TIPS FOR SPEAKING OUTLINE

TIPS FOR SPEAKING OUTLINE

1. Keep your speaking outline as brief as possible. Reduce your speech to key words and phrases (except for direct quotations, statistics, source citations, and certain key ideas) to enhance the extemporaneous quality of your delivery.

2. Follow the visual framework of symbolization and indentation used in your preparation outline. This will make it easier for you to see where you are in the speech at any given moment.

3. Some people put their speaking outlines on index cards; others prefer to write them on paper or to print them from a word processor. Either can work fine as long as your notes are immediately legible to you while you are speaking. Check with your instructor to see if she has any preferences in this regard.

4. Most speakers who use index cards find the 3x5 size too cramped and prefer the 4x6 or 5x8 sizes instead.

5. If you put your speaking outline on index cards, try to use one card for each main point, plus one card each for the introduction and conclusion. This will reinforce the distinctiveness of each point and will help you pause at appropriate moments during the speech.

6. Whether you use index cards or regular paper, write on only the side of each card or sheet of paper. Limit the amount of information on each card or sheet of paper so you can read it at a glance under the pressure of the speech situation. Number each card or sheet of paper in the upper right-hand corner so it is easy for you to make sure they are in the correct order.

7. If you compose your speaking outline on a word processor, use a large, readable font. It is not a good idea to use all capital letters, since research has shown that a lot of words in ALL CAPS is harder to read than is normal text. Use generous margins and provide extra space between lines.

8. If you are composing your outline on a word processor and want to use index cards for your speaking notes, format the pages on your word processor to correspond with the size of your index cards. You can then print your notes on computer paper and tape or glue them to your index cards.

9. If you write your speaking outline by hand, do not use a pencil, which smudges easily and is often to light to read without straining.

10. Give yourself cues for delivering the speech. Remind yourself to maintain eye contact and to gesture. Tell yourself when to pause, where to speak louder, and the like. Also include signals that will remind you when to display and remove visual aids. Use highlighters or brightly colored markers for delivery cues to make sure you will not overlook them during the speech.

11. Prepare your speaking outline far enough in advance that you will have plenty of time to practice with it as you rehearse the speech.

Question- and- Answer Sessions

1. If your speech is followed by a question-and -answer session, you need to take that session as seriously as the speech itself. Because the question-and-answer session is the last thing the audience hears, it can leave a strong lasting impression. The impact of even a well-prepared speech can be undermined by a speaker who is unable to answer questions effectively. On the other hand, a speaker who answers questions adeptly can stregthen the impact of the speech and, in the process, substantially enhance his or her credibility.

2.Anticipate possible questions and formulate answers in advance. If you are giving a persuasive speech, be sure you are ready to answer possible objections that the audience may have to your position.

3.Repeat or paraphrase each question after it is asked. This is especially important when speaking to a large audience that may not be able to hear the question clearly. Repeating the question also gives you a moment to frame your answer before you respond.

4. When confronted with an unclear or unweildy question, try to rephrase it by saying something like, "If I understand your question, it seems to me that you are asking…"

5. When you are being asked a question, look at the questioner. Direct your answer, however, to the entire audience. Make occasional eye contact with the questioner as you answer, but speak primarily to the audience as a whole.

6. Allow one follow-up question from each questioner, but do not allow yourself to be dragged into a personal debate with any questioner.

7. Answer questions clearly, briefly, and directly. Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know answer to a factual question. Ask whether someone in the audience knows the answer. If no one responds, tell the questioner you will check into the answer as soon as possible after the speech.

8. Avoid responding defensively even to hostile questions. Regard the question-and-answer session as another opportunity to communicate your ideas, rather than as a challenge to your competence, intelligence, or personhood. If someone in the audience has misunderstood a portion of your speech, the question-and-answer session is an excellent opportunity to clarify your ideas.

9. Don't let one person dominate the question-and-answer session. If someone launches into an extended monologue instead of asking a question after another, respond by saying something like, "Those are very interesting ideas, but we need to give other people a chance to ask a question as well. Why don't we talk individually after the speech?"

10. Make sure the question-and-answer session does not run too long. In most situations, there will be a predetermined length of time for the question-and-answer session or for the speech and question-and answer session combined. When the time arrives, respond to the last question and thank the audience for its time and attention.