Video transcript
Hints and guidelines for public speaking competitions - Prepared speeches - 3. Method

In this video, we will discuss what adjudicators are looking for in the area of method. Speeches need to have a clear introduction, middle, and conclusion. Good introductions are unique and give the audience a sense of the speaker's theme without being boringly explicit. "My name is"-- blah blah blah-- "and today I'm here to talk about"-- blah blah blah-- is a very dull beginning, as is anything equally pro forma.

Speakers might try beginning with a question, an anecdote, or, for more serious speeches, a bold and striking statement. The middle of the speech should contain three or four separate, coherent ideas, arranged so as to improve the flow of the speech-- for example, by moving from arguments on a personal scale to a look at a global issue, or from a look at the past to where we are heading in the future.

Each idea should be given a reasonable amount of time. A simple list of every idea related to the topic is not a useful way to structure this middle section. Good conclusions are memorable, effective, and original, avoiding cliches like "I hope you have enjoyed listening to my speech." Speakers should also avoid thanking the audience and opt for a strong final statement of their message as their last words.

Finally, it's important to time the speech properly. Roughly speaking, speakers should be wrapping up their final idea when the first bell rings and finishing off their conclusion when the two bells ring. Speakers should never reach the continuous bell that comes one minute after the official speaking time has ended.