Page 68 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 2 Your First Speech 35

giarism, but you make your case stronger because you are citing an authoritative
source.
Finally you may be able to interview an expert on the topic of your speech.
You may not have to look any further than the other classes you are taking. An
interview with an environmental science instructor, for example, could not only
give you quotations from an expert about global warming, but also might point
you to other sources you would not have found on your own. However, do not
expect the person you interview to do your job for you. Be sure to prepare in ad-

vance for the interview. Chapter 7 has specific tips to assist you in interviewing
sources for your speech.
Tips and Tactics
Resources for Your Speech

1. Begin with your own experiences.
2. Look to outside sources of information:
a. Search general sources of information, such as books and periodicals.
b. Conduct computerized searches.
c. Interview experts.

Regardless of where you fi nd your information, whether from written sources,
the Internet, or interviews, remember to carefully record the facts and quota-
tions you discover. Note not only what was said but also who said it, when, and
where. Documenting your evidence for an audience will build your credibil-
ity, which will enhance the likelihood you will be effective in delivering your
speech.

Organizing Your Speech

Someone once said that every speech has three tell ’ems. First you tell ’em what
you are going to tell ’em; then you tell ’em; and, fi nally, you tell ’em what you told
’em. Although a bit simplistic, this captures the basic idea of the three parts of
every speech: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
Though there are many ways to organize your speech, one of the most help-
ful patterns we have found for our own students is an adaptation of a system
3
developed by Dr. Loretta Malandro for the business executives she coaches.
According to Dr. Malandro, the traditional introduction, body, and conclusion of
a speech should include several important steps. Steps 1–4 are the introduction,
step 5 is the body of the speech, and steps 6 and 7 are the conclusion.

Tips and Tactics
Seven Steps for Organizing Your Speech

1. Open with impact. In this step you capture your audience’s attention.
2. Focus on your thesis statement. In this step you draw the audience’s attention to
the central point of your speech.