speech writing format

speech writing format

Effective Speech Writing: Structure and Techniques

1. Introduction to Speech Writing

What is speech writing? It is the selection of words to create a compelling oration, or the process of researching every nuanced view on a subject in order to present the best argument. Delivering that speech can look different for everybody, as long as you challenge the audience’s preconceived notions and convince them that what you are arguing for is for the greater good. It can also involve stoking existing passions, like cheerleading, in order to impassion others. If you utilize techniques to maximize pathos, you might be labeled manipulative, but if you provide logical explanations in an argument for your narrative position, you can persuade your audience ethically, although many have made a living this way. Either way, you will improve in becoming an effective speaker.

In a world increasingly characterized by rapid, bite-sized digital exchange, knowing how to effectively speak on behalf of oneself or an organization is becoming a rarity. If speech is defined by the trends of social and political movements, the speeches designed and crafted by these movements’ constituents are crucial in raising awareness and calling for action. This is now more explicitly demanded than left-reformist rhetoric or overly academic language, especially by those with disabilities. Drawing from my work at the intersection of disability and literature, the following series of lessons will provide a syllabus that introduces students to the ways in which we can become more effective advocates through analysis of speeches and by crafting our own. We will also work to assess the political reality as it is right now. Let’s begin with the basics.

2. Key Elements of a Speech

A concise wrap-up – Concluding a speech with a concise summary of all key points or with an emotionally impactful sentiment that ties everything together is a common practice. Oftentimes, it specifies a call to action or reinforces the key message of the speech.

Body copy that gets across significant points – The body of a speech typically contains the main points, arguments, anecdotes, evidence, or examples that the speaker wants to present in a coherent order to back up and develop the speech’s main theme. Body paragraphs’ coherence can also be achieved with connection phrases and smooth transitions.

An eye-catching introduction – A speech must begin with a gripping opening (often referred to as a hook) that draws the audience’s attention to the speaker. This is the speaker’s first and maybe the exclusive opportunity, as the well-known cliche suggests, to make a first impression that can last a lifetime. Indeed, Aristotle’s Rhetoric’s opening appeal “is defined by Aristotle as the aspect of long-winded public speaking designed to seduce an audience before beginning the argument,” and “the purpose of your introduction may change based on the specific and general audience expectations,” according to Aristotle’s rhetoric.

Speech writing is an exciting endeavor that involves the collection and manipulation of words. It also revolves around organizing ideas and arguments for a specific audience with the aim of persuasion. In candid terms, a prominent writer declared that speech writing is about “finding your voice as your character finds theirs”. In revamping speech writing into an entertaining and skillful activity, it has been bifurcated into four categories, including oratory writing, forensics, declamations, and outgoing in general. The key components of an effective speech that serve as a framework for preemptive speech writers have been discussed in this post.

3. Structuring a Speech

Often speeches are structured in a sequence. For example, if the topic is about taking risks, then the speaker might start with a rationale, then the benefits and the drawbacks, or they might start with the short-term effect and go on to explain the medium-term effects and then the long-term effects; or they might start with the internal effects and follow it with the external effects, etc. However, they choose to sequence what they need to say, allocating a short block of time to each part will ensure that they treat them in the right proportions. An effective talk will pause to arouse interest, make transitions to guide the audience through the talk, and signal the conclusion. It is also wise that the speaker highlights the main point and summarizes the discussion.

Speeches are organized in different ways, depending on the audience and purpose. A speech of introduction gives information about the speaker, the occasion, and the person being introduced. A speech to inform presents new facts or explanations to the audience. It may be made up of points arranged in a logical order and structured to help the audience understand and remember what is being said. A speech to entertain is usually light-hearted. It may present contrasting ideas for humor or picking of evident contradictions for ridicule. In general, a speech needs a clear beginning, middle, and end. The beginning should present the speaker’s main ideas and purpose (or main point). The audience’s attention can be aroused with a question or an interesting fact. The beginning must also lead naturally to the middle, which contains the explanation or discussion of the point. The end of the speech is as important as the beginning.

4. Techniques for Engaging and Persuading the Audience

Anecdotes, it is often said, make our abstraction concrete: they bring to life in a personalized and hence memorable manner an issue, an analysis, an instance of the real world. The effective speech will repeat that instance, analyze it, and affirm it as part of the audience’s (often shared) reality. Perhaps there is no stand-up comic above the hack level who is not keenly aware of the technical skill of delivering stories in such a manner: eliciting laughter is one form of persuasion, becoming immersed in a wholly implausible situation or person another. Every part of speech should be relevant and not simply episodic: every anecdote and story should reinforce a claim or position, a value or a belief. Your speech must also engage in strong assertion, precise definition, reasonable argument about technical and applied, prescriptive issues, and the use of authoritative sources, in order to be persuasive.

Bringing the audience onto your wavelength, capturing and holding their attention, and persuading them to embrace your perspective are the functions of any speech. This part of your training will introduce a range of persuasive techniques and engage you in crafting a persuasive speech based on the structure of a traditional speech: introduction, main text, and conclusion. As with effective storytelling, effective speeches are built on the green speech principles of focus, relevance, and purpose. Good speeches aim to entertain, inform, persuade or actuate, and effective speechwriting will connect the audience with these goals. As they aim to persuade, speeches often feature stories (a branch of argument by example), a rhetorical technique whereby individual accounts are used to prove a broader claim, and the telling of these stories is a key technical skill.

5. Conclusion and Final Tips

Without passion, you are nothing. Take whatever topic you’re speaking on, get excited about it, and in some way, bring it back to your audience. Make them think, make them decide that you know what you’re talking about because they believe it for themselves. The end is near! Here are a few concluding thoughts to consider when structuring your speech as well as considering the use of analogies, humor, using signposts and examples, sharing techniques, and asking rhetorical questions. Behave with humility and build rapport. Despite being the one on the spot behind a lectern and speaking either to the back of your audience’s heads or straight to their eyes, do remember to share the spotlight with them. Ultimately, they’ll be the ones who go away and say ‘Wow, I really liked that speech!’ treated just right by a confident expert.

Instead of giving a speech, you could infuse any topic with the passion you feel and lead the audience to convince themselves. Constructing a speech effectively, aligning structures, and implementing techniques can help you come across as the knowledgeable expert in your field, certain of the value of your own words. Remember to use these tools as they complement your speaking, not as an end in themselves!