How to Prepare Yourself Mentally
For Your Speech

1. Originality. The development of originality does not preclude one from studying the language and thoughts of others. What is read, however, must be sifted through a man's own mental processes before he can truthfully call it his own. Lowell says: '' That thought is his who at the last expresses it the best.''

The test of originality is whether the thoughts we receive from others are uttered again unchanged, or are assimilated, changed, and amplified in the process. Professor Esenwein suggests as some of the sources of originality:

• Original minds are observers of nature. About us everywhere are thousands of facts and things waiting to be observed.
• Original minds have learned to think consecutively. This is simply the ability to think and reflect systematically.
• Original minds cherish the companionship of great thoughts. In a few great books one will find the epoch-making thoughts of all ages and a close contact with them will fertilize and animate his own mind.
• Original minds dare to be themselves. Despite the martyrdom, the loss of popularity, or temporary sacrifice, a man must be willing to stand upon his own feet.

An orator must necessarily gather his thoughts from many sources, but originality lies in clothing them in a new dress or giving them a fresh representation. Such thoughts must bear the stamp of individuality.

2. Imagination. An orator must be able to portray scenes and pictures with his voice and language. This ability to represent objects and events not present to the senses is the image-making power.

Doctor Neff places a high estimate on this faculty. He says:

" Whether the images are produced by direct observation, by conversation, by reading, or reflection, this imaging faculty is the central power of man, and out of it will spring forth all the marvelous and, at present, unconceived achievements of the future. Upon it depends the destiny of each individual man or woman now on earth. Here in this silent workshop of the human brain is formed in microscopic miniature all the originals of man's outward doings. Here is the home of genius and the secret of life's failures. In this chamber murder is first committed, or the holiest acts of charity first performed. All virtue was born here and all vice here first took shape. And because these were first mentally enacted they were afterwards performed outwardly. Every act is twice performed, and the second doing is the child of the first."

3. Personal Magnetism. This subtle power of attraction is a quality possessed by few persons. It is a potent influence in swaying and moving an audience, and is associated with geniality, sympathy, frankness, manliness, persuasiveness and an attractive personal appearance. There is a purely animal magnetism, which passes from speaker to audience and back again, swiftly and silently. This magnetic quality is sometimes found in the voice, in the eyes, or may be reflected in the whole personality of the speaker. The human eye as "the window of the soul" is one of the most effective and direct means of communication between man and man.

4. Logical Instincts. A successful orator should be able to instinctively arrange his thoughts in clear and logical order. The various parts should be linked together in obvious and logical relationship. There should be the necessary vivacity, earnestness, and progressiveness, and all tendency to "dryness" carefully avoided. Models having this logical instinct, such as Demosthenes, Cicero, Burke, and Webster, should be closely studied. If necessary spend six months in studying a great speech, taking it apart, seeing how it is put together, and analyzing it in all its details.

5. Figures of Oratory. A public speaker should have a practical knowledge of the principal figures of oratory, sometimes called figures of emphasis. These are:

1. Antithesis.

2. Rhetorical Repetition.

3. Recapitulation.

4. Climax.

5. Accumulation.

6. Interrogation.

7. Exclamation.

8. Command.

9. Denunciation.

10. Appeal to Deity.

11. Vision.

12. Prediction.

13. Egoism.

14. Isolation.