How to Structure a Speech

Have you ever wondered why people stopintroduction of a speech or presentation? Of
listening to your speech after two minutes?course, we want to grab their attention. If they
Perhaps they're confused... Where is this speechknow what's coming along, they'll be alert to it. It's
going? If you did not tell them at the outset you'lldesigned to keep them listening.
have an enormous job to retrieve them. If youWhen the headlines end, in comes the main body
need advice on structuring a speech, it's all in here.of the news which builds on the headlines.
Copyright (c) 2007 The College Of Public SpeakingIt tells us that the Bank of England meeting lasted
There are many aspects of a speech whichan hour longer than scheduled because further
contribute to how memorable it is. The structureanalytical information was required with regards to
is commonly overlooked by the inexperiencedinterest rate trends in Europe. The British rate
speaker.trend was discussed with the last two years data
Well, there are many reasons, but I'd alwaysdescribed by graphs and so on. The theme is
begin the detective work with the structure.expanded to cover the day's potential angles and
Over the years I have tried several differentthen moves on to job losses in the Midlands. If
speech formats, a number of which I have foundthe presenter is quick on his/her thoughts, they
effective and I will describe some of the morewill somehow try to link the first story with the
advanced possibilities in subsequent articles.second.
However, without a structure, the speech isNow we hear about the details of the company
doomed to become a shambolic ramble ofand its history of achievement. The decision to
random thoughts.axe jobs will have a major impact on other
Have you ever watched the news on TV? Well,aspects of the local economy. And as the story
of course you have. Did you ever find time todevelops, we hear comments from those
consider the structure? It could not be easier.involved. This personalisation of the news has
It starts off with three news headlines:increased viewer ratings because a lot of the
1) The Bank of England announced interest ratescomment is from regular people in the street.
will rise by a ¼ pointPeople like you and me.
2) A large manufacturer in the Midlands has shedSo they work their way through the three stories
400 people because of falling demandand usually try to end on a high. People like to be
3) David Beckham is back in the England teaminformed and entertained and lots of news
following a year in the footballing wildernesschannels will include a human interest story where
These headlines essentially signpost what is tofor example, a young child demonstrates great
come. Why do they do this? Well, if you have acharacter by overcoming a medical or physical
mortgage, another interest rate rise could costproblem.
you more money than you had budgeted for. OrAnd finally, the news is coming to an end and the
if you work in the manufacturing industry, whatpresenters recap the main points which
happens in the Midlands usually has an impact onunremarkably are the same points as the
other aspects of industry. Or finally, anythingheadlines. But now that the item has been
about David Beckham and football isexamined there is room for further comment.
newsworthy…Winston Churchill really believed in an introduction,
The idea of the headlines is to give you a tastera main body and a conclusion - in that order.
of what is to come. TV networks are constantlyWith good linking and interesting development of
trying to achieve higher ratings. They are tryingthe main themes, anybody can achieve a
to hook you because they want you to stay andsuccessful speech structure. Next time you plan a
watch.speech or presentation, why don't you give this
And surely, should we not be doing this with theadvice a try?