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Description of the Prepared Speech Section of Toastmasters International
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     		When you join Toastmasters you
     receive a basic speaking manual with ten speech projects. 
     Each project calls on you to prepare a speech on a subject of
     your own choosing but using certain speaking principles.  Each
     manual project lists the objectives for that speech and
     includes a written checklist for your evaluator to use when
     evaluating the speech.  Thus, if you're scheduled to speak at
     a meeting, you generally pull out your manual a week or two in
     advance and put together a speech on whatever you like but
     paying attention to your goals and objectives for that speech. 
     Then, when you go to the meeting, you hand your manual to your
     evaluator and that person makes written comments on the
     checklist while you speak.  At the end of the meeting, that
     person (your evaluator) will rise to give oral commentary as
     well.  The purpose of the extensive preparation and commentary
     is to show you what you're doing well, what you need to work
     on, and driving these lessons home so you're constantly
     improving.

     		In the basic ("Communication and Leadership" manual), there
     are ten speech projects:

     1. Icebreaker - 4 to 6 minutes - getting over nervousness by
          introducing yourself to the club.
     2. Be In Earnest - 5 to 7 minutes - continue to get over
          nervousness by speaking about something you believe
          deeply in.
     3. Organize Your Speech - 5 to 7 minutes - work on giving a
          well-organized speech.
     4. Show What You Mean - 5 to 7 minutes - not a "Show and Tell"
          speech, this project calls on you to work with gestures
          and body language during your speech.  Unfortunately,
          many members somehow confuse the issue and show up with
          a bag full of props that they use in a "Show and Tell"
          style speech.  Don't do that.
     5. Vocal Variety - 5 to 7 minutes - work on rate of delivery,
          volume, speed, pitch, emphasis, etc.
     6. Work with Words - 5 to 7 minutes - work on proper word
          choice, avoiding jargon and generalizations, etc.
     7. Apply Your Skills - 5 to 7 minutes - go back and practice
          everything you've learned up to this point.
     8. Be Persuasive - 6 to 8 minutes - give a persuasive speech
          on a controversial issue.
     9. Speak With Knowledge - 7 minutes, plus or minus 30 seconds
          - research an issue, write a speech, and then *read* that
          speech to the audience (as opposed to using notecards or
          notes or whatever you used for the previous eight
          speeches)... and have it well-rehearsed, so it doesn't
          run long or end too soon.
     10. Inspire Your Audience - 8 to 10 minutes - The final speech
          in the manual calls on you to move and inspire your
          audience in a well-presented and well-prepared speech.

     		As you can see, all ten projects above are wide-open for you
     to choose whatever topic you like.  Even if you pick a
     controversial subject, most Toastmasters  will
     evaluate you on how well you presented your subject, not on
     whether they agreed with you or not.
     
     After the Basic Speech Manual, there are fourteen advance manuals
     available, each with five speech projects of various lengths: 

          The Entertaining Speaker
          Speaking To Inform
          Public Relations
          The Discussion Leader
          Specialty Speeches
          Speeches By Management
          The Professional Speaker
          The Professional Salesperson
          Technical Presentations
          Communicating On Television
          Storytelling
          Interpretive Reading
          Special Occasion Speeches
          Interpersonal Communication