Creating effective business presentations/Developing business presentations/Building a sample speech
| “ | Tell the audience what you're going to say, say it, then tell them what you've said. | ” |
| —Dale Carnegie | ||
Read Section 12.3: Building a sample speech, in Saylor Academy (Ed.) 2012. Business Communication for Success. (See page(s) 476 - 479 in PDF version.).
This reading provides an overview of how speeches are built by identifying the main points to be communicated and by developing five structural elements:
- attention statement,
- introduction,
- body,
- conclusion,
- residual message.
Now have a look at
Section 12.5: Organizing principles for your speech, in Saylor Academy (Ed.) 2012. Business Communication for Success. (See page(s) 483 - 489 in PDF version.).
This section focuses on how to apply a variety of speech organising principles. Choice of an organising principle will depend on your topic, the rhetorical situation, and various other factors, including your preference as a speaker. This reading describes seventeen purpose-specific organising patterns for speeches that are appropriate for different topics and situations. Try not to feel overwhelmed at the number of different patterns! Remember that this is a tool to help you think about how you might organise a speech or presentation, and this is not something you need to know by heart.
Two example speech outlines are available in Section 12.4: Sample speech outlines, in Saylor Academy (Ed.) 2012. Business Communication for Success. (See page(s) 480 - 482 in PDF version.).
These outlines will help you to organise your ideas and tie them to the five main structural elements (the attention statement, introduction, body, conclusion, and residual message). In the classical style outline (A), ideas are organised in a hierarchical way. An alternate format (B) is also provided. There is no 'right or wrong' choice here; it really depends on your personal style and preference.
This video 'The Basic Outline of a Speech' [7:36 min.], developed by Butler University Speakers Lab, is also helpful.
Write or draw an outline for Martin Luther King’s "I have a dream" speech. Do you notice any particular patterns?
After you've completed this activity, go back to your reflection on Dr. King’s use of cognate strategies and rhetorical context. Is there anything you would now change in your reflection?
Add your outline and reflection to your learning journal. Be sure to label or tag your post ccom102.
