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The two rules of thumb for developing demonstration speech topics are: talk about something you know about, and satisfy the needs of your audience.

1. Find a topic that is close related to your hobbies, skills, pet peeves, job or favorite sports. Organize your rough ideas on good speech topics. Make a list of the things you love to do or make.

2. Apply rule two: analyze your audience. Who are they? What are their interests? What do they like? What are their needs? Answer these questions and make notes.

3. Study both lists and look for similarities and common grounds. Pick out the issue or topic that meets two rules of thumb.

4. Now develop your demonstration speech topic. The easiest way is to show how to do something, how something is done, how to make something, or how something works. Start with one of these example phrases. Fill in the informative topic of your choice.

How to make ...
How to fix ...
How to use ...
How to do ...
How ... works
How ... is done, produced or made
Also try it with other verbs, vary and tweak.

Concrete examples of demonstration speech topics are:
How to cook a pie
How to tie a tie
How to be a vegetarian
How to fix a flat tire
How to create a Halloween mask
How to clean your car
How to change a bank cheque

5. Determine the specific purpose of your speech topic. State it in one simple sentence. Example: I want to demonstrate how to make a very special ****tail drink.

6. Determine the central idea of your demonstration speech text. Describe what your presentation is about and why you want to share your ideas. Example: "I want to preserve a special ****tail drink recipe by teaching how to make the ****tail."

7. Write an attractive attention getting introduction. Tell what you are going to show and teach them. Tell why you choose this demonstration topic. Tell why your listeners should know how to do it. Tell that they only have to follow your instructions.

8. Demonstrate the ****tail making and shaking process step by step. Show the activities or moves in a logical chronological order.

9. Help them to do it by themselves - ****tail shaking always causes a lot of fun!

10. And last but not least, apply the time limit and the special rules of your public speaking assignment.

50+ examples of demonstration speech topics can be found at http://www.speech-topics-help.com/demonstration-speech-topics.html.

About the Author

Jim Peterson has over 10 year's experience on speech writing. He offers 1,250+ free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at http://www.speech-topics-help.com.
Copyright 2006 Jim A. Peterson