Speech Writing Format and Structure , Examples, and Possible Topics for Writing a Speech
What is Speech ?
Speech is how people use their voices to talk to each other. Each language uses phonetic combinations of vowel and consonant sounds to make the sound of its words.
A speech is just a formal verbal exposition intended to achieve a specific aim. The goal of delivering a speech, or even writing one, is to persuade your audience to accept your viewpoint or pay attention to your topic of discussion.
The impact of good, inspiring, motivating, and thought-provoking speeches can never be underestimated. In retrospect, a good speech has not only captured people’s hearts, but it has also served as a rhetorical tool for conquering nations. Many leaders have used this instrument for ages to captivate audiences with their impressive remarks. Aside from precisely vocalizing your speech, the words you choose in a speech hold enormous weight, and mastering speech writing begins in elementary school.
Speakers do many different kinds of intentional speech acts when they talk, such as giving information, making a statement, asking a question, trying to persuade or direct someone, and they can use enunciation, intonation, loudness, tempo, and other non-representational or paralinguistic aspects of vocalisation to get their message across.
What is Speech Writing?
Speech writing is the art of using the right words and grammar to get a message or thought across to a reader. Writing a speech isn’t that different from writing other kinds of narrative writing. But students should know how to use punctuation and how to write in a certain way. Even though it might be hard to write the perfect speech, if you follow the correct structure for writing speeches, you will never fail.
Writing a speech is the same as writing anything. Writing a speech might sound hard, but if you know how to do it right, you can write a perfect speech. We all know that a speech can be given in school or in other places about a certain subject. But sometimes we have to start by writing a speech. The same speech can be given from a platform after it has been written. When we give a speech, we might not say everything exactly right. Because of this, you might need to make a written one first. So if it’s written down and then read out loud, it reaches everyone perfectly.
Three Main Types of Speech Writing ?
- Informative Speaking
- Persuasive Speaking
- Entertaining
Important Point for Speech Writing in English Language
The English language includes eight parts of speech i.e. nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
Noun– A noun is a word that describes anything, such as an animal, a person, a place, or an emotion. Nouns are the building blocks for most sentences.
Pronoun– Pronouns are words that can be used in place of nouns. They are used so that we don’t have to repeat words. This makes our writing and speaking much more natural.
Verb– A verb is a term that implies activity or ‘doing.’ These are very vital for your children’s grammar studies, as a sentence cannot be complete without a verb.
Adjective– An adjective is a term that describes something. An adjective is frequently used before a noun to add extra information or description.
Prepositions– A preposition is a term that expresses the location or timing of something in relation to something else.
Conjunction– Because every language has its own set of conjunctions, English conjunctions differ from those found in other languages. They’re typically used as a connecting word between two statements, concepts, or ideas.
Interjections– Interjections are words that are used to describe a strong emotion or a sudden feeling.
How do you Start Writing a English Language Speech ?
You should always start your speech in a way that gets people’s attention. You want to write an introduction that will grab the attention of the people you want to hear it. A good opening statement is short but uses language to make an immediate impression.
Try some of the following language tricks to start your speech:
- Self Introduction
The first thing you should do when writing or giving a speech is to introduce yourself. Think about who you’re talking to and how you should introduce yourself. When you give a speech, you or someone else might introduce you and call you to the podium, or it might be skipped by other people.
But when writing a speech, don’t forget to tell the audience who you are. When you’re introducing yourself, you should be polite and humble. It means that you can change how you act and talk to fit any audience. When you talk to your classmates, you can use a little less formal language. The way people write and talk can have a casual tone. You can look at the examples that follow.
- The Opening Statement
After you’ve told the audience who you are and what you think about the topic, you can talk about what you think about it. But before you get to the main points, it’s best to start with something interesting. This is when people will really listen to what you say. To get people’s attention, it’s important to make a great opening statement. To make a good point, you need to use the right words and play around with them. There are several ways to start off a speech.
- A rhetorical question
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in which a question is used to make a point instead of to get an answer. Even though the answer to a rhetorical question may be obvious, the person who asks it does so to make a point. Students may want to start their English speeches with rhetorical questions. This way of introducing your topic might be interesting to your audience and make them think about how they are connected to it.
