Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 explain a memorized speech;

 follow tips on how to effectively deliver a memorized speech; and
 deliver a memorized speech successfully.

Do you have a good memory?

How do you usually memorize something, say, a paragraph?
What do you do when you forget some of the lines?

Learn about it!

Memorized Speech
Memorizing a speech is usually done by skilled speakers. Most expert or professional speakers
deliver their speeches from memory. For instance, many experienced politicians memorize their
speeches for their campaign rallies, making some minor tweaks to suit their audience. Many
marketing or business executives deliver effective sales pitches by speaking from memory.

A speaker gives a memorized speech by committing every word of the speech to memory and
then delivering it in front of an audience. The speaker does not bring with him or her any notes or
manuscript. Unless you are an exceptionally proficient speaker, speaking from memory is usually
appropriate for relatively short speeches such as when presenting or accepting an award, making an
announcement, giving opening or closing remarks, or introducing a speaker.

Learn about it!

Before deciding whether to give a memorized speech or not, learn about its advantages and
disadvantages first.

Learn about it!

Tips on Delivering a Memorized Speech
Delivering a memorized speech can be nerve-racking as you are never sure that your memory will
not fail you. Here are some tips to help you successfully deliver a memorized speech.

1. Keep it short. Make sure that your speech is not too lengthy and wordy so it will be easier
for you to memorize it. Create an outline of your main points and familiarize it. Also, write
your speech as if you are speaking naturally.
2. Practice. Once your speech is put together, practice it. Find a quiet place and read your
speech out loud. Read it repeatedly so you can memorize the words and internalize the
message. You may divide the speech into parts and memorize each part until you have
committed all parts to memory. Then, rehearse the delivery. Watch yourself speak in front of
a mirror so you can identify nonverbal cues that you can do (e.g., smiling, making eye
contact, pacing) or avoid doing (e.g., fidgeting, slouching, swaying).
3. Visualize. When memorizing, you may get stuck on certain words or parts of the speech.
One technique to get back on track is to visualize or create a mental image of the difficult
word or part. Assign an image that you can easily associate with the word or part which you
have trouble remembering. The next time you practice your speech, recall the image and the
content will likely get back to you.
4. Project your voice. How you project your voice may make or break your speech. If you
speak too softly and without energy, the audience will not be able to hear you and will lose
interest in what you are saying. However, if you speak too loudly, the audience might feel
 that you are yelling or shouting. When giving a memorized speech, speak with projection and
energy. Good voice projection entails good posture and breathing. When practicing your
speech, stand straight with your head up, take deep breaths, and speak at a volume that will
be heard by all audience members.
5. Use appropriate pauses. Pauses can enhance your memorized speech when used
appropriately. A pause has many functions. It can build suspense or create a dramatic effect
as the audience anticipates what is to come next. It can also give them time to reflect,
allowing the words to make meaning in their minds. Moreover, it can be used to keep the
speech dynamic. So, incorporate pauses in your speech, but use them effectively.

A memorized speech requires extra effort with a lot of practice and careful preparation. Practice your
speech repeatedly until you have learned them by heart. If you do forget a word or a small part of
your speech, do not panic and just take a deep breath. Give yourself time to recover. To buy time,
you may engage the audience by asking them what your last point was, or you may also use humor.
If you still cannot remember, just continue speaking.

Learn about it!

Example:
Imagine that you are Pres. Ramon Magsaysay and it is the 15th of March 1957. You will deliver a
speech at the kick-off ceremonies launching the Fund Drive for the Jose Rizal National Centennial
Commission. Memorize the speech below and use the given tips to successfully deliver it.

MY FRIENDS:

We are met today to inaugurate the fund drive for the Rizal Centennial Commission. We are
investing the event with fitting solemnity because it means so much to all of us. It is the historic
privilege of our generation to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Jose Rizal. It is our good fortune
to render in a special manner in our time the tribute which we owe to his greatness, to prove our
loyalty to his memory, to express our faith in him. It is our duty and privilege to communicate to those
who come after us the loftiest spiritual values of the legacy he left to our race.

As beneficiaries of his sacrifice, we are called upon–all of us–to contribute generously of our
resources and our energies so that the celebration we shall hold four years from now may be worthy
of the stature we accord to Rizal in the life of our nation. Let it not be said of us that we are lacking in
the veneration which other peoples render lesser men. Let us make the centennial of Rizal’s birth
truly a national event, with every Filipino giving his shave of the fund until the amount of ten million
pesos required for this grand event has been raised.

In countries under the heel of the Communist tyrant, projects like the one we inaugurate today are
insured against failure by resort to compulsion and coercion. But success thus achieved is of course
hollow and empty. In our democracy, these enslaving methods have no place United to Rizal in his
love of freedom, inspired by his dedication to the well-being of our Motherland, and encourage by his
faith in our capacity for greatness as a people, we shall, I am sure, respond freely and heartfully to
the present appeal to our generosity and to our patriotism.

I ask everyone to support this drive. It is my privilege to start it off with my personal contribution.

Source: link (accessed on 25 May 2016)

Did you have difficulties memorizing the speech? How did you overcome the difficulties, if any?
What techniques did you use to help you remember the speech and successfully deliver it?

Summary
Another type of speech according to delivery is the memorized speech. It is given by committing
every word of the speech to memory and then delivering it in front of an audience. The speaker does
not bring with him or her any notes or manuscript. A memorized speech requires extra effort with a
lot of practice and careful preparation. To successfully deliver a memorized speech, keep it short,
practice, visualize, project your voice, and use appropriate pauses.
Q1
When a speaker delivers a speech by memorization, he or she is giving a _ speech.

Exact Value
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Q2
A _ can be used to give the audience time to reflect.

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Q3
The following nonverbal cues must not be done onstage except_.

Multiple Choice
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Q4
Which of the following situations may not call for a memorized speech?

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Q5
When memorizing a speech, what is the best technique you can do when you keep on getting stuck on a certain word
?

Multiple Choice
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Q6
Which of the following is not true about speaking from memory?

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Q7
A speaker can use a pause to build suspense or create a dramatic effect. Which of the following sentences effectively
achieves this purpose?

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Q8
Martin is delivering a memorized speech. Halfway through his speech, he suddenly forgets the lines that follow and h
e begins to panic. Which two ways can Martin do to help him get going again?

Multiple Choice
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Q9
Arrange the steps on how to memorize a speech.

Correct Order
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Q10
Categorize the speeches based on the most appropriate method of delivery.