Public speaking sample topics. Oratory: topics

The appearance of the company's leader, his leadership qualities and sales skills determine the success of the enterprise. This is known to PR specialists who write speeches for managers, think over their appearance, teach them how to speak in public and how to place accents correctly. However, even the best PR specialist will not be able to independently turn an ordinary person into a bright personality, a hero of public speeches.

The book by James Humes, a famous writer and former speechwriter for five American presidents, reveals some of the secrets of oratory and creating charisma. Having mastered the techniques offered by the author, you will gain confidence and learn how to easily and successfully cope with public speaking.

1. Pause

Where should any successful performance begin? The answer is simple: from a pause. No matter what kind of speech you give: a detailed presentation of several minutes or a short introduction of the next speaker, you must achieve silence in the room. Once on the podium, look around the audience and fix your gaze on one of the listeners. Then mentally say the first sentence to yourself and, after an expressive pause, begin speaking.

2. First phrase

All successful speakers place great importance on the first sentence of their speech. It must be powerful and definitely evoke a positive response from the audience.

The first phrase is, in TV terminology, the “prime time” of your speech. At this moment, the audience is at its maximum size: every person in the room wants to look at you and find out what kind of bird you are. In just a few seconds, the screening of listeners can begin: someone will continue the conversation with a neighbor, someone will bury their head in their phone, and someone will even fall asleep. However, everyone without exception will listen to the first phrase.

3. Bright start

If you don’t have a bright, suitable aphorism that can attract everyone’s attention, start with a story from your life. If you have an important fact or news that is unknown to your listeners, start right away with it (“Yesterday at 10 o’clock in the morning...”). In order for the audience to perceive you as a leader, you need to immediately take the bull by the horns: choose a strong beginning.

4. Main idea

Before you even sit down to write your speech, you must determine its main idea. This key point that you want to convey to the audience should be concise, capacious, “fit in a matchbox.”

Stop, look and make a plan: first, highlight the key ideas, and then you can supplement and clarify them with real-life examples or quotes.

As Churchill said, a good speech is like a symphony: it can be performed at three different tempos, but it must maintain the main melody.

5. Quotes

There are several rules, the observance of which will give strength to the citation. First, the quote should be close to you. Never cite statements from an author who is unfamiliar to you, uninteresting, or whom you do not like to quote. Secondly, the name of the author should be known to the audience, and the quote itself should be short.

You must also learn how to create an environment for quoting. Many successful speakers use similar techniques: before quoting, they pause and put on glasses, or with a serious look they read a quote from a card or, for example, a sheet of newspaper.

If you want to make a special impression with a quote, write it down on a small card, take it out of your wallet during your speech, and read the statement.

6. Wit

Surely you have been advised many times to add a joke or anecdote to your presentation. There is some truth in this advice, but do not forget that a joke for the sake of a joke only insults the listener.

There is no need to start your speech with an anecdote that is not related to the situation (“It seems that it is customary to start a speech with an anecdote, so here it is. Somehow a man comes to see a psychiatrist...”). It's best to sneak in your funny story mid-speech to lighten the mood.

7. Reading

Reading a speech from a sheet of paper with your eyes downcast does not, to put it mildly, excite the audience. What should we do then? Is it really necessary to memorize a half-hour long speech? Not at all. You need to learn to read correctly.

The first rule of reading a speech: never say words while your eyes are looking at the paper.

Use the SOS technique: look - stop - say.

For training, take any text. Lower your eyes and take a mental picture of a few words. Then raise your head and stop. Then, looking at any object at the other end of the room, tell what you remember. And so on: look at the text, stop, speak.

8. Speaker techniques

It is known that Churchill recorded his speeches like poetry, dividing them into separate phrases and writing each on a separate line. To make your speech sound even more convincing, use this technique.

Use rhyme and internal consonance in a phrase to give the sound of your speech poetic impact (for example, Churchill's phrase “We must follow the principles of HUMANISM, not bureaucracy”).

It’s very easy to come up with rhymes, just remember the most common ones: -na (war, silence, needed), -ta (darkness, emptiness, dream), -ch (sword, speech, flow, meetings), -oses / wasps (roses , threats, tears, questions), -anie, -yes, -on, -tion, -ism and so on. Practice these simple rhymes to create sonorous phrases.

But remember: the rhymed phrase should be the same for the entire speech; there is no need to turn your speech into a poem.

And so that the rhyme does not go to waste, express the key idea of ​​​​the speech in this phrase.

9. Questions and pauses

Many speakers use questions to connect with the audience. Don't forget one rule: never ask a question if you don't know the answer. Only by predicting the audience's reaction can you prepare and get the most out of the question.

10. Final

Even if your speech was inexpressive, a successful ending can fix everything. To make an impression in the finale, tune in, call on your emotions to help: pride, hope, love and others. Try to convey these feelings to your listeners the way great speakers of the past did.

Under no circumstances should you end your speech on a minor note, as this will simply destroy your career. Use uplifting quotes, poems or jokes.

