英语演讲艺术

　　Once you decide on a topic， you need to search for information and find out how many people have discussed the same issue and what views they hold. In an attempt not to repeat what others have said， you need to look at the issue from a different perspective. That is where originality comes in. Originality refers to the freshness ofideas and unique perspective contained in a speech. Having learnt about other people's opinion， you should formulate your own. Only when you make your own contributions in this area can your speech impress the audience.　　For instance， the College Entrance Examination has received much criticism from the public. It is criticized for its washback effects that encourage an exam-oriented education. Many middle school teachers take the rate of college entrance as their teaching objectives. The result is that the students' creativity is tremendously restrained and their horizon dramatically narrowed. When everybody seems to be objecting to the Entrance Examination system， but you view this issue from another angle， your speech is deemed original and provocative.　　One of my students gave a speech on the Vindication of the College Entrance Exam. In her speech， the speaker stated that in spite of so many drawbacks of the exam， one thing should not be disregarded. That is， the examination can ensure equality， fairness， and justice. Although different from the current view， the speaker has ample reason to say that the Entrance Exam system is justified because it practices the principle of equality， and that is the essential ground upon which such a system has existed for so many decades.　　This student has an original perspective to view the issue， thus making her speech convincing and effective.　　3.2.2 Depth of Thinking　　Having chosen a unique perspective， the next thing is to demonstrate the depth of your thinking. This is achieved by exploring the issue in greater detail， making careful and comprehensive analysis， weighing the benefits and disadvantages of a decision， and trying to convince the audience with ample evidence. Take euthanasia as an example. If your view on assisted suicide is positive， you should go deeper into the issue by listing all your reasons and elaborate on them. You might want to discuss it in terms of life quality， human dignity， severe depression， and the social burden it can cause. And you should cite examples to illustrate the pain and suffering a critically ill person experiences if he/she is not allowed to end such a tragic life of his/her own will.　　Admittedly， the depth of thinking is inevitably related to the topic one has chosen. If you choose a topic regarding college life， and you are concerned with some trivial matters such as how to prevent your bikes from being stolen， or how to　　be on a diet， it would be very hard for you to write a thoughtful or stimulating draft.However， if you are interested in current affairs or some big issues like overseas studies， or brain drain， you will certainly find it easier to give an in-depth speech.　　The advice here is to show concern for significant events， and try to discuss those issues that have considerable room for exploration. Otherwise， your speech　　would remain superficial， banal， and uninteresting.　　……