Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

College of Business and Public Administration
Daet, Camarines Norte

NAME: DEVON E. DELOSSANTOS BSA-3

PROFESSOR: MARGIE O. AGAWA

MANUSCRIPT SPEECH
When giving a manuscript speech, a speaker reads from a prepared document. The speech is
delivered exactly as it is presented in the text. Manuscript speeches are useful when it is
important for wording to be precise, such as with legal issues. Though manuscript speeches
ensure precision, they are also often less interesting to listeners than off-the-cuff or memorized
speeches. When speeches are read, there is little opportunity to make eye contact with the
audience. To deliver an engaging manuscript speech, the presenter should practice using vocal
expression and gestures. Sometimes a teleprompter is used, especially when a speech is
televised, so the speaker engages more with the audience.

When Provided with a Manuscript

You need to delivery it exactly as written. You are delivering words which were prepared by
someone else; they are the original authors ideas and not your own that you are presenting to the
audience. The manuscript could take many different forms. It could be a short story, a poem, or
an article. You may also be provided with a special type of document, called a proclamation.

With a proclamation, the wording is exact and must be read exactly as written, as it is a distinct
speech act that puts the statements into effect. If are reading a proclamation and say, I now
declare when you finish you have actually made it happen.

Advantages

You usually have time to prepare which will allow you to fully understand the meaning
that needs to conveyed to the audience.
Once you understand the meaning, then it is possible to practice reading to create a
conversational delivery by emphasizing important words, create vocal phrases with the
right words together, and vary the pace and emphasis to convey the meaning of the
original.
Since you will have the document with you, you can mark it to indicate where you want
to add emphasis, pause, and change volume or pitch.
Disadvantages

Of course, the obvious disadvantage is that you are speaking for someone else; your are
delivering his or her thoughts and ideas and not your own.
You do not have ownership of the ideas but you may be judged since you are delivering
the manuscript.

When preparing your own manuscript

If you are preparing your own manuscript for delivery, consider first the audience and write for
them as if you were speaking directly to them. You are not writing a book but a speech to be
delivered. When you deliver the speech from manuscript, you are challenged to make a
connection with the audience rather than simply read words.

Advantages

Preparing your own manuscript prevents you from saying anything you would not say in
careful consideration of your topic.
It does assure that you say everything you want to say and gives the impression that you
are a calm, collected thinker.
You have the opportunity to work with a teleprompter to help you speak directly to the
audience, but you will still need to practice with its speed and placement.

Disadvantages

There are disadvantages for the speaker preparing his or her own manuscript. It is a
challenge, since the speaker will have difficulty maintaining eye contact with the
audience to show warmth and sincerity.
It may also be difficult for you to actually develop a conversation with the audience while
reading. You want to sound natural and develop your own persona which is difficult if a
person is just reading his or her words on a page. With the necessary practice, you can
perfect and develop a speech and deliver it from a manuscript with careful rehearsal.