About Me
- Brendan
- I am a professional educator by trade, but by my definition, I am much more than that. I wear many hats; including, but not limited to, Father, Husband, Son, Step-Father, Ex-Husband, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Super Geek (love technology), Trainer, Coach, Student, Writer, Dreamer, and Leader. For fun I am an avid golfer and consider myself a blessed individual because I have the greatest wife in the world that loves to golf with me.
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
Lesson 13 Outlining Your Speech
Two Outlines- One Speech
The Working Outline
A working outline will go through many revisions and changes (thank goodness for word processors).
A working outline is in sentence format.
A working outline will include everything you want to say (again, using full and complete sentences)
Hint: I like to use a program called Dragon Speech Dictate to help me write out my speeches. I find it much easier to dictate what I want to say and have my computer write it out. I then can go back and make the revisions where necessary.
Sentence Format in Working Outline
Speaking Outline
A speaking outline is in a phrase and/or key-word word format.
Phrase Format in Speaking Outline
Key-Word Format in Speaking Outline
Remember, a great introduction captures the audience and tells them what you are going to tell them. It is the preface to your speech.
You can break up your introduction into the following:
A great conclusion is your final chance to make you and your speech memorable while telling the audience what you just spoke about. It is the epilogue of your speech.
Make sure you separate your introduction and conclusion from the body of your speech in your notes.
You can break up you conclusion into the following:
Before I get into outlining your speech, just know that this process can make or break your speech. Outlining a speech takes some effort, but the payoff will be huge, so sit back, relax, and grab a Diet Coke because it just may take some time.
A working outline will go through many revisions and changes (thank goodness for word processors).
A working outline is in sentence format.
A working outline will include everything you want to say (again, using full and complete sentences)
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Sentence Format in Working Outline
- Express speech points in full sentences.
- Used to give you the speaker practice before the speech.
- Used to make sure ALL key points/important events are covered in a specific order.
- This is a "no-mistake" format.
- Used commonly with a teleprompter.
- Write out your topic, general purpose, specific speech purpose, and thesis (this will help you stay focused).
- Establish your main points (optimally 2 to 5).
- Add supporting points (minimum of 2 per main point).
- Label each part of your speech (Introduction, Body, Conclusion).
- Label and write out transitions.
- Note sources in parentheses.
- Prepare a list of sources, and append it t the outline.
- Title your speech.
Speaking Outline
A speaking outline is in a phrase and/or key-word word format.
Phrase Format in Speaking Outline
- Limited words used.
- Key words to guide you.
Remember, if you have a lot of information/words down on your notes- YOU HAVE TO READ THEM ALL. It's a human nature thing. The more you read from your notes the more "unprofessional" your speech becomes.
Key-Word Format in Speaking Outline
- This is the preferred format for notes (if you have to use notes).
- Use one key word that is associated with the main idea.
- The benefit with this format is it allows you to connect with the audience through eye contact and reading non-verbals.
- You must be well-rehearsed to give an effective key-word format presentation (use sentence format to practice then move to practicing key-word).
Remember, a great introduction captures the audience and tells them what you are going to tell them. It is the preface to your speech.
You can break up your introduction into the following:
- Attention Getter
- Preview
- Transition
A great conclusion is your final chance to make you and your speech memorable while telling the audience what you just spoke about. It is the epilogue of your speech.
Make sure you separate your introduction and conclusion from the body of your speech in your notes.
You can break up you conclusion into the following:
- Transition to
- Recap
- Memorable Statement
- Use note cards if you do not have lectern or pulpit from which you are presenting from.
- Do not use hand gestures that are holding your note cards as this can be a distraction.
- Leave blank spaces and margins on paper.
- Use large print or font (bold) so it is easy to see (Use a Sharpie).
- Glance at your notes- DO NOT READ FROM THEM, unless you have a long quote that must be read correctly and can't be memorized.
- Number your notes
- Do not staple papers or note cards together.
- Slide note cards/paper under each other. DO NOT TURN OR FLIP THEM OVER.
PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE ahead of time so you can present without using notes a majority of the time.
Questions
- Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
- What are some other "techy" things out there that can help you prepare and give a great speech?
