Best Tips To Write An Amazing Demonstrative Speech

6 steps to write a brilliant demonstrative speech + Topic ideas

A demonstrative speech is a form of instruction during which you show your audience how to perform a specific task or complete the process. To make their demonstration easy to understand, speakers rely on visual aids, such as videos or presentations.

In this post, our experts will explain how to develop and deliver an effective demonstration speech even if you don't have much public speaking experience. Below, you will find a step-by-step guide for preparing your speech and some great demonstration speech ideas if you're feeling stuck.

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Choosing a powerful demonstrative speech topic

The purpose of a demonstrative speech is to instruct or educate the listeners about doing something. Thus, you will want to choose an applicable subject and provide your audience with a step-by-step process to complete a specific task (apply makeup, read the stars, play poker, save money, or else).

College students or corporate speakers usually have a specific subject they need to talk about. If you don't have a topic at hand, here's how to choose an efficient subject:

consider your interests - do you know a specific topic well enough to instruct others? Can you share your knowledge in a way that a wide audience will easily understand? Can you make your topic engaging even if it's technical?
mind your audience - to whom will you deliver your informative speech? Will your audience be interested in the subject and how will they benefit from your instruction?
time and location - what is your time limit for delivering a good demonstrative speech? Will you be able to deliver a strong presentation within that limit? How many listeners will be present and what type of the event is it?

By thinking these points through, you'll identify the relevant and helpful subject and evaluate the level of depth and detail for covering your subject. If you are feeling stuck with your demonstrative speeches subject, take a look at some ideas below.

8 examples of a good demonstration speech topic

If you have the freedom to choose your demonstration speech topics, take a look at these options:

How to swim backstroke: Tips for beginners
Essential photography composition rules and techniques
How to manage your email account for better productivity
Using body language effectively during job interviews
How to make a paper airplane in five minutes
How to operate a new content management software
Tips to quickly change a flat tire
How to start making money on your blog

6 demonstrative speech topics for students

If you are struggling to choose a demonstrative speech topic you'll deliver in class, consider these ideas:

How to apply for a scholarship as a college student
How to find common ground with a demanding instructor
Planning your diet to stay healthy
How to apply daily make up
Choosing and preparing a backpack for a trip to the forest
How to get excellent grades in college and avoid burnout.

How to create a demonstration speech outline?

Now that you have explored some unique demonstration speech topics and chosen your own, it's time to think through your speech. Since you want to instruct the audience to perform a particular task, you need to deliver your speech in a structured, organized way. Thus, your target audience will grasp your speech better and learn to apply the skills in real life.

A strong outline for demonstrative speeches includes sections as follows:

Introduction - at the very beginning, you introduce your subject, explaining why you have chosen it, and what your audience will learn. Quickly walk them through the structure of your speech so people knew what to expect.
Body - in the main part of your speech, you explain the terms and clarify the course of actions to them. Use a simple, step-by-step process, and provide bite-sized information to keep your audience engaged. If the topic allows, show the steps you take in chronological order.
Conclusion - here, you summarize the key points of your demonstration speech topic for the audience and inspire them to perform a certain action. You might also raise some concerns or share additional information or sources which can be helpful.

Demonstrative speech example

7 tips to create a mind-blowing demonstrative speech

Understand your audience

To deliver an effective speech, understand who your audience members are. Consider their age, gender, education level, beliefs, interests, and many more. For example, demonstration speeches for corporate professionals or college students will differ from those for the general public.

By understanding your audience, you will be able to use language, examples, and visuals that they will easily comprehend. Thus, you will craft a speech that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

Research and gather information

Even if you consider yourself an expert in some area, your speech will only benefit if you do research and look through credible sources. Whether you prepare a speech on mental health, using software, or developing soft skills, this will make your speech more informative and foster deeper understanding.

Gather relevant information and dive deeper into the topic you've chosen by reviewing books, monographs, and articles, or conduct an interview with an expert. Note down the techniques, tips, and interesting examples that might be interesting for your audience. By collecting valuable knowledge, you'll make your speech more engaging and vivid.

