Published: Jun 11th, 2018 Show
Researching your speech topic is easy, right? Just fire up a web browser, put in your search terms, check a few pages, and you’re done… right? Hm. Probably not. It would be nice if 100% of our speech content came from our own minds or a few quick Google searches. In reality, though, conducting proper research requires a little more care. The rewards make the effort worthwhile; a well-researched speech provides lasting value for your audience and distinguishes you as speaker. In this article, we:
What should you research?Let’s start by examining three main areas which require research for you to be successful.
Embracing a Research MindsetLet’s be honest. Researching a speech topic thoroughly can be time-consuming, frustrating, and fraught with stress. This is probably why so many speakers have such an aversion to the process and show up unprepared. “Once you adopt the right mindset, you will enjoy researching your topic.” It doesn’t have to feel so onerous, however. Once you adopt the right mindset, you will enjoy researching your topic. How can you embrace a research mindset?
Tips for Improving Your Speech Research HabitsWhen speakers talk to me about difficulties they encounter when researching their topic, it usually springs from an overall approach which is somewhat disorganized. I encourage them to take a structured approach and adopt a set of best practices like these:
Research Sources for Your Speech Topic“Good speeches supply only one type of evidence, but great speeches achieve evidence balance.” There are a wide variety of sources that you can use to research your speech topic.
“The rewards make research effort worthwhile; a well-researched speech provides lasting value for your audience and distinguishes you as speaker.”
Questions for YouThink about your next speech (or a recent one you’ve given). What areas can be made stronger with some careful research? What are some of your trusted sources for researching your speech topics? Please share in the article comments. Please share this...This is one of
many public speaking articles featured on Six Minutes. is the editor and founder of Six Minutes. He teaches courses, leads seminars, coaches speakers, and strives to avoid Suicide by PowerPoint. He is an award-winning public speaker and speech evaluator. Andrew is a father and husband who resides in British Columbia, Canada. Subscribe - It's Free!Find More Articles Tagged:When selecting a speech topic A speaker should first consider which of the following as a guide?Appeal, Appropriateness, and Ability. These are three main factors to consider when choosing a topic. All three factors are related to one another, but by systematically focusing on each one you will help address the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen topic.
What kind of speech has the purpose of increasing the audiences understanding and awareness of a topic?Informative speaking involves deepening understanding, raising awareness, or increasing an audience's knowledge about a topic.
When selecting a speech topic a speaker should be guided solely by the audience is demographic characteristics?When selecting a speech topic, a speaker should be guided solely by the audience's demographic characteristics. There are three general speech purposes: to inform, to persuade, or to mark a special occasion. A persuasive speech intends to influence the audience to accept one position to the exclusion of others.
Which type of speech delivery worries speakers because they have little time to gather their thoughts and achieve composure?Impromptu. An impromptu speech is one for which there is little to no preparation.
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