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45 comments:
I think that the introduction of the speech is the most important part. The introduction has the opportunity to captivate your audience if you let it. It also allows you to tell the audience what will be covered in the speech and prepare them for it. If you fail to introduce your speech well, you could lose the attention of your audience, and at that point, you might as well stop talking and sit down. When I listen to speeches or presentations, I like to have a map to follow. I don’t like being taken on long trips, without knowing the stops along the way and the destination. An introduction gives you the chance to tell the audience where you are taking them, so they don’t feel lost during your speech. When I listen to s speech with a good introduction, I am able to take notes much more easily than if I don’t have a good introduction. I know what the main points will be, so I know I should put as a main point, and what is a sub point under the main point.
I think that all the parts of a speech are fairly equal in importance. The introduction is important because if you do not have an engaging introduction then you will have a hard time keeping the attention of the audience. The introduction is also a great opportunity to inform the audience of what they can expect to take away from the speech, and outline your agenda for the speech. The body of the speech is when you cover what you are trying to inform that audience on, it is important to cover the items mentioned in your introduction. The body should be informative and show that the you know what you are talking about. The conclusion is important because in my opinion when speaking, the last impression is as important as the first. The conclusion should be the time that you review all the key points in your outline and emphasis the moral of the story. All in all a good speech takes all three of them.
The introduction, the body, and the conclusion are all important for a speech. A speech would not sound complete without all three of these elements. The introduction is important because that’s how you get everyone’s attention, and is their first impression of you. The body is important because that’s where all your information and points are given, described, and explained. However, I think the most important of these three is the conclusion. The conclusion is your last impression. It’s what everyone will remember. It’s your chance for a lasting impression. The conclusion sums up the entire speech, reiterates the thesis and purpose, and summarizes the main points of the speech. But it is important to not just end your speech; you’ll want to make your conclusion memorable, so that the speech is memorable, so that YOU are memorable.
I think the introduction of the speech is the most important part. If you do not have a good introduction then you will not capture the attention of your audience. No one wants to listen to you if your speech is going to be boring, dull, or plain. You need a great introduction to hook your listeners into wanting to actually pay attention to what you are going to say. Now I am not saying you are going to have a bad speech if you don’t have a good introduction, I just think your speech will go a lot smoother and people will really want to pay attention to your points if you have a great introduction. Some of my own speeches haven't had the best introductions, so I think I lost a lot of my audiences attention. From now on, I realize I have to make my speech memorable, not only throughout the introduction, but through the body and conclusion as well.
I think the most important part of the speech is the body. Although the introduction grabs your attention, it is just an introduction and the conclusion does recap the speech but, that is all there is to it. The body gives you all the things you are suppose to knowing and is the thing that you are there for listening too. Without the body all you would have is an attention grabber and then a recap without anything juicy. You get the important details and all the juicy facts and that is my favorite part. I think the body creates the speech and also it is the real test on how you can deliver a speech with some fun or excitement or if it is something serious it can let you connect with your audience. The audience is one of the most important parts about speaking in public the body allows you to connect with an audience on a different level. So even though everything in a speech is important, in my opinion, the body is the most important part.
I kind of think that the body of the speech in the most important, because that is where all of your information is at, but then again with the introduction, it is pretty important part because when you have a really good introduction, that is fun and really catches your attention, then you are more willing to listen and pay attention to their whole speech. I know that's how I am when I listen to a speech, if it isn't fun and exciting or have a good flow with it, then my attention is somewhere else. But also when they don't have a great introduction, but then they get into good information about their topic, then I get back into it, and I am able to listen. So I think that those two are actually pretty important, maybe the introduction a little more important than the body.
Question #1
Which is the most important part of a speech? I think it is the introduction. We all know that when it comes to meeting people, first impressions are important and can make or break what someone thinks of you. Well I think the same applies for a speech. If someone comes and starts off staring at the floor, hands in their pockets and quiet speaking, you already know that he's going to be terrible and automatically start tuning him out. But if you can start off in a positive way, like making your audience laugh or smile, then you've already caught their attention and have hooked them into your speech. The introduction is the most important part to me because it's human nature to judge/ critique people within the first few moments of meeting them. And so, it's critical that someone should start off as strong as possible to capture the audiences attention.
