Advanced speech

Public speaking (ENLA 307)

BASICS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Introduction:
1. Conceptualizing ‘public speaking’
The aim of Communicative Language Teaching is to develop students’ communicative
competence by engaging them in meaningful interaction.

Students’ ability to speak in English accurately and fluently ensures their communicative
competence in English. Speaking is one of the primary skills which is developed very naturally.
But teaching speaking, no matter what language it might be, is not a very easy task.

No doubt, mastering the art of speaking is the most important aspect of learning a second or
foreign language and success is measured in terms of the ability to carry out a
conversation in that target language.

During Students’ single classroom presentation on ‘Self-Introductory’ and group presentation

on various problems in the field of grammar, fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, posture, and
logical development of the ideas were identified.

So, this course is believed to help students these and other shortcomings students when they
are required to deliver formal, advanced speech or in public speaking situations.

1.1. WHAT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING?

Some official definition of public speaking would be: "Public speaking (sometimes termed
oratory or oration) is the process or act of performing a presentation (a speech) focused
around an individual directly speaking to a live audience in a structured, deliberate manner in
order to inform, influence, or entertain them.

Public speaking is commonly understood as the formal, face-to-face talking of a single

person to a group of listeners.

 In the mentioning of the term "public speaking," to most people the first
association is: speaker > venue > stage > microphone > large audience.
 Most people think of public speaking as a speech in front of a large set, holding
rallies, political speeches, lectures, large business conferences and the like.

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  We less think of TV guest appearance, lecture at the university, perhaps a musical
performance and the like.

Qn.1 Is public speaking when you talk to the board of your company?

Ans: It certainly is. This group of people, this board of directors may be smaller or larger, may
consist of three people, may be 30 people but it's still a group. And still you're talking to a
group, you bring some information and you are in the focus of attention of this group of people.
So, you're doing a public speech.

Qn.2. What if you go to a job interview, and speak in front of your future employer, with
whom there may still be one or two participants in the commission. Is that public speaking too?
Ans. Of course it is. In this case too public speaking is what do you do in front of certain people,
whether it is a larger or smaller group.

Qn 3. What happens when you go to the coffee shop and want to talk to a guy or a girl, you
want to appeal to that person? Can that be considered a public performance?
Ans: Of course it can.
Qn4: Is it a public appearance when you talk in an environment, group of your friends?
Ans: Unlike all previous cases, it may, but doesn't have to belong in a public performance. If it is
a larger group, usually the speech is considered a public performance and for one simple reason
- we all, in a group of people who surround us, wish in some way to position ourselves. We
want to put our self at a certain place, a certain level within this social group. Whether we want
to be the leader of the group, a follower of the group, someone who is always asked for an
opinion and whose opinion is valued and the like. Simply we want to present ourselves in a
certain way, and therefore, even in a group of friends we do public speaking.

When are our talks, and discussions with our listeners not considered a public performance?
Only in case when we talk
 with someone very close to us. Or
 with someone who is our friend and with whom we do not want to achieve any effect,
we do not want to achieve some specific goal of our performance, our speech.
 We do not want to persuade this friend to do something for himself or for us.
 We do not want to sell him anything.
 We do not want to achieve anything except the normal private conversation. Only in
this case, such talk does not belong in a public performance arena.

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Therefore, only when we, speaking to someone, do not intend to present ourselves in a certain
light, nor we have the intention to achieve a goal, we have no intention of leading that person
or those people in some direction, we do not want them to do anything, only then it is not a
public performance.

 In most cases, in front of a group of people, almost all of our speech can be a
public performance, if we care at all about what, to whom and why we talk. Of
course public speaking include speaking in front of parliament, speaking at the
rally, lecture before a full amphitheater of the faculty, but there are also talks
and an address to employees, presentation of a report to the company’s board,
presentation of the project and seeking funds from investors, sales presentation
to a group or individual, holding press conferences, guest talk in the studio with
only TV host, press release without a host, a job interview, flirting and countless
similar or completely different situation.

