Prepared for Communication 1010, Introduction to Human Communication at the University of North Texas.

Stand and Deliver

How to practice and deliver a golden speech

The body of the speech: Fine Tuning

The Final Touches

Voice & Body

The Dress Rehearsal

Putting it all together

Libby's Pet Peeves

Public Speaking Home

All of your work in preparing your speech now comes to the next stage: PRACTICE.  All too often, speakers skip this step and move right to the delivery of their speech.  This is the equivalent of putting the ox before the cart.  Practice and Delivery go hand in hand.  One without the other practically ensures that your speech will fail to produce the outcome you hope for.  Consider the following:

Research confirms that delivery impacts the influence a speaker has on the audience's reaction to the message.  Students rated these six characteristics of an ineffective speaker: 1. monotonous voice, 2. stiffness, 3. lack of eye contact, 4. fidgeting, 5. lack of enthusiasm, and 6. a weak voice.

Likewise, audiences rate these characteristics of an effective speaker as most important: 1. direct eye contact, 2. alertness, 3. enthusiasm, 4. pleasant voice, 5. animated gestures. ile you're changing things, you'll probably want to replace this lovely portrait of a young Edgar Allen Poe with someone or something pertaining to your chosen topic... Unless you really enjoy Mr. Poe and confusing people, of course...

These characteristics of an effective and ineffective speaker ALL deal with your delivery.  Visit the remainder of this site and find out how to adequately prepare and deliver a phenomenal speech.

Libby Eddleman Spears
Revised: 28 Feb 2002 12:23:17 Central Standard Time