Six Minutes Article Archive


In-Depth Article Series

Speech Preparation Series
10-article series examining the six steps which are necessary to prepare a speech, reduce nervousness, and combat fear.
Speech Analysis Series
5-article series examining presentation analysis as a key skill to improve your speaking skills.
Toastmasters Speech Series
Your guide to the first 10 speeches of the Toastmasters Competent Communicator Program.
     

Communication Skills

Includes general skills beyond speaking, such as listening, language, personality, and interpersonal skills.

The Lighter Side

Fun and humorous perspectives on public speaking.
     

Book Reviews

Reviews of books which cover public speaking, presentation skills, and communication methods.
Fire Them Up!
Carmine Gallo
The Story Factor
Annette Simmons
Presentation Zen
Garr Reynolds

Speech Critiques

Speech evaluations which analyze great speakers and illustrate the techniques which make them great.
Randy Pausch - The Last Lecture ("Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams")
Tremendously inspirational, funny, clever use of props and visual aids, a truly memorable speech.
Patrick Henry Winston - How to Speak
Dozens of practical public speaking tips; targets speaking to teach or to inform; lecture-style.
Majora Carter - Greening the Ghetto
Personal emotion, energy, passion, rapid speaking rate, call-to-action, reading from script.
Hans Rosling - Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen
Six simple techniques for presenting data, graphical display, energetic delivery.
J.A. Gamache - Being a Mr. G.
Strong writing, powerful body language, speech opening and closing which feature the same prop, callback technique for repetitive humor, emotionally charged writing, and a series of wonderfully choreographed gestures.
Steve Jobs - Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Strong opening; simple classical structure; the Rule of Three; rich figures of speech; and a recurring theme of birth/death/rebirth.
Al Gore - 15 ways to avert a climate crisis
Humor; call-to-action; audience awareness; and slide techniques.
Dick Hardt - Identity 2.0
Lessig method, speech opening, humor, repetition, contrast, analogies.
     

Articles by Date