Oratory skills are useful for a person in any profession, because the ability to communicate with the public makes him self-confident and increases the employee’s value in the eyes of the employer. This is why public speaking is so important—speech examples especially. After all, they will help you choose the right speech style for a particular occasion.

An oratorical performance always has a specific goal, namely, to persuade the public using certain oratorical methods. The goal may be to inform the audience about certain events or results, motivate to achieve improvement in certain indicators, call for certain actions, convince them of the correctness of their thoughts or ideas, etc.

Rhetoric offers different techniques to achieve the goals described above. Consequently, depending on the purpose or nature of the speech, oratory speech has different types, examples of which will be discussed in this article.

According to modern classification, there are 5 types of oratory, each of which includes several more types.

1. Socio-political eloquence (propaganda speech, diplomatic speeches, speeches on political and economic topics, rally speech, etc.).
2. Academic eloquence (lectures, reports, conferences, etc.).
3. Judicial eloquence (speeches of the prosecutor, accused, lawyer, jury judges, etc.).
4. Social and everyday eloquence (congratulatory speech, toast, memorial speech, etc.).
5. Spiritual eloquence (sermons, speeches on spiritual topics, etc.).

Examples of public speaking will help you consider each of the proposed types of eloquence in more detail.

Socio-political

Let's consider three genres of socio-political eloquence.

• A campaign speech is aimed at getting an immediate response from the public. The speaker's performance wins the audience over to the speaker's side and encourages them to consciously and voluntarily act in the speaker's best interests to achieve a common goal.

Example: “Today, young people spend more and more time on the computer and TV, without thinking about their own health. Meanwhile, a passive lifestyle leads to unpleasant and sometimes terrible health problems.
Playing sports strengthens your health and immunity, shapes your figure, increases self-esteem, improves concentration, has a positive effect on mood and brings many other benefits to the body.
Play sports! Choose a healthy lifestyle, and the results will not keep you waiting!”

• A diplomatic speech is an official speech by a speaker representing a particular state. The speech is distinguished by restraint, but a clear expression of the state’s positions.

Example: “The modern world order is gradually moving from a system of unipolarity to multipolarity, since the hegemony of one strong state cannot ensure the security of the planet’s population.
We stand that in the emerging conditions of the new world order, all issues can be resolved only through peaceful negotiations and the search for consensus. This is the only way we can preserve this world for our descendants.”

• A rally speech is one that energizes the crowd to defend a common idea. Such a speech usually touches on sensitive socio-political topics and gathers people to protest or support one or another decision of the leadership of a country, city, factory, school, etc.

Example: “We have gathered here to express our disagreement with the closure of the enterprise. We will not give our factory to those who want to profit from its demolition.
If we stop this chaos now, we will be able to provide jobs for our children and grandchildren. Let's save production! Let the management hear us!”

Academic

The genres of academic eloquence mainly work within the framework of science and education, however, in some cases, academic eloquence is populist and propagandistic in nature.

• A lecture is an oratorical speech that has a clear structure, respects all logical connections and, in most cases, has the goal of informing listeners. Thus, lectures can be devoted not only to educational disciplines, but also to certain topics (the harm of smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.).

Example: “Today’s lecture is dedicated to the development of science. The lecture plan is as follows: stages of the development of science, models of the development of science, types of scientific revolutions and the phenomenon of pseudoscience.
So, let's start with the fact that any science develops in the process of understanding the surrounding world. There are 5 stages in the development of science: pre-scientific, ancient, medieval, the stage of classical science and, finally, modern science. Let’s look at each stage in more detail.”

• A report is a speech given by a speaker, which is held as part of conferences, symposiums, etc. and submitted for discussion to the audience. Typically, a report is a summary of the research and experiments conducted in a particular scientific field.

Example: “The purpose of the report on the topic “The concept of “Friendship” in German and Russian linguistic cultures” is to study the characteristics of the perception of the concept “friendship” by speakers of German and Russian linguistic cultures, as well as to identify similarities and differences.
After conducting sociological surveys and a free association experiment, we can conclude that Germans and Russians perceive friendship almost identically.”

• A scientific communication is a public speech limited in time and addressed to one specific idea. A scientific message is expressed concisely and logically.

Example: “The current state of the Pacific Ocean is alarming. The garbage patch formed in the northern part of the ocean is a serious threat not only to the inhabitants of the ocean itself, but also to humans. Several proposals to solve this problem have been put on the agenda.”

Judicial

Oratory speech of a judicial nature includes almost all speeches that are held in the courtroom.

• An indictment speech is an oratorical speech by a public prosecutor or prosecutor, assessing the progress of the investigation and the available evidence that it was the accused who committed the crime. The prosecutor also proposes for consideration this or that punishment for the accused.

Example: “Today we are going to take part in a hearing in the case of a serial killer. The prosecution would like to pay special attention to the most significant circumstances of the case, as well as present irrefutable evidence of the commission of a series of crimes by the accused.”

• Advocacy speech is a public speech that is aimed at fending off the prosecutor’s accusations and providing one’s own evidence that diverts the blame for the crime from the accused.

