One of the best ways to get started with giving presentations is to practice what you’re going to say while looking at yourself in a mirror. However, before you can start practicing, you’ll need to analyze your audience, know your topic, and narrow your topic’s focus into an outline.
A basic speech outline looks like this:
I. Introduction
II. Body
a. First Main Statement
b. Second Main Statement
c. Third Main Statement
III. Conclusion
Through trial and error, I’ve learned that I need approximately 125 words for every minute I’m going to speak. A reading-out-loud word-per-minute rate is much faster. However, with a presentation you’re not reading out loud. You’re trying to connect with an audience, whether it’s a large group in a lecture hall or a small group sitting around a table. Therefore, while you’re planning your presentation, think about how you’ll engage your audience (for example, pauses and visual aids, questions and answers, and vocal variety and body movement).
Your speech outline is your presentation plan: what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. To make it easier for you to craft your plan, I suggest beginning with the end in mind. In other words, write your conclusion first so you know from the start the purpose of your speech (to inform or persuade) and the call to action (what you want your audience to do). As you research and practice your material, you may decide to reword or change your conclusion—a natural outcome of learning more about your audience, topic, and speaking time.
When you’re done writing your conclusion, body, and introduction, block out time to practice until you know your material forwards and backwards. Tape your simple outline next to a mirror. Then, start speaking as if you’re looking at your best friend.
You might also like The easiest way to write a speech is to not write one.
Copyright © 2012 by Alice Brzovic. All rights reserved.
