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| Toastmasters Prepared Speeches |
In Toastmasters, a prepared speech is a presentation delivered by a club member that has been planned and practiced in advance, typically as part of their educational goals within the organization. These speeches are a fundamental component of nearly every Toastmasters meeting, offering members the opportunity to develop and refine their public speaking skills in a structured and supportive environment.
The primary objective of a prepared speech is to allow members to apply the principles of effective communication, such as organizing thoughts, crafting compelling narratives, and utilizing vocal and physical delivery techniques. Speeches generally range from 5 to 7 minutes in length, though "advanced" speeches and educational sessions can be longer, typically between 10 and 15 minutes. Each prepared speech is evaluated verbally and in writing by a designated speech evaluator, and often by other club members, providing comprehensive feedback for growth.
Key Aspects of Prepared Speeches in Toastmasters
- Organizing the speech logically: A typical structure includes an opening, main points, and a summary. The introduction should grab the audience's attention within the first 30 seconds, often with a quick anecdote, quip, or humor, and clearly state the speech's purpose.
- Developing content: Speakers are encouraged to draw from personal experiences, everyday life, and their interests for material, as "everything is copy". This can involve pulling out "soap-box" issues, observing daily life, or discussing experiences with friends and family.
- Crafting the body: The body of the speech should support the main objective with examples, stories, and vignettes. Applying a universal theme to something personal can make the message more relatable.
- Creating a strong conclusion: The ending should neatly wrap up the points made and can include a call to action or a circular structure that ties back to the opening. A strong conclusion helps the audience remember the gist of the speech.
- Utilizing visual aids: Visual aids should fit the speech's tone and help the audience understand and reinforce points. For demonstrative speeches, visual aids and step-by-step instructions are essential.
- Practice and rehearsal: Frequent practice, ideally out loud and with a timer, helps with pacing and builds confidence. Recording oneself can help identify strengths and weaknesses, such as verbal fillers.
- Vocal variety and pacing: Speakers should craft a speech with varying intensities, highs, and lows, and use pauses for impact and gravitas. Maintaining energy and vocal variety is crucial, even when reading excerpts.
- Body language: Posture, stance, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact complement the verbal message.
- Audience engagement: Using "we" and "us" instead of "I" and "me" can increase audience engagement. Activities like asking for a show of hands or having the audience participate can make the speech more memorable.
- Time management: Adhering to time limits is critical, not just in contests but in all speaking opportunities, demonstrating respect for the audience and meeting agenda. Speakers often aim for a slightly shorter duration than the maximum allowed to account for audience reactions like laughter.
- Informative speeches: Aim to educate the audience with facts, data, and a clear, logical structure.
- Persuasive speeches: Seek to convince the audience to adopt a viewpoint or take action, often using arguments and emotional appeal.
- Entertaining speeches: Focus on engaging the audience through humor, storytelling, and vivid descriptions.
- Demonstrative speeches: Teach the audience how to do something through step-by-step instructions and visual aids.
- Ceremonial speeches: Given during formal occasions like weddings or awards, featuring personal stories and heartfelt emotions.
1. Purpose and Objectives Each prepared speech in Toastmasters is designed to help members achieve specific learning objectives outlined in their educational paths, such as the Pathways learning experience. For instance, the initial speeches in the Competent Communicator manual focus on foundational skills like introducing oneself (the "Ice Breaker"), organizing a speech, and getting to the point. Later projects delve into more advanced aspects like vocal variety, body language, research, persuasion, and inspiration. The speaker determines their objective, whether it's to teach, persuade, inspire, resolve conflict, or simply tell a story.
2. Preparation and Structure Effective preparation is crucial for a successful prepared speech. This involves:
3. Delivery and Polish Beyond content, the delivery of a prepared speech is vital:
4. Types of Prepared Speeches Toastmasters encourages members to experiment with various speech types to broaden their public speaking repertoire. These include:
By consistently preparing and delivering speeches, Toastmasters members gain confidence and authority, transforming their speaking abilities.