Example: “Yes, you are right, comrade prosecutor, my client had an ambiguous relationship with the murdered woman. However, it is worth noting that the motive was not only that of my client, but also that of the sister of the murdered woman. Moreover, the evidence found proves that elements of artificial leather were found on the crime weapon. Exactly the same leather from which the murdered woman’s sister’s gloves were made.”

Social and household

Oratorical performances within the framework of social and everyday eloquence are a manifestation of social relations.

• A congratulatory speech is a speech to express one’s admiration and joy on a particular occasion. This could be someone's anniversary, birthday, wedding, opening of a business, birth of a child, etc. The peculiarity of such a speech is solemnity and pathos.

Example: “Ladies and Gentlemen! We have gathered here today to celebrate a wonderful event - the tenth anniversary of our company. I want to congratulate everyone who contributed to the development of our common cause, and also wish our company further prosperity and loyal clients!”

• Funeral speech - read on the occasion of someone's death. Such a speech is usually based on memories of the deceased, emphasizing his positive qualities, as well as words of support to close relatives of the deceased. The funeral speech is also distinguished by tragic pathos.

Example: “He was a wonderful person. Although I know him only as a colleague and can say that he was a man of his word and incredible love for his work, I can also add that he always remained, above all, a loving father and husband.”

Spiritual

Church eloquence has a strong influence on the masses. Religion is one of the regulators of behavior through moral principles.

• A sermon is a speech delivered by a member of the clergy with the purpose of spreading an idea or belief. The sermon talks about God's love for people, mercy, compassion, God's will for all events, etc. Such speech awakens in listeners reverence and awe for religion. The speech is distinguished by high style, pathos, and a moral and edifying tone.

Example: “The Holy Spirit was on Earth when there was no trace of man yet. It was the Holy Spirit who created human life. It was the Spirit of God, through Moses, who freed the children of Israel from the Egyptian yoke and led them to the Promised Land.”

• Spiritual lectures are the same educational lectures that convey religious ideas to listeners.

Example: “People are accustomed to living according to legal laws and the laws of nature. In the first case, let’s say a person stole a small amount of money, went to church and lit a candle - that’s it, his soul is calm. In the second case - jump from the window, no one will punish you, but it will hurt - this is the effect of the law of nature. However, there is another category of laws - the laws of spiritual life, which help a person to be himself and accept himself.”

Now that the examples have helped you understand what the oratorical path is, it will be much easier to work on your speech depending on the purpose of the speech. The main rule when preparing any speech is always to tune in with the audience.

It is unlikely that anyone does not understand how public speaking differs from any other speech act: of course, speaking to an audience, whatever it may be, is a monologue, an oral monologue, the purpose of which is to influence the public in one way or another. And although there is a classic scheme of oratory, consisting of several stages, a creative solution to such a speech is always very effective.

Kony's example

For example, one of the founders of the Russian legal profession, A.F. Kony, once defended in court a disabled hunchback who caused grievous bodily harm to his neighbor, who, day after day for many years, called him a freak when the disabled person passed by his house. The defendant, who had never responded to an insult, suddenly could not stand it one day, grabbed a stone and threw it at his offender, breaking his head. And at the trial A.F. Kony thought of an original public performance. He stood up and addressed the jury: “Gentlemen of the jury!” - and fell silent. After a pause, he repeated his line and fell silent again. Then again too. The assessors whispered nervously, and after the fourth such appeal they shouted at A.F. Kony: “Are you kidding us?” Then Koni said: “I addressed you politely only 4 times, and you were already nervous. And how should my client feel, listening to insults day after day for many years?” The disabled man was acquitted. Public speech by A.F. Kony achieved its goal.

That is why at the first – pre-communicative – stage of the speech, you need to think through its purpose and clearly understand its topic. A.F. Koni knew what he wanted to achieve, since the next algorithm for his preparation was obvious: assess the character of the audience and the situation, and then proceed to the text itself.

The text, as in the case of Koni, should be concise and bright. This cannot be done without a clear understanding by the speaker of what goal he wants to achieve. Thus, shortly before Napoleon’s invasion, Alexander I hosted French diplomats, already realizing that war could not be avoided. The Emperor clearly understood the purpose of his speech: it was necessary to convey to the French the meaninglessness of Napoleon’s undertaking, its doom. His speech was magnificent in its brevity and brightness of impact: “Here is little Europe,” he said, approaching the map hanging on the wall, “but here is big Russia,” he took a couple of steps so that his hand touched the Far East. - In case of failure, you can retreat only to Paris, but I can retreat even to Kamchatka! And at the same time, every inch of this land will be hostile to you, not a single woman will stop fighting. Russia may lose individual battles, but there will never be a defeated Russia.” Ambassadors and diplomats left shocked.

The more precise and expressive the speech, the more preparation it requires. And the point is not only in its speech design: you need to assess the composition of the audience, be able to put yourself in the place of future listeners. And even if the audience is heterogeneous, you need to think through the speech so that no one gets bored, so that the goal of the speech is achieved in relation to everyone.

