Lauren Wood

Secrets for Mastering the Art of the Speech

No matter what industry you’re in, you probably have had to deliver a speech. Speeches can be tough; in fact we’ve probably all felt the anxiety that comes with delivering a speech. Will the audience be bored by my topic? Does anyone care about what I’m saying? Most importantly, what am I talking about? These are the topics addressed in my Oral Communications class. My first speech-writing attempt was a bit of a disaster; the flow was wrong and I hadn’t adapted to fit my audience’s needs. Here are five things on which to focus, once you’ve selected your topic, to ensure your speech is a success.