I think that the body of the speech is the most important asset. You need to have some quality information that will be interesting for your audience. The body of the speech is where you will be making most of your main arguments or points. If you captivate their attention only in the introduction and don’t keep their interest throughout the speech they will feel like they didn’t get anything out of it. It’s like going to a movie that is really hyped up, so you are all excited to go see it and then leaving disappointed because the movie sucked. That is why I think having a good body to your speech is way more important than having a good introduction. Having a bad body to your speech with a good conclusion is like listening to an off pitch person singing karaoke and nailing ONLY the final notes to your favorite song. The only thing you are excited about is that it is over.
I think the introduction is the most important part of the speech. One of the professors here, Eric Young, calls it the AGS or Attention Getting Step. He teaches a style that basically has your entire speech sitting on the back of you attention getting step. I’ve noticed with speeches I’ve been hearing in classes and at church lately, the ones that I tend to pay attention to are the ones that grab my interest in the first twenty seconds. Whether they use a quote, a joke, a story, or even a rhetorical question if it’s profound and interesting, then I’m going to stick around mentally for what ever it is that they have to say. I think the best are the ones that start out with a story but leave it on the edge of the cliff as they proceed to make their argument. That way I’m focusing on what they have to say throughout each topic and transition craving their conclusion so I know what happened.
1.Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
When writing a speech all parts are important. Without one of them your speech would be incomplete, and your ideas would not be presented successfully. Personally i find the body to be most imperative though. All of the most important points are presented in the body. You get most of what the speech is really about. Through hearing the body, you can create your own opinions. Without a body a speech really would be nothing. Of course the introduction is important but even when the intro isn't very successful most people will still listen to the main points in your speech if they are good enough. Always take time to organize the body to your audience. Think about what they need to know and the most fluent way you can get your points across to them. Practice the body paragraphs the most because they contain the most information. Overall there is no speech without a body paragraph.
To me the body of the speech would be most important. Yes, it is true that the introduction would be important to grab the audience's attention but what happens when you get their attention and then you lose them on the main points you are trying to make. It's almost like those movies where you see the preview and it looks like the best movie ever and then you go to watch the actual movie and you leave the place very disappointed. Even if you don't get the audiences attention in the introduction you still have the ability to get it somewhere in the main body of the speech which is the most important part anyway. The conclusion is also important sure, but again if all they remember is the conclusion, then they've missed the point. All parts of the speech are very important but if they, the audience, doesn't focus in on your body of the speech, then they you weren't successful.
Question 1
I think that all aspects of a speech are important but I think the most important is the conclusion. The conclusion is going to be the most memorable (if it was a good speech) and it ties everything that was just said together. As you hear certain cue words that a person is going to end their speech, most people perk up a little and want to hear their last words. I go to church every Sunday and to be honest, sometimes it can get a little routine and the people that speak can get a bit boring. But almost always, when someone is concluding their speech I listen up a little better and hear what their last words are. Opposed to the introduction, yes it might be a little more catchy but if you want to get more out of the speech it is not from the introduction, it is from the conclusion. As a speaker, I think all 3 things are important and attention should be given to all but when you're writing a speech, the conclusion has the most impact on people so a shining conclusion is a good idea. And as a listener, you may hear everything the speaker says but I would say the conclusion is the most important.
Question 1
I believe that the most important part of any speech would probably have to be the introduction. Now in my opinion it is all very valid and important but I feel that it goers about 40% intro, 30% body, 30% conclusion. The introduction is basically everything in a little shrink wrapped item that is supposed to make the reader not only interested, but also informed on what the speech is going to be talking about. It has to catch the readers attention mainly. I think we can all agree that if you start a book, newspaper article, magazine we sometimes read about 5 sentences and say in our minds, "Ya......done with this." I think a lot of it comes from the introduction, that it has to get people interested and excited in a way to read whats going to happen. This also has to inform them on a broad, but yet narrow heading to what the speech is about and what certain aspect of that subject it will be talking about. That is why I believe the introduction to be the most important part of any speech, article, book, even casual talk for a story.
