- By following the five steps of speech preparation—think, investigate, compose, rehearse, and revise—you can create compelling public speeches that engage and inspire audiences.
- After determining your general purpose, you can select your speech topic by reflecting on your personal interests and experiences, brainstorming, or developing a concept map.
- By conducting an audience analysis, you explore several factors, including your listeners' demographics; attitudes, beliefs, and values; knowledge; and type.
- To manage your time effectively and focus on finding relevant information, plan a research strategy. This not only helps you find and organize information but also helps you avoid plagiarism.
- When researching your speech, gather relevant data from a combination of print resources, Web sites, electronic databases, and information interviews, and don't forget to evaluate your sources.