- Statistics
When giving a speech in English statistics can help the speaker seem more knowledgeable and authoritative. Use an unexpected statistic or fact that will strike a chord with the audience to get your point across quickly and make them feel something.
- A surprising statement
A good way to get people’s attention is to surprise them with an interesting fact or a surprising statement. Think about what would be the most interesting thing to talk to your audience about.
- A famous quote
After you’ve decided what you want to write about, think of the best quote you can use. The quote must be well-known or come from a well-known person. This is how you should begin your speech. But remember that the quote needs to fit with what you are writing about.
- Create an imaginative scene
If you want to persuade your audience to agree with you, create an imaginary situation in their minds. This way of beginning your speech helps each member of the audience visualise a beautiful scenario that you want to see come true.
Format and Structure of Speech Writing :
Divide your speech into three pieces to help your audience grasp what you’re saying. These are the introduction, major body, and conclusion. You’re attempting to accomplish a different goal in each section:
Introduction:
The goal of the Introduction is to tell your audience who you are and what you’re talking about. Then you need to get their attention.
Body:
Your arguments will be made in the main body of your speech. Divide the main body into 2-3 points, and then divide each point into separate paragraphs. Explain the topic in detail, including essential qualities, advantages and disadvantages, and so on.
Conclusion :
Summarize your speech, wrap it up, and leave your audience with something to Think about!
How to Write a Good Speech?
- Begin every paragraph with a topic sentence
Since you’re breaking up your speech into different paragraphs, it’s important to explain what each one is about. To do this, make sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence.
- Use very good English
Keep your sentences short. Instead, try to write short sentences. If you keep things short, you don’t have to use as much complicated punctuation. But keep in mind that examiners are looking for a variety of sentence structures and punctuation to give you the best marks.
Practice. Even though it’s simple, it’s the best advice I can give you. When you try something new for the first time, you might not pay as much attention to your grammar and spelling, which can lead to mistakes. Practice makes perfect, and it also makes you feel better about yourself.
- Express your opinion
When writing a speech, the most common mistake students make is that they don’t say what they think.
Interesting things about a speech are the opinions that are in it. No matter what kind of speech you are writing, be yourself. Don’t just write about your topic; write about what you think about it.
- Write from the 1st person and engage your audience
Always write in the first person when you’re writing your speech. This means to write with “I.” This will make it clear to your audience that what you’re saying is your opinion.
You should also talk to your audience as if you were talking to them in person. When you write, use “we” and “you.” For example: “I’m sure we all agree that…” or “As a community, we need to…”
Using the third person makes everyone in the room sit up and pay attention. It makes them think about how your topic and argument apply to them.
- Use personal details
The goal of every good speechwriter is to get the audience to feel like they know them. People are much more likely to agree with what you say if they can relate to you.
One of the best ways to do this is to tell a short story or give a few short details about yourself. You don’t want to talk too much about yourself and not enough about your point, but small details will make your speech more interesting.
- Use rhetorical questions
Utilize rhetorical questions throughout your speech, like I advised in the introduction. Remember: rhetorical questions attract your audience’s (and your examiner’s) attention.
However, refrain from asking too many questions, otherwise you may appear ignorant! A decent rule of thumb is to include two to three rhetorical questions in your speech, each in separate paragraphs.
- Use emotive language
Emotional language is one of the simplest yet most effective tools available to speechwriters.
Things should not be merely described as “excellent” or “bad” in your speech. They must be either “great” or “awful,” “pure” or “corrupted,” “exciting” or “disappointing.” Observe how these examples convey more than just “excellent” and “bad”; they also offer additional flavour to your statement.
- Use contrast
Contrast is an effective method. It emphasises your idea by creating a visual contrast in the minds of the viewers.
You can take advantage of this by employing contrasting words and phrases. For example: “I enjoy writing, but loathe writing essays.”
- Use repetition
Repetition is for emphasis. Repetition aids with retention. Repetition is one of several persuasive techniques that will assist you in earning a high grade.
Starting consecutive phrases with the same word is a very successful method, as I have just demonstrated.
