Giving a campaign speech requires practice, presentation and preparation. Each sentence should contain no more than 20 words and contain only one thought. A good speech is short and simple and a great speech is shorter and simpler yet.
The ideal speech is 15 to 20 minutes long or seven to 10 pages typed, double-spaced. Add an additional 10 minutes for questions and answers from your audience.
To begin with, there are several steps for preparation of a stump speech. . .
1. Analyze your target audience. Who are they? What is their voting record?
2. Decide what it is you want to communicate to your audience.
3. Research your issues.
4. Write an objective of 25 words or less.
5. List 3 or 4 major points that you want to get across.
6. Give an story or anecdote or example to illustrate each point.
7. Write the opening of your speech.
8. Write the closing for your speech.
9. Write your entire speech with its transitions.
10. And last, prepare any visual aids you may want to use.
Maintaining eye contact with your audience for the first two minutes is all the time you need to grab them. Now all you need is a good opener for your speech . . .
1. Say something new or dynamic.
2. Give a startling or important statement, fact or statistic.
3. Compliment your audience.
4. Share a personal experience or human interest story.
5. Ask a challenging question.
6. Give some historical background.
7. Tell a joke ( but only if its funny).
8. Cite a familiar quote.
You should relate no more than three or four key messages within your speech. Each message should have at least one example, story, fact, argument, anecdote, analogy, or reason that will explain why you are making a specific point and put a visual in the minds of your audience.
You will need to use bridges or transitions to connect your opening, body, and closing of your speech . . . some examples you can use are:
1. My opponent, on the other hand;
2. So far we have discussed;
3. Let's take a look at:
4. Let me shift gears for a moment;
5. Meanwhile;
6. Finally (and mean it!)
Add to the above a memorable closing to your speech, because your closing may be the only part of your speech that your audience will remember.
1. Give a quotation.
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