Public Speaking : Speech Information

What are the types of speeches?

• Impromptu
• Informative
• Persuasive
• Argumentative
• Research Paper
• Policy

• American Rhetoric: 

  Includes Online Speech Bank (database of full text, audio and video versions of public speeches),  American Top 100 Speeches, and more resources. 

• Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World

  This website, hosted by Sweet Briar College, is committed to the preservation and facilitation of access to speeches delivered by influential contemporary women from across the globe.

• Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States

  Illustrated and annotated edition of all inaugural addresses from George Washington to Barack Obama.

Selection of speech topic: 

• Pick a topic you know something about or want to know something about.
• It’s not a good idea to pick a topic you are not interested in - you will not do a very good job.
• Remember your audience - they have to listen to you! So make sure they find it interesting too.
• More tips on select speech topics

​​​​​​Organizing your thoughts:

• Clustering A prewriting technique consisting of writing ideas down on a sheet of paper around a central idea within a circle, with the related ideas radially joined to the circle using rays.

• Freewriting A prewriting technique in which the writer writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic.
• Concept map A diagram showing the relationships among concepts, with the concepts drawn in rectangular boxes, which are connected with labelled arrows that denote the relationships between concepts, such as "is a," "gives rise to," "results in," "is required by," or "contributes to.”

Introduction to Public Speaking by University of Washington

Instructor : Dr. Matt McGarrity, Senior Lecturer

Department of Communication, University of Washington

• Self-paced online course
• 18 hours videos, quizzes, and peer assessments
• Language: English