How to write a great speech

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Palmetto Toastmaster

July 31, 2002

How Do You Write a Great Speech?

Asking, "How do you write a great speech?", is certain to elicit good answers from every person asked. Here are Robert Cockburn’s, DTM, Candidate for International Director, thoughts:
"To write a great speech you must:

Determine what you want the audience to do upon hearing your speech. This is your conclusion.
Decide why the audience should listen to you in the first place. This is your introduction.
Prove this to the audience. This is the body of your speech."

Delivering a great speech is the stuff
that dreams are made of. But first,
you have to ensure it challenges the
audience to do something.

"Merely to make a speech is not
enough. The speech must mean
something, lead to something, stir up
someone to do or attempt something.
Every speech should be directed to the
accomplishment of some definite
purpose. No one needs to waste time
on unimportant themes."

Dr. Ralph Smedley