Jamie Christiansen
There is a debate I have had with myself on whether content or delivery is what makes a good speech. The honest answer I have come to is both. However, with more developed content, the delivery has a higher chance of success. I mention this because my advice might feel redundant. It might seem like the process I use creates more work for the overall outcome, but keep in mind that you need to develop your content, for a graceful delivery.
The arrangement of your notes during delivery is important because it pushes you to perform a certain way when you’re unsure what is next within a speech. Using bullet points is more beneficial than paragraphs because they allow you to stay organized and look like you are speaking from the heart rather than from a prewritten speech. It’s easy to find your next talking point and you’re using ideas you sculpted to frame what to say.
When I am given a speech topic, I start with research. What do I want to say? What do I want to show? I arrange my thoughts and research into sections and I use bullet points to distinguish what I want to say. I then use these notes to create a word-for-word speech, consisting of an introduction, conclusion, transitions, and body paragraphs. Basically, an essay written for the ear. I read this essay aloud a couple of times. In this process, I am fully digesting what I find important and what needs to be said. After I have read through the speech a few times, I revert the essay to bullet points. Writing a transition I thought was powerful and jotting down the phrases too good to forget. Finally, I practice with just these notes and use them for my delivery on the day of the speech.
I know it feels like a waste. Why even write the speech as a speech if you are going to revert to the bullet points? The reason is: you gain the valuable knowledge that you need to accurately perform the speech with confidence and knowledge that would be absent without manuscripting. The manuscript forces you to think through your notes. Maybe you notice that one point is important and write it down. While writing out your manuscript you are forced to ask why something is important and think through your argument thoroughly. After you have poked at the holes in your speech, the new set of bullet points is used to present your speech. The use of bullet points while presenting allows you to project confidence, sincerity, and speech fluidity! A prewritten speech feels boring, under-rehearsed, and lacks a feeling of passion. Plus, bullet points allow you to find your next point fast and effectively while giving a speech.
In my experience, this process of developing and using bullet points helps many who use it. I had a client come into the Center for Speech & Debate. They had an entire manuscript, performed the speech, and it was great! I almost felt like my bullet point theory was wrong. However, at the end of the speech, I glanced at their manuscript notes page and saw certain sentences bolded. Without fully relying on the manuscript, this speaker was able to see and perform their most important points passionately. Had they taken those bolded sentences, and created a short list of bullet points, their speech would have been performed more or less the same because that was the only information they needed.
I know it is scary to let go of the manuscript security blanket. However, after thoughtful insights, research on the subject, and knowledge of the speech, a couple of “Don’t forget this” reminders is really all you need. Utilize bullet points in your notes when performing a speech. It shows your passion for the topic and allows you to remain guided rather than lost in a sea of words when glancing down at your notes paper.