(by Ramakrishna Reddy)
Step 1: LARGER PURPOSE of the speech
* Why are you giving the speech?
* What is the occasion for the speech?
* What type of speech will suit my larger purpose?
Step 2: Topics that interest YOU
* What do you know?
* What are you enthusiastic about?
* What are your life experiences?
Step 3: Topics that interest your AUDIENCE
* What are your audience's needs?
* Do they belong to a certain age group?
* What are their shared experiences?
Toastmasters classification:
* Informational
* Entertaining
* Persuasive
* Inspirational
Things you like (Books, Gardening, Exercise, Sports, Cooking, Psych, Internet, Expert)
Observations
Problem/Solutions
Humor is largely based on two principles:
* Truth
* Surprise
Premise and punchline. As a rule of thumb, the premise should be true and should not be funny. The punchline should have the surprise. It can have exaggeration as well.
Self-Deprecating (Large relatable unexpected events, Unusual physical traits, Your current life situation, Your identity)
Characters in your life (Family, Your professional life, Social setting)
Ideally, every persuasive/inspiring speech should have these three elements:
* Ethos: relating to credibility--being fair, using proper language, using correct grammar, using appropriate vocabulary
* Pathos: relating to emotional--emotional tone, stories of emotional events
* Logos: relating to logic--facts or figures, citing history, logical arguments
Last modified 25 November 2020