Four Types of Public Speaking and Useful Speech Writing Tips

2. Public speaking is when you stand
before an audience and deliver a
speech in a formal or an informal
occasion. For many people,
speaking in front of a large
audience is a daunting task so it is
quite natural to become very
nervous (though with effective
training this could be overcome).

3.  As public speaking has become a
serious career option, many
people are enrolling for classes
where they are taught skills and
techniques to speak well and
speak effectively before a
gathering. However, to be a good
speaker, it is necessary that one
should know the four types of
public speaking and the
peculiarities of each one of them.

4.  When a person gives a speech before an audience to
impart information on a particular topic or issue it
said to be an informative speech. Business
presentations, seminars in colleges, class
presentations in schools are some examples of
informative speeches. A person preparing for an
informative speech has to research the subject /
topic very well. It should be short and precise
because long informative speeches (lectures) easily
bore the audience. The success of an informative
speech will depend on how much the audience could
understand from the speech.

5.  Persuasive speeches are those where one tries
to persuade or convince a group of people.
These speeches aim to influence and change
the opinions of the audience. This can be a
difficult task as you would be facing a group of
people who may have totally opposite views
from your own. The most important point that
has to be kept in mind here is that if you want
to influence others' views and ideas, you have
to show your enthusiasm while speaking.

6.  However, you must remember that you
are not there to wage a war and
should talk without hurting others'
feelings. Persuasive speeches are often
given by sales and marketing people to
attract interest in their products. They
are also used to influence political and
religious views.

7.  Speaking to actuate is a higher level of
persuasive speaking. Here, the speaker goes a
step beyond persuasion and convincing. The
aim is to motivate people enough to take a
specific step—to act. This is a powerful level of
speaking. Very few people have achieved this
level of mastery of the art of persuasion where
they could so deeply convince people that they
move into action.

8.  This type of speech is common in
conflict (war) situations. It is also seen
in action whenever a speaker not only
tries to garner support for some cause
or reason but wants the people he’s
speaking to join him in actualizing it
through concrete action. It is
characterized by a show of charisma,
very strong words, and great emotional
involvement.

9.  A speech of this type typically does not rely on facts
and figures, though they may be offered. The
speaker’s aim is to get his listeners so emotionally
enthralled that they wholesomely adopt his idea, his
principles, his reasoning, as theirs and literally take
up the cross and share his burden. Sometimes,
listeners may be so deeply moved that they take up
the cause more seriously than even the person who’s
invited them into it! This sometimes happens
among militia groups where members of a mob
overthrow their leader accusing him of not being
“aggressive enough” in the fight for their common
cause. They go on to introduce tougher measures to
the dismay of their deposed leader. This is the
pinnacle of persuasive speaking and, indeed, of
public speaking.

10.  Ceremonial speeches are another form of
public speaking usually given at weddings,
funerals, graduation parties, retirement
parties etc. One very important factor to
make these speeches effective is to add a
personal touch.

11.  One gives these speeches for people
one knows and it would be great if one
can bring in stories and incidents
about the respective person. The
speech can be humorous, touching or
emotional, as per the occasion and the
mood. However, one should take
utmost care not to hurt feelings by
making snide remarks about them.

12.  Public speaking is a skill that is best mastered
through continuous practice. A talkative person
may not be able to give the best speech. To give
a great speech, one must first understand the
type of speech one is expected to give and
should prepare along those lines. A good public
speaker is one who understands the needs of
the audience and is flexible enough to adopt
changes that may arise even while delivering
the speech.

13. By
Mary Delle M. Obedoza
North Point Institute of Technology-Binalbagan

14.  Speaking is one of the most powerful
tools of mass communication and very
helpful in case one has to
communicate with a large audience. A
speech is prepared according to the
audience and their language. Speeches
used to be spontaneous but the
modern day speeches are well planned
and there are speech writing tips that
can make a lot of difference to the
quality of a speech.

15.  Public speaking is about delivering the
thoughts of the speakers to the audience
effectively. A speech well written and
prepared in advance can help a person to
face the audience with confidence. Here are
ten speech writing tips to help out.

16.  A speech writer should present and
emphasize on the primary objective of
the speech. A speech written with too
many ideas will divert the intention of
the speaker and confuse the audience.
Normally, focus on three or four ideas
only and build your speech on these.
Better to hit three strong points
properly than to attempt to make ten
but end up poorly tackling them.

17.  A good speech should be written in a structured
manner to present the audience with the ideas
in a 'query and solution' form. A speech can be
segregated into Opening, Body and
Conclusion

18.  A good speech should have a good quality in
the right quantity. An excessive content written
in an uninteresting manner will dilute the idea
of the speech and make the speech ineffective.
Be prudent with your write-up; make every
sentence count. Avoid using too many words to
describe something you could quite easily
describe with fewer words without loss of
meaning — unless you deliberately mean to do
so for reasons best known to you!

19.  The speech writer should consider the type
of audience for whom the speech is
intended. The language of the speech or the
medium should be easily understandable
and comfortable to the target audience.
Depending on the topic, you would not
speak to teenagers and youths the way you’d
speak to parents or middle-aged people. Both
groups could potentially interpret your message in
very different ways.

20.  A good speech should have multiple numbers of
facts to validate the speech. Relevant facts
related to the subject should be used in the
speech as without facts a speech, however good
it may be, will be invalid. Do not quote incorrect
figures. One misquoted date, for example can
harm the authenticity of your presentation and
ultimately harm your own integrity and
reputation. Always cross-check facts and
figures properly. Use reliable sources.

21.  A good speech writer can add an
emotional touch by using personal
stories, examples and even some
metaphors. A human touch to the
problems is useful in presenting the
speech. Depending on the type of
speech and occasion, you might want
to weigh the appropriateness of
emotion in the speech.

22.  A strong opening will make an effective
and strong impression and a good
closing a useful reminder. First
impression is very effective as it has a
lasting impression on the audience. A
good closing, with a strong call to act,
can help in reinforcing and imprinting
the idea of the speech in their
memories

23.  A printed handout with details of the speech
can be provided to the audience after the
speech is over. A printed handout will be a
written reminder and will make the audience
more receptive to the speaker. If you plan to
hand out printed scripts of your speech or
presentation, it is advisable you inform your
audience before the speech. This will allow
focus on your presentation rather than
struggling to jot down bits of information from
your presentation as you speak. This normally
divides audiences’ attention.

24.  A good speech with short and simple
words to express the idea without the
use of jargons will make it easier on
the audience to grasp the idea. Simple
words and simple language will make
the speech much clearer to the
audience making it easier in retaining
the speech.

25.  A good speech can be improved by
taping and listening to the speech,
before presenting it to the
audience. The writer can make
improvements in the speech with
the feedbacks to bring perfection.