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SPEECH PREPARATION THE FOUNDATION OF SPEECH EXCELLENCE


All of us join Toastmasters club with a common goal that is to improve our speech-making skills. With perseverance and patient preparation aided by the guidelines provided in the C & L Manual, the requirements of each assignment can be effectively met.

Speaking from my experiences, I found that the most challenging stage of completing an assignment is the preliminary preparations. A challenging and stimulating speech is always testimony of an adequate and careful preparation that consists of: -

A. SELECTION OF TOPIC

i) Read and reread the guidelines and objectives in the Manual in order to assimilate the tips which are very helpful to speech preparation.
ii) If you still cannot find a suitable topic, then reflect upon your past experiences which are
related to the objectives of the speech. These experiences could be events happening to you, to others, ideas from reading or listening, or from interactions with others.
To reassure yourself that the topics/subject that you have chosen is suitable, ask the following questions does it has a meaningful message for the audience? Can the audience relate easily with the subject matter? , do I have the material to build up the speech or do I know where to find the material?
If most of the above answers are negative, then change the topic until positive answers can be given for most of the questions.

B. SHOPPING FOR POINTS

i) List down all possible sources where your material can be obtained newspapers, periodicals, magazines, books, and things happening around you.
ii) Jot down any ideas/materials that you come across in point form.


C. ORGANIZATION OF POINTS

i) For any speech, there must be an opening, body and a closing. Bearing this in mind sort your material into the 3-sections of the speech.
ii) Once you have decided where your points should be, you may start working to construct your speech. It is not necessary to work in sequence i.e. you may start with the closing or body first.
iii) An attention getting opening, an informative interesting body and a persuasive closing would be ideal. After that, seek for possibilities to use gestures, humor, vocal variety or visual aids to enhance your speech.


D. PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

i) This is one area of your speech that can never be overdone. However, do not memorize the entire speech. Memorize only the opening and closing.
ii) You may practice aloud or just run it through your mind silently depending on your needs. Get someone to listen and analyze your speech if possible. Timed your speech.
iii) Improve on any areas you dont feel good about until you are satisfied. Then present it confidently and convincingly.

TIME SPENT IN PREPARATION IS INSURANCE AGAINST FAILURE- compiled by P.A. LIM

The Club goals achieved as at June 30 2001

Requirement-Goal-Achieved Points
1.TWO CTMs...................2........... 2.......1.0
2.Two moreCTMs..............2...........2.......1
3.ATMB,ATMS,ATMG.........1............0.......1
4.One More One ATMB,.........1............0
ATMS,ATMG
5.One CL,AL, or DTM..........1............1
6.One More One CL,AL, or DTM.1............0
7.Four New member............4.......4.0.......1.0
8.Four More New members......4.............0
9.Min 4 Officers trained.....Achieved (6/4)(4/4)..1.0
during each training period
10. One semi and one officer list 1+1
Submitted on time............1.0

TOTAL GOALS ACHIEVED..........7.0


BIRTHDAYS ANNOUNCEMENT -(3RD QUARTERLY 2001)

The Editorial Committee wish the following a
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & MANY HAPPY RETURN

JAMES TAN (12/7)

PHILIP NG (17/8)

LEE BOON HUAT (26/8)

CHERI KOK (31/8)

S.C. WOON (07/9)

SEE LING LING (22/9)

Congratulation to Ms Lim Poh Ann,CL for sucessfully emerging as 1st runnerup representing Area N6 in the international District Speech Table Topic Contest in Ipoh.

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