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Preparation for Writing a Speech
by Ron Kurtus (1 March 2013)
Before you write a speech, you need to take some preparation steps. You need to determine the purpose of the speech, analyze the audience and occasion, and select and narrow the subject.
Once you have completed those actions, you are ready to start writing your speech.
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Do you have something to say, write a speech on the subject, and then customize for your audience? Or do you write a speech for an audience and occasion?
Questions you may have include:
- How do you determine the purpose of the speech?
- How do you analyze the audience and occasion?
- How do you select and narrow the subject?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Determine the purpose of the speech
The first step is to decide what you are going to talk about and what reaction you want from your audience.
Consider your interest and your objective. Do you want them to be inspired, informed, or entertained?
The relationship between your subject matter and the purpose of your speech is an important first step in writing the speech.
Analyze the audience and occasion
Although you may be interested in your speech subject, you need to know your audience's interests. Also, your speech should fit the occasion.
Harvey was keenly interested in growing roses. So he wrote a speech on the subject and gave it to a veteran's group, celebrating the Fourth of July. Needless to say, the speech did not come off well.
Not only was the subject not of interest to the audience, but it also was not the subject for the occasion.
Select and narrow the subject
Sometimes a subject can fit the audience and the occasion but is too wide-ranging to fit within your time time. You need to narrow down the subject into a specific area. A short speech is much better than one that is too long.
Summary
Before you write a speech, you need to take some preparation steps. First, you need to determine the purpose of the speech and its subject matter. Then, you should analyze the audience and occasion for your material. Finally, select and narrow your speech subject.
Preparation is important for success
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Preparation for Writing a Speech