Speech WritingSpeech Writing

An On Demand ChoiceAn On Demand Choice

Choose a PurposeChoose a Purpose

From the prompt you must decide on the From the prompt you must decide on the purpose of your speech.  Exactly what are purpose of your speech.  Exactly what are you trying to accomplish with this speech?  you trying to accomplish with this speech?  What do you want your audience to think or What do you want your audience to think or do after hearing it?do after hearing it?

Choosing a small subject and saying a Choosing a small subject and saying a great deal about it is better than choosing a great deal about it is better than choosing a large subject and being unable to cover it large subject and being unable to cover it well.well.

Decide on the one main thought you want Decide on the one main thought you want to get across with your speech.  Write this to get across with your speech.  Write this idea down.idea down.

Gathering InformationGathering Information First you must think about this topic.  You have had First you must think about this topic.  You have had

experiences with this subject.  What do you already know experiences with this subject.  What do you already know about it?  What examples do you know that will illustrate your about it?  What examples do you know that will illustrate your speech?  Is there a poem, a song, a joke that you can use to speech?  Is there a poem, a song, a joke that you can use to make a point clear?  Why it this topic important?make a point clear?  Why it this topic important?

Next you must ask yourself about what people (parents, Next you must ask yourself about what people (parents, teachers, leaders, friends, neighbors, etc.)  have given you teachers, leaders, friends, neighbors, etc.)  have given you information on your topic within your lifetime?  What information on your topic within your lifetime?  What information have you acquired from other people?  Later, if information have you acquired from other people?  Later, if you decide to quote someone or cite some information you you decide to quote someone or cite some information you learned from another source; don’t forget to give correct learned from another source; don’t forget to give correct interpretation and credit where credit is due.interpretation and credit where credit is due.

You also use this same procedure with written material that You also use this same procedure with written material that has come into your path.  What do you remember from has come into your path.  What do you remember from materials read that can enhance this topic.  Make sure to cite materials read that can enhance this topic.  Make sure to cite the source.the source.

Remember too, everything that is written or said is not Remember too, everything that is written or said is not always true.  What was best in 1925 may not be best now.  always true.  What was best in 1925 may not be best now.  What a famous man said in 1941 may not be his opinion What a famous man said in 1941 may not be his opinion now.  You may not think exactly as you did when you began now.  You may not think exactly as you did when you began preparing this speech.  Be critical of your information.  Learn preparing this speech.  Be critical of your information.  Learn to separate the important from the trivial.  Decide what is to separate the important from the trivial.  Decide what is good and what is even better.good and what is even better.

OrganizationOrganization

Organize your material and Organize your material and ideas into three parts.ideas into three parts.

IntroductionIntroduction BodyBody Conclusion                                  Conclusion                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Everything you do should be Everything you do should be planned to make it easy for your planned to make it easy for your audience to understand and audience to understand and enjoy your speech.enjoy your speech.

Parts of the SpeechParts of the Speech IntroductionIntroduction

The introduction is short, but it should The introduction is short, but it should accomplish a great deal.  If it is well accomplish a great deal.  If it is well planned, you get the attention of your planned, you get the attention of your audience, make them want to listen, inform audience, make them want to listen, inform them of your subject, and show them how them of your subject, and show them how the subject concerns them.  the subject concerns them. 

If you are a good storyteller, get attention If you are a good storyteller, get attention by telling a story that pertains to the by telling a story that pertains to the speech.  Use a joke that illustrates your speech.  Use a joke that illustrates your speech topic, or give an interesting speech topic, or give an interesting quotation about your subject.  Then tell the quotation about your subject.  Then tell the audience what you are going to talk about audience what you are going to talk about and why it is important to them.  (Tell them and why it is important to them.  (Tell them without saying; I am going to tell you without saying; I am going to tell you about….)about….)

Parts of the SpeechParts of the Speech BodyBody The body is the longest and most important The body is the longest and most important

part of your speech.  It contains the heart of part of your speech.  It contains the heart of your information.  Plan it carefully.  Select 3 your information.  Plan it carefully.  Select 3 main points.  Illustrate each point.  Give main points.  Illustrate each point.  Give facts to back up your arguments.  Tell a facts to back up your arguments.  Tell a short story to show what you mean.  Include short story to show what you mean.  Include your experiences and ideas.your experiences and ideas.

Stick to your subject – be sure that each bit Stick to your subject – be sure that each bit of information you use pertains to the of information you use pertains to the purpose of your speech.  Make it easy for purpose of your speech.  Make it easy for the audience to follow your speech.the audience to follow your speech.

Plan this part of your speech first; then you Plan this part of your speech first; then you can develop an introduction and a can develop an introduction and a conclusion that are appropriate.conclusion that are appropriate.

Parts of the SpeechParts of the Speech ConclusionConclusion The final part of your speech gives you an The final part of your speech gives you an

opportunity to state your main ideas again, opportunity to state your main ideas again, briefly.  This is a good time to tell you briefly.  This is a good time to tell you audience exactly what you want them to do audience exactly what you want them to do or believe about your subject.  or believe about your subject. 

Do this by summarizing your main points, Do this by summarizing your main points, restating the purpose of the speech, telling a restating the purpose of the speech, telling a story to summarize your speech, using a story to summarize your speech, using a quotation that aptly expresses the point, or quotation that aptly expresses the point, or telling the audience exactly what they telling the audience exactly what they should do.should do.

This is your last chance to impress the This is your last chance to impress the audience.  Plan your conclusion so that you audience.  Plan your conclusion so that you can finish forcefully.can finish forcefully.

The purpose of this is to restate you The purpose of this is to restate you position, sum up your main points, and end position, sum up your main points, and end with a clincher statement.with a clincher statement.