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Communication and Leadership Manual

"The Basic Manual"


The basic Toastmasters manual has 10 speech projects designed to develop your skills one step at a time. Each speech will build upon what you have learned in your preceding speeches.
  1. Icebreaker (4 to 6 minutes)
    Getting over nervousness by introducing yourself to the club.
  2. Speak With Sincerity (5 to 7 minutes)
    Continue to get over nervousness by speaking about something you believe deeply in.
  3. Organize Your Speech (5 to 7 minutes)
    Work on giving a well-organized speech by building an outline that includes an opening, body and conclusion.
  4. Show What You Mean (5 to 7 minutes)
    Not a "Show and Tell" speech, this project calls on you to work with gestures and body language during your speech. To develop a sense of timing and natural, smooth body movement, and explore the different ways of using body language. Unfortunately, many members somehow confuse the issue and show up with a bag full of props that they use in a "Show and Tell" style speech.
  5. Vocal Variety (5 to 7 minutes)
    Work on rate of delivery, volume, speed, pitch, emphasis, etc, to explore their use as assets to your speaking.
  6. Work with Words (5 to 7 minutes)
    Work on proper word choice, avoiding jargon and generalizations, etc. To gain an understanding of the functions and uses of the spoken word and avoid common mistakes in word use.
  7. Apply Your Skills (5 to 7 minutes)
    To bring together and apply the communication skills you have learned in the preceding projects, and research the facts needed to support your speech.
  8. Add Impact to Your Speech (5 to 7 minutes)
    To learn to the value of props and how to use them effectively in your presentations.
  9. Persuade with Power (5 to 7 minutes)
    To present a talk that persuades the audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint by appealing to the audience's self-interest, building a logical foundation for agreement, and arousing emotional commitment to your cause.
  10. Inspire Your Audience (8 to 10 minutes)
    The final speech in the manual calls on you to move and inspire your audience in a well-presented and well-prepared speech.
You choose your own topics and work through the manual at your own pace. Toastmasters is a self directed program, after you complete the basic manual you can go on to an advanced manual or work on developing leadership skills.
Want to find out more? Please come to a meeting as our guest, or contact us for more information.   Our site will give you a good overview of our club, and Toastmasters.   We also have a number of links to other sites that provide information about other clubs and Toastmasters in general.   If you live or work in the area, we hope to see you at one of our meetings.

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