 On the other hand, public speaking can actually be:

 Speaking while you do not have any living person in front of you, but are talking
only to a machine, when we speak on camera, whether it's a live broadcast,
through some means of communication, or footage that would later be
broadcast.

1.2.The importance of public speaking

Being able to speak is such a fundamental part of how we communicate. There are some who
just can’t express themselves well enough in words to convey their thoughts and feelings.

People should make more of an effort to practice communicating verbally because it’s crucial to
all of our interactions. Let’s take a look at how this is connected to everyday life, and why
speaking up is so important.

 Not being able to speak clearly can be a threat to one’s education. Some students might
struggle with their words because they have speech impediments or another speech
problem-such as stuttering or lisps.
But sometimes even those who don’t have any kind of speech impairment can have
difficulties with communication at school. It might be hard for them to participate in
class discussions or speak up in front of their peers.
 It teaches valuable skills

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 Gives you the confidence to face your fears, to boost self-confidence and courage and
become more expressive in front of an audience. It can also help improve other skills
like reading comprehension, communication, enables an individual to have a voice and
be heard.

Speaking up also helps boost self-confidence as many people feel empowered after
delivering a speech successfully. It’s like a public pat on the back: “Hey, I liked what you said
and you seem like an important person”.

 It teaches social skills that are so vital in today’s society, it is not surprising that
researchers have found a relationship between a person’s ability to speak publicly and
his or her future success in life.
 According to several studies done on this subject, excellent speakers usually go
on to successful careers, while poor speakers often struggle throughout their
lives with employment difficulties and interpersonal relationships problems.
 Oratory and public speaking skills are of a huge and very often crucial
importance in the process of building our place in society, our career, successful
sales, and even family relations. In addition, it is particularly important to stress
that if you want individuals or groups to run on any immediate action, whatever
that action may be, a good result can be expected only if you are a good,
confident and pungent speaker.

 Whatever your job is, Whether you are dealing with public business, politics, the media,
whether you are a professor or a manager, retailer or restaurateur, whether your goal is
to act and speak in front of crowds, management boards of companies, hold sales
presentations to groups or individuals, better position yourself in society, or just to be
liked by a girlfriend / boyfriend at a coffee shop, or to appease your professor to give
you a passing grade you need to know oratory techniques.
 Anything that you do today, mastering the techniques of public speaking and oratory
skills is what will make a key qualitative difference between your success or failure.
You are required to know and master the techniques of public speaking, just as you might
want to change your current situation, to begin to look in the eyes of your peers, to advance
in your job, of course to better yourself in the job that you already do, or how to achieve
better results and so on.

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 2. TYPES OF SPEECH
“Speech is power. Speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” — Ralph Waldo Emmerson

There are different types of speech, because we will not talk the same way in different
communicative situations.
2.1. Types of Speeches According to the mode of Delivery
A good speaker will think about the delivery method, or the way in which the speech will be
conveyed to the audience. When designing any speech, it’s important to consider how you will
deliver that speech. In technical communication, there are four different types of speech
delivery, each with their advantages and disadvantages. They are: impromptu, manuscript,
memorized, and extemporaneous.
1. IMPROMPTU SPEECH
Definition: An impromptu speech is a speech given on the spot without any prior planning or
preparation.

Suppose you’re at work, doing your job, minding your own business. Then your co-worker calls
you to inform you that he’s sick, there is a big meeting coming up, and you have to take his
place and give an update about that project you’ve been working on.

Another example of impromptu speaking occurs when you answer a question such as, “What
did you think of the movie?” Your response has not been pre-planned, and you are constructing
your arguments and points as you speak. Even worse, you might find yourself going into a
meeting when your boss announces to you, “I want you to talk about the last stage of the
project” with no warning. You might also be asked to perform a speech before your graduating
class.

It is an unexpected speech when you have no warning, no time to prepare your speech. This is
essentially rare, but regardless, sometimes in the business life it can happen that you are asked
to do one such speech. However, it is necessary to understand the following, you can talk, or
give a speech on a specific topic you know very well and then you can give yourself the freedom
to talk spontaneous on the subject, but regardless of this, depending on the situation you are in
and in front of what audience, it is desirable to prepare at least certain segments of the speech.

