Public Speaking Merit Badge Clinic Agenda

Public Speaking Merit Badge picks up where Communications leaves off.  That is why I plan to conduct a joint two-hour merit badge clinic on both. As you participate in the clinic, you can mix and match having your speeches count toward either Communications or Public Speaking. While I will accept recycled presentations you've done for school that fit the requirements, I will not allow one speech to count for more than one requirement.  If you have a partial in Communications, you'll be able to finish Communications and get started on Public Speaking.

Most of the speechs for Public Speaking must be prepared and practiced in advance. You may be able to complete requirements 1, 3 and 5 without advance study, but its better for Scouts to Be Prepared.

1. Give a 3 - 5 minute introduction of yourself.

   This is a surprisingly hard requirement. Try it in advance, and you'll see that the first time you'll either be too long or you'll stumble all over trying to think of enough to say. A good speech has an opening, body, and conclusion. The pattern "tell them what you're going to say", "tell them," "tell them what you said" applies even in a speech introducing yourself. A story with continuity is memorable and will really "wow" your next Board of Review!

2. Give an impromptu talk of at least 2 minutes on a subject you know about, but you aren't given time to prepare.

   This situation comes up a lot in discussions and planning meetings.  Its tough the first time you try it, but
   gets easier with practice.  I have a fun activity planned that you'll want to participate in even if you're just coming for Communications Merit Badge.

3. Give a 3 to 5 minute speech on a topic of your choice that incorporates body language and visual aids.

   "Visual aids" doesn't necessarily mean PowerPoint. Other props, charts, pictures are effective.  Distracting the attention of the audience with PowerPoint doesn't mean they aren't paying attention to your gestures and body language.

4. Give an 8 - 10 minute speech.

   Its always better if you can speak without notes, but speaking this long without notes took me 10 speeches in Toastmasters, so limiting notes is a goal, not a requirement.

5. We'll do the parlimentary procedure requirement in a fun way:  While we'll start our merit badge clinic with an agenda, there will be changes to the agenda based on who shows up, running short on time, or something doesn't
   work as planned.  Whenever a decision needs to be made, I'll turn our meeting over to somebody who wants to pass requirement 5 to conduct the discussion and the vote according to Robert's Rules of Order.  The Public Speaking Merit Badge Pamplet has sufficient information on Robert's Rules.  I'll lead the first discussion, so you'll get the idea.

I am a member of Toastmasters International, an organization for teaching and practicing public speaking. Toastmasters is credited with helping develop the Public Speaking Merit Badge pamphlet. The requirements are very similar to a typical Toastmasters meeting.

It will be a busy session.  You'll get most of the requirements signed off if you do your homework. Hopefully you'll find that you've already done many of the requirements. At least we'll give you a good start and try to make plans for you to complete this merit badge soon. It will be more fun sharing our projects with a group than an audience of just a counselor.