Preparation Of A Lecturette

An officer of the Armed Forces has to lead or command his men. He is called upon to address at short notice the men he commands and he must be able to inspire confidence in his men-not only by his action but by his word also. His speech must, therefore, be forceful and effective.

In preparing your lecturette, you have to collect your material from various sources as under:

1. Note down all ideas about the subject as they occur to you.
2. Consult reference books, journals, newspapers and take down any new points not covered already.
3. Discuss the subjects with your colleagues and note down any new points not covered already.
4. Go through all the above material and select materials of your liking which can fit in the framework of your talk.
5. Arrange the material selected in a logical order.
6. Prepare a final draft of your speech.
7. Divide your speech in three parts as under:
   • Introduction: It is to establish contact with the audience, to arouse their interest so that they get ready for what is going to come by disclosing and clarifying your subject and stating why the subject is important for them. Remember the maxim ” Well begun is half done”.
   • The body: This is the most important part as it carries the main message. Make it as interesting as possible. A dull treatment looses its effectiveness. A touch of humour may be helpful.
   • Summary and conclusion: A summary serves to wrap up the material you have presented. It is not only helpful at the end, but is useful in the beginning and at the end of each phase of your talk.
8. Rehearse your lecture and limit it to the time allotted.