You need to adequately prepare, depending on who is in the audience, what the circumstances
are, the kind of speech, the goal and the like. You need to devise a framework of key concepts
to begin with, the introduction of the speech, then the key point of what you speak about
and at the end the conclusion of the speech. By that at least you have these three things in
your speech to relay on and that's basically your prepared speech. Everything in between is
something you know from practice and what you can talk about almost endlessly. Of course,

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 this is only valid when you know very well the matter which you speak of, but still use this very
carefully, and not with too much freedom and absolutely no preparation.

If you are ever asked to speak before a crowd without advanced notice again, here are a few
tips you can use:

Here is a step-by-step guide that may be useful if you are called upon to give an impromptu
speech in public:

1. Take a moment to collect your thoughts and plan the main point that you want to make (like a
mini thesis statement).
2. Thank the person for inviting you to speak. Do not make comments about being unprepared,
called upon at the last moment, on the spot, or uneasy. In other words, try to avoid being self-
deprecating!
3. Deliver your message, making your main point as briefly as you can while still covering it
adequately and at a pace your listeners can follow.
4. If you can use a structure, use numbers if possible: “Two main reasons. . .” or “Three parts of
our plan. . .” or “Two side effects of this drug. . .” Past, present, and future or East Coast,
Midwest, and West Coast are pre-fab structures.
5. Thank the person again for the opportunity to speak.
6. Stop talking. It is easy to “ramble on” when you don’t have something prepared. If in front of an
audience, don’t keep talking as you move back to your seat.

Note that it’s a good thing though; always try to be prepared for your speeches in order for
them to be successful. Impromptu speeches are generally most successful when they are brief
and focus on a single point.

2. Extemporaneous speech: A well-prepared speech that relies on research, clear

organization, and practiced delivery, but is neither read nor memorized.
 Most extemporaneous speakers rely on notes of some sort, using index cards or technology,
such as PowerPoint. Because they require extensive research and preparation, they tend to
have significantly more depth, and therefore are generally the preferred method for speech
delivery.

What Are the Elements of an Effective Extemporaneous Speech?

 Speak about something worth: Saying the first element of an effective extemporaneous
speech is having something to say that has meaning for yourself and for your audience.
Having an interesting topic alone isn’t enough without innovative ideas, up-to-date
information, and thoughtful personal opinion; even the most eloquent words coming out of
your mouth won’t matter.

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 When you’re preparing to deliver your speech extemporaneously, it’s especially
important that you think clearly and thoroughly about the content of the message.
Because you’ll be choosing your words in the moment, you will need to be an expert
about your message.

 Speak with Sincerity

As an extemporaneous speaker, you’ll be expected to thoroughly believe in the message you’re

conveying to your audience. If you don’t believe in your message—if you’re not sincerely
convinced that your topic matters—your audience will quickly pick up on your lack of sincerity.

Projecting insincerity is a sure-fire way to lose your audience’s attention. Nothing is more
unsettling to the extemporaneous speaker than looking out at the audience and seeing a
roomful of blank expressions. To help you maintain your composure and continue to think on
your feet throughout your speech, keep it real. Believe in your topic.

 Speak with Your Own Style

Speaking in a natural, conversational style means that you shouldn’t try to imitate the speaking
style of other speakers. Learn from other speakers. Observe what they do that works from
them.

Follow the rules for preparing and delivering an effective extemporary speech. But, when it
comes to style, figure out how to express a style that’s authentic to you.

Practice and Rehearsal Tips

The following guidelines are tips for how to practice and rehearse your extemporaneous
speech:

• Write an easy-to-follow speech outline that includes all of the essential elements of your
speech.

• Create index cards to act as cues to keep you on track throughout your speech. (Alternatively,
use the note feature of your graphic technology.)

• Never read from your index cards unless you’re reading a direct quotation or a statistic.

• Rehearse with your graphic technology and/or other visual aids and coordinate them with
your talk.

