ESL Podcast 896 - Preparing a Speech

speech - a spoken presentation; a period of time when one person speaks to share information with an audience

The groom's best friend usually makes a speech at the wedding reception.

to plan out - to plan all the details of something and fully prepare for it; to develop a detailed idea for how something will be

The military officers are planning out the next battle.

attention getter - something that is humorous, interesting, shocking, or unexpected, and makes people focus on the speaker and not pay attention to other things

The man said, "I'll pay you $200 if you can answer my next question correctly." That was a great attention getter!

humor - the use of stories or actions that are funny and make other people laugh or at least smile

Patients who have a good sense of humor often have a faster recovery than patients who take everything too seriously.

introduction - the beginning part of a report or presentation, designed to get the audience's attention and let the audience know what to expect in the next part of the speech

If the introduction is boring, nobody will want to hear the rest of your speech.

thesis statement - a short statement (usually one sentence) that summarizes the main idea of a report, article, or presentation

Everything in the report should support your thesis statement.

along the way - as one does something else; as one travels from one place to another

We'll arrive in Yosemite in about an hour, but along the way, you can enjoy views of tall trees, impressive mountains, and waterfalls.

to establish (one's) credibility - to demonstrate that one is knowledgeable and qualified to speak about a particular topic so that the audience will listen to and believe what one is saying

You won't be able to persuade anyone of anything until you have established your credibility as an expert on the subject.

body - the main substance of a report or presentation; the section that contains details and examples, not including the introduction or conclusion

Shane's presentation had a strong introduction, but the body was disorganized and difficult to understand.

main point - the main idea; the most important part of what one is saying, not an example or detail

Julia's main point was that we need a different system of retirement savings.

supporting - contributing to what one has already said, usually by providing an example or a statement from an expert

If you make a statement like "sales are falling," make sure you have some supporting data, too.

visual - visual aid; an object or graphic that illustrates what one is saying or describing and allows the audience to understand it more easily

That graph was a great visual. It really helped everyone understand how use of our services has changed over time.

conclusion - the final, ending part of a presentation or report where the main idea is restated clearly

The board has agreed to hear everyone's ideas before reaching a conclusion.

to restate - to reiterate; to say something again

In closing, let me restate our main goals for the new year.

closing remarks - a few statements or paragraphs at the end of a presentation

Don't forget to thank your team members in your closing remarks.

shoot - a phrase used to ask someone to continue, often used in response when another person has said that he or she wants to ask a question or make a request

A: Can I ask you for a favor? B: Shoot.

to stand in for - to take the place of another person when he or she is not available; to fill someone else's role or responsibility

Could you please stand in for me during the meeting on Tuesday?

deathly ill - very sick and in danger of dying

Jun was deathly ill last year, but then he made a miraculous recovery.