Principles of Speech Writing
each source and that you cite all of your
To craft an effective and relevant speech,
the following principles of speech
writing can serve as your guide:
1. Audience Profile
pertains to the important details about your
audience that will help you plan your
speech. Know your audience. When you
have idea about the background of your
audience, you can customize your speech
appropriately.
2. Choosing a Topic
If you are given the choice of topic for your
speech, start with what you know or are
interested to know.
Then if you have something in mind
already, ask yourself the following
questions:
● Is the topic interesting to my
audience?
● Is it timely and relevant?
● Are there available sources of
information on it?
If your answer is “yes” to all the given
questions, then you have a potentially good
topic in mind. Note that the answers to
questions 1 and 2 entail a knowledge of
your audience profile.
3. Sourcing Information
With your topic in mind, list as many
information sources as possible: video
documentaries; textbooks; other print
sources such as magazines, journals and
newspapers; surveys/questionnaires;
microfilms; and other similar materials.
Once you have determined your possible
sources, you can begin your research.
Make sure, though, that you take note of
sources when you deliver the speech.
Failure to properly cite your sources is
tantamount to plagiarism and that
will compromise your eligibility.
4. Outlining and Organizing
Speech Content
There is a common and effective practice of
outlining and organizing your speech, and
this practice is referred to as the Rule of
Three. Many great speakers are able to
keep the focus of their speeches by
limiting the ideas to expound on to three.
For example, what three things about
basketball that interest you the most?
Simply put, limiting your main points to three
allows you to better organize your
speech. In turn, a focused and
well-organized speech is easy to
comprehend and follow.
5. Logical Organization
A speech must follow a certain flow if you
intend to communicate your ideas clearly
and effectively.
Some Patterns used in Crafting a
Speech:
● Categorical/Topical-
categories help the speaker to
organize the message in a
consistent manner. The goal of using
this pattern is to create categories of
information that go together to help
support the main idea.
● Comparison/Contrast - used to
compare and contrast subjects or
ideas
● Spatial - organizes information
according to how things fit together
in physical space. This is
appropriate when your main points
are oriented to various locations that
exist independently. This pattern is
best used when if your goal is to
show that your main points have
clear locations.
● Chronological - places the main
idea in the time order in which times
appear. Here, you present
information in order in which they
happened.
● Biographical - usually employed
when a speaker wants to describe a
person’s life- the speaker’s own life
(autobiographical), the life of
someone they know personally, or
the life of a famous person. A
speech using this pattern is
mainly informative or
entertaining.
● Causal - used to explain
cause-and-effect relationships.
When you use a causal speech
pattern, your speech will have two
main points: cause and effect. In
the first main point, you will typically
talk about the causes of a
phenomenon; in the second main
point, you will usually show how the
causes lead to either a specific
effect or a small set of effects.
● Problem-Case-Solution -
describes a problem, identifies what
you believe is causing the problem,
and then recommends a solution to
correct the problem.
● Psychological - in this pattern, a
leads to b and b leads to c. This
speech format is often used in
persuasive speeches as it is
designed to follow a logical
argument.
6. Duration
Time is important and a speaker should
always bear that in mind. As such, a speech
must be long enough to fulfil your speech
goals but short enough to hold your
audience’s attention.
7. Word Choice
Your choice of words will depend primarily
on the type of audience. Another
consideration though, is the situation,
occasion, or event in which you will deliver
the speech. As such, you should always
keep in mind that there are appropriate
words to say on specific occasions.
Moreover, the formality of the language you
will use will depend on the occasion. A
graduation speech, for instance, often
requires the use of formal language. A
send-off speech, on the other hand, allows
for more informal language.
8. Grammatical Correctness
As a second language speaker of English,
you are not expected to be perfectly
proficient in it. Nevertheless, you should
strive to learn and master the language so
