Writing Plan

Walk-Through

The Queen’s Speech

Prompt

In April of 2020, Queen Elizabeth II gave a brief televised address to the

people of Great Britain to reassure citizens in the time of a global
pandemic. Read/watch the following speech carefully. Then write a well-
developed essay in which you analyze the choices the Queen makes to
convey her message to the audience.
Prompt

In April of 2020, Queen Elizabeth II gave a brief televised address to the

people of Great Britain to reassure citizens in the time of a global
pandemic. Read/watch the following speech carefully. Then write a well-
developed essay in which you analyze the choices the Queen makes to
convey her message to the audience.
 S Queen Elizabeth II - longest ruling monarch of Great Britain

O Coronavirus - need for self-isolation in combating the spread of the virus

A People of UK (also global audience)

S Efforts of the British people/discussion of the challenges of the crisis

Tone Hopeful, inspirational, optimistic, urging

 S Queen Elizabeth II - longest ruling monarch of Great Britain

O Coronavirus - need for self-isolation in combating the spread of the virus

A People of UK (also global audience)

P To encourage and uplift the country in a time of crisis / remind everyone to do their
part

S Efforts of the British people/discussion of the challenges of the crisis

Tone Hopeful, inspirational, optimistic, urging

The speech can be divided into 3 parts...

Part I: shows gratitude and encourages unity (par 1-4)

Part II: compares present crisis to historical one (par 5-8)

Part III: looks to the future with faith and confidence (par 9-11)
Technique Evidence Why?/Purpose

The Rhetorical Techniques

Technique Evidence Why?/Purpose
Unifying/grateful diction & thank, together, united,
tone resolute, overcome, pride,
challenge

The Rhetorical Techniques

Technique Evidence Why?/Purpose
Unifying/grateful diction & thank, together, united,
tone resolute, overcome, pride,
challenge
Hopeful anecdotes / allusion Heart-warming stories/WWII
crisis

The Rhetorical Techniques

Technique
Unifying/grateful diction &
tone
Hopeful anecdotes / allusion
Parallel structure and POV
(anaphora)
The Rhetorical Techniques
Evidence Why?/Purpose
thank, together, united,
resolute, overcome, pride,
challenge
Heart-warming stories/WWII
crisis
Repetition of “We will”
Technique
Unifying/grateful diction &
tone
Hopeful anecdotes / allusion
Parallel structure and POV
(anaphora)
The Rhetorical Techniques
Evidence Why?/Purpose
thank, together, united, Readies audience to hear
resolute, overcome, pride, message, encourages people
challenge to step up to play their part
Heart-warming stories/WWII Focus of the speech -
crisis compares present to
past/reminds country what
they have overcome before
Repetition of “We will” Reiterates message of
unity/togetherness - closes on
a hopeful/encouraging note
Technique Evidence d Why?/Purpose
Cite ce
n
Unifying/grateful diction & thank, vid e
together, Eunited, Readies audience to hear
tone resolute, overcome, pride, message, encourages people
challenge to step up to play their part
Hopeful anecdotes / allusion Heart-warming stories/WWII Focus of the speech -
crisis compares present to
past/reminds country what
they have overcome before
Parallel structure and POV Repetition of “We will” Reiterates message of
(anaphora) unity/togetherness - closes on
a hopeful/encouraging note
ic
T o p ces is
te n ly s
S e n Ana

The Rhetorical Techniques

 Formulate a Avoid weak verbs (uses/shows)

Thesis Include descriptive adjectives (don’t

say the speaker uses diction)

A stronger essay looks at the big Explain what the speaker does, not just
picture...not just individual strategies list strategies
Rather than listing strategies in your thesis, explain the focus of your
three parts. A chronological approach to question 2 results in a
stronger essay than discussing three disconnected techniques. The
strategies are still your evidence!
Put it all together….
 By expressing gratitude, calling upon England’s history, and
looking toward the future, Queen Elizabeth uplifts her nation
and encourages everyone to do their part in stopping the spread
of the coronavirus.
 syntax/POV diction/tone anecdote/
allusion

By expressing gratitude, calling upon England’s history, and

looking toward the future, Queen Elizabeth uplifts her nation
and encourages everyone to do their part in stopping the spread
of the coronavirus.
Closed thesis - answers the prompt (what is her message?) and how does she convey it.
The body paragraphs will detail the specifics of her rhetorical techniques.
Go Write an Essay!