“The Eloquent Buffet: Serving Your Message in Three Courses”
By Ubong Essien, CSP — Dean, School of Eloquence
Imagine your speech as a fine dining experience.
At the School of Eloquence, we teach that a truly compelling speech mirrors a three-course meal:
- The Appetizer (Introduction)
- The Main Course (Body)
- The Dessert (Conclusion)
This Eloquent Buffet approach ensures your audience stays engaged, fed, and fulfilled.
With Monica, we explored this structure using metaphor and meaning. The appetizer is where you whet their appetite — through a quote, question, or compelling story. It’s not time for long protocol or flat salutations. It’s time to grab attention.
The main course is the heart of the message — the substance. This is where depth, structure, and segmentation matter. It’s where the speech breathes and builds.
Then comes the dessert — your closing remarks, designed to leave a sweet aftertaste. A strong call to action. A reflective thought. A sense of completion.
“An eloquent speaker,” I said to Monica, “must feed both the heart and mind. Serve it like a banquet of insight.”
Every time you rise to speak, remember the Eloquent Buffet. Structure your words as a memorable meal. Let your audience not just hear — let them taste and be nourished.
Bon appétit.