnt, both in practice and theory. For a man to see that he will never deliver a speech until he has learnt to speak, is like saying that he will never go into the water until he has learnt to swim. One cannot learn to speak in public without speaking in public. In both cases, one has to learn by practice;and no amount of theory without practice will be of any avail.
A speech should always be carefully prepared beforehand. Preparation includes collection, selection and arrangement.first, collect materials for the speech - ideas, arguments, facts, illustrations bearing on the subject. Jot these down as they come to mind. Then select most appropriate, rejecting the rest. Lastly, arrange the selected thoughts in an orderly and logical plan. Without all this, speech will be badly arranged, rambling, disproportionate and full of repetitions. At first it is a good thing to write the speech out in full;for ‘ writing maketh an exact man’.
The written speech, however, should never be learnt by heart. Memorizing is a fatal mistake. It turns the speech into a mere recitation; and reciting is not nearly so effective as speaking direct to the audience. Then, the reciter is bound hand and foot by his memorized words; whereas a speaker must be free to alter , omit or add as he sees his audience requires it. Lastly , there is the danger of collapse. If the verbal memory fails, and the next sentence is forgotten, is lost and he may break down in the middle of his speech. Let the points of the speech and the order in which they come be kept clear in the mind; the actual words will come as they are wanted.
In public speaking the management of the voice is very important. Some speakers speak too low and cannot be heard well in a large hall. Some shout, and their voices are drowned by the echoes.some talk so fast that they cannot be followed; and some speak so slowly as to tire their hearers patience. The speaker should speak clearly, for all to hear; you should vary the intonation of his voice to avoid monotony and to enforce his meaning;and he should know when to me effective pauses.
Above all, a speaker should watch his audience and speak to it directly, so as to’ get across’ to his hearers what he wants to say as persuasively and convincingly as possible.