Launchpad 10

Launchpad Activity 10

To use the feedback you received after Activity 9 to improve the content and presentation of your speech.

Activity 10 – Prepared Speech Draft 2

Duration: 5 mins
Pre-requisites: Activity 1-9.

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 draft.
  • Ensure that the speech addresses both intellect and emotion.
  • Polish the second draft of the speech to ensure that it is delivered more effectively.

The Why…

To use the feedback you received after Activity 9 to improve the content and presentation of your speech.

Where do I start?

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

The more effort you put into reworking you Activity 9 speech, the greater will be your reward. 

The really important thing to take away from these three activities is a very clear understanding that great presentations are the result of drafting and editing. They very rarely happen with the first draft.

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.

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

  1. Refer Coach’s feedback below.
  2. Given this feedback, your second draft speech may be considerably different to your first 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 second 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

  • 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 – this is really important.
  • The idea is that having delivered Activity 9, they consider the coach’s comments and their own feelings about their speech, mould and model it to be better for this activity (Activity 10) and then again for Activity 11.

Resources that may be helpful

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