Writing a speech is 90% preparation. Answer these questions for tips on how to write a speech:
1. Analyze your audience: Why are they here to listen to you?
2. Analyze your purpose: What do you want to accomplish in this speech?
3. Research: Find quotes, data, and stories to make your speech more interesting.
4. Outline: Place similar thoughts together in your speech. Sequence the items in the group and sequence the group within the speech.
5. Choose a style: Analytical, political, or heartfelt? Mad? Make sure your tone is consistent throughout.
Begin writing. Make sure your speech is clear, accurate, comprehensive, honest, and fills but does not exceed your alloted time. Write your speech in plain words that are easy to understand even by the person in the back row. Avoid the need to sound important.
Structure your speech to capture the audience's attention in the beginning with an interesting quote, a dramatic pause, or a question. Next, tell the audience what you are going to talk about. After you have explained all your points, end just as dramatically as you began.
It is OK to write your speech outline on note cards, but a bad idea to copy the entire thing onto note card. No-one in the audience cares to be read to by someone with their head down and who is mumbling.
Practice your speech several times and make notes on the cards. These notes can range from "pause here," to adding your favorite phrasings so you won't forget to say them.
Above all, remember, most speeches are given in a relaxed, conversational, interesting tone. Don't overload your cards with too much information so you will be able to speak naturally to the audience and you will give a good speech.
