15 Demonstration Speech Ideas and Key Techniques for Your Next Speech
If you have ever been called upon to teach an audience with the help of some visual aids, then you have done a demonstrative speech or a demonstration speech. Hopefully, you did a great job. This article aims to show you how to best carry out a demonstrative speech that does what it is meant to do; teach. Demonstration speeches are pretty common in especially in academic settings where professors share their knowledge and students are called upon to give presentations. So, if you just came in to get some demonstration speech ideas for your next presentation, then please check the last part of the post.
Definition of a Demonstration Speech
A demonstrative speech is aimed at educating an audience about a particular topic. Although it may be very similar to an informative speech, the differentiating factor is that live demos are done by the speaker. The speaker can employ any means, usually diagrams to demonstrate how to do something, or better yet prototypes of devices to showcase how they work.
This is one of our posts on the types of speech series, should you be interested in learning about other types of speeches, please click on of the links below when you are done reading this article.
Part I. 8 Persuasive Speech Techniques & Topics
Part II. 9 Tips for Writing and Amazing Informative Speech and 120+ Topic Ideas
Part III. 5 Quick Tips on how to Give an Effective Motivational Speech
Part IV. 15 Demonstration Speech Ideas and Techniques
Part V. How to Give an Effective Special Occasion Speech?
Part VI. 6 Key Tips for a Memorable Entertaining Speech + Topics and Ideas
Part VII. Explanatory Speech: 7 Key Tips to Help You Deliver an Effective Speech
Part VIII. 5-Step Strategy for an Effective Debate and Speech Delivery
Part IX. 7 Oratory Secrets: How to Deliver Effective Oratorical Speeches
Part X. Public Speaking Contests: 7 Ways to Nail at Forensic Speech Competitions
Part XI. 80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One
Part XII. 13 Ways to Effectively Deliver Pitching Presentations
Part XIII. Farewell Speech – An 8-step guide to help you deliver a Memorable one
Part XIV. Eulogy Guide: How to Give a Heartfelt Funeral Speech (with 4 Eulogy examples)
How to Carry Out an Effective Demonstrative Speech.
Irrespective of the type of speech you are to give, preparation is vital. Make sure you fully understand the subject matter well enough to teach others. Tailor your presentation to pass across information in such a way that your audience can easily understand. Be prepared to answer questions, you might get a few. Here are some steps to take in delivering a killer demonstrative speech.
1. Why Should your audience listen? What’s in it for Them?
How do you secure the attention of your audience at the start and throughout your speech? By telling them what they stand to gain by listening to you.
Explain to them why what you are about to teach is valuable. How it will help them achieve a goal or become more knowledgeable individuals. This way, any audience member who is interested in the benefits you outlined (hopefully they all are) will listen closely to your speech.
You can also share your personal experience with the audience. Tell them how this particular knowledge you are about to share has helped you in your personal life.
This first step of giving your audience a reason to listen to you is very important and should always be done at the beginning of a demonstrative speech.
Related Article: 5 Tips to Engage Your Audience?
2. Give Your Audience an Outline
In order to simplify the details of your speech, especially for audience members who may see the topic as being too complex or complicated. A simple guide on how your speech is structured will help your audience know what to expect and mentally prepare to receive it.
Sometimes, before we start reading a book, we usually browse through the table of contents section before we commence reading the book. Remember how you become much more motivated and enthusiastic to read the book after seeing what it contains. Your outline serves the same purpose; to keep the audience in an anticipatory mood.
The outline also serves as a guide for you, so you don’t get carried away and go off topic during the course of your speech.
Related Article: How to Outline Your Speech
3. Go Over Each Step in Detail
After the appetizer comes the main course. The introductions are over and it is now time to get down to business. Demonstrative speeches usually involve practical demonstrations, you are expected to show your audience how to complete a particular task in a step by step manner. As a speaker, this makes things easier, you are not expected to ramble on about unrelated topics. Just tell your audience why a particular step is important, how it is supposed to be carried out and then go on to actually show them how it is done, that’s it.
Carry your audience along every step of the way, make sure they understand a particular step before you move on to the next step. Explain in simple words with the help of a clear diagram or a prop.
It is also a good idea to involve members of the audience. You can ask for a volunteer to come on stage and carry out a task, step by step, for the rest of the audience to see.
4. Q & A Session
Depending on the setting, you may be expected to answer some questions from the audience. Sometimes, members of the audience may not have completely understood some of the concepts you tried to explain. A Q and A segment give you an opportunity to iron out any kinks members of the audience may have with your speech.
How you answer the questions thrown at you will in no small way determine how you are perceived by the audience. If you answer smartly and confidently, then you will be considered to be a competent speaker. But if you fidget and can’t answer the questions, your whole speech is undermined.
So, ensure that you are prepared to answer questions that may likely come up. Practice your answers over and over again. When asked a question, don’t rush, understand the question and give a confident answer.
5. Summarize
Before signing off, give a summary of your speech, highlighting the key points you have made and what your audience stands to gain if they do what you have shown them. you can also suggest some resources that will help your audience get a deeper understanding of the topic.
15 DEMONSTRATION SPEECH IDEAS / DEMONSTRATIVE SPEECH IDEAS
Listed below are some demonstrative speech topics across a variety of niches.
Demonstration Speech Ideas and Topics in Tech and Media
- How to install WordPress.
- How to edit a photograph in Photoshop.
- How to start a YouTube channel.
- How to make your first short film.
- How to get the most out of your social media accounts.
Demonstration Speech Ideas and Topics on Health and Fitness
- How to carry out an effective yoga session.
- How to meditate the right way.
- How to put together the perfect diet.
- How to count calories.
Demonstration Speech Ideas and Topics in Business
- How to manage your time.
- How to grow your network.
- How to work from home.
- How to build a six-figure business online.
- How to come up with a business plan.
- How to handle client meetings.
CONCLUSION
There you have it guys, those were some tips on how to carry out an effective demonstrative speech and some demonstration speech ideas that I am sure you can use in your next speech.
Always remember that the purpose of a demonstrative speech is to teach. Do all you can to ensure that your audience leaves your speech armed with new information on a particular topic. And how to use this new knowledge to achieve their desires.
REFERENCES & FURTHER READING
http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/demonstration-speech/ . Accessed on 08/31/2019.
https://www.inc.com/eric-v-holtzclaw/9-tips-for-handling-a-qa-session.html. Accessed on 08/31/2019.
https://www.write-out-loud.com/demonstration-speeches.html. Accessed on 08/31/2019.