Organize and structure your speech

As you gather information, organize it in a logical and structured manner, following the outline presented above. Walk your audience from start to finish of the process, equipping them with valuable insights they need to understand how to perform the task.

Share specific steps with your listeners, followed by a brief explanation of what exactly to do at each stage. Thus, they will stay genuinely interested and follow you, understanding the progression of your speech. Add transitions so that they could see how each step flows smoothly into the next one.

Give the topic overview

When you introduce a completely new topic to the audience, they might be worried that they fail to understand something. Address their concerns by sharing a brief outline of the process with them.

Firstly, define the objective and the core message of your speech, i.e. what people will learn or what skill they will gain at the end of the lecture. After introducing your subject, specify what you'll be talking about, in what order, and what steps you will share with them. Thus, people will know what exactly to expect from your speech and will be more receptive to hearing your thoughts and insights.

Use visual aids and examples

All demonstrative speech topics include showing or telling the audience how to do something. A visual aid can go a long way in this process. By choosing appropriate pictures, videos, charts, and slides, you will explain the topic to the audience more effectively while keeping them engaged and focused throughout your speech.

Make sure that your visual aids are clear, informative, and relevant to your core message. With correct visuals, people will remember more of what you are telling them. Use jokes or memes, if appropriate, to lighten the mood. If you are not creating visual aids yourself, make sure you have the right to use them in your presentation.

Save some time for Q&A

Since you'll be introducing a new topic to the audience, most likely, they will have questions at some point. Reserve some time for a Q&A session at the end of the speech. Anticipate questions that your listeners might have, and prepare answers to them in advance.

If, during your presentation, you notice that the audience looks confused, you might want to repeat the points they find difficult. Thus, you won't have to explain things from scratch during the question-answer session at the end.

Practice delivering the speech

Little people are naturally good at public speaking, so you might want to practice your speech at home. Reading your speech aloud can also help the speech organization, as you'll see if some points of your text need clarification. Plus, rehearsing your speech multiple times builds your confidence and helps perfect your delivery.

You can practice in front of a mirror, watching your body language and facial expressions. Consider delivering your speech to friends or family members to hear their feedback. Time yourself as you speak to make sure that your speech does not exceed the allotted time limit.

Using visual aids in your speech: tips to prepare an engaging presentation

Most demonstrative speeches go with visual aids such as videos, posters, or PowerPoint presentations. Using videos, graphs, and images is of great help to organize your speech and deliver the practical steps to the audience more effectively. Here are some tips to prepare an effective presentation to accompany your speech:

Avoid transitions and sound effects. They will distract people rather than enhance your ideas and your message. Also, stay away from fancy formatting and bright fonts. Keep your slides simple and professional.
Do not read from slides. Remember that visual aids are there to enhance your message and show the audience pictures and schemes. Do not use them as your public speaking notes. This can make an impression that you don't know your topic enough or lack confidence.
Use little text. Use text on slides only to repeat your main points or to list the sequence of actions. Do not put paragraphs or even sentences on slides. The optimal volume of text in your presentation is up to 8 lines per slide.
Add pictures, graphs, and videos to illustrate your point. Graphics are effective if you want to draw the audience's attention to important steps of the process or share curious facts. Yet, avoid adding pictures for the sake of them - ask yourself "Does this help deliver my message?"
Use colors properly. Use pastel colors for the background to make the information on your slide easily readable. Opt for complimentary colors so that your slides are easy on the eye, and no more than three colors per slide.
Be careful with humor. If you deliver your speech in an informal setting, it is okay to add a couple of funny pictures or memes to lighten the mood. However, consider your audience and the event first to avoid putting yourself in an awkward situation.

Using our tips and strategies, you'll manage to craft a great speech even if you haven't written speeches before. Keep your target audience in mind, customizing your message for them, and work on your delivery to make your speech helpful and memorable.

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