• Display images from your graphic technology and/or other visual aids only when you are
talking about them.

• Develop your conversational speaking style.

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• Rehearse in front of others and solicit feedback.

• Record and listen to a timed version of your practice speech.

• Prepare for your entire speech.

Remember, when you are practicing extemporaneous delivery the exact words you use will
vary. What matters is whether you are able to get the main and sub points across in a
conversational manner.

Compared to the other three types of speech delivery, an extemporaneous style is the best for
engaging your audience and making yourself sound like a natural speaker. Your audience is
likely to pay better attention to the message because it is engaging both verbally and
nonverbally.

By using notes rather than a full manuscript (or everything that you’re going to say), the
extemporaneous speaker can establish and maintain eye contact with the audience and
assess how well they are understanding the speech as it progresses. It also allows flexibility;
you are working from the strong foundation of an outline, but if you need to delete, add, or
rephrase something at the last minute or to adapt to your audience, you can do so. The
outline also helps you be aware of main ideas vs. subordinate ones.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of speech. For one, the audience will
think you are a genius. You used few notes and appeared to know everything about the topic.
But this is not something that can be done quickly. The same fact finding and research used for
other types of speeches must be used here. The speaker also must rehearse this speech for
timing, rhythm and flow.

3. Manuscript speaking: is the word-for-word iteration of a written message. In a manuscript

speech, the speaker maintains their attention on the printed page except when using
presentation aids.

The advantage to reading from a manuscript is the exact repetition of original words. This can
be extremely important in some circumstances. For example, reading a statement about your
organization’s legal responsibilities to customers may require that the original words be exact.
In reading one word at a time, in order, the only errors would typically be the mispronunciation
of a word or stumbling over complex sentence structure. A manuscript speech may also be
appropriate at a more formal affair (like a funeral), when your speech must be said exactly as
written in order to convey the proper emotion the situation deserves.

However, there are disadvantages in manuscript speaking. First, it’s typically an uninteresting
way to present. Unless the speaker has rehearsed the reading as a complete performance
animated with vocal expression and gestures (well-known authors often do this for book

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 readings), the presentation tends to be dull. Keeping one’s eyes glued to the script prevents eye
contact with the audience.

For this kind of “straight” manuscript speech to hold audience attention, the audience must be
already interested in the message and speaker before the delivery begins. Finally, because the
full notes are required, speakers often require a lectern (book stand) to place their notes,
restricting movement and the ability to engage with the audience. Without something to place
the notes on, speakers have to manage full-page speaking notes, and that can be distracting.

It is worth noting that professional speakers, actors, news reporters, and politicians often read
from an autocue device such as a teleprompter. This device is especially common when these
people appear on television where eye contact with the camera is crucial.

Like in other speeches, with practice, a speaker can achieve a conversational tone and give the
impression of speaking extemporaneously and maintaining eye contact while using an autocue
device.

However, success in this medium depends on two factors:

1. the speaker is already an accomplished public speaker who has learned to use a conversational
tone while delivering a prepared script, and
2. the speech is written in a style that sounds conversational.

3. Memorized speaking: is reciting a written message that the speaker has committed to
memory. Actors, of course, recite from memory whenever they perform from a script in a
stage play, television program, or movie. When it comes to speeches, memorization can
be useful when the message needs to be exact and the speaker doesn’t want to be
confined by notes.

The advantage to memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact with the
audience throughout the speech. Being free of notes means that you can move freely around
the stage and use your hands to make gestures. If your speech uses presentation aids, this
freedom is even more of an advantage.

Disadvantages : Memorization, however, can be tricky. First, if you lose your place and start
trying to start over, the contrast in your style of delivery will alert your audience that
something is wrong. If you go completely blank during the presentation, it will be extremely
difficult to find your place and keep going. Obviously, memorizing a typical seven-minute
classroom speech takes a great deal of time and effort, and if you aren’t used to memorizing, it
is very difficult to pull off.

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Summary: An impromptu speech can take many forms such as a toast at a wedding, being
asked to give a project update at a meeting, or even simply meeting someone for the first time.
While this type of speech can be spontaneous and responsive, the speaker generally has little to
no warning that they will need to speak.

