Chapter - 27
A Practical Example Of A Cue Sheet

As an illustration of what an actual cue sheet looks like, I have chosen Chapter XXV of this book, the chapter on "Preparing Public Addresses." The cue sheet for this section might read as follows:

Outline
logically organized
collecting and collating material
cue words
outlining under subheads
Aim and purpose of the speech
not extraneous to the expressed purpose
Of what value is this to the subject as a
whole?
Time allotted
audience grows restive
45 to 60 minutes
try out the whole speech aloud
Running over the time
feeling of nervous tension
"In conclusion"                                                  Place
unreliability                                                       speaking tempo
What kind of public
Example: doctor                                               Average education
lay audience                                                      all details of the subject
mixed public                                                     foundation stones
unrelated details

In order to follow these cues more easily, turn back to Chapter XXV. You will find that those words—and only those—written on the cue sheet are in boldface type.

Now practise the following exercise: Read and reread the section on "Preparing Public Addresses" until you know its contents rather well. Then turn back to this cue sheet and with its aid try to recapitulate the section as closely as you can. Do this by yourself three or four times and then lay the book, open at the cues, on a table or desk and repeat the entire chapter-section aloud, aided by the cues, as though you were addressing a large gathering. When you have progressed so far that you can repeat the contents without getting stuck and without losing the thread of your discourse, try making a public address on the subject to your family or friends. If there is someone in your group who can criticize your mode of expression and general style, by all means ask him to attend.

When you have mastered this address, choose a new subject and repeat the exercise; that is, follow the rules you used for Chapter XXV. Collect and collate your material, make an outline, pay attention to all the other matters you heeded so successfully in your first attempt. Then write out a cue sheet, somewhat similar to the one given above, and with its aid make your address.

As a final step, link your cue words by using the chain method as shown in Chapter VII. In this way you will be able to make the longest and most difficult address extemporaneously, without notes, in any auditorium. You will not be encumbered with a scrap of paper; you will be able to look directly at your public, and therefore you can be confident of success.

But remember: A good lecture or address must not only be logical in organization and comprehensive in content, but also pleasing and clear-cut in speech. A varied vocabulary and a variety in sentence structure are especially important. So we shall consider these subjects now.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...

COPYRIGHT (C) 2007 WWW.IMPROVINGMEMORY.NET