Case in London

For example, in 1777 in London, an open trial was heard in the case of a doctor who, contrary to the prohibition of the Catholic Church, performed a Caesarean section on a mother with many children, who could not give birth to her tenth child and was dying. The lawyer set the goal not only to protect his client, but also to draw public attention to the fact that the church should not interfere in such matters. He knew that the audience would be very diverse, so he decided to say something that everyone understands, regardless of class and education - about the right of children to have a mother. “Gentlemen,” he addressed the judges, the jury and the public. – Yes, my client violated the church ban. But would it be better for God and the church if the woman died and nine children remained hungry orphans?” - and sat down, making it clear that he had finished his short speech. And reached the goal!

Pavel Vlasov

A public speech, well structured and carefully prepared, can greatly influence the public worldview and give results that the author-speaker himself did not even imagine. So, for example, in the novel by A.M. Gorky's "Mother" Pavel Vlasov, arrested on political charges, refused to escape, prepared by his comrades, in order to make a speech at the trial! And he thought it through painfully. He didn’t care what sentence they would give him, but there was a goal - to convey his faith to a large number of people. If you analyze his speech, you can use it to teach oratory.

Pavel understood that his speech would be in court, so he began with this opening: “A man of the party, I recognize only the court of my party...”, and with this one phrase he immediately placed himself above the circumstances and above the power that was judging him. It was as if he had grown taller – and the hall froze. His speech is divided into clear parts, each of which begins as if with a refrain: “We are socialists...”, “We are workers...”, “We are revolutionaries...”, and this “refrain” increased the emotional tension so much that “everyone felt a strange , the captivating power of his faith,” writes Gorky.

The novel, undeservedly forgotten, provides an excellent example of the internal dramaturgy of the hero’s speech: Pavel thought through not only the beginning, but also the beginning (“We were arrested as rebels...”), and the climax (“How can you destroy the workers - those who you, comrade judges, feeds?..."), and the denouement: Pavel’s speech ended with the life-affirming “And this will be!” - you can’t add anything, everything is said, everything is clear, everything is exhaustive. Constructing such a speech is worth a lot.

Summary

There are no small details in public speaking. Even the science of proxemics was formed - the science of the temporal and spatial organization of communication. Even the placement of furniture (tables and chairs) plays a big role, because you can stand in such a way that you feel separated from the audience; you can set up a table and seat the listeners at it so that you create, as it were, two confrontational sides; You can use furniture to create a conference atmosphere, etc. This is unacceptable: modern trends in the development of public speaking imply dialogism.

We observe in the media public speeches based on a dispute, including parts of interviews, discussions, polemics... This is quite in the spirit of ancient traditions! Dialogical presentation is very important for lawyers, sales representatives, and middle managers. However, don’t think that this is some kind of know-how!

In Mamin-Sibiryak’s novel “Privalov’s Millions,” the son of a small merchant asked his father for help in opening his own shop. The father said that if his son could convince his friend, a very stingy merchant, to buy from them a harp that no one had needed for a long time, then the son could count on his help. And the son thought through his “performance”, positioning himself with a harp right on the porch of the stingy merchant’s house. He paid a beautiful girl he found who knew how to play the harp, and when the merchant arrived at his house, this public performance was a success: the girl played so tenderly that the “organizer” of the performance did not have to say anything: the effect of surprise worked! — The harp was purchased, and the “sellers” were invited to the merchant’s house. Thus began the young man’s independent journey...

So, organizing a public speech is a matter to which you can devote your life, constantly improving in such a complex and necessary art.

The most important aspect of any speech is its topic. It is often difficult to choose the exact topic of a speech, since the choice of directions is very wide. Interesting topics for speech can be found in all areas of knowledge - the main thing is that what is being discussed is clear and close to the listener.

The main criterion by which the quality of a speech can be determined is its simplicity for the audience to perceive and its engagingness. This can be achieved in different ways.

Among them:

• the use of intonation accents in speech - important points must be emphasized with a voice or pauses;
• lack of excitement, trembling in the voice;
• the presence of information only from reliable authoritative sources;
• introducing elements of artistic expressiveness into speech (it is important to preserve the informativeness of the presentation);
• avoidance of excessive use of negations (particles “not”, “no”, etc.);
• correct construction of the report - the most fascinating facts should be at the beginning, and the most important at the end.

It is also important not to forget about a sense of humor - any topic with jokes will become colorful and interesting. At the same time, the main thing is not to overdo it with humorous inserts, otherwise the performance will not be taken seriously.

The key to an interesting presentation is also the topic.

What is important when choosing a topic for a speech?

Before choosing a narrow topic on which the report will be based, you need to take into account several important facts - without this, the speech will not be successful with the audience.

Reason for speech

Not only the topic, but also information on it is selected depending on the occasion that gave rise to the speech. It can be an official, solemn, festive or sad event. The message itself, like the topic, depends on the reason for the meeting:

• if the event is business, the idea should not go beyond the scope of a specific work issue;
• if the occasion is a festive event, interesting topics for speech may be different, but they should invariably be emotional, sometimes humorous, and in some situations serious;
• if the event is mourning, the direction should be completely official (the specific choice depends on the occasion of the meeting).

At fun events, the topic should be light and interesting; you can include various jokes and funny stories in the speech.

