Vocal variety is the loudness or softness of the voice; the tempo which is how fast or slowly the words are delivered; and the pitch which is whether the voice is low and solemn, or high and excited. Vocal variety can be rehearsed at home or mentally visualized if on a train on the wayContinue reading “#8 Vocal Variety”
Author Archives: clarevmerry
#7 The Pause
We have looked at speech preparation; now at speech delivery: The successful speaker is the master of the pause. Knowing how to stop a constant flow of words is as important as being able to keep the words flowing. A pause can add suspense, or emphasize the importance of what is being said, or itContinue reading “#7 The Pause”
#6 Humour in Speeches
The best way to succeed in the preparation and delivery of speeches is to add humour, whether the speech is intended to be funny or not. When the audience laughs, they warm to the speaker and listen more attentively. I always feel that an audience’s laughter is the greatest reward of all. I love toContinue reading “#6 Humour in Speeches”
#5 Use of Props
Props are a visual cue. You, as the speaker, have a cue that allows you to present and talk about your prop while showing it to the audience; the audience wakes up and wonders what the relevance of this object is. Audiences are hooked on visual illustrations, although the objects and their relevance are describedContinue reading “#5 Use of Props”
# 4 Anecdotes
No speaker can live without personal anecdotes. When situations occur in one’s own life that are interesting or funny it is worth making a note of them and keeping them in a folder for future use. Also, when you hear of other people’s anecdotes they likewise can join the folder. Most speeches benefit from aContinue reading “# 4 Anecdotes”
#3 Rhetorical Devices
One of the oldest traditions in oratory is the art of rhetoric. Rhetorical devices were used and taught by ancient Greek philosophers who knew how to convince audiences of their new ideas. The human mind likes to hear things in groups of three. Groups of three give balance and rhythm to a speech and areContinue reading “#3 Rhetorical Devices”
#2 Use Bullet Points to Structure a Speech
Speech preparation: I find that speeches come into my mind both unexpectedly and with some reflection. Sometimes I find good speech material when I’m doing research for my books or websites. Other times the speaker club assignment requires a certain thing, so I set about creating the most appropriate material for it. The fundamental thingContinue reading “#2 Use Bullet Points to Structure a Speech”
#1 The Preparation and Delivery of Speeches
Article written by Clare Merry 24th November 2021 – serialized A speech is a message. It has one clear purpose. Speeches may be informative, entertaining or aim to persuade. Some speeches are tailored to special occasions and pay tribute to a person or organisation. Speeches come out of inspired moments of perception on a topic. Continue reading “#1 The Preparation and Delivery of Speeches”
Science Makes Sense Creationism 