What is the first thing a student must do when preparing speech?

The first thing a student must do when preparing a speech is understand the purpose and audience.

Here's why:

* Purpose: What is the goal of the speech? Is it to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire? Knowing the purpose helps guide the entire speech development process.

* Audience: Who will be listening? What are their interests, knowledge level, and expectations? Understanding the audience ensures the speech is relevant, engaging, and appropriate for them.

Once the purpose and audience are clear, the student can move on to other important aspects like researching the topic, crafting a strong thesis statement, organizing ideas, and creating an engaging delivery.