A manuscript speech is completely written out and read word for word. It is often a good style
when you want to nail the specific wording and do not want to make an error. However, this
type of speech is not very persuasive because it does not take advantage of the immediacy of
public speaking. It also completely removes audience relation from the process.

A memorized speech is when a speaker commits an entire speech to memory. This style also
harms relation with the audience because the speaker is more focused on remembering the
text of the speech rather than communicating with the audience. Additionally, if you lose your
place and need to ad lib, it may be obvious to your audience.

An extemporaneous speech is done in a natural, conversational speaking style. While it is

carefully planned, it is never completely written out like a manuscript. It is also not read or
memorized. Instead, an outline is used to help guide the speaker. As a result, more attention
can be paid to the audience, allowing the speaker to better connect with them and make
adjustments as necessary. This is the style we want you to use for your presentation
assignment.

2.2. Four types of speech based on purpose

While the core purpose of giving a speech is to deliver a message to an audience, we can still
categorize speeches based on 4 main concepts: entertaining, informing, demonstrating and

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persuading. In other words, depending on who our audience is and what goal we want to
achieve with our speech, we will choose the type of speech, and by that we will further modify
our speech and adapt to the circumstances.

1. Informative speech – When you want to educate your audience about a certain topic,
you’ll probably opt to create an informative speech.
This kind of speech is delivered mostly to convey information to the audience about
something they don't already know. It provides information about a topic. The topic could
be a place, a person, an animal, a plant, an object, an event, a process or concepts. There
are a few types of informational speeches:
When a public speaker talks about things that can inspire your senses, like touch, smell or
feel, it is a speech about objects and involves talking about things in the sensory and
physical world. Maybe he is talking about the way a spider looks or the way freshly snipped
herbs smell. It may even be a speech about your favorite president. Either way, the speech
is written to appeal to the senses.

Some speeches are written to inform people of a current or past happening. This is a speech
about an event, and it is meant to bring people up to speed on things that have, are or will
be going on in the world. Upon taking the presidential oath, a newly elected president will
give his Inaugural Address, where he tells the citizens of the United States his plans for his
term. This speech is done to get the nation excited about the prospect of a new president.

A cooking demonstration is a good example of a speech about processes because it

instructs the audience on how to do something through a process. So, the next time you
happen to pass a gourmet store and see a chef showing onlookers how to make homemade
pasta, know you are listening to a speech designed to show you how to do something step
by step.

There are speeches that are a bit more abstract than a current event or even a how-to talk.
Some are speeches about concepts, written about theoretical ideas and notions, like world
peace, freedom or love. Unlike the other types of informative speeches, this type of speech
is intangible. As with any of the informative speeches, they should be written as topical (or
by topic), chronological (or by date) or spatial (or how things physically fit together).
An informative speech’s purpose is to simplify complex theories into simpler, easier-to-
digest and less ambiguous ideas; in other words, conveying information accurately.

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 The informative speech can be thought of as a polar opposite to persuasive speeches since
they don’t relate to the audience’s emotions but depend more on facts, studies, and
statistics.

Although you might find a bit of overlap between informative and demonstrative speeches,
the two are fairly distinct from one another. Informative speeches don’t use the help of
visual aids and demonstrations, unlike demonstrative speeches, which will be described
next. Informative speeches do not require any form of supportive material, such as charts or
graphs, although some may include these visual aids. What sets them apart from a
demonstrative speech is the fact that informative speeches focus more on explaining the
“why” of a subject than the “how”.

Some examples of informative speeches can be speeches given by staff members in meetings, a
paleontology lecture, or just about anything from a teacher (except when they’re telling us
stories about their pasts).

College lectures are the most common example, but tour guides are also generally considered
to be giving an informative speech. The lecturer or speaker is generally believed to have more
knowledge of the subject than the audience.

2. Persuasive speech: A speech is said to be persuasive if the speaker is trying to prove why his
or her point of view is right, and by extension, persuade the audience to embrace that point
of view. The goal of a persuasive speech is to convince an audience to accept, or at the
very least listen to and consider, the speaker's point of view.

