SPM DIRECTED WRITING – SPEECH/TALK (OUTLINE)

Greeting & Purpose of speech

Body Paragraphs

Closing

FORMAT MARKS:
F1 – Greeting
F2 – Purpose of speech
F3 – Closing
English SPM Paper 1: Directed Writing (Section A: Speech/Talk)

Speeches are talks delivered by the presenter during formal or social occasions. It is usually a speech
on a topic to pass on information or advice to the audience.

(a) What is the difference between speech & talk?

Speech – It is delivered in a formal setting with a larger group of audience (for example: school
assembly where Principal, Vice Principals, teachers, etc. are among them)

Talk – It is delivered in a semi-formal/casual setting with a smaller group of audience (for example:
club meeting where the Club Advisor, Committees, etc. are among them)

(b) Marks allocation for speech/talk writing:

F1 – Greeting
Format F2 – Purpose of speech/talk
F3 - Closing
Content 12 content points
Language 20 marks
Total 35 marks

(c) Guidelines in Writing a Speech/Talk

 Start your speech/talk with an opening line

 In your opening line, greet you audience
 You should greet them in order of importance. For example, you must greet your principal
first before your teachers and fellow students
 After greeting, mention the topic/purpose of your speech/talk
 Then, write your speech in paragraphs (1 Intro + 4/5 Body Paragraphs + 1 Conclusion) OR 1 ½
page
 Organise the given points in sequence by labelling it (C1, C2, C3, …)
 You can add your own points (pay attention to sentences like “state your opinions”, “give
two more suggestions”, etc.
 Support your points with details and examples
 As it is a speech/talk, you can use phrases like, ‘I’m sure you will agree with me…’or ‘Do you
have any questions?’ to the audience
 End your speech with a closing statement or your hopes/dreams. Do not forget to thank
your audience.

(d) Do’s and Don’ts in Writing a Speech/Talk

Do’s
 Start your speech with a proper
opening line
 Greet your audience in order of
importance. Greet your principal
first before your teachers and
fellow students
Don’ts
 Don’t plunge right into what you
want to say without an opening line
 Don’t greet your audience in any
way you wish. For instance, do not
greet your teachers and fellow
students before your principal
  Write short paragraphs for the
body of your speech
 You may include related quotes
from famous people or sayings
based on the topic to impress the
examiner
 Make sure you use new words to
improve your language marks
 End your speech/talk with a closing
statement. Do not forget to thank
your audience
 Do not write long paragraphs for
the body of your speech/talk. Keep
it simple, well-elaborated, but not
too lengthy. Remember, you are
prone to more serious grammatical
mistakes when you write longer.
 Don’t end your speech abruptly
without a closing line. Don’t forget
to thank your audience

(a) 5 Impressive Ways to Start your Speech/Talk

Opening with a relevant quote can help set the tone for the
Quote rest of your speech. For example:
“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good
impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain
Immediately drawing your audience into your speech works
wonders. Asking a “what if” question invites the audience to
“What If” Scenario follow your thought process.
“What if we were all blunt? How different would our
everyday lives be? What would happen if we said what was
on our minds, all day every day?”
A similar method, but more relevant for sensational
examples. It puts your audience members directly into the
presentation by allowing each member to visualize an
“Imagine” Scenario extraordinary scenario.
“Imagine jumping out of a skydiving plane and discovering
your parachute doesn’t work. What memories would flash
before you? Now imagine the parachute opened. How
differently would you act when you landed?”
Ask a rhetorical or literal question. When someone is posed
Question with a question, whether an answer is called for or not, that
person intuitively answers.
“Who wouldn’t want to live on an exotic island?”
Use a surprising, powerful, personalized statistic that will
resonate with the audience to get your message across right
away. It has the potential to trigger the audiences’ emotional
Statistic appeal.
“Look to your left. Now look to your right. One of your
seatmates will ___________.”
“In this room, over 90 percent of us are going to _________.”
 Directing Writing Practice: Speech

Complete the essay outline with suitable elaboration and example

Question: Your friend is selected by the school to receive the ‘Student of the Year’ award for
his/her achievements in various fields. As the President of Students’ Representative Council of
your school, you are asked by your teacher to give a speech to congratulate him/her during the
school graduation day.

Use the notes below to write your speech.

Background: Co-curricular Activities:

 Date and place of birth
 Parent’s name
 His/her ambition
Academic Achievements:
 Straight As student
 One of the members Students’
Representative Council
 Won 2nd place in international public
speaking competition
 Leader of the school debating team
 Best Sportsman/Sportswoman of the
Year award
 Active in uniform bodies
 Active in voluntary work
Characteristics:
 Outstanding characteristic 1 (own
answer)
 Outstanding characteristic 2 (own
answer)

When writing the speech, you should remember to:

 Greet the audience

 State the purpose of your speech
 Use all the notes given
 Give your own ideas when needed
 End your speech appropriately
 Essay Outline

INTRODUCTION
Question Requirement To congratulate my friend on his/her achievement of…

BODY
CONTENT POINT ELABORATION EXAMPLE
Background: Date and place of
birth

Parent’s name

Ambition

Academic achievement:
Straight As student

Academic achievement: One

of the members of Students’
Representative Council
Co-curricular activity: Won 2nd
place in International Public
Speaking competition
Co-curricular activity: Leader
of the school debating team
Co-curricular activity: Best
Sportsman/Sportswoman of
the Year award
Co-curricular activity: Active in
uniform bodies

Co-curricular activity: Active in

voluntary work

(Own answer) Outstanding

characteristic 1
(Own answer) Outstanding
characteristic 2
CLOSING
Conclusion

Hope
Directing Writing Practice: Talk

Complete the essay outline with suitable elaboration and example

Question: The Teacher Advisor of the History Club is organising a study trip. He/she has suggested
either a visit to the State Museum or a historical site. Using the information in the table below, write
a talk about the two places to help the members decide the trip they prefer to go.

In your talk, you should:

 Describe all the details of the two trips

 State which trip you think is more suitable
 Suggest one benefit the students will get from the trip

State Museum A Famosa Melaka

Distance 10 km 160 km
Duration One day Two days and one night
Accommodation None Hotel
Package tour fee RM10 RM100
Transport School bus Tour bus
 Essay Outline

INTRODUCTION
Question requirement To talk about the…

BODY
CONTENT POINT ELABORATION EXAMPLE
Distance: State Museum – 10 km
from school

Duration: One-day trip

Accommodation: None

Package tour fee: RM 10 per

person

Transport: School bus

Distance: A Famosa Melaka – 160

km from school

Duration: Two days and one night

Accommodation: Hotel

Package tour fee: RM100 per

person

Transport: Tour bus

Preference:

One benefit:

CONCLUSION
Conclusion

Hope