In business and in ordinary life, we are often required to engage in public speaking. Whether you're opening a meeting on the job, giving a toast at a wedding, or participating in a competition, In business and in ordinary life, we are often required to engage in public speaking. Whether you're meeting on the job, giving a toast at a wedding or participating in a competition, you need to know a quality speech. While there are numerous resources to help you tackle the often frightening task of public speaking, what do you do when it comes to actually penning the words you must pronounce? Learn how to use humor, anecdotes, quotations, and rhetorical devices to make your speech captivating.
Open with a Joke or an Anecdote You can grab your audience's attention by opening your speech with some humor or an interesting story. Which is more appropriate will depends upon your audience. In a solemn setting, you will of course want to avoid levity, or, if your comic delivery is not renowned, you may also want to rely on an attention-grabbing story instead.
Whether you choose a joke or an anecdote, it must tie in to the main purpose of your speech. If you can't find a moment of levity in a real life situation or recall an appropriate story on your own, you can turn to various books that offer such ideas. If you do choose to employ humor, be certain to avoid offending your audience. Always choose a joke that is appropriate for your audience, and be aware that jokes can occasionally fall flat. While successful jokes may earn you more accolades than anecdotes, often an anecdote is the safer course.
Using Quotations "Though old the thought and oft expressed," wrote James Russell Lowell, "'tis his at last who says it best." And if someone can say it better than you, why not borrow his or her words?" Ambrose Bierce cynically defined quoting as "the act of repeating erroneously the words of another." But you can attempt to avoid misquotation by accessing a reference guide. While numerous internet websites offer access to a variety of quotations, you can best find a quote that is appropriate for your subject matter.
Remember: always give credit where credit is due. You can introduce your quotations with phrases like "As ___ said," or "In the words of ___." Never allow the audience to assume your borrowed words belong to you.
Employing Rhetorical Devices The speech, like the poem or the short story, is an art form of its own. As such, it requires the use of special techniques known as rhetorical devices. Rhetorical devices, which often employ repetition, lend a cadence to your words, so that the listener is more likely to stay in tune and remember your message.
Put Your Tools to Work Jokes, anecdotes, quotations, and rhetorical devices are essential tools for writing a great speech. But these tools are not enough by themselves. They are the implements that will inspire listeners to grasp your meaning, but you must first have a message to grasp. As Dr. Ralph Smedley has written, "Merely to make a speech is not enough. The speech must mean something, lead to something. . . Every speech should be directed to the accomplishment of some definite purpose." You know your purpose: simply employ these tools to communicate it to your audience.