Persuasive speeches differ from other basic types of speeches in the sense that they can either
fail or succeed to achieve their purpose. You can craft the most carefully written speech and
present it in the most graceful manner, yet the audience might not be convinced.

Persuasive speeches can either be logical by using the help of facts or evidence (like a lawyer’s
argument in court), or can make use of emotional triggers to spark specific feelings in the
audience.

A great example of persuasive speeches is TED / TEDx Talks because a big number of these talks
deal with spreading awareness about various important topics. Another good example is a
business pitch between a potential client, i.e. “Why we’re the best company to provide such
and such.”

This type of speech is accompanied by greater closeness with the audience, preferably greater
physical proximity, quieter tone of voice, addressing the listener's inner being and their
emotions. Sometimes you can use a slightly stronger tone, but certainly not as strong as in call

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to action speech, because persuading others cannot be done with too turbulent speech that
sort of attacks the listener, but with speech that creates a positive reaction, enthusiasm and
confidence.

When we want to convince someone into something, we need to be close to that listener or
group of listeners. Then we talk in a way that that persuasion looks, so to speak, half
meditative, so that the tone of the speech almost looks like hypnosis, the hypnotic voice, and
that it puts the listener in a certain semi hypnotic trans, mild or shallow hypnotic trance.

In fact, the speech that convinces listeners in something, has to relax that same audience,
because only when they are relaxed, that they are submissive to accept our suggestions,
which surely they will not do if they are tensed up.

 Models of the persuasive process

The most frequently cited model we have for effective persuasion is thousands of years old.
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, 384–322 BC, explained it as being supported by three
pillars: ethos, pathos and logos.

Ethos
Briefly, ethos is the reliability and credibility of the speaker. How qualified or experienced
are they talk on the topic? Are they trustworthy? Should we believe them? Why?

Pathos
Pathos is the passion, emotion or feeling you, the speaker, bring to the topic. It's the choice
of language you use to trigger an emotional connection linking yourself, your topic and the
audience together, in a way that supports your speech purpose.

(We see the echo of Pathos in words like empathy: the ability to understand and share the
feels of another, or pathetic: to arouse feelings of pity through being vulnerable and sad.)

Logos
Logos is related to logic. Is the information we are being presented logical and rational? Is it
verifiable? How is it supported? By studies, by articles, by endorsement from suitably
qualified and recognized people?

To successfully persuade all three are needed

Common examples of persuasive speeches are: when being interviewed for a job; presenting a
sales pitch; political speeches - lobbying for votes

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3. Special occasion or Entertaining Speech

The range of these speeches is vast: from a call 'to say a few words' to delivering a lengthy
formal address.

This is the territory where speeches to mark farewells, thanksgiving, awards, birthdays,
Christmas, weddings, engagements and anniversaries dwell, along with welcome,
introduction and thank you speeches, tributes, eulogies and commencement addresses.

Some examples include speeches given by maids of honor or best men at weddings,
acceptance speeches at the Oscars, or even the one given by a school’s principal before or after
a talent show.
If you’ve been to a birthday party before, that awkward toast given by friends or family of the
lucky birthday person is considered to fall under the definition of an entertaining speech.

You’ll find that entertaining speeches are the most common type of speeches out there. The
core purpose of an entertaining speech is to amuse the audience, and obviously, entertain
them. They’re usually less formal in nature to help communicate emotions rather than to
simply talk about a couple of facts.

4. The Inspirational/motivational Speech

Inspire: To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural
influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration. When we think of the word
"inspire," we typically think of motivational and rousing ideas and imagery.

A motivational speech is a special kind of persuasive speech, where the speaker encourages the
audience to pursue their own well-being. By injecting confidence into the audience, the speaker
is able to guide them toward achieving the goals they set together.

 Inspirational speakers are often characterized as warm, encouraging and able to

connect and engage almost instantly with their audiences.