you can avoid grammatical lapses,
especially the obvious ones.
Principles of Speech Delivery
1. Articulation - “an act, process, or
means of putting something into
words” or “the clear and accurate
pronunciation of words especially
in speaking.” The key term that
relates to articulation is coherence.
This refers to the logical order of
ideas expressed. When ideas are
articulated well, they sound whole
and put together. An articulate
speaker is therefore a coherent one.
2. Modulation - “to change the
sound of (your voice) by making it
quieter, higher, or lower, etc. It also
means to change or adjust
(something) so that it exists in a
balanced or proper amount.
Therefore, modulation is achieved
by changing the tone or pitch of your
voice to convey various nuances of
meanings when you speak.
3. Stage Presence - the ability to
command an audience with
impressive style or manner. Some
people seem to command attention
by just showing up onstage. They
are good-looking or physically
imposing so people cannot help but
notice them. Even if you do not
possess these physical traits, you
can still command attention and
have stage presence by
grooming, dressing and -----most
importantly----- speaking well.
Your voice should sound good, and
your command of the language must
be excellent. Your knowledge of the
topic should be credible and
extensive. These are but a few of
the things you can enhance in order
to have a strong stage presence.
4. Facial Expression - gestures
executed with facial muscles. Your
face reveals a lot about what you
think or how you feel. It is your most
basic visual aid. Without words,
you can still convey your
gladness or regret in delivering a
speech. Your face also shows your
enthusiasm or lack of interest in the
topic, the audience or the occasion.
Be very careful of how your face
looks in front of other people. Be
conscious too of what facial
expression accompanies your
words.
5. Gestures - refer to the movement
or positions of the hand, arm, body,
head, or face that is expressive of an
idea, opinion, emotion, etc.
Gestures can communicate more
than words do. Use gestures and
body movement to call attention to
ideas, to emphasize words, and to
drive home a point, among others.
Too much gesturing and body
movement, though, might be seen
as theatrical and insincere and even
distract your audience from your
message.
6. Rapport with the Audience -
the speaker’s connection with the
audience. This connection is
characterized by harmony,
conformity, accord, or affinity.
Here are some ways to build/establish
rapport with the audience:
 ● Take time to greet them and make
them feel you are glad to be
speaking in front of them and are
grateful for their time and attention.
● Compliment them on their effort,
their attention, their cooperation,
their appearance, and so on.
● Involve them, interact with them. Ask
them questions every now and then.
Maintain eye contact with them.
● Use appropriate, tasteful humour.
Crack jokes from time to time.
● Talk to them like a friend, but always
be polite to them.
Examples of Visual Aids:
1. Non-prose forms like pictures,
posters, graphs, tables, charts,
transparencies, and diagrams.
2. Power point presentations, films,
slides and video clips.
In preparing visual aid, consider the
following tips make sure that they are
effective:
1. Keep them simple. Use simple
illustrations that explain the topic.

7. Audio-visual Aids – these are 2. Make them readable. Make visual

aids the large enough for the
devices such as films, video and audio clips,
audience to see, especially those
slide presentation, models and blackboard
seated at the back.
notes that accompany verbal messages to
help audiences comprehend, appreciate,
3. Limit the number of slides. Too
and retain information letter. Audio-visual
many slides is a manifestation of a
aids help not only in catching and keeping
weak speech.
the attention of the audience, but also in
supporting and clarifying your message.
4. Use Color. The visual aids must be
Hence, make sure you use appropriate
aesthetically pleasing but should not
audio-visual aids whenever necessary.
distract the audience from being
focused on the content of the
Preparing Visual Aids speech.
● Visual aids or audio-visuals (when
5. Keep your visual aids accurate.
sound is present or heard) make oral
Make sure the visual aids are
presentations clearer, more
properly identified and labels or
concrete, persuasive and more
names are correctly spelled.
interesting. The use of these
materials or tools attracts the
audience, thereby making them
focus more on your speech.

● These are helpful tools used only to

enhance, back-up, and make your
speech clearer, more interesting and
easier to understand. They are not
substitute for your speech.