Basic Message Prep Steps

Here are the basic steps you should follow will crafting a typical oral message. Use this list as a way of sorting through the handouts on this site.

Keep in mind that these steps are not necessarily linear.

You may adjust your whole message based on a last minute re-assessment of the situation.

You may start with a compelling word or phrase that drives your message.

You may adjust your structure after the intro and conclusion are complete.

A.    Size up the situation The Rhetorical Situation

1.     Is there anything special about the occasion? Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation

2.     What issues are important to your audience? Use demographics to get a clue. Persuasive Strategies

3.     What appeals work with your audience? Motivational Appeals

4.     Are there significant segments in the audience? Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation

5.   Is this a sales presentation that requires a specific approach? Ideas for Sales and Persuasion

6.   Overall, what does the audience expect?

B.    Decide on a purpose Finding a Purpose

1.     What do you want to accomplish? Make it concrete.

2.     Decide how far you can go given the situation. Simply get attention? Make them less hostile? Make them more favorable? Get them to commit?

3.     Do you have more than one purpose in mind? Different levels?

C.    Start to shape the big ideas

1.     What structure would best persuade your audience? Think about traditional patterns, but consult the Motivated Sequence.

2.     What support material will be convincing? Think about Moral Reasoning. Think about answering objections.

3.     How will you respond to the critical issues or objections? Persuasive Strategies

4.     What will make this message memorable? Memory: Making Your Influence Last

D.    Choose your media Choosing Channels: Strategic Considerations

1.     Can you use multiple channels?

2.     Which media best fits the situation?

E.    Craft the words and images

1.     What phrases or images will help your message? Tips for Style in Language

2.     What visuals will help? Tips for Using Visual Aids

F.     Build the skeleton

1.     Finalize your main points. Work out the wording.

2.     Rough out transitions. Making Connections with Transitions

3.     Build an effective introduction. Effective Introductions

4.   What will get and keep their attention? How to Get Attention

5.     Build an effective conclusion. Effective Conclusions

G.   Practice

1.     What mode of delivery is best? Different Kinds of Delivery

2.     Do your voice and body support your message? Using Your Voice and Body to Influence

3.     What factors in the situation should affect your delivery? Using Delivery to Influence: Strategic Choices

Make any last minute adjustments as necessary.