Make Your Speeches Persuasive

Do you get stage fright? Does the thought of speaking to an audience make you nervous? Guess what? You can become a confident, persuasive speaker. I took “Introduction to Public Speaking” as a Communications major at The University of Missouri at St. Louis. I will teach you how to become a good public speaker. The first thing you must do to make a persuasive speech is to prepare. Rehearse and memorize your speech. Practice presenting your speech alone or in front of others. There are many other things you must do. You must establish an ethos, or credibility, with your audience. Start your speeches with something that will get the attention of your audience. Say something that will show your sense of humor and elicit laughter. Good eye contact is important. Common sense should tell you that you should not look at the ceiling or the floor. Convince yourself that the people in the audience are your best friends and look directly at them. Look at the entire audience so that no one will feel like he or she is being singled out. Only speak while reading your notes once in a while, if that is necessary. If you decide to give your speech away from the podium, hold your notes away from your face. It is okay to walk in front of the audience. Your body language and posture can help make or break your speech. Do not put your hands into your pockets. You will probably build a wall of resistance if you cross your arms. Do not move your hands too much. Avoid pointing at the audience. Do not lean on the podium. The facial expressions you use can play an important part in persuading your audience to accept and incorporate your message. Do not frown or look sad. If the message you are trying to convey is serious, you may display a neutral facial expression; however, you should not spend too much time being stoic. Your face will not break if you smile throughout your presentation. It is important to pay attention to the tone of voice you use. Do not use a tone that is too soft, harsh or weak. It is important to not present your speech in a monotone; therefore, you should occasionally change the tone of your voice a little. Let your current mood help dictate your tone. For example, you should use a tone that displays excitement when you cover a point you are very passionate about. If you have a tape recorder, please record your rehearsals. Never let your emotions overcome you. In November 1994, Republicans gained control over the United States House and the United States Senate; subsequently, they instituted radical changes. When I gave a political speech to my class in 1996, I lost my cool. I blasted the Republican Party as being mean-spirited politicians who enjoy cutting benefits for poor people. This tantrum made it harder to persuade the audience to vote for Democrats in the following election. My classmates criticized me for “having an axe to grind”. While tutoring me in algebra a few months later, a former classmate said she liked every speech I gave except my speech blasting Republicans. I should have only discussed the good things Democrats do. Please do not be afraid to give an important speech. Follow these steps to make a persuasive speech.