How to write a speech

Speech is the delivery of a message to an audience via the spoken word. It is often used to
persuade the audience to support an idea, or to explain/describe an interesting topic or
event.

This question mostly appears in Paper 1 of your English Language and Literature
question paper.

1. A speech shouldn't be a stream of consciousness, it should rather be well planned

out. It should seem effortless and smooth. Make sure that you bring out a strong
sense of voice and use words that are simple yet impactful.

Use repetitions of phrases and a rhyme scheme cleverly embedded into the speech. This
evokes feelings of awe in us. We are automatically drawn to the articulation and our hearts
pound in patriotism.

This is precisely the effect a speech should have on people. Your speech need not
necessarily evoke awe but it should convey the message in an effective and efficient
manner.

2. Always write your speech in the first person point of view. Since you are the person
who is delivering the speech in front of an audience.

3. You may need to refer to the audience at times during your speech; in those
situations, it is better to use the term we. Why, you may wonder, because it evokes a
sense of unity rather than division. When giving a speech, this is a vital
consideration. A

4. Have clear topic sentences with separate ideas for each paragraph. It need not be
mentioned but should have an idea what each paragraph should be about. This
helps your speech be coherent and not mixed up.

5. Use informal language to connect with the audience, using high diction will create
no effect in the minds of the audience. The message may be unclear, misconstrued
or confusing.

6. Usage of emotive language, rhetorical questions, comparison are advisable.

 7. Keep the sentences short so you don’t deviate from the topic. This makes sure that
the listener is following you and you don’t lose track of your sentence. It also
ensures your sentence structure is perfect.

Useful links:

https://www.lovelearningtutors.com/main-blog/2018/4/30/how-to-write-a-speech-english-gcse-
exam

https://www.vidyalai.com/blog/10-best-ways-to-write-a-speech/

 Sample work:

I am here to tell you that life upholds many challenges for us to ght or accept defeat. In
our daily lives as students, teachers, workers, and even on the basic level as mere
individuals, we are faced with problem after problem, some of which may be too much
for us to endure. Starting from simple problems like indecisiveness on what to wear
going all the way to life -threatening hurdles, our responses to situations are more or less
the same – we panic at the slightest of things and nd it impossible to keep steady in
grave and serous circumstances. But how many of us assembled here today actually stand
up to our challenges and ght our way up again? How many of us actually resolve our
problems instead of sulking and giving up? How many of us actually make lemonade
from the lemons life throws at us?

A very good morning to one and all present here. I am Alison Wright and I’m honoured
to be able to deliver this speech today in this esteemed gathering. My life ever since the
past decade had been full of struggles, that too merely for survival. A bus accident that
took place in January of left me devastated, both physically and mentally. Lying
there with nothing but broken limbs and blood oozing out of my shredded body, on the
verge of death, I was reminded of my past memories. The countless lessons of Vipassana
meditation aided me in focusing on my breath and holding put till a kind passerby
arranged for my admission in a proper hospital. Returning home and consulting the
doctors was strenous to say the least. Wherever I would go, the feedback was – “ your life
will never be the same”. Although the hopes were seemingly less, I nevertheless gathered
my courage and forced myself out of this adversity. After spending four torturous months
in bed, rebuilding my muscles  from scratch was no child’s play and neither was doing a
thousand situps a day. Everyday day that I managed to wake up was a blessing. Every time
I could step foot on the ground would feel like a dream come true and would ll me with
gratitude. 

 After what seemed like ages, I was able to overcome my depression and my other
physical and mental maladies. Taking up a goal of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, I began
preparing hard to achieve it. Finally, in , I accomplished my goal by touching the
peak of the majestic mountain. Dear students, life is a battle we are all forced to ght.
Our enemies may not be, but changing our victory to defeat and defeat to victory is
de nitely in our hands. With powerful weapons like gratitude, courage and
determination, we can win this battle and thereby win against the perpetual struggle of
existence we all are going through, almost on a daily basis. Today, lets make use of the
beautiful gifts god has given and follow the saying” When life gives you lemons ;squeeze
them in life’s eyes”
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