I don't think a single part is most important. It could all be either a ripple effect or a step ladder. If you go about thinking the introduction is the most important then of course you may plan and put more thought into it but it won't matter how captivating and good your intro is if the body and/or conclusion is poor! The same goes for any other part and vice-verse. So the wording shouldn't really be which is most important but which deserves just a little more attention and then I would say the introduction because if you start out great, it will hopefully get you and the audience in the state you need for the rest of your speech. It will give you more confidence for the rest and like a ripple effect, your whole speech will come together! Then again, do not worry and spend all of your energy on the intro or on the last line. You can't serve a dinner by starting with an amazing appetizer, a cold under cooked main dish and a fair dessert. Yes they were excited for the meal when they started off so great but afterwards they are still going to remember how awful the dinner was! So just remember that all three parts need equal attention and importance.
I think the most important part of the speech is the introduction. Within the first 30 seconds the audience decides whether they are going to like this speaker or not. When you are “this speaker” it’s your job to captivate them, hook them to your argument. If you fail to do that by the time you get to the body they aren’t listening to what you have to say anymore. Although the introduction is the most important, the body and conclusion are almost as important! If you hook them in and lead them to a dead end it’s just as bad as having a crappy introduction. You as the speaker have to have a good hook and then lead them through the body to really god conclusion that leaves them thinking. Without any of the three parts the rest doesn’t really matter. You have to have all three to really make the them all count.
Have you ever been in an audience where the person stands up to speak and the first words out of their mouth are "You'll have to bear with me, I'm not very good at talking in front of people." Well now, before you even began on your topic, my interest is lost because if you don't believe in yourself as a speaker then how I can? By capturing the attention of the audience from the get go, it becomes easier to keep their interest for the rest of the speech. In your interaction, questions can be posed that involve the audience but also relate to your topic which provides a segway into the rest of what you will be talking about. Having a strong introduction will lead to a strong body as well as conclusion. Starting right will help you to be engaging and become more memorable to your audience.
The most important part of the speech in my opinion would be the introduction part of your speech. Mainly because, if you have a strong, catching, and interesting introduction, you will have the attention of your audience through out your entire speech. Plus if you have a good strong introduction, most likely the rest of your speech will be good and strong. If you start weak and boring, then you will have a heck of a time trying to get the attention of your audience and finish strong. Also, the introduction part of your speech tells the audience what you are going to be talking about, how you are going to go about talking about the topic, and what to expect to get out of your speech. with out the audience knowing what you are going to be talking about, they will be lost and trying to figure out where you are going instead of actually listening and paying attention.
I think that all the parts of the speech are equally important to each other. They all have very specific, needed purposes. Without all three your speech would be lacking a very important feature. Without any of those parts you would be unprepared to speak, it would be like going to court without a lawyer. The introduction to the speech has the job of captivating your audience, and giving them a heads up of what is to come. The body is the meat, it is what the audience came to hear, without it the rest of your speech is nothing. It is where you spend the most time and effort in trying to get your message across to the audience. The conclusion is equally important as well. Even though by this point people are itching for you to be done speaking, you have to leave a lasting impression. You have to wrap it up nicely so people will remember your speech and you. Yet if I had to choose 1 part of the speech that has a greater significance than the others, it would be the body.
To me the introduction is the most important part of the speech. When writing a speech my introduction sets the tone of the speech and will outline what comes after. If I can write a solid introduction a smooth speech usually follows. The introduction includes your thesis or main point and so the entire points to that. Just like a five paragraph paper a speech can have a similar outline. In a paper you write your thesis and lay out your main points and then each paragraph covers a main point. A speech can be given a very similar way and if the introduction is all over the place it will create confusion and can hide the main point of the speech because you audience won’t know what they should be listening for. When writing a speech my introduction is always the hardest part to write but once I have it down I can write the rest of the speech very easily. I won’t feel like a speech is complete without a introduction that I am very comfortable with.
