Controversial topic for my next speech

**Posts:** 3 · by **cjc651** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:38 pm

Hey guys I'm new to this forum so bear with me.

I've been struggling with public speaking thus far and so far we're just past mid terms. I have a D- right now because I bombed the first two speeches, mostly due to my lack of natural public speaking skill, lack of preparation, and the fact that I tend to look down too much and rely on my outline. I got a c- on my last outline and a 0% on the actual speech, harsh right? I talked to my teacher about it and she said that it was because I relied too much on my outline, even though we aren't supposed to memorize our speeches we're supposed to go off of our outline. Anyways I basically have no other choice than to do extremely well on my next two speeches if I want any chance at getting a decent grade for the class.

Our next speech topic is to describe public discourse surrounding a controversy. I've chosen the issue of military organizations recruiting in high schools and whether or not it should be allowed. I do not have to take a particular side on this issue, however I am strongly against this so it may influence my speech.

Any information or advice that could help me out in my current situation or aid me in my speech would be greatly appreciated.

**Posts:** 239 · by **simonr** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:50 am

You got a harsh mark - even I wouldn't give someone a zero! If you actually said anything understandable it's not a zero!

However, given that (presumably) it's the same teacher and your problems looking down too much, the obvious solution is to design your outline in a different way so that you don't need to look down so much.

I don't know what system you've been taught but it's obviously not working for you so whatever you do can't make it worse, right?

Two suggestions... if you're allowed to have notes in your hands, use Index Cards with keywords on them. That way you can glance down or, better, raise the cards a bit.

Secondly, if you're not allowed to do that (and if this isn't how you're doing it already, consider a different way of drawing up your outline. My first thought would be that you did a very large MindMap

**Posts:** 3 · by **cjc651** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:50 pm

simonr wrote:You got a harsh mark - even I wouldn't give someone a zero! If you actually said anything understandable it's not a zero!

However, given that (presumably) it's the same teacher and your problems looking down too much, the obvious solution is to design your outline in a different way so that you don't need to look down so much.

I don't know what system you've been taught but it's obviously not working for you so whatever you do can't make it worse, right?

Two suggestions... if you're allowed to have notes in your hands, use Index Cards with keywords on them. That way you can glance down or, better, raise the cards a bit.

Secondly, if you're not allowed to do that (and if this isn't how you're doing it already, consider a different way of drawing up your outline. My first thought would be that you did a very large MindMap

Yeah, I was within the time frame and used hand gestures and everything.. I think she either doesn't like me very much(idk why) or I just butchered it that bad.

We're not allowed to use notecards but we are required to have a typed outline with basically intro, body, conclusion. In the body we basically just have our 3-4 main points and sub points then sub-sub points(if that makes any sense).

I think one of my problems was writing in complete sentences on my outline. I am going to try to write as little as possible for my next speech and rehearse basically looking at what I have written down for each point and talking about it while looking at the class.

**Posts:** 239 · by **simonr** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:10 am

Sentences are always, always, ALWAYS a mistake. Not even phrases, if you can!

Simple, individual keywords, written in huge letters are what you want to be jotting down.

**Posts:** 3 · by **cjc651** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:28 am

simonr wrote:Sentences are always, always, ALWAYS a mistake. Not even phrases, if you can!

Simple, individual keywords, written in huge letters are what you want to be jotting down.

Awesome thanks for the input.

I don't think I can really avoid using short phrases, because that is basically required in my outline.

I know what you mean though, I'm going through my outline right now and getting the bare bone, main points out of the sentences I have written. From here I'm going to practice free-styling from there and using a more conversational style instead of being a drone reading a paper to the class.

Controversial topic for my next speech

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