Comments on: How to Write a Speech or Presentation

By: raymund

raymund — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:10:07 +0000

This post should be distributed to any student enrolled in speech class. This post is easy to understand, much better than what is written in textbooks.

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:57:40 +0000

Hi Karl
Thanks for a great comment.
It constantly surprises me how similar writing a blog post is to writing a speech – relaxed and conversational.

The thing I decide last of all when I’m writing a speech, is the title.
A good title always comes out of the body of the speech.
And when you find the right title… you know you’ve found it!

Hope you’ll visit again… soon.

By: Karl Foxley

Karl Foxley — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:35:08 +0000

Absolutely agree with what Sire said above about a good speech or presentation being like a good blog post (or any other piece of writing). All writing should have a good, middle and end.

What is great about giving presentations is the instant feedback you get from your listeners, you can see if they are switching off and pick up the pace to bring them back etc.

What you said about ‘Write the introduction last’, is a great tip and I find this works with my other writing also. People write an introduction and then fit their writing around it where I like to just let go and flow until I’m done and then write a good introduction that pieces it all together and leads the listener / reader in the right direction.

Great tips.

Karl

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:03:31 +0000

Hi Farnoosh
Good point about spreading your best material throughout the speech – help keep the attention of the audience.
Sounds like useful advice to me.
Glad you enjoyed the walk.LOL

By: Farnoosh

Farnoosh — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:32:11 +0000

Keith, what a thorough post – and way to go on drawing parallels to the beloved Paris and to my favorite walk as well – I love the line “Come out punching”. I cannot agree more with all your advice here. The most interesting was “put your best material last” – I can see your validation – yes they do remember the beginning & end very well so I always recommend a strong finish rather than fizzling out – but I tend to divvy up the important points throughout the speech. I think it may also depend on the speech. Great comparison to the love affair too !

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:02:43 +0000

Hi justyna
Thanks for your kind words and thanks for the joke… might use it myself.

By: Justyna Bizdra

Justyna Bizdra — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:22:14 +0000

Hi Keith,

Your post is truly a highly reliable source of information, thorough step by step guide on good public speaking.

When one goes through these steps it is so much easier to speak publicly. It reminds me a nice quote of Henry Ford “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs”

Cheers
Justyna
.-= Justyna Bizdra´s last blog ..Is WordPress Security of any importance to you? =-.

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:41:39 +0000

Hi Ryan
I write a speech much the same way as a write a post.
I try and keep it light and conversational.
Know what you mean about a walk through Paris… has to be my favourite city.

By: Ryan Cowles

Ryan Cowles — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:41:09 +0000

Hitting the Submit button and presenting a speech hold two very different feelings for me, haha. That’s not a bad way to look at it though. When writing a blog post, treat some aspects like a speech. And then imagine presenting the blog post to a large audience. If you wouldn’t be satisfied presenting it to an audience, maybe the post itself could use a little reworking.

The Walk Through Paris is a nice analogy Keith. Now if only I could experience that first hand!
.-= Ryan Cowles´s last blog ..Taking a Train Across the Country – Part One =-.

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:11:24 +0000

Hi Jeff
Great to see you back and many thanks for your kind words.
I think you are right… writing a speech and writing a blog are similar processes.
The tone of both is conversational but has to be well structured.
Grabbing the attention of the audiece or readers is so important. A great graphic, a compelling title or a first sentence that can’t be ignored. Or why not use all three?
BTW Jeff, sorry you had problems posting and thanks for trying again.