Speech is a 6-8 minute presentation on any topic that is not prohibited by the Club Rules.
The first speech every new-comer must make is the Introduction speech. In the Introduction speech a new member introduces himself to the club. In this speech you should speak about yourself: about your background, education, occupation, hobby, interests and ambitions, your personality, things you like and dislike and funny or exiting situations you've been to, etc. Don't just tell your biography in a standard way. Be creative, use your sense of humor, let the audience feel your individuality.
Remember that a speech is a prepared project and you should work hard both on its contents and presentation before you deliver it at the club meeting.
Here are some general rules of speech-making.
1) Every speech is dedicated to a particular topic. So you should choose a topic that is interesting both for you and for your listeners and then be logical and keep to the point.
2) Every speech should bear a clear message - the main idea, an appeal to the audience. You should be well aware of why you're making this speech, and exactly how you want to inform and persuade the audience.
3) A speech (as well as all other types of public presentation) begins with an address to the audience. So you should begin your speech with one of these phrases: 'Ladies and gentlemen' or 'Fellow-members and guests' or 'Dear friends', etc.
4) Structurally, a speech has three parts: the introduction (or the opening), the main part (or the body) and the ending (or the conclusion).
In the opening the speaker should catch the listeners' attention and tell them what he will be talking about. To catch the public's attention you may use a quotation, a story or joke related to the topic of the speech, you may begin with a startling statement or a challenging question as well. Try also to let the audience know why you've chosen this very topic for your speech.
In the main part, the speaker presents facts and ideas on the topic. He should do it consistently, logically and persuasively.
In the conclusion the speaker summarizes the ideas he has presented or motivates the audience to take some action. The ending should be even more bright, memorable and powerful than the opening. You may finish with a quotation, a challenging question or statement, or in any other impressive way.
5) It's highly recommended to take notes in the process of preparing a speech, but it's not advisable to use them in the process of speaking in front of the public. A speaker should keep constant eye-contact with the audience, so you shouldn't read your notes, no matter how well-done they are.
6) A well-written speech is only 30 percent of the job - the way you deliver it is of tremendous importance. A speaker influences the public not only with words, but also by his voice, his facial expression, gestures, pauses and other non-verbal means. You should think about all these things beforehand and rehearse. Present your speech to your friends and parents, or at least rehearse in front of the mirror before you mount the club's platform.
7) Visual aids (pictures, schemes, tables, slides, etc.) are often used during the presentation to achieve a better understanding of the speech and to hold the public's attention. If you use visual aids, make sure that everyone can see them.
8) The language you use in a speech matters greatly. Good ideas are worth being expressed in good English. So, if you're not sure about this or that grammar pattern, or about pronunciation of some words, consult a dictionary or a manual when you're preparing your speech.
9) A well-written speech is worth being heard and understood, so speak loudly and clearly, avoid unjustified pauses, 'er-ers', 'ah-ahs', ‘um-m’, ‘er-well’ and other meaningless sounds or words, and don't mutter and stammer.