Purpose of speech

The subject of the speech is inextricably linked with the purpose of the speech - you can strive to cheer up the audience, convey important facts to them, or convince them of something. The main goals are:

1. belief;
2. entertainment;
3. informing.

Each goal requires its own facts and its own speech skills.

Inappropriate topics

Even within the framework of an interesting and relevant topic, there may be facts that are better avoided. They may seem boring to the audience or become offensive to listeners.

In this regard, it is useful to refuse:

• incomprehensible or too simple topics, as this distracts attention;
• too sensitive or resonant topics, as this may cause too strong a response from listeners;
• directions that do not correspond to the mood of the audience (that is, the occasion of the meeting).

Audience

It is important to imagine the image of your average listener in order to choose the right topic - you need to understand what is interesting to this person, what he is interested in, what age, gender and what social class he belongs to. The topic must meet these criteria, otherwise it will not be received properly.

It is also important not to focus on too simple and well-known points that listeners already have an idea about.

The education of the lecturer and the audience is important - in front of people of a certain profession it is better to use them in special terms, and in front of children it is better to express themselves simply, ordinaryly and understandably.

The key point is the interests of the audience - it is important that the main issue of the speech is related to them. In order to feel the audience, the speaker must put himself in their place - for example, imagine that he is a schoolboy if the report is addressed to children under 16-17 years old.

Then you need to pay attention to those points that are of interest to this particular group of the population, and not to the lecturer himself.

It is important to choose a relevant topic for listeners based on their demographic data:

• it is better for older people to choose topics that are relevant to them (for example, about pensions), and for young people - those that will be understandable and close to them (fashion, high technology);
• For a multinational audience, it is better to choose neutral but interesting topics for speech or those topics that affect interethnic interaction. These topics will not be popular with listeners of one nationality;
• for a purely female or male audience, it is better to choose topics oriented towards the female or male gender, respectively. Naturally, the context of the meeting must be taken into account.

It may also matter what city or country the listeners are from and in their report they will touch upon topics of concern to representatives of this area of ​​​​residence.

The audience can also be close to the speaker (usually relatives and friends), business (colleagues) or strangers. The subject matter, as well as the content of the report, may change due to this. Communication with friends is more personal, but with bosses or subordinates it is exclusively business-like.

How to choose a speech topic successfully

Firstly, the chosen topic must be interesting to the speaker himself - otherwise he will not be able to reproduce it well and in an exciting way for listeners. Even if the topic is specific and not very interesting, you need to narrow it down to those points that somehow attract the speaker. Then it will be much easier to find contact with the audience.

Secondly, it is better if the lecturer knows the subject he is talking about very well (or you need to study it in depth before the speech). Otherwise, a speech on any topic will not elicit a response even from those listeners who know nothing about it, because they will feel that the lecturer is incompetent in the area he is talking about.

Even if a person does not initially know the topic very well, it is important that it is easy for him to study and understand. This usually works better if the direction of the speech is related to the professional activities or interests of the speaker.

The area of ​​conversation is not so important - it can be poetry, theater, or politics. The lecturer must immediately plan what interesting things he can tell the audience on this topic.

It’s better if you can find a middle ground - choose a topic that the speaker understands and that is interesting to him at the same time.

It is always successful to speak on a topic that is relevant to everyone, especially if there are any controversial issues in this area.

To update your presentation, you can:

• view news feeds or listen to the radio - this way you can find out about the latest news;
• contact newspapers and magazines published in the city on social or political issues;
• learn about the social status, age and interests of the public;
• browse thematic sites and study the latest news from there.

This will allow you to select information that is relevant to a specific audience. For example, you can tell future students about entering universities or tell a funny story from student life, and you can tell expectant mothers about newborns and parenting problems.

It is best to talk about things related to a person’s personal experience - then he will be able to explain it more clearly using personal examples.

At the same time, it is important to follow the narrative and not say unnecessary facts or data that the audience does not need at the moment.

The most interesting topics of speeches

The specific topic is not so important as what is important is that the lecturer presents it competently - then almost any topic will be fascinating and understandable for the listener.

The audience should receive new thoughts and ideas regarding the issue, realize different positions from which to look at the problem.

The problem must be formulated concisely, clearly and intriguingly. Topics that touch on memorable facts are always interesting:

• the lightest metal on Earth;
• what is the fortune of the richest man in the world;
• the largest flower;
• the most unusual records from the Guinness Book of Records;
• the most expensive fruits in the world.

Topics based on unusual facts are also interesting for people, for example:

• how to make jellyfish ice cream;
• how the world's most unusual war without weapons takes place;
• How rapidly technology is developing.

Controversial and interesting topics for public speaking have gained particular popularity, since most often they involve discussion, for example:

• how to become self-confident;
• what to do in case of unfounded criticism;
• Is it possible to overcome alcohol addiction?
• how to quickly get into good physical shape without dieting.

For schoolchildren and students there can be a lot of topics - they are limited only by the subject of the lesson. The following problems are always relevant:

• simple ways to preserve the environment;
• mortality and birth rate: what does the ratio depend on;
• Is it possible to eliminate unemployment?
• how to speak beautifully and convincingly.

