Do you think a speech should be memorized?

Question

When presenting a speech before an audience, do you think it's more effective to memorize it or use note cards?

Answer 1

Everyone is different, but on average I find that a combination of memorization and notecards tends to be the most effective. Notecards can be incredibly helpful if you get off track or lose your train of thought during a speech, but having to read directly from notecards can make it easy to just read the speech and not truly engage with your audience.

I find that knowing your speech well and then using notecards that only outline your main points tends to be the best way to balance this. That way you start your speech knowing what you're going to say, and then you can use your notecards as helpful tools without being tempted to only read from them directly.

If you are interested in practicing this or want help finding the balance that works best for you, feel free to reach out to me and I would be glad to help you out!

Answer 2

Everybody is different and what works for one person might not work for you. However, reading straight off of anything, including a notecard, is rarely engaging. One trick that might be worth trying is having a notecard with an outline of your key points. That way you won't get lost while you present, but you won't be tempted to just start reading.

Answer 3

Attempting to memorize and present a speech is very risky. If your mind freezes for a second, you have nothing to refer to regain your place. Using note cards but looking up and around the room regularly is the safest, most professional way to deliver a speech.