The speech that you created on the previous page was a DRAFT—it represents your first attempt to transform an essay into a speech. To make your message more compelling and forceful, you should set it aside for a day or so and then return to it with a critical eye. You'll probably be amazed at what you find to change or tweak to make the speech flow more smoothly or pack a bigger punch with its language and details.
It's important to approach your draft as though you're one of your audience members. Imagine hearing your own words and ask yourself questions like these:
| What would make my speech easier to follow? |
| Do I need to add more details or remove some? |
| Do I need to reword my hook to make it more dramatic? |
| Do I need to edit my clincher to leave a more memorable line, phrase, or image in listeners' minds? |
| Do I need to change the order of some details? |
| Do I need to edit out some words to make my speech more concise? |
Click the Activity button to download a worksheet that will help you revise your speech. Save your completed worksheet and revised speech for later in this lesson.