There are many common interesting topics for presentations:

• how to overcome laziness;
• what they won’t teach you at school;
• what is the secret of family happiness;
• how a person’s spirituality is expressed;
• what is true love.

For the holidays, simpler themes are suitable, which can be diluted with anecdotes, funny stories, and jokes.

You can prepare an interesting speech on a topic from any field. The main thing is to clearly define the target audience and formulate the narrative in such a way that it is accessible and interesting to every listener.

Public speaking is a speech in front of an audience, a presentation of some information, possibly showing visual material, for a specific purpose.

The purposes of public speaking can be very different: to inform, explain, interest, convince, convince, motivate to action or inspire.

Depending on the purpose, the types of speeches are also divided: informational (narrative, descriptive, explanatory), campaigning (inspiring, persuasive, inducing action) and entertaining.

In modern practice, depending on the specific scope of application, public speaking is divided into the following types:

1) academic (lecture, scientific report, scientific message). Distinctive features are scientific terminology, argumentation, logical culture, communication of scientific information;

2) judicial (accusatory or defensive speech). Distinctive features - analysis of factual material, use of expert data, references to witness testimony, logic, persuasiveness;

3) socio-political (speech at a meeting, propaganda, rally speech). Such speeches can be of an inviting or explanatory nature. Distinctive features are a variety of visual and emotional means, features of the official style, the use of political and economic terms;

4) social and everyday (welcome, dinner, memorial speech). Distinctive features - appeal to feelings; free presentation plan; use of simile, metaphor, solemn style.

The first stage of any type of public speaking is preparation - determining the topic, selecting material and collecting additional information. A good speech is determined by the depth of content (essence) and the form of presentation (style). Both require time and hard work. In order for your speech to achieve its goal, collect as much information as possible about the intended audience: who you are addressing, how many people there will be, find out their age, range of issues of interest, level of education, professions of your future listeners. Find out how knowledgeable they are about issues related to your presentation. The more material you collect, the easier it will be for you to convey information to the audience, as well as answer questions, consider and refute objections, including those that are deliberately provocative and dishonest. But don’t try to embrace the immensity in one speech. What you say and the options you offer must be understandable and acceptable to the interlocutor. Do not get carried away with terminological vocabulary or an excessive number of statistical calculations, proving how smart and eloquent you are. Your goal is to be understood.

Speech is composed in accordance with the laws of logical thinking. It should contain an unusual message, arousing interest, or a vital circumstance. Abstract reasoning alternates in speech with concrete facts illustrating these reasoning. Vivid, convincing argumentation, fresh, exciting information, material compiled in the form of a search for truth, makes the audience perceive the speech with bated breath. Facts presented in public speech must be verified, all conclusions must be thought out and verified.

The second stage is the presentation of the prepared material. Here you need to meet three conditions: adapt to the audience, capture their attention and observe how the information is perceived, whether the reaction coincides with the one you expected.

At the beginning of the speech, it is important to concentrate the attention of the audience, establish contact and relative ease in communicating with those present.

It is necessary to begin your speech with a strong and persistent desire to achieve your goal. Speech has a response from the listener only when in the mind of the speaker he himself, the audience and the word merge into one. To do this, you need to know what the speaker will talk about. If the speech is not thought out and planned in advance, the speaker cannot feel confident in front of the audience, and confidence is one of the most important components of success.

Every public performance must meet a number of basic requirements.

The first of them is certainty, clarity. Listeners must clearly understand all words and expressions used by the speaker. When a speaker uses words unfamiliar to the audience, uncertainty and misunderstanding arise. You must present the information offered in an accessible, clear form. You should strive to ensure that your information is heard and properly understood.

Modern audiences want a speaker to speak as simply as in a personal conversation. With a good speaker, listeners do not notice the manner of speaking; they perceive only the subject being discussed.

For persuasive influence it is necessary that the level of speaking corresponds to the level of understanding. Arguments should be taken from the field of activity of the listeners, information should be acceptable according to gender and age characteristics and, if possible, clearly presented.

The next essential requirement for public speaking is consistency. It is achieved when the presentation goes from the known to the unknown, from simple to complex, from a description of the familiar and close to the distant. You should think about the composition of your speech. Limit your speech to 20 minutes, because most people are not able to listen long and carefully. Most often, a three-component structure is used: introduction (5-10% of the speaking time), main part, conclusion (5% of the speaking time).

At the beginning of your speech, briefly list the main points you are going to cover. During the presentation, you dwell in more detail on certain provisions that, in your opinion, are interesting for the audience. In conclusion, it is necessary to summarize the speech, repeat the main conclusions and provisions, and call for action. The beginning and end of the speech must be connected to each other. What is said at the end is better remembered by the listeners.

It is very important to observe the compositional proportionality of the material, to wisely combine old and new, theoretical and practical material, positive and negative information, rational and emotional in a speech.

