Getting Started

Introduction & Overview

Stand up, open your mouth, and change the world. That might sound dramatic, but it is exactly what great public speakers do every day. The Public Speaking merit badge will teach you how to organize your thoughts, stand in front of a group, and deliver a message that people actually want to hear. Whether you are running for patrol leader, presenting a school project, or telling a story around the campfire, these skills will serve you for life.

Public speaking is consistently ranked as one of the top skills employers look for — and one of the top fears people have. This guide will help you turn that fear into confidence.

Then and Now

Then — The Power of the Spoken Word

Long before texting, email, or social media, the spoken word was the most powerful tool a person could master. In ancient Greece, students spent years studying rhetoric — the art of persuasive speaking. The philosopher Aristotle wrote an entire book on the subject around 330 BCE, and his ideas about how to persuade an audience are still taught today.

Great speakers have shaped history. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in just over two minutes — 272 words that redefined the meaning of the Civil War. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 moved a nation toward justice. These moments remind us that the right words, spoken with conviction, can change everything.

Purpose: Persuasion, leadership, ceremony, storytelling
Mindset: Speaking well was a mark of education and leadership — it was expected of anyone who wanted to lead

Now — Everyone Has a Stage

Today, public speaking is not just for politicians and preachers. YouTube creators, podcast hosts, TED Talk presenters, and even gamers livestreaming to thousands are all public speakers. The stages have changed, but the core skills — clear thinking, confident delivery, and connecting with your audience — are exactly the same.

Purpose: Education, entertainment, advocacy, career success, everyday communication
Mindset: Anyone can learn to speak well, and the opportunities to practice are everywhere

Get Ready! You are about to discover that speaking in front of others is not about being perfect — it is about being prepared, being yourself, and being willing to try. Every great speaker started exactly where you are right now.

A Scout standing confidently at a podium in front of an audience of peers, smiling and gesturing while speaking

Kinds of Public Speaking

Public speaking is not one-size-fits-all. There are many different types, and each one uses a slightly different set of skills. Here are the main categories you will encounter — and you will practice several of them as you work through this merit badge.

Informative Speaking

The goal of informative speaking is to teach your audience something they did not know before. Think science fair presentations, how-to demonstrations, or a troop meeting where you explain how to set up a tent. Your job is to be clear, organized, and interesting.

Persuasive Speaking

Persuasive speakers want to change how the audience thinks, feels, or acts. Debate teams, campaign speeches, and even a Scout trying to convince the patrol to go canoeing instead of hiking all use persuasion. You need evidence, logic, and just the right amount of emotion.

Ceremonial Speaking

Ceremonial speeches mark special occasions — award presentations, graduation speeches, toasts, and tributes. These talks are usually shorter and more personal. The key is sincerity. Your audience wants to feel something, not just hear something.

Impromptu Speaking

Impromptu speaking means talking without preparation. Your teacher calls on you in class. Someone asks your opinion at a meeting. You are put on the spot, and you have to think fast. It sounds scary, but there are simple techniques that make it much easier — and you will learn them in Requirement 3.

A split-image collage showing four types of public speaking: a Scout presenting a poster, a debater at a lectern, a person giving a toast at a celebration, and a student answering a question in class

Storytelling

Humans have been telling stories around fires for thousands of years, and it is still one of the most powerful forms of communication. A well-told story grabs attention, creates emotion, and makes your message stick. Whether you are sharing a personal experience or narrating a historical event, storytelling is a public speaking superpower.

Parliamentary Speaking

This is the formal, rules-based speaking used to run meetings. From the U.S. Congress to your troop’s patrol leaders’ council, parliamentary procedure keeps discussions organized and fair. You will dig into this in Requirement 5.

Now let’s start building your speaking skills — one requirement at a time.