There are a lot of tools out there that can help to prepare a speech. As was mentioned in the blog post, Dragon Dictation is a fantastic tool. I was referred to this application months ago by a friend for the same reasons given in class. Sometimes it’s so nice to just go on a walk, speak, and see what comes out. Sometimes the hardest part is to get started, well, this can help with starting with something. Another tool I found on ipad is a very interesting one. Presenter Pro is an interactive public speaking application. It teaches you all sorts of public speaking principles ranging from visual aides to body language. Another tool that is unique is iummm. This application listens to your speech patterns and helps you identify words, phrases and noises that you make that are distracting. It helps you track your progress as you eliminate those words and behaviors from your speeches.
What do I think is more important, the introduction, body, or conclusion of a speech? I feel that all three parts of a speech are important. All three are important because they relay on each other to clearly explain your thoughts and it makes it structured for the audience to follow. Also, all three sections make an all around good speech. BUT! I do think the body of a speech is a little more important. This is when you finally educate your audience and start to make their brains think and question themselves. Also, at this point of the speech your audience might be getting bored or tired of listing to you, so you have to stay upbeat and exciting so the audience stays interested. I also think the conclusion is another important part of a speech. At this point if you haven’t made your audience interested in what you’re saying or if they look like they’re dousing off you can end with something memorable. This might be the last time you see these people so you want them to remember you and hope they learn something from you.
1. In presenting a speech, first impressions aren’t everything, but they are mostly everything. How the audience perceives the speaker determines credibility and the ability to effectively convey his or her message across. Capturing the audience is one of the most important aspects of presenting a speech, and to guarantee their undivided attention until the end. This leads to the importance of an introduction, the one opportunity to grab the audience’s attention and to hold on to that through the body and the conclusion. Of course, all three parts are essential for a good speech, because the body is able to convince the audience as to why the introduction topic is important, and the conclusion is able to explain why the overall speech was important. However, without the interest of the audience, then that is a poor speech. Not only is the content of the introduction important, but also the way it is presented and the level of trust established between audience and speaker.
Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
I think all of it! If just one of them was the only one that was important, That would be stupid. When someone gives a speech; people should be mesmerized when they are listening to a speaker from the very beginning. If a speaker showed up and came to the front of everyone and said everything in a quiet monotone voice… people’s eyes would glaze over like a donut in the bakery. Now when the speaker starts off confident, not just in their self but with their speech, people can tell and it either brings them in or makes them feel uncomfortable if the speaker is. I can always tell when someone is uncomfortable with the topic.. Own up to it, love and become passionate about what your talking about. If its not something your terribly in to, research it and find interesting details about it, that you may of not know about it before. In the end.. the speech in a whole is the most important.
I think the introduction is the most important part of the speech. This is the part of the speech where it is important to get the audiences attention. You have to draw them in with a very strong opening sentence and get them to zone in on what you are about to tell them. I think this is where you either gain or lose the audience. It is also the part of your speech where you introduce your subject you will be talking about and it is important to make it clear to the audience what you will be talking about and make sure they are interested. You definitely do not want any confusion. When there is a little bit of confusion it is easy to lose the audience so I usually start out with a very random topic that has nothing to do with anything, this might shock they audience and direct their attention to what’s going to be said.
All parts of the speech are vital but it is the conclusion that is the most important. I have had some speeches with great introductions. I've also had speeches were the body was full of good information. I like those speeches, I really do. They went well and I know people learned from them. Even though I like them, they are not my favorite. My favorite are the ones with a strong conclusion. I may even start off with a weak introduction and body but if my conclusion is solid, it makes all the difference. A good conclusion will tie in all the lose ends. It will leave the audience with the point you were trying to make. It will leave the listeners with increased motivation, clear understanding, and/or a desire to change. The better the introduction and body are, the better the conclusion will be. They all work together but it is the conclusion that the crowd will be thinking about on the drive home. So you’d better leave them with something good to think about!
