Competent Communication

	THE ICE BREAKER
	For your first speech project, you will introduce yourself to your fellow club members and give them some information about your background, interests and ambitions.
	ORGANIZE YOUR SPEECH
	Good speech organization is essential if your audience is to follow and understand your presentation. You must take the time to put your ideas together in an orderly manner.  The opening should catch the audience’s attention, the body must support the idea you want to convey, and the conclusion should reinforce your ideas and be memorable.
	GET TO THE POINT
	Every speech must have a general and a specific purpose. A general purpose is to inform, to persuade, to entertain or to inspire. A specific purpose is what you want the audience to do after listening to your speech.
	HOW TO SAY IT
	Words are powerful. They convey your message and influence the audience and its perception of you. Word choice and arrangement need just as much attention as speech organization and purpose.
	YOUR BODY SPEAKS
	Body language is an important part of speaking because it enhances your message and gives you more credibility. It also helps release any nervousness you may feel. Stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact help communicate your message and achieve your speech’s purpose.
	VOCAL VARIETY
	Your voice has a major effect on your audience.  A lively, exciting voice attracts and keeps listener’s attention. A speaking voice should be pleasant, natural, forceful, expressive and easily heard.
	RESEARCH YOUR TOPIC
	Your speech will be more effective if you can support your main points with statistics, testimony, stories, anecdotes, examples, visual aids and facts.
	GET COMFORTABLE WITH VISUAL AIDS
	Visual aids help an audience understand and remember what they hear; they are valuable tool for speakers. The most popular visual aids are computer-based visuals, overhead transparencies, flip chart, whiteboards and props.
	PERSUADE WITH POWER
	The ability to persuade people getting them to understand, accept and act upon your ideas—is a valuable skill. Your listeners will more likely be persuaded if they perceive you as credible, if you use logic and emotion in your appeal, if you carefully structure your speech and if you appeal to their interests.
	INSPIRE YOUR AUDIENCE
	An inspirational speech motivates an audience to improve personally, emotionally, professionally or spiritually and relies heavily on emotional appeals.