Page 268 - Essentials of Human Communication

Step 9: Rehearse Your Speech 247

The sample template outline in The Public Speaking Sample Assistant included here
would be appropriate for a speech using a time, spatial, or topical organization pattern. Note
that in this outline there are three main points (I, II, and III in the body). These correspond Explore the Exercise “Orga-
to items II.A, B, and C in the introduction (where you would orient the audience) and to I.A, nizing a Scrambled Outline” at
B, and C in the conclusion (where you would summarize your major propositions). The tran- MyCommunicationLab
sitions are signaled by square brackets. As you review this outline you will see how it can be
adapted for use with other organization patterns, such as problem-solution, cause-effect, or
the motivated sequence. Additional template outlines for a variety of organizational patterns
may be found at MyOutline on MyCommunicationLab (access code required).

the delivery Outline The delivery outline will assist you during the presentation of a
speech and should be used instead of your preparation outline. Although you may feel in-
clined to read from your preparation outline, it is not an effective way to give a speech. In- Explore the Concept
stead, write a brief delivery outline such as that presented in the next Public Speaking Sample “Creating a Speaking Outline”
at MyCommunicationLab
Assistant box, which was constructed from the preparation outline on culture shock.
Some public speaking coaches and instructors recommend putting your delivery outline
on a 3 × 5 or 4 × 6 index card. One advantage is that you will need to condense your deliv-
ery outline to only key words and phrases, which will prevent you from reading your speech
and help you interact more freely with your audience. When notes are too extensive, speakers
have a tendency to read them rather than speak to their audience. Another benefit is that the
card won’t bend as would an 8½ × 11 piece of paper. Additional index cards might be used
for quotations or statistics that won’t fit on the one card. Or you may find it helpful to use
three cards, one for each of the three main parts of your speech. If you do use more than one
card (but avoid using more than four), be sure to number and label them clearly; you don’t
want to have to fumble through the cards looking for a particular quotation or statistic.
If you’re using PowerPoint (or any similar presentation software)—discussed in detail
in the next chapter—then your delivery outline is going to be either the PowerPoint slides
themselves or the speaker’s notes that you generate along with your PowerPoint presentation
(discussed in the “Using Notes” section later in this chapter). Here are some guidelines for
delivery outlines.
● Be brief. Don’t allow the outline to stand in the way of direct speaker-audience contact.
Use key words to trigger in your mind the ideas you wish to discuss. Notice how brief the
sample delivery outline is compared to the preparation outline, yet it’s detailed enough to
include all essential parts of your speech, even transitions.
● Be delivery-minded. Include any delivery guides you might wish to remember while you’re
speaking—for example, to pause or to show the visual aid.
● Rehearse your speech with this delivery outline. Make your rehearsal as close to the real
thing as possible.

Objectives self-Check
● Can you construct effective speech conclusions that summarize and close?
● Can you construct effective introductions that gain attention and orient your audience?
● Can you construct and integrate transitions to help your audience follow your speech?
● Can you create effective preparation and delivery outlines for your speech?

Step 9: rehearse Your Speech

Before you begin your rehearsal, you need to decide on the methods of delivery you’ll use. Gen-
erally, you’ll find that the extemporaneous method will suit your needs best and is likely to be the
delivery method used in your course. Nevertheless, other methods of delivery have their value as
well. You can then consider the suggestions for making your rehearsals efficient and effective.