Inspirational speeches elicit strong emotional responses from their audiences. The power of
these speeches lies in the rousing words and imagery that capitalize on the emotional response
of their audiences. Inspirational speakers are often characterized as warm, encouraging, and
able to instantly connect and engage with their audiences.

A motivational speech is more dependent on stirring emotions instead of persuasion with logic.
For example, a sports team pep talk is considered to be a motivational speech where the coach

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motivates his players by creating a sense of unity between one another. One of the most well-
known motivational speeches (and of all speeches at that) is I Have a Dream by Martin Luther
King Jr.

Examples: Some of the most famous inspirational speeches in history include Martin Luther
King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and President John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech. A modern day
example could be President Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" campaign stump speech made in
2008.

The successful inspirational speech is one that is memorable, truly inspiring, and one that can
stand the test of time.

How to Write an Inspirational Speech

To inspire people, you need to have a clear concept of what the audience needs to hear. This
means that you must know your audience. Before you get started with your writing, consider
who will be listening to your words and what types of ideas might catch and hold their
attention.

1. Tell a Story

Telling a story can help illustrate the points you’re making -- and when it’s a story of
overcoming adversity, making a difference or beating the odds -- it can play to people’s
emotions and inspire them to action. The story should be applicable to your overall
message and should demonstrate the challenge, the approach and the outcome.

For example: When company founder William Woods was only 10 years old, he lived with
his eight siblings in a two-room house with no heat or indoor plumbing. His mother worked
two jobs to support the family, and she never complained. In fact, through her words and
actions, she demonstrated that with hard work, you could accomplish anything. Fifty years
later, William's mother would be proud of all he has accomplished. Today, this company is
an industry leader in creating affordable housing for working families.

2. Tie the Audience to the Big Picture

Writing an inspirational speech that draws your audience in on a personal level can be very
effective. For example, in a business environment, it might mean speaking about the
organization’s achievements, or the impact the audience's work has on the people the
company serves. You might accomplish this by incorporating testimonials or by providing an
overview of statistical information. For example:

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 Thanks to your individual efforts, more than 100 underprivileged middle school students
have new backpacks, clothes and shoes to start the school year. I’d like to read a few lines
from the Thank You notes the kids sent...

This is the first time I had new shoes for school.

My new backpack is awesome - my old one was falling apart and I hated wearing it to
school.

One of my friends said I had the coolest outfit of anyone in the class.

3. Play on Emotions

An emotional response is a necessary precursor to inspiration. In writing your speech, use

language that paints a picture and elicits a visceral reaction. Examples:

Because of your commitment and dedication...

By coming together in a spirit of collaboration...

Working hand in hand, looking out for each other and supporting one another...

The incredible degree of professionalism, creativity and commitment you each exhibit will
make this possible...

End your speech on a positive note so people will come away with a feel-good sensation that
will encourage them to carry forward whatever mission you encouraged them to go on
during your speech. Issue a call to action, offer a word of thanks, or challenge people to
personally embrace your words and to continue to make a difference.

Motivational Speech Template, Never Give up on Your Dreams

Boldly go in the direction of your dreams.

Stand tall and show the world what you are made of. When the world beats you down, find a
reason to get back up again. Never give up on the success.

Try, try, try and try again. Feed your mind ideas of success, not failure.

Remember, the only way you can fail is if you give up. Every time you fail, you come one step
closer to success.

You are not scared; you are courageous. You are not weak; you are powerful. You are not
ordinary; you are remarkable.

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Do not back down, do not give up.

When you look back on your life, don't have regrets. Believe in yourself, belief in your future,
you will find your way.

A fire burning inside you is mighty; it is waiting to burn bright. You are meant to do great
things.

Following your dreams can be both terrifying and exciting.

Courage is facing fear. Fear of failure holds most people back. You are not most people.

Persist and persuade others about your plans, as they are real. Nobody can do this but you.
Nobody will get in the way of our dreams.

Most people master the obvious; you create something that wasn't there before. It's bold, it's
beautiful, and it's you.

Give it your best, and your dreams will come to life. Success is yours.

Go for your dreams; it is your turn.

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