Competent Communication #4 - How to Say It

(See sample speech here)



Introduction

A clear purpose and effective organization are the foundations of any speech. However, your presentation’s success ultimately depends on the words you use and how you place them together. Words are powerful; they communicate your message and affect how the audience perceives you and your message. Clear, simple, vivid and forceful words add excitement to your presentation, stimulate the audience and communicate a specific message, while good grammar and proper pronunciation give you credibility. If you have a good command of language, your presentation will sparkle with energy and you’ll have great influence on your listeners.


Executive Summary

Words are powerful. They convey your message and influence the audience and its perception of you. Word choice and arrangement need just as much attention as speech organization and purpose. Select clear, accurate, descriptive and short words that best communicate your ideas and arrange them effectively and correctly. Every word should add value, meaning and punch to the speech.


Objectives

  • Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly.

  • Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.

  • Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar.

Time: Five to seven minutes





Your Assignment

This project focuses on language. You are to:

  • Select a topic that allows you to use vivid, descriptive words. Pay attention to the words you select and their arrangement. Your words should be so colorful that the audience can “see” them in their minds. Words should be clear, accurate, descriptive and as short as possible, and verbs should convey action.

  • Keep sentence and paragraph construction simple and short.

  • Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.

  • Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words and use correct grammar.

Your speech should incorporate what you learned in previous projects about purpose and organization and include appropriate suggestions from the evaluations you received. Review Speaker’s Checklist in Project 1 as you prepare your speech.

This information is provided as a service to members. For full details on this speech project, refer to the Competent Communication manual. All materials in the Toastmasters Educational Program are copyright Toastmasters International. All rights reserved.


The Competent Communication Manual

You may be more comfortable communicating by electronic mail or telephone than in person. Speaking to large or small groups, or even one-to-one, may intimidate or frighten you. Yet good communication skills are vital if you want to be successful. Corporate leaders say that the ability to communicate well orally is one of the most important skills their recruiters look for in job candidates. Businesses want people who express themselves clearly and confidently, and are persuasive and comfortable communicating with a wide range of people, from top executives to assembly-line workers.

(See sample speech here)