CS20 – ORAL COMMUNICATION

The Speech Writing Process

Just like events planning, or any other activities, writing an effective speech follows certain
steps or processes. The process for writing is not chronological or linear; rather, it is recursive. That
means you have the opportunity to repeat a writing procedure indefinitely, or produce multiple
drafts first before you can settle on the right one. Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram.

• Conducting an audience analysis

• Gathering data

• Editing and/or Revising

• Rehearsing • Preparing an outline

• Preparing the introduction

• Preparing the conclusion

Fig. 1. Speech Writing Process

Principles of Speech Writing

1. Choosing the topic

A speech is meant to impart a message to listeners. The choice of topic may be up to the speaker
but, more often than not, the speaker is given the topic because it is the central theme of a program,
conference, or presentation. In any case, the topic should be timely, meaning in existence at the
present time. The topic should be interesting to you (the Speaker) of course, so that you will be
enthusiastic in preparing and delivering the speech.

2. Analyzing the audience

Before writing down anything about the speech, one must engage in Analyzing the Audience. A
speech for one occasion cannot simply be used for another. There is no speech that fist any and all
occasions. Each speech has a different purpose and a different manner of delivery. So, given the
hundreds of thousands of speech topics multiplied by the types of purpose and types of delivery,
each speech, even if delivered by the same person, is unique. Every speech is specific to the speaker
and may be characterized by the topic chosen, the time and place of delivery, and the configuration
of the audience listening to this particular speech.

Audience analysis entails looking into the profile of your target audience. This is done so you
can tailor-fit your speech content and delivery to your audience. The profile includes the
following information.
• demography (age range, male-female ratio, educational background and
affiliations or degree program taken, nationality, economic status, academic or
corporate designations)
• situation (time, venue, occasion, and size)
• psychology (values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, cultural and racial
ideologies, and needs)
 3. Sourcing the information

This involves seeking out all the available means for finding materials to support the speech. Good
sources are newspapers, magazines, books, journals, or any reading material full of useful
information.
Information for any speech topic must be relevant, that is, it discusses the topic directly; must be
timely, meaning it focuses on the present or recent past; and must cover most, if not all, of the topic.
Information gathered must be at the level of knowledge of both the speaker and the audience,
without offending any listener.

4. Outlining and Organizing the speech content

An outline is a hierarchical list that shows the relationship of your ideas. Experts in public
speaking state that once your outline is ready, two-thirds of your speech writing is finished. A
good outline helps you see that all the ideas are in line with your main idea or message. The
elements of an outline include introduction, body, and conclusion. Write your outline based
on how you want your ideas to develop. Below are some of the suggested types.

a. Chronological Outline – a historical/time approach like from the past to the present
b. Spatial/Geographical Outline – going from one place to another, from one direction to
another.
c. Cause and effect Outline – involves a discussion of both cause and effect of an issue.
d. Problem-solution outline – explains a problem and suggests a possible solution.
e. Topical outline – divides the topic into subtopics based on importance or interest value or
simply because the topic requires it; for topics that do not fall under any of the previously
mentioned outlines.

Some Guidelines in Speech Writing

1. Keep your words short and simple. Your speech is meant to be heard by your audience, not read.
2. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical words because they can confuse your audience.
3. Make your speech more personal. Use the personal pronoun “I,” but take care not to overuse
it. When you need to emphasize collectiveness with your audience, use the personal pronoun
“we.”
4. Use active verbs and contractions because they add to the personal and conversational tone
of your speech.
5. Be sensitive of your audience. Be very careful with your language, jokes, and nonverbal cues.
6. Use metaphors and other figures of speech to effectively convey your point.
7. Manage your time well; make sure that the speech falls under the time limit.

Principles of Speech Delivery

1. Articulation

Word choice and grammatical correctness are necessary in writing the speech, but it is
articulateness in pronouncing the words and speaking with clear diction that effectively transmits
the message of the speaker. It is highly important to know the correct way of saying a word, whether
they are familiar or unfamiliar. Proper breathing techniques together with the correct molding of
sounds that make up words contribute to efficient articulation.

