Finally, I took out some time to post my second Toastmasters speech. I delivered the speech on 11/June/2013.
Toastmasters International Speech #2: Organize Your Speech
Executive Summary
Good speech organization is essential if your audience is to understand your presentation. You must take the time to put your ideas together in an orderly manner. You can organize your speech in several different ways; choose the outline that best suits your topic. The opening should catch the audience’s attention, the body must support the idea you want to convey, and the conclusion should reinforce your ideas and be memorable. Transitions between thoughts should be smooth.
Objectives:
- Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech.
- Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message.
- Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another.
- Create a strong opening and conclusion.
- TIME: Five to seven minutes.
Toastmasters Organize Your Speech … I am not sure if the speech solved its objectives, but one fine day, the topic struck me and I googled some information around the same and came up with below speech
My dear Indira,
On your birthday you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good wishes. Good wishes you will still have in full measure, but what present can I send you from Naini prison? My presents cannot be very material or solid. They can be of the mind and spirit, Things that even the high walls of prison cannot stop.
You know sweetheart, how I dislike sermonizing and doling out good advice…….. I have always thought that the best way to find out what is right and what is not right, what should be done and what should not be done, is not by giving a sermon, but by talking and discussing, and out of discussion sometimes a little bit of truth comes out. I have liked my talks with you and we have discussed many things, but the world is wide and beyond our world lie other wonderful and mysterious worlds ……..none of us need ever be bored or imagine ……..that we have learned everything worth learning and become very wise.
……. But what am I to do then? A letter can hardly take the place of a talk; at best it is a one-sided affair…… Imagine that I have made a suggestion to you for you to think over, as if we really were having a talk…
Wondering what is it?
This is an extract from the letter written by out former president Mr. Jawaharlal Lal Nehru to his daughter Indira Nehru on her birthday.
Fellow toastmasters and dear guests, today I would take a few moments to express my feeling on the lost importance of greeting cards and letters.
Greeting card as per Wikipedia is an illustrated, folded piece of paper featuring an expression of sentiment. Walk in to an archies store and there would be a greeting card on every occasion, for every relation you may think of.
Let me ask you a question – “When was the last time you received a card/letter from someone?”
For many of us, with access to modes of communication, internet, media, films, videos – we rarely if ever sit down and read/write something to our friends. The most we do is forward a message we liked or share or like a status on Facebook.
Do you remember how we used to decorate our walls with diagonal lines of greeting cards we received from our loved ones? I loved that. And the moment I used to look at the wall of my cousin sister, I felt jealous as she always had more diagonals than me. Her wall clearly showed how much people loved her. I also felt being loved at my own wall.
Coming to letters, they have given us some beautiful movies to enjoy. Bollywood movie – “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” very aptly and beautifully showcased the curiosity of little girl to discard all big boxes of gift received on her birthday and look for the small letter which her deceased mother had written for her 18 birthdays in advance. Hollywood movie – “P.S. I Love You” displayed how a young widow rediscovered herself and rejoiced in life after she received the letters from her deceased husband which he had planned to be delivered to her after his life. This is the beauty of letters. They help us stay connected – “Even From Heaven.”
People may argue that videos, voice messages etc. can do the same thing. But believe me; you would realize that we express ourselves better when we write. I think this is the reason that when we do not feel like talking to our loved ones, when we are low, we generally end up sending a SMS on how we felt or feeling. We do not call, we send a SMS.
I recently read a book – “Message In a Bottle” by Nicholas Sparks and the most beautiful part of book was 4 letters. They made me fall in love with author’s writing.
Let’s look at another perspective. Some people say that they feel uncomfortable getting rid of the pile of cards after any “card holiday” be it Diwali, New Year. But the question is Why?. Why do not we feel like throwing that piece of paper when is has solved it purpose. Read and appreciated – No longer needed. Teat it and transfer to dustbin. It’s clear we cannot do that because we are emotionally attached to them. We feel some one has made an effort and we liked that.
Friends, try that. Take this piece of paper , go home, sit and write a line or two to your loved one. The best ones to test would be moms and kids. Do it and see the expression on their faces. Trust me; moms are most emotional creatures on earth. Chances are they would have tears of joy in their eyes.
I would leave you with the words of a famous poet John Donne – “More than kisses, letters mingle souls.”
Below is the picture of my feedback… 🙂
The evaluation went on like – .
Evaluator#1 –
Positives:-
- Good start and end
- Audience involvement by question
- No notes
- Wonderful choice of topic
Areas for improvement:-
- Use stage more
- Use prop on time (I forgot the part where I had to give piece of paper and ask audience to try it)
- Some long pauses were seen (I skipped the book part and the prop part – thus was wondering what do I speak I have forgotten all!!!)
Timer –5 minutes 10 seconds
Grammarian –
- I forgot to record – there were 2 mistakes caught.
Ah-Counter –
- I forgot to record – but they were better than last time.. J