The introduction and the body of the speech are tied for most important in my mind. An introduction is the speakers moment that is handed right to them to grab the audience and keep them as theirs until they leave the stage or front of the room. Without a good introduction a speaker will most likely lose people to their smartphones, the people next to them or even what that weird noise is coming from the vent in the room. I know that I have sat in classes or workshops that I have been guilty of giving up on the speaker after a very rocky start. However, the body of the speech can reel people back in and keep them there as well. I think it is unfair to say that if the intro stinks the whole speech does too. Some people may take a minute or two to get really oriented and then their fire starts and they deliver an amazing speech. By the time the conclusion comes if the intro and the body haven't been able to suck someone in then I don't think that there is much hope. The introduction and the body both can potentially be the most important parts in ones speech.
Question #1 is a hard one and at first thought, I want to say that all of them are equal. But I think if I am being true to myself, I would say the conclusion is the most important or at least my favorite. I know this sounds incredibly nerdy, but I love a good closing statement. It ties up the speech in a powerful package and sends the audience with a recap of the whole speech. It can also be emotional and inspiring. If you happen to have an off day and you have a speech that is not going so well, don't worry because you can always re-captivate an audience in your last paragraph and still have a great speech. For me, a good conclusion is like sitting in a beautiful concert hall with the best acoustics, listening to the best choir in the world singing Handel's Messiah. They get to the very last note, the conductor closes his hands and although the choir has stopped singing, the sound seems suspended in the air and everyone is still. It's almost electric and I truly think a good conclusion can make your audience feel the same way.
I think the mst important part of a speech is the introduction. The introduction is your first impression you give the audience. You need to have a great introduction in order to get your audiences attention. The introduction is where you are supposed to draw attention and catch the audiences attention. In the intro you say something you could lose your audience the rest of your speech. The introduction is where the audience will judge you and see if they want to listen to so you must say something that will interest the audience so they want to continue listening. The introduction also is when you give the audience the highlights on what you are going to discuss throughout your speech. The body isbimportant because it gives you the opportunity to inform or persuade the audience and give information that they didn't already know. The conclusion is important because it sums up everything that was said.
I don't have a firm stand on which I think is most important, but I do beleive that no conversation for any matter could be held without an body. It the juicy stuff, all the information is given once a conversation gets started. Granted you need a really good introduction to bring someone in, but no matter how good it is, if the next thing they read is "so this one time..." you lost them and all that effort you put in your intro has gone to waste. The body is the real test, you can get anyones attention by holding something shiny in their face, but it up to you once that fades to hold it. And the conclusion, sometimes I wonder why teachers still stress on having it, it to re-summarize what you just talked about? If they liked what you had to say, they'll remember it.
I would like to respond to question #1: Although I think that all parts of the speech are important, I think the most important part of the speech is the conclusion. The reason that I think this is I have been in the audience of many speeches and I've noticed that most people are nervious right of the bat when they are giving the introduction. Also I've noticed that people sometimes are nervious during the body of the speech, but even with being nervious and maybe repeating themselves or losing their train of thought, I think if they can tie it together with a good conclusion and support in that conclusion how they got to that point then I think that it can still turn out to be a good speech. In some way this comment is similar to the last one about speech patterns. I think with a lot of things in life its not how you start the race but how you finish the race that makes a big difference. I think it shows a lot about a person character and drive if they can finish something strong even if the beginning didn't go as well as they hoped. I know that was a random tangent, but to me how they finish a speech has the most impact versus the introduction and the body.
The introduction can not be boring it should have the reaction of the audience on the edge of there seats dying to know what is going to happen next. The introduction should provide a statement on what your going to be talking about. I think the introduction is the most important part of your speech. The reason is because its the first thing that is said and can either make the audience involved and intrigued or make them not interested in your speech. Also the start of your speech is where you can make your audience comfortable with you and have trust in what i am speaking about. It allows you to briefly touch on each one of the subjects i will be speaking about; as well as allowing you to take a bold stand to get your audience involved. If your able to do this you can capture any audiences attention.
Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
This is a complex question to ask. It is very difficult…nearly impossible to defend an answer well enough to prove which of the three are best. We see the introduction as a starting point and our book describes it as the portion of a speech that “tells listeners where they are going.” Apparently this would be extremely important in a speech or else it would leave the audience confused at what to expect. They would also miss out on what context the speech would be set in. With the body of the speech we are taken on the journey that the introduction promised us. This allows us to retrieve the full detail needed to fully understand, or grasp an understanding of the topic at hand. The conclusion is an important aspect to allow the audience to leave with a reinforced support of what the audience should have taken out of the speech.
