Selecting Material.  It can be assumed, by the time you have reached this point in the study and practice of making speeches, that you have words to express your thoughts and some fair skill of delivery, that you know something about preparing various kinds of introductions and conclusions, that you know how your own mind operates in retaining new information, and that you know how to secure material for various purposes.  Either clearly assimilated in your brain or accurately noted upon paper you have all the ideas that are to appear in your speech.

The Length of the Speech.  Look over this material again.  Consider it carefully in your thoughts, mentally deciding how long a time or how many words you will devote to each topic or entry.  Can you from such a practical consideration determine how long in time your speech will be?  Are you limited by requirements to a short time as were the Four Minute Speakers?  Have you been allotted a half hour?  Will you hold your audience longer?

These may appear simple things, but they cover the first essential of planning any speech.  It should be just the correct length—­neither too long nor too short.  Many beginners—­timid, hesitant, untrained—­will frequently fill too short a time, so that they must drill themselves into planning longer productions.  On the other hand, it may be stated, as a general criticism, that many speakers talk too long.

A United States Senator, in order to block the vote on a bill he was opposing, decided to speak until Congress had to adjourn, so he deliberately planned to cover a long time.  He spoke for some twenty-two hours.  Of course he did not say much, nor did he talk continuously; to get rests, he requested the clerk to call the roll, and while the list was being marked, he ate and drank enough to sustain him.  Technically his speech was uninterrupted, for he still had the floor.  Though we may not approve of such methods of legislative procedure we must see that for this speech the first element of its plan was its length.

Keep this consideration of time always in mind.  Speakers always ask how long they are to speak, or they stipulate how much time they require.  Legislative bodies frequently have limiting rules.  Courts sometimes allow lawyers so much time.  A minister must fit his sermon to the length of the service.  A business man must not waste his hearers’ time.  A lecturer must not tire his audience.  In Congress members must be given chances to eat.  In Parliament, which meets in the evening, men grow anxious for bed.

Making the Speech too Long.  The rule is fundamental, yet it is violated continually.  I have known of instances when four men, asked to present material in a meeting announced months in advance as lasting two hours, have totally disregarded this fact, and prepared enough material to consume over an hour each.  In such cases the presiding officer should state to each that he will be allowed exactly thirty minutes