Launchpad Activity 11

To use the feedback you received in activities 9 and 10 to improve the overall final presentation of your speech. 

Activity 11 – Prepared Speech Final Performance

Duration: 5 mins
Pre-requisites: Activity 1-10

Outcomes

By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

  1. Prepare and deliver a speech – from initial draft through to final performance – over three presentations of the same speech topic  (Same topic and same coach, preferably.)

Objectives

To do this, you will need to keep the following objectives in mind:

  • Consider the coach’s feedback and review and revise your second draft.
  • Make it easy for your audience to understand your message.
  • Engage your audience by ensuring that content and delivery are polished and rehearsed for your final performance.

The Why…

To use the feedback you received in activities 9 and 10 to improve the overall final presentation of your speech. 

Where do I start?

Review the feedback you received from the coach for Activity 9 and 10. Talk to experienced people in your club about your Activity 10 speech and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.

The really important thing to take away from Activities 9, 10 and 11 is a very clear understanding that great presentations are the result of drafting and editing.

The idea with this final stage, is to polish your speech for your final performance, based on all the feedback you have received. 

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.

Consider the coach’s feedback and review and revise your first and second draft

  1. Refer Coach’s feedback from both the previous activities on the same topic.
  2. Given this feedback, your third draft speech may be, and probably will be considerably different to your first and second draft.

Ensure that the speech addresses both intellect and emotion

  1. Intellect; the structure and the content of your speech.
  2. Emotion: connection or engagement with the audience.

Polish the third draft of the speech to ensure that it is delivered more effectively in terms of: structure, audience engagement, use of language, tone, body language, vocal expression and flow.

Tips and traps

Note: Activities 9, 10 and 11 are designed to work consecutively so these tips and traps apply to all three activities.
  • These three activity (9, 10 and 11) are where the rubber really hits the road. You have completed the first 7 activities and it’s time to really develop the skill of building a presentation.
  • From the given topics, choose a topic that “grabs”, inspires, excites, challenges or is meaningful to you.
  • Make sure your speech has a message. 
  • Remember, all great speeches have gone through a process of drafting and editing.
  • The shorter the speech, the more preparation time is required.
  • Find a way – one that works for you – to remember the structure and content.
  • Be prepared to completely change your speech from #9, to #10, to #11. It is highly likely that your second speech in activity 10, will be completely different to this one.
  • Be willing to sacrifice parts which don’t impact the audience.
  • Give the speech aloud before presenting the activity at your Club.
  • Take notes on feedback from activities #8 and #10 and seek clarification from coach.
  • Consider all feedback and be open to changing your speech to reflect the feedback.
  • As you move through the three activities, refer back to feedback received, to ensure you’ve considered and incorporated all feedback. 

Traps:

  • Writing the speech out. You are delivering a speech. Not writing and essay.
  • Not rehearsing (or only rehearsing in your head).
  • Over-reliance on notes. 
  • Having notes which are too large.
  • Using notes which distract the audience – large, loose paper, etc. (should be minimal and unobtrusive, e.g. 3-4 palm cards).
  • Not putting the time into reworking the speech and just repeating the same speech you gave before.

Guidelines for Program Director:

  • The rostering of activities 9, 10 and 11 is different to every other activity.
  • The aim is to give a new speaker a solid understanding of the process of drafting a speech – that a great speech almost never happens without going through a few iterations.
  • The speaker needs use the same topic for this activity as they did in Activity 9 and 10 – this is really important.
  • The idea is that having delivered Activity 9 and 10, they consider the coach’s comments and their own feelings about their speech, mould and model it to be better for this activity – Activity 11.

Resources that may be helpful

  1. Links to speaking hacks (#7, #9 etc)
  2. video links
  3. how to sheets