To explain how all of these aspects are necessary for a successful speech I will use a simile. The introduction of a speech is like a plane ticket. It is required to get off of the ground. The same goes for a speech. The Body is the actual enjoyment of your vacation. Topic 1 is going to the beach with support being the various activities like swimming in the ocean, sun tanning, and playing sand volleyball. This is the meat of the speech as going to the beach would be the meat of a vacation. The conclusion is like reflecting on the vacation to your family and highlighting the fun times that you had. Also reflecting on the moments that you want to remember. You could also look at the conclusion like bragging to your friends. In bragging, like in a conclusion, you hit on the very important and rub in your face highlights. This is why none of these parts of an outline can be successful without each other.
I feel that the introduction must be powerful and attention grabbing because if you lose your audience during the introduction it wont matter what the body or conclusion says. The reason I feel this way is because that's how I judge books, speakers, movies and Uncle Bob at the family reunion. This does not mean that the body and conclusion aren't important. They each have their job to preform. A really good speaker knows how to close his speech or talk in a way that leaves the audience wanting more not leaving the audience feeling that he has exhausted his point. The body must be to the point and have at least one story in it to help recapture anyone's attention that was lost. Every one listens when you say "Let me tell you a story." In the end, no one part of a speech is more important than another if you're trying to do a great job. They each just have their own purpose.
The most important part of a speech is the conclusion. In the conclusion you can connect all the dots of what you have talked about. A great conclusion will remind the listeners of what you have talked about and will motivate them to act on what you talked about. If your speech is not geared to get people to act then they are at least clear about what you spoke about. The last words that are spoken in your speech can have a powerful effect on your audience if they are chosen correctly. This will give your audience closure and help their brain to summarize what you have talked about. The conclusion is your last chance to make an impression and have an impact on your audience. For this reason it is vital to have a conclusion that leaves a good taste in the mouth of the audience. This will help me as I prepare future speeches to not breeze through my conclusion.
I think they are all important. If you start out your speech with a BOOM! and get everyone's attention, but then the rest of it is horrible, its going to be a disappointing speech to your audience. Yet if you start out boring and then start to come through in the middle and end, you probably won't have their full attention. And if your ending is that best part of your speech? Well, that's just sad. To make a good speech in my opinion The beginning, middle, and end are of equal importance. They all need to have that BOOM factor i was talking about earlier. If you start out with a boom, you're going to get you're audiences attention, you hold that attention by having an interesting body of your speech, and you know you did a job well done at the end, when everyone tells you how much they enjoyed it.
Some techy aspects to become a better public speaker are of course taking a video of your self and watch it and old school would be just a voice recording. I actually looked up dragon speak and think I might use that in the future, my mom has that loaded on our home computer for is sibling with alternate learning abilities. I think that watching you tube videos of professional speakers help me to identify with the speaker and be able to evaluate their techniques.
question 1
As you have been telling us the last little while, the whole speech is important. If you have a great opening, but the rest slowly falls apart, everyone is talking after about how boring or bad that speech was. Not "hey that first was good but the rest kinda sucked". The same is true with a good middle and end. If I had to make a choice of which is the most important, it would have to be the end. The reasoning i have behind this is, if you start slow, but you end with a bang and make it really great at the end. people are left with that great ending, and depending on how great, might forget about that poor beginning. Like the saying goes. What have you done for me lately!
