42 3.9 Presenting Your First sPeech
Make Decisions about the Style of Your Speech
Besides rehearsing your physical delivery, you also will decide about the style
of your speech, the words that you use and your arrangement of those words.
As we have said, some audiences respond to a style that is simple and informal.
Others prefer a grand and highly poetic style. To be a good speaker, you must
become familiar with the language your listeners are used to hearing and must
know how to select the right word or phrase to communicate an idea. Work to
develop an ear for how words will sound to your audience.Deliver Your Speech
3.9 Describe the essential elements of effective speech delivery.
Delivery is the final step in the preparation process. Before you walk to the front
of the room, look at your listeners to see whether the audience that has assem-
bled is what you were expecting. Are the people out there of the age, race, and
gender that you had predicted? Or do you need to make last-minute changes in
your message to adjust to a different mix of audience members?
When you are introduced, walk calmly and confidently to the front of the
room, establish eye contact with your audience, smile naturally, and deliver
your attention-catching opening sentence. Concentrate on your message and
your audience. Deliver your speech in a conversational style, and try to estab-
lish rapport with your listeners. Deliver your speech just as you rehearsed it be-
fore your imaginary audience: Maintain eye contact, speak loudly enough to be
heard, and use some natural variations in pitch. Finally, remember the advice of
columnist Ann Landers: “Be sincere, be brief, and be seated.”
Table 3.1 summarizes this chapter’s introduction to the audience-centered
speaking process and refers you to later chapters for in-depth information about
each step. For a model of many attributes of a well-crafted message that we have
discussed, read the Sample Speech by student Grace Hildenbrand.^93.9
Table 3.1 An overview of the Public-speaking Process
Public-Speaking Step What to Do For More Information- Consider the Audience • Gather information about your audience.
• Analyze the information to help you make choices
about every aspect of preparing and presenting
your speech.
Chapter 6: Analyzing Your Audience- Select and Narrow Your
Topic
To select a good speech topic, consider
• Your audience
• Your own interests
• The specific occasion when you will be speakingChapter 7: Developing Your Speech