Professor Hale outlines his intent; Demosthenes is an ancient Greek orator whose life and career illustrates how practice, hard work, memorization, the acceptance of early failures, and other skills are essential to overcoming obstacles.

The key to effective speaking is using the voice and body to reinforce meaning; using examples from Patrick Henry, Oliver Cromwell and Winston Churchill; how the power of a speech lies in vocal and physical elements like tone and pitch.

Making the deepest possible connection with an audience; opening up about oneself; advice on how to express emotions and weakness; speeches by Elizabeth I and Sojourner Truth.

How to use humorous techniques such as hyperbole, incongruity, and surprise even in a serious speech; the secret of effective humor; speeches by Will Rogers; each laugh makes a point and focuses the audience's attention on the topic.

Composing effective speeches; the benefits of organizing information into a story to give details weight and vividness; Marie Curie uses storytelling to explain the complexities of radium; how to make speeches memorable.

The power of three; its importance in writing a speech; Paul's first letter to the Corinthians; why a speech and the examples and anecdotes it uses should be planned in threes.