Effective Speech Writing Techniques

English Club Assignment

• English club advisor assigned student to be event planner for welcome program for foreign visitors.

Planning the Program

• Students have ten minutes to discuss steps to organize the program.
• A representative will share group output for two minutes.

Post-Presentation Questions

• Students need to answer the following questions after sharing the program plans with the class:
  • How did you plan the program?
  • What difficulties did you encounter while planning?

Lesson Objectives (Speech Writing)

• Discuss the principles of effective speech writing.
• Analyze the importance of audience profile, logical organization, duration, word choice, and grammatical correctness in writing a speech.
• Compose a speech applying the principles of effective speech writing.

Speech Preparation

• How to prepare for a speech?
• What factors should be considered when selecting a speech topic?

Speech Writing Process

• Careful planning is crucial for a well-written speech.
• The speech writing process is recursive and not chronological or linear.

Speech Writing Process Steps

• Conduct audience analysis
• Determine speech purpose
• Select a topic
• Narrow down topic
• Gather data
• Edit/revise
• Rehearse

Audience Analysis (Audience Profile)

• Conduct a thorough audience analysis by examining demographics, situation, and psychology.
• Knowing factors such as age, gender, education level, religion, language, culture, and group membership is vital for developing a tailored speech.
• Consider the audience's existing knowledge of the subject and reasons for interest.

Speech Purpose

• Speech purpose options: inform, entertain, or persuade.

Selecting a Topic

• Choose a topic from "topics you know," "topics you love," and "topics your audience cares about".

Narrowing Down a Topic

• Narrow down the chosen topic through research exploration to create specific research questions.

General Purpose Example

• Specific purpose: Inform Grade 11 students on the importance of effective money management.
• Topic: Financial literacy or effective money management
• Narrowing down examples:
  • Effective money management of Grade 11 students
  • Developing an effective money management of Grade 11 students
  • Defining and developing effective money management skills of Grade 11 students

Speech Topics

• Social media and self-image
• The pressure to create a "perfect" image online
• The role of social media in political campaigns
• How social media affects teen mental health

Gathering Data

• Primary Sources: Evidence created at the time of the event (e.g., letters, diaries, original photos, government records, autobiographies, artifacts, speeches).
• Secondary Sources: Information created after the event by someone not present (e.g., newspaper articles, textbooks, biographies, TV documentaries, non-original photos, encyclopedias, dictionaries).

Writing Patterns

• Biographical writing, categorical/topical, causal writing, chronological writing, comparison/contrast, and problem-solution.

Biographical Writing

• Present a description of someone's life, regardless of fame.

Categorical/Topical Writing

• Present related categories that support the topic.

Causal Writing

• Present cause-and-effect relationships.

Chronological Writing

• Presenting the information in time order.

Comparison/Contrast Writing

• Comparing and contrasting two to three points.

Problem-Solution Writing

• Discuss the problem, its causes, and suggested solutions.

Preparing an Outline

• Plan the speech like a blueprint, creating the structure, once two-thirds of the speech is complete.

Logical Elements in Speech

• Tell the audience what you're going to say, convey the message, and tell them what you've said.

Structural Elements in Speech

• Introduction, body, and conclusion.

Generic Speech Outline

• Introduction: Establish the topic and core message, listing supporting points.
• Body: Supporting points one, two, and three.
• Conclusion: Recap main points, summarize core message, and suggest a call to action.

Outline Formats

• Table format
• List format

Example: Table Format

• Example of a table format outlines for educating the community on proper waste reduction practices.
  • Purpose: to inform
  • Specific purpose: to persuade community members to reduce, reuse, and recycle
  • Topic: Importance of waste reduction.
  • Pattern: problem-solution
  • Introduction: overview of environmental situation
  • Body: problems of improper waste disposal and explain how reducing, reusing, and recycling solves the problem.
  • Conclusion: restate specific purpose and call for participation in reducing waste.

Preparing the Introduction

• The introduction is arguably the most important component of your speech, typically comprising about 10-15% of the speech time.
• Effectively creating an introduction serves five functions:
  • Capture audience attention and interest.
  • State the purpose of the speech.
  • Establish speaker credibility.
  • Explain reasons for listening.
  • Preview main ideas.

Introduction Strategies

• Use real-life experiences related to the topic..
• Employ practical examples to connect to the topic.
• Include familiar or strong quotes.
• Showcase relevant facts or statistics.
• Incorporate personal stories.

Introduction Examples (Techniques used by a speaker)

• What-if scenario
• Imagine scenario
• Question
• Silence
• Powerful statement/phrase

Creating the Body

• The body of the speech is the core, addressing main ideas and principles.
• Use transition words or phrases to connect ideas and sentences.

Examples of Transition words

• (see page 40, transitional words and phrasings)

Highlighting Main Ideas

• Use real-life or practical examples.
• Use facts and statistics
• Present comparisons
• Share expert or practitioner insights.

Preparing the Conclusion

• Provide a summary.
• Emphasize the core message.
• Advocate for a clear call to action.

Conclusion Strategies

• Use memorable statements.
• Employ different strategies to strengthen the conclusion. Strategies from the introduction or impact statements can also be used for a memorable finish.
• Employ powerful statements/phrases.
• Reiterate key ideas from the speech.
• Indicate significant action items.

Speech Timing and Word Counts

• Introduction: 2 minutes (250 words)
• Body: Point 1 (5 minutes, 625 words), Point 2 (5 minutes, 625 words), and Point 3 (5 minutes, 625 words)
• Conclusion: 3 minutes (375 words)
• Total word count: 2,500 words
• Total presentation time: Approximately 20 minutes

Editing/Revising

• Mechanics: Grammar, punctuation, capitalization.
• Content: Unity, coherence.
• Avoid jargon, redundancy, inappropriate language for the audience or occasion.

Six Power Principles for Editing (Andrew Dlugan, 2013)

• Edit for focus.
• Edit for clarity.
• Edit for conciseness.
• Edit for continuity.
• Edit for variety.
• Edit for impact and beauty.

Rehearsing

• Constant practice improves, but constant correct practice leads to perfection.

This quiz explores the principles of effective speech writing, focusing on audience analysis, logical organization, and proper word choice. Students will also discuss their experiences in planning a welcome program and the challenges faced during the preparation process.