Speech Writing

Preparing to speak in front of an audience can be a daunting task, especially if you have a fear of speaking in front of an audience.  Writing the speech, however, is not that bad if you are aware of several things. Recently I had to create and write a 15-minute oral PowerPoint presentation on research that I conducted.  I had to organize the research findings in to a cohesive body.  I had to do additional research to back up my findings.  After writing my abstract for the presentation.  I built on the information to create the main topics that I wanted to present.  I first wrote the speech as if I was presenting it without slides and then I reviewed it to see where I needed supporting documentation, graphics, or just information to help support the presentation.  Here are a few tips that I have used when writing a speech and creating a presentation.

First, you have to know your audience.  Are they peers or just the common observer? This is important because when you are speaking in front of peers, you can include, for example, jargon and research findings that they are familiar with. With the common observer, you have to make sure to explain any unfamiliar terms and explain the information on their level. 

Second, you have to be aware of the amount of time that is allotted for the speech.  This information will help in knowing how many words that you need and how to construct your speech.  If you only have 15 minutes to present, the information needs to be concise and informative, containing only the important aspects of the selected topic.  If you have any hour, the information that is presented can be more detailed and allow the presenter to provide more in-depth findings. 

Third, you have to decide whether to present your speech with or without slides.  If you choose to present with slides using PowerPoint or a similar program, you have to make sure your speech corresponds with the slide presentation.  One tip when presenting with slides is not to have your entire speech on the slides.  The slides should be used as a guide and provide support to your speech if you need to show images or graphics.  If you choose to present without slides, you have to be aware that the audience is focused solely on you and what you are saying.  The style of writing these two types are different.  With slides, you can use them for breaks in the content, to back up your message, and to provide the audience a visual of what you are presenting.  Without slides, you have to write in the breaks and make sure the message keeps the audience interested in what you are saying.

Finally, when writing a speech you have to make sure that you have a beginning, middle, and end.  With the introduction, let the audience know what you are talking about and what to expect.  In the middle, develop the ideas and present the facts.  In the end, you need to discuss the conclusions and summarize the message.