How to Prepare a Toastmasters Speech, Part Two

In which we answer the question - how do I draft my speech? 

For some Toastmasters, the hardest part of writing a speech is thinking of a topic.  For others, it's actually writing the speech.  For me sometimes it's either, sometimes it's both, and if I'm really lucky it's neither. 

In part one, we considered how a Toastmasters speech differs from a normal speech - the goal is always to learn.  Now that we have our learning goals in mind, we can begin to draft our speech. 
Of course, before we can draft our speech, we have to know our topic.  For this exercise using the IceBreaker speech the topic is provided - you.

First, take a look at the key speech goals from the manual assignment (refer to part one if this sentence doesn't make sense).  In this case, mine were:

• 3-4 main points 
• About me
• Story
• Opening, body, conclusion

Next, I like to simply sit and think - and write down everything that pops into my head.  Don't worry about it being coherent.  Don't worry about it making sense.  Don't worry about well, anything.  Just let my mind wander and scribble the things that pop into it on the paper.  Like this (minus the check marks, those come later):


Nothing on this page will make much sense.  It's just random, disparate thoughts scribbled all over the place.  That's ok.  Everything on the page has something to do with my speech topic, me.  And while I was pondering, I realized I have three goals - which are the perfect framework for the 3-4 points about me I need to make.  You might realize you have three roles in life, or three people who made you who you are, or three books you can't live without.

With some thoughts on paper, we'll start turning them into a coherent speech.  Take a new piece of paper, fold it into four rectangles, open it back up, and trace the fold lines.  You now have one piece of paper divided into four equal size rectangles.  Label the top left square "Intro / Conclusion", and the remaining rectangles "1," "2," and "3," respectively.

Consider what point 1 is - for me, it is my goal to participate in, and encourage more women to participate in, speech contests.  In the top right rectangle, I wrote "Compete" after the number 1.  Then, I plugged in all the scribbles from my first note page that relate to competition.  Rinse and repeat with the remaining two points. 

Now that the three points of the speech are on paper, the intro and conclusion can also go on paper.  The intro and conclusion should preview and review, respectively, the speech.

When all is said and done, the speech outline will look something like this:


This sheet of organized thoughts is now the basis for actually drafting the body of the speech.  I like to type that actual first draft.  In the first draft, don't worry about anything but getting words on the paper.  It will be revised later anyway.  Just type out an initial draft of the speech, using the outline as a guide.

In part three, we'll cover refining the draft speech.