The most important condition for oratory is the ability to use images and pictures. Without this, speech is always pale and boring, and most importantly, it is not able to influence the feelings and through them the mind. Real public speech should excite and excite not only thoughts, but also feelings. Only colors and images can create a living speech, one that can impress listeners. A speech consisting only of reasoning cannot be retained in people’s heads; it quickly disappears from memory. The speaker's job is to influence the feelings of his listeners. Strong feelings and experiences of a person always affect the mind, leaving an indelible impression.

To activate attention, create mental tension and emotional tone in the human psyche, experienced speakers use subtle rhetorical techniques, quotes, and examples.

Oratory necessarily includes the culture of speech and knowledge of the norms of the literary language. There are a number of typical mistakes in oral speech: incorrect choice of words, use of unnecessary words, use of words that sound similar, misunderstanding of the meaning of words. Errors in the pronunciation of sounds and their combinations and in stress are also unacceptable.

A speaker’s speech literacy is manifested in the ability to adapt speech to a specific situation and the art of intonation. With the help of intonation, increasing and decreasing the speed of speech, its volume, thinking and emotional perception are involved. Important words and thoughts are emphasized intonationally, with special energy, and pauses are made before expressing them.

In order for the impact to be as effective as possible, you need to learn to control your voice. The voice is capable of transmitting, simply and beautifully expressing our thoughts and feelings. Speech must be sufficiently audible, and this depends on a well-trained voice and the ability to use it in various conditions. The ability to control one's voice is associated with the development of speech breathing. Vary your voice volume and speed of speech and show your excitement and interest in the issue being discussed.

The sound quality of speech depends on the brightness, clarity of pronunciation - diction and on the compliance of speech with the norms of Russian literary pronunciation.

Even in the process of preparing for a speech, you should strengthen faith in your ability to control the audience and train in mastering specific rhetorical techniques.

There is a rule: if you want to master any art, practice constantly, persistently, tirelessly. In oratory, it is necessary to master the technique, mechanisms, and culture of speech through a system of training, exercises combined with speaking practice. Learning public speaking and expressing one's thoughts is about eliminating inhibitions, helping a person feel free, at ease, confident, inspired and behave correctly in front of an audience.

Ask someone who is not an expert in your field to listen to you and give you their opinion. Was it interesting to listen to you? Does your speech have meaning? Are you clear?

Did you meet the allotted time, what was successful in the performance, what were the shortcomings and why did they arise?

Most likely, the first time you will not be satisfied with the result, because you will spend a lot of unnecessary words, and you will have the feeling that you did not say something very important. Then you need to think through your ideas again, choose the right words, remove unnecessary ones and explain something with diagrams or drawings. Rehearse until you feel confident and have your speech almost memorized. The speaker must thoroughly know the material of his speech. It's a good idea to have reference material on hand for those who want a more detailed explanation. This also instills confidence, calm, and firmness in the argumentation of the information message.

It is very important to learn how to overcome the so-called “speaking fever” or excessive excitement. Many people experience its symptoms: nervousness, fussiness in hand movements, pallor or, conversely, excessive blush, red spots on the face, rapid pulse, etc. All this not only hinders movements, but also leads to “mental tension”, the inability to think effectively . You need to master the ability to create a friendly and at the same time business atmosphere.

In no case should your speech take the form of simply literal transmission of material or reading the text on one note, not paying attention to punctuation marks, since in such a speech there is almost completely no contact with the audience.

To maintain contact with the audience or to restore it, you can use the following techniques:

2) focus your gaze on those who interfere with the performance;

3) introduce an extended pause, creating a climax in the text;

4) suddenly ask the audience a question;

5) use visual aids, diagrams, diagrams, pictures to illustrate reasoning;

6) change the pace of speech, emphasizing important ideas by rephrasing them.

There are also several ways to influence a person's perception of information. To do this, it is important to determine in which modality (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) information can be best presented. The visual modality is in most cases the most successful option. Visually, you can simultaneously imagine a large amount of information, which means that all complex objects (with many details), systems with complex processes and relationships can be perceived as a whole.

Create the “core” of the visual image, that is, first say only the most basic things, placing emphasis on this. After that, gradually move on to details, complementing and expanding this image. Complete the verbal description with drawings, diagrams, diagrams. This is especially useful in cases where your interlocutor has difficulty constructing a visual image.

To help a person create a visual image of what you are talking about, try to very accurately describe how you yourself imagine the object or event you are talking about, use as much detail as possible, and do not be afraid to repeat what is most important. Add emotional coloring, i.e. speak with enthusiasm, interest, and highlight the most important points. The most memorable and persuasive speakers are those who speak from the heart. Use gestures: when a person talks about what he sees in his “mind's eye,” he begins to “draw” it in the air with his hands, and, oddly enough, this often helps the interlocutor.

Use your hands, face, and upper body to emphasize important points by gesturing to make your thoughts more vivid and lively. When combined with words, gestures also speak, enhancing their emotional resonance. Gesticulation can be classified according to its purpose: expressive, descriptive, pointing, imitative. Gestures are used in descriptions; if you want to indicate a place and movement, they help bring the necessary clarity to the presentation.

