SPEAK WITH SINCERITY
(5-7 minutes)

When you speak on a subject that interests you - and about which you have strong feelings - you will become so involved with speaking, you will forget your nervousness.  Remember, some stage fright is a normal reaction for any speaker.  Don't be concerned about feeling a certain amount of nervousness before you speak.

However, if excessive nervousness is a problem for you, now is the time to confront it.  You don't want to be totally calm, thus putting your audience to sleep, but you should try to understand and overcome any nervousness that creates problems for you.  Direct your natural nervousness toward two object: yourself and your topic.

First, use the nervous energy to add excitement to your talk so the audience will catch your enthusiasm and be sympathetic to your cause.  Second, use your nervous energy toward thoroughly researching the topic.  Your full mastery of the subject will give you confidence as you speak.  Once you've demonstrated your understanding of the topic and stimulated enthusiasm in your audience, what's left to be nervous about?

Selecting the Subject

Choose a subject of interest about which you have definite convictions.  The world is full of controversial subjects, and you certainly have strong feelings about some of them.  Your topic could be anything from taxes to education, arms control  to barking dogs.  Just be sure that you have a definite point of view and then prepare a protest, appeal, or call for action that promotes your viewpoint.

Your purpose should determine your choice of supporting material (fact and illustrations), the arrangement of your ideas, and your delivery.  As in any speech, adapt your presentation to fit the audience, speaking directly to listeners' interests.   In this talk, you may assume your audience represents the city council, chamber of commerce, the general public, or any other group.  Be sure the Toastmaster of the meeting understands and makes clear to Club members what role you want them to play.

Make an Outline

Plan your introduction to awaken your audience.  Make them interested in your subject.  Show its timeliness and relevance to them.  The body of your talk should identify the source of your concern, show how the problem can be solved, and build listeners' understanding of and sympathy toward your position.  Finally, your conclusion should leave the audience ready to support you in your convictions.

Another way of stating this progression is to tell your audience:
            1. Something is wrong. State just what it is.
            2. Why is it wrong? Who is to blame? What harm is done?
            3. How can this wrong be correct? Make definite recommendations for changing this for the better.
            4. What should we do? Tell your listeners exactly what you want them to do, think or feel. Let your
                 enthusiasm peak, and show them sincerity.


You Need to Rehearse

Of course, you will need to practice, preferably with someone who will give you helpful feedback, such as your mentor.  Tell that person about your speech plans, then try to win agreement as you proceed through the points of the outline.  Try several different illustrations and lines of reasoning to determine the most effective and discard the rest.  Think clearly about your approach to the subject, and delete everything that does not directly relate to your purpose.  If you can enter into a dialogue or friendly argument with your listener, you will discover weaknesses in your position which you can then strengthen.

Become excited about the topic.  You can't accomplish anything worthwhile unless you're enthusiastic about it.  If you lack enthusiasm, you may have selected the wrong subject.

Try It Without Notes

In this project, try speaking without notes, since you will want to convey sincerity and mastery of the subject.  You should be telling your listeners something you really believe, rather than reading a script to them.

Consider the effectiveness of a presentation when the speaker looks you in the eye, drops all pretense, and tells you from her heart exactly how she feels about the subject.  Compare that presentation with one in which the speaker looks you in the eye, drops all pretense, and tells you from her heart exactly how she feels about the subject.  Compare that presentation with one in which the speaker stands stiffly behind the lectern and speaks from his notes, with only an occasional glance at the audience.  Which one makes the greater impact?

At this stage of your speaking development, however, you may not be quite ready to abandon notes entirely.  If this is true for you, try this method as a first step away from written notes: Write on a single card a simple phrase for each of your main points.  Write in large letters so you can read each card with a quick glance.  Never let your notes come between you and contact with your audience.

Delivering Your Talk

At Involve your listeners from the very beginning of your talk.  Your first sentence should wake then up and make them want to listen.  Your opening should also clearly introduce the subject.
Carry through with sincerity and finish with a strong appeal.  Assume you have already sold the audience on your position; now add the finishing touches.  Don't be concerned about being so involved with your subject; your Toastmasters Club is just the place to turn yourself loose.  The main consideration is to put the force of conviction into everything you say, revealing your true beliefs.


Your Evaluation

The evaluator will be looking for the way you project sincerity and conviction to your audience.  You should also be taking steps to control any nervousness you may have.

All the skills you learn through speaking are cumulative and should be included in each successive speech.  In your first talk you learned about planning (purpose, introduction, main ideaas, conclusion), and in this talk you're learning the importance of sincerity (convincing your audience that you telling them).  Plan to include both of these skills in future talks.  Remember, unless you have convictions and can demonstrate them in a local form, you have nothing to say.  When you show enthusiasm skillfully, your audience will follow you.

OBJECTIVES
* To convince the audience of your earnestness,
    sincerity, and conviction on a subject you
    you thoroughly understand.
* To confront and control any nervousness you may have.

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