2. Modulation

There are pleasant sounding voices, quite soothing to the ears, just as there are unpleasant voices
that sound flat, are high pitched, or screeching. People like to listen to voices that are well
modulated, meaning the capability to adjust or manipulate the resonance and timbre of the vocal
tone.

3. Stage Presence

The ability to “own” the stage, of the speaker being able to fill the space and project his/her
personality to the audience – that is stage presence. The opposite it is stage fright, which is
considered by many as the topmost fear in the world of public speaking. But instead of trying to
get rid of stage fright, all that energy that is making one feel shaky and nervous should be used to
make the speaker become an interesting, enthusiastic speaker capable of being heard and able to
 move about on stage. No one is immune from stage fright. Other people just manage it better
and create what we see as stage presence.

4. Facial Expressions, Gestures, and Movement

It is not just the choice of words and their proper pronunciation that male for an effective speech
delivery. The Message of any speech is reinforced, clarified, and complemented by nonverbal
communication such as facial expressions, gestures, and movement.

5. Audience Rapport
It was pointed out previously that the most important tool for establishing a connection with the
listeners is an Audience analysis. Using the data, one is able to write a Speech that would appeal to
the audience. Also because of the same data, one will know how to deliver the message to the
audience and connect with them at a deeper level.
Tips for Effective Speech Delivery

Following are more techniques and tips to help you deliver your speech well:
1. Use a conversational style more often. This is the style that is more natural; it is the style that you
always use when you express yourself with your family and friends. Audience members do
not like the speaker to sound unnatural or exaggerated.
2. Look your audience members in the eye so they will feel that they are part of your speech. Eye
contact should be maintained to keep the attention of your audience and enhance your delivery.
3. Remember to adjust your volume to the size of the audience and the venue. When addressing a
large audience, modulate your voice in such a way that you speak loudly without sounding like
shouting or yelling.
4. Vary your rate or speed to keep your audience interested and to avoid a monotone pattern. The
audience might get bored if you speak very slowly and they might get confused if you speak very
fast. Hence, your rate should be at an appropriate speed.
5. Master your voice and find your pitch level (high or low). If you have a high pitch level, modulate
or slightly move it down. If you have a low pitch level, modulate or slightly move it up. Your
performance will definitely be affected if you do not modulate.
6. Use pauses when you emphasize the most important words, phrases, or sentences. Your pauses
should not last for three seconds. Otherwise, it will result in dead air or a moment of awkward
silence.
7. Pronounce and enunciate words correctly. You will confuse the audience if you mispronounce
words, and it could distract them and affect your credibility.
8. Avoid fillers or expressions that substitute actual words in your speech because these words are
distracting. Examples of fillers are “like,” “um,” “ah,” “uh,” and “er.” To reduce the use of these
fillers, detect the instances when you use them: Do you generally use fillers after each sentence,
between different ideas, or whenever you make transitions? Then, instead of using them the next
time you deliver a speech, simply stop and pause.
9. Start your speech by standing straight and balancing your weight. This will give a positive first
impression.
10. Use precise movements. Avoid distracting mannerisms like swaying back and forth, leaning
on the podium, licking or biting your lips, playing with your wristwatch or jewelry, scratching
parts of your body, frowning, and others. Observe your mannerisms and learn how to avoid
them when speaking in public.
11. Avoid having a poker face or a highly animated face. These facial expressions appear distracting
and may even be annoying. Instead, follow the most highly suggested tip: smile. However,
make sure that the meaning of your speech reflects in your facial expressions; do not smile if you
are talking about something sad.
12. Dress properly and appropriately. Wearing the proper attire will make you look more confident
and professional. Make sure not to overdress, as this may distract your audience.
13. Observe ethics by coming prepared, being honest with your words, being polite, avoiding
offensive words and back-biting or talking negative things about other people, or copying
someone’s work without proper documentation.
14. Breathe in and out to relax before your speech. Most importantly, have fun.