But using gestures correctly is a difficult task. Use gestures as you feel the need for them. Gesticulation should not be continuous. Do not gesture with your hands throughout your speech, as not every phrase needs to be emphasized with a gesture. Add variety to your gestures, do not indiscriminately use the same gesture in all cases when you need to give expressiveness to words. Gestures must serve their purpose. Their number and intensity should correspond to the nature of the speech and the audience (for example, adults, as opposed to children, prefer moderate gestures).

To more effectively influence your listeners, use the following methods:

1) the effect of the first phrases. Immediately draw attention to yourself as a person. For example: “I am glad to meet you”;

2) the effect of quantum information release. To prevent the audience from losing attention, “scatterings” of novelty are needed;

3) the effect of argumentation. Use convincing and understandable evidence for listeners, especially if the arguments are related to the sphere of professional interests of those present;

4) relaxation effect. Psychologically unite different people in the room, set them up for empathy. Humor, a joke, a sharp word will help to unite people in intellectual activity, retain and strengthen their attention;

5) analogue effect. If two phenomena are similar in one or more respects, then they are likely to be similar in other respects;

6) the effect of imagination. The mental efforts of the listener in the absence of proper completeness of information stimulate assumptions, conjectures, dreams, fantasies;

7) the effect of discussion. Discussion is one of the varieties of dispute as a verbal competition. Its goal is to achieve the truth by comparing different opinions. A prerequisite for discussion is the presence of a problem that is interesting for those present in order to involve them in the exchange of opinions. Build a general summary from the most interesting judgments;

8) ellipse effect. This is the omission of a structurally necessary element of statements, which in this context is easily restored. Arkady Raikin used it during performances, talking with the audience, pausing so that they themselves could figure out the ending of the phrase or the missing words in it and complete them in chorus. The audience willingly joins in co-creation with the speaker. In response to questions asked of you:

1) never say: “I agree, but...”, or even: “Yes, but...” Such expressions cause controversy, since the word “but” carries an aggressive meaning and implies resistance. Say instead, “I agree, and...” or “I understand why you feel that way, and...” or even “I respect your opinion, and...” The word “and” is much less controversial and shows your desire to come. to agreement. Such expressions can stop arguments from the start. They will help you get to your topic rather than just answer questions;

2) when answering a obviously false assumption, give it a definition. Don't try to defend yourself, just say, “This is a wrong conclusion. What I actually said was…” and repeat your thought;

3) if the question is not logical, do not say that it is “bad” or “stupid”, humor will be an effective weapon against it, in addition, this will help you win the support of the audience. However, when using humor, connect it to the logic of the question or your topic, not to the person. Answer the question without affecting the identity of the person who asked it;

4) when answering tricky questions, determine what the main idea is in the question. Ask the questioner his name to gain a few seconds. Begin your answer by calling the person by name and briefly expressing your affection for them, then continue: “If I understand the question correctly, your main concern is...” If you keep it as brief as possible, you won't give the questioner time to interrupt you. During the first 45 seconds of a response, the speaker is very rarely interrupted. Therefore, in the first minute of your answer, you need to answer the main part of the question. Say something positive and give an interesting example.

In the speaker’s communication with the audience, not only the form of the speech plays an important role, but also his entire appearance. A good overall impression of the speaker's appearance, mannerisms, posture and gestures is essential to the success of the speech. But there may also be a negative side, since external data can distract the attention of listeners from the content of the speech.

You must be sure that your appearance suits the audience and the environment. Choose your clothes carefully.

Since you need to manage people's attention, it is very important not to remain unnoticed. If you show up in a pale blue suit, a pale blue shirt and a pale blue tie, they simply won’t pay attention to you and, most likely, won’t listen to you. It is also important not to blend into the background. Of course, it is better to know in advance what will be behind you during the performance. If it suddenly turns out that you are blending into the background, then take off your jacket, because there is no other way out. It's better to look a little extravagant than to let your audience ignore you. From a certain distance, small details merge: a suit with small checks can cause dizziness, and stripes can cause ripples in the eyes. For performances, wear a dark blue or dark gray suit, always plain, a white or very pale plain shirt and a tie that matches the color of the suit.

Dress modernly, but not flashily, so that the audience can listen to your speech without being distracted by your outfit.

Nothing on you or with you should restrict your freedom of movement. Do not wear tight-fitting suits that restrict the movement of your shoulders and arms.

The face should be serious, but not gloomy. To do this, you need to practice in front of a mirror. Study your face. What happens to the eyebrows, to the forehead? Smooth out wrinkles, straighten frowning eyebrows. If he has a “frozen” expression, practice loosening and tensing your facial muscles. Say phrases rich in various emotions - sadness, joy, and so on, making sure that facial expressions also take part in this.

Don't worry and don't forget about inner confidence. Calmly head to the podium. Don’t go through your notes as you go, don’t button your jacket, don’t tidy up your hair, don’t straighten your tie. You need to think about all this in advance. Do not start speaking until you are in a comfortable and stable position. As soon as you take your seat, address the presidium and then the audience. Choose a specific form of address like: “Mr. Presiding Officer, ladies and gentlemen...” and begin.