These first six steps in preparing a public speech entail a variety of specific skills. Place a check mark next to those skills
you most want to work on. _____ 1. When preparing a public speech, I follow a logical progression of steps, such as the sequence outlined here. _____ 2. I select appropriate topics, purposes, and theses and narrow them to manageable proportions. _____ 3. I analyze my audience in terms of members’ sociological and psychological characteristics, and I adapt the speech on the basis of these findings. _____ 4. I research topics effectively and efficiently and critically evaluate the reliability of the research material. _____ 5. I collect materials relevant to my topic, purpose, and thesis—for instance, examples, statistics, and visual aids and with logical, emotional, and ethical proofs. _____ 6. I identify my major propositions from my thesis statement. _____ 7. When organizing the speech’s main points, I select a pattern appropriate to the subject matter, purpose, and audience.