1. As has been said by almost everyone who has posted on this question, all three parts of the speech are important. Obviously. Otherwise they would not be in the speech. My first inclination was to argue that the introduction is the most important section of a speech. However, after reflecting for a while, I have to say that I find the conclusion is the most powerful segment. Think of it this way - if you do not listen to anything except the conclusion, you will still get the main crux of the message. The conclusion is a summary of everything you have said the entire time. It is also when the audience checks back in if they have checked out. Listeners can tell when a speaker is concluding, and that is when they perk up one last time. Powerful conclusions are what make speeches memorable and motivate listeners to act on what they have heard. No wonder Professor Dalley is harping on us so much about how we need to work on our conclusions! :)
The most important part of a speach is the intro because without an eye catching intro the audience will lose most if not all interest in what you are presenting in your speach, but with a very interesting intro the audience is very drawn in to what your trying to explain and they will give you better feed back as you go into your body and end with your conclusion, the body is very important also becuase the intro is used to "tell them what your going to tell them" and the body is what your telling them and if the information is not relatively related to your audience in some way then that will also stear them into the less intreged direction, the conclusion is something you can get away with not being perfect but if it is rushed than it can ruin your whole speach so make sure you dont just focus all on the intro and neglect the body and conclusion because your speach will pay dearly because of this
1.Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
The introduction of an outline or speech is always very important. It is the part of the speech that will hopefully draw in the audience. If you don't have a good introduction, people may get bored and have no interest in what you have to say. The body of your speech and outline are also very important. You can't start off a speech with a great introduction then have a "blah" body. It needs to continue to keep readers/listeners interested and entertained. Lastly, the conclusion paragraph is very important. It is the part of your speech or outline that you will leave with your audience. The conclusion is what they will remember about you. You want to make it very good for that very reason. All three parts of a speech or outline are very important. Overall the conclusion is the most important part because that is the last thing they will hear from you and that is how they will remember your speech.
2.What are some other "techy" things out there that can help you prepare and give a great speech?
There are many things out there that can help you give a great speech. Keeping people interested in what you are saying is always a key part to giving a great speech. If you aren't keeping people interested, you are not accomplishing anything with your speech. Many people stay interested by seeing visual things. Making power points that go along with your speech is always a good idea. That way it gives people something to help them visualize what you are saying. It is great to have videos and pictures in your power point. Another great tool to giving a great speech using visuals is using a Prezi. Prezis are a more interesting version of a powerpoint. They will keep people interested in what you are trying to say if you are good at making Prezis. Other than visuals there are many other items that can be used to make your speech more interesting, visuals just seem to be the most common.
I think the intro, body, and conclusion are all equally important because they are all crucial to a successful speech. the intro is probably the most benefial as far as get the attention of the audience. the intro has to excite the audeience and bring them in. but one you have there attension, the body has to be solid. with out a solid body, your speech has no meaning and people wont get a valid lesson on the speech. Finally the conclusion has to wrap everything up. A solid conclusion requires a brief recap on the speech. If something is unclear during the body, the conclusion is the time where you restate the meat and potatoes of the speech. Plus its should leave the audience satisfied and with memorable material.
I think they are all important in their own way you can’t let one be lacking or the whole speech could be lost. The introduction needs to pull the audience in, you could have the greatest speech in the world but what does it matter if no one is listening? Next is the body, if that’s lacking or empty, you could have the best intro you have ever given but if they don’t learn anything what was the point of speaking? And finally the conclusion if you leave them with nothing it’s kind of disappointing. The one I need to work on the most is the conclusion I often leave with a, “Well that’s it,” and that just doesn’t cut it in the real world not as an adult it won’t get me promoted or even a job to just stop and leave when I run out of time or words to say. Well that’s it.
My smartphone has some "techy" things that have helped me with speeches before. I like to use a program called Evernote to write my speeches on my computer. It then automatically syncs to the Evernote app on my phone, and so I can pull up my speech at any time and look over it or make changes to it. Evernote has a lot of other features that could be potentially useful for preparing a speech, although I don't really use them. If you haven't heard of it, I highly recommend you check it out. It's free, the web site is www.evernote.com
1.Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
I think they are all eqully important, but my favorite part about the speech is probably the introduction. Telling a propper intro to your speech is very important because its what graps the attention of the audience. Once you get there attention and make it memorable so the audience is just hanging on every word then i think the rest of the speech is a breeze. each part of the speech is important because the body of your speech informs you audience on what you are telling them and then the conclusion can be just as good as the intro because you can stay memorable with the audience. but to me if you can grab the audience in the beginning and make it memorable than why not make the intro the most important part!?
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