The purpose of a
speech is often to inform or persuade an audience.
Speeches are usually written
to be spoken directly to an audience and can be used to entertain, influencing
the listeners that the viewpoint of the speaker is correct.
Speeches can also be
used to encourage the audience to take action or to change their behaviour in
some way; for example, to join a particular school club or society, or to
recycle more.
The ways you use language and vocabulary when writing the words
of a speech will depend on the audience and the purpose you are writing for;
for example, in a speech to a group of teachers and parents giving your views
on a recent proposal, formal language is most appropriate.
Tips for writing a speech
Language
think about the audience that the speech is for – are you giving your speech to a group of people you
know, or do not know, or a mixture of both? If you know your audience well, you
may be able to relax a little, but a speech is still a formal kind of talk and
would usually not include slang
whether your audience are likely to disagree with what you say– you will need to consider any possible
objections and deal with them. Use language carefully to make objections
seem less significant; for example, using phrases like ‘A few people may
still think, however’
the reason you are giving this speech and how you feel about this topic – try to imagine the words of your speech as you
would speak them out loud. Your tone of voice must match your message, so
choose words that appeal to the emotions of your listeners. Focus on what
you want your audience to know and feel by the end of your speech
how to engage your listeners – for example, you might use inclusive words or
phrases like ‘we’, ‘all of us’ and ‘our’ to make your listeners feel that
you are all on the same side.
Organisation
Plan where you want to finish your speech and how you will get there before you start writing – the structure of a speech is usually in three parts. For example:
An opening that grabs your audience's attention and makes the overall topic of your speech clear – for example, pose a question to the audience where you can predict the answer.
A well-structured, supported and developed argument – for example, to support your argument you might use real life examples or anecdotes.
A powerful conclusion – for
example, group your final words or ideas in threes to help make them memorable
or end with a thought- provoking question or image and thank your audience for
listening.
Organise your ideas into paragraphs as appropriate – this will help you to
develop and support your points convincingly, to build your argument and/or
offer a full explanation of a particular point of view.
Show the connections between ideas in sentences
and paragraphs – where a new point or idea
follows on from what you have already said you might use linking words or
phrases such as, ‘in addition’, ‘likewise’ or ‘similarly’.
Writing skills text typesWriting a speech
