Speech Writing: Principles & Strategies (PDF)

Your English club adviser assigned you to be the event planner for the welcome program for foreign visitors to your school. -You have ten minutes to discuss the steps you will take to organize the program. -Assign a representative who will share the output in the group for two minutes. After...

Your English club adviser assigned you to be the event planner for the welcome program for foreign visitors to your school. -You have ten minutes to discuss the steps you will take to organize the program. -Assign a representative who will share the output in the group for two minutes. After sharing the plans with the class, answer the following questions: 1. How did you plan the program? 2. What difficulties did you encounter while planning? LESSON OBJECTIVES: 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.  How do you think one should prepare for his or her speech? What will you consider in selecting the topic for your speech?  Careful planning is important to come up with a well- written speech.  THE SPEECH WRITING PROCESS steps recursive not chronological nor linear  -Conducting an audience analysis - Determining the purpose of the speech -Selecting a topic -Narrowing down a topic Gathering data - Selecting a speech pattern -Editing and/or Revising -Preparing an outline -Rehearsing - Creating the body of the speech - Preparing the introduction -Preparing the conclusion THE SPEECH WRITING PROCESS  PRINCIPLES OF SPEECH WRITING 1. CONDUCTING AN AUDIENCE ANALYSIS (Audience Profile) demography situation psychology  Knowing your audience specifically their general age, gender, educational level, religion, language, culture and group membership is one of the most important aspects in developing your speech. To tailor-fit your speech content and delivery  to build a connection between you and members of your audience Who is the audience? How many? What does the audience know about the subject? Why should they be interested? 2. DETERMINING THE PURPOSE to inform to entertain to persuade 3. SELECTING A TOPIC 4. NARROWING DOWN A TOPIC GENERAL To inform PURPOSE Specific Purpose To inform Grade 11 students on the importance of effective money management Topic Financial Literacy or effective money management Narrowing down a topic Effective money management 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 -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 5. GATHERING DATA 6. SELECTING A WRITING PATTERN Biographical Categorical/topical Causal Chronological Comparison/contrast Problem-solution  BIOGRAPHICAL present descriptions of your life or of a person, famous or not  CATEGORICAL/TOPICAL presents related categories supporting the topic  CAUSAL presents cause – effect relationships  CHRONOLOGICAL presents the idea in time order  COMPARISON/CONTRAST presents comparison/contrast of two points or three points  PROBLEM-SOLUTION presents identified problem, its causes, and recommended solutions 7. PREPARING AN OUTLINE - blueprint of your presentation or speech - 2/3rds of your speech is finished Highlights key logical elements Tell them what you’re going to say. Tell them. Tell them what you’ve said. Highlights key structural elements introduction body conclusion GENERIC SPEECH OUTLINE INTRODUCTION - Establish topic and core message; list supporting points BODY Supporting Point One Supporting Point Two Supporting Point Three CONCLUSION - Recap main points; summarize core message; call-to-action Outline Formats Table format List format Table Format  9. PREPARING THE INTRODUCTION foundation of your speech the most crucial part of the speech generally only 10 to 15 percent of the time the speaker spends speaking Introduction serves five functions (Wrench,2012) you should be able to gain audience attention and interest, it states the purpose of your speech, it establishes your credibility, it should provide reasons for your audience to listen, your introduction should preview the main idea of your speech.  Strategies in writing the introduction real-life experiences + experience to subject practical examples + connection to subject  familiar or strong quote facts or statistics personal story  “What If” Scenario.... “Imagine” Scenario.... Question.... Silence.... Powerful Statement/Phrase. “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well, I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”  8. CREATING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH - the core part of the speech that addresses the main ideas and principles of the speech Transitional words are used to connect words, phrases or sentences Highlighting main idea: present real-life or practical examples show statistics present comparisons share ideas from the experts or practitioners 9. PREPARING THE CONCLUSION provides a summary emphasizes the message calls for action  memorable statement  Strategies: Begin with restatement of your message. Use positive examples, encouraging words, or memorable lines from songs or stories familiar to your audience. Ask a question or series of questions that will make your audience reflect or ponder  The conclusion has to be written using different strategies (Tandoc, 2016)  Present a summary  Repeat the key ideas presented  Repeat the central idea for emphasis  Go back to the strategy used in the introduction  Signal the end of your speech  End with an impact Thought-provoking questions Humor Quotation A call for action A connection to a larger context  Introduction: 2 minutes (250 words) Body: Point 1: 5 minutes (625 words) Point 2: 5 minutes (625 words) Point 3: 5 minutes (625 words) Conclusion: 3 minutes (375 words) Total word count: 2,500 words (20 minutes)  10. Editing/Revising Mechanics Grammar Punctuation Capitalization Unity Coherence The following words should be avoided in a written speech. (Tandoc, 2016) a. Jargons or technical terms specific only for a group of people b. Redundancy or excessive repetition of words c. Language inappropriate for the audience d. Language inappropriate for the occasion  SIX POWER PRINCIPLES FOR C EDITING (Andrew Dlugan, 2013)  Edit for focus Introduction to conclusion = related to the central message “So, what’s the point? What’s the message of the speech?”  Edit for clarity To make the ideas clear, arrange them in logical order Main idea first then supporting details “ I don’t understand the message because the examples were confusing.”  Edit for concision The speech was all over the place; the speaker kept talking endlessly as if no one was listening to him/her.” Keep your speech short, simple, and clear by eliminating unrelated stories and sentences and by using simple words.  Edit for continuity The speech was difficult to follow; I was lost in the middle. Keep the flow of your conversation smooth by adding transition words and phrases. Edit for variety I didn’t enjoy the speech because it was boring. Add spice to your speech by shifting tone and style from formal to conversational and vice-versa, moving around the stage, or adding humor. Edit for impact and beauty “There’s nothing really special about the speech.” Strategies to make your speech memorable: surprise the audience, use vivid descriptive images, write well- crafted and memorable lines, and use figures of speech. Rehearsing Constant practice makes perfect….but Constant correct practice makes perfect…