Speeches are given formally in work presentations, college courses and debates and casually at weddings, homecomings and other celebrations. Regardless of the nature of a speech, people usually feel intimidated by the idea of speaking in front of a group of people. Knowing the material helps to eliminate some of the fear attached to public speaking by making you feel comfortable. Memorizing a speech also helps you gain confidence onstage and avoid boring the audience by reading from a page.

Rewrite
Rewriting parts of a speech gives you a visual memory of the content. Start by rewriting the material verbatim and then gradually break it down into smaller phrases until you end up with a keyword for each part of the speech. You can then reread the material for all sections and edit each sentence down to just one keyword. Test your knowledge of the speech parts by trying to recall material based on the keywords only.

Personalize the Material
Use a mnemonic device, or memory trigger, to recall the parts of your speech. You can use the first letter of each keyword to make an acronym that directly relates to you. This device will guide you through the speech and get you back on track if you get lost. When writing a speech, try to include something about the material that interests you. Engaging content will resonate with you, resulting in a convincing presentation for the audience.

Rehearse and Record
Rehearsing your speech aloud will not only provide practice in voice fluctuation and body language, but also increase your exposure to the content. Recording your speech and listening to it will help you memorize and perfect it. You can also videotape yourself giving the speech, which will help you attach facial expressions and body language to specific parts of the speech. Use these as signals for recalling content during your presentation.

Use Spaced Repetition
Though practice aids you in memorizing parts of a speech, constant exposure can lead to burnout and prevent progress. Use spaced repetition by taking breaks between speech study sessions. Spaced repetition allows you to review material again right before you forget it. After studying the outline for parts of a speech, take a break before returning to review the outline and memorize more material. These study breaks will also give you a more accurate picture of what you have retained.