Repetition can also be employed for essential phrases in your introduction and conclusion to complete the cycle of your speech. For example, if you began your speech with “The pen is mightier than the sword,” you should repeat that phrase in your conclusion.
- Use the list of three
We do not know why, but the human brain effortlessly retains items in groups of three. Utilize this to your benefit.
When describing anything using a set of adjectives, use three. If you’re,
Combining repetition with a list of three is a very popular approach. You can make a highly convincing argument by repeating a word three times in successive phrases.
- Focus on the topic
When writing a speech you should always stick to the topic you’ve been assigned. Never stray from the topic of the speech you are composing. This will result in a grade penalty.
For this reason, it is crucial to plan your speech before writing it. Consider the structure you will employ and adhere to it. Thus, you will remain on-topic and your argument will be concentrated.
- Know your Audience and Plan Accordingly
This is essential before writing your speech. Whom is it directed to? Categorised audience on the basis of –
. Age group
. Gender
. Interests
. Knowledge of Topic (familiar or unfamiliar)
- Timing is Important
An important aspect of your speech is to time yourself. Don’t write your speech that exceeds your word limit. Here’s how can decide the right timing for your speech writing:
A one-minute speech roughly requires around 130-150 words
A two- minute speech requires roughly around 250-300 words
Example of a Good Speech
Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ is one of the most famous speeches. Its impact has lasted through generations. The speech is written by utilising the techniques above. Here are some examples:
“still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” – emotive Language
“In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check” – personalising the speech
“to stand up for freedom together” – a call to action.
Importantly, this is an example of how the listener comes first while drafting a speech. The language chosen appeals to a specific sort of audience and was widely utilised in 1963 when the speech was delivered.
How to Write a Perfect Speech :
P-ersonal anecdotes to bring your speech to life
E-motive language to persuade your audience.
R-hetorical questions to make your audience listen.
F-igurative language such as metaphors and similes.
E-mphasis through repetition and the rule of three.
C-omparison and contrast to make your points clear.
T-one of voice that is relevant and persuasive for your specific audience.
PERFECT!
English Speech Writing Examples :
Example 1 :
As Raghav/Rohini of ABC Public School, write a speech in about 150-200 words to be delivered in school assembly highlighting the importance of cleanliness suggesting that the state of cleanliness reflects the character of its citizens.
Good morning!
Respected teachers and my dear Friends. Today, I, Rohini of Alps Public School’s Class 12 , will discuss the topic of “The Importance of Cleanliness.” The adage “Cleanliness is nearest to Godliness” is true. The term cleanliness connotes the absence of dust, dirt, garbage, or other forms of filth, etc. If one wishes to be physically fit and healthy, a healthy environment is required. It is as vital to the mind, body, and spirit of every individual as water and oxygen.
The unclean environment has a negative impact on the health of the population. The level of cleanliness reflects the nature of the inhabitants. When people ride the subway, they never litter their surroundings, but as soon as they leave the station, they don’t care about cleanliness. This practise reveals their nature. If we maintain a clean environment, it would also aid in nation-building by attracting more tourists to the country.
In our country, where infectious diseases such as viral fever, swine flu, malaria, and jaundice are increasing rapidly, a greater emphasis on hygiene is urgently required. The government, business organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and citizens should organise the awareness camps in order to clean up the area. People in the community and society should organise rallies. The revolution of the “Clean India Campaign” is gradually enlightening us. Understanding the slogan “Importance and Necessity of Cleanliness” is necessary for its continuation.
Example 2 : Global Warming Speech for Students
Global Warming is unquestionably the greatest environmental threat that the earth is currently experiencing. Understanding the magnitude of the situation is vital. The fuel you use to power your homes, automobiles, businesses, and more is warming the earth more quickly than anticipated. We are currently recording the warmest days and decades on record. The earth’s temperature has reached its greatest level in the last 12,000 years, which is frightening. If we do not intervene, the situation will only worsen.
Impact of Global Warming
As the planet’s temperature continues to rise, we must act together immediately, rather than waiting. The fundamental source of global warming is the combustion of fossil fuels. Humans are dependent on their combustion, which produces coal, oil, greenhouse gases, and more.
Carbon dioxide is produced by power plants, forests, and businesses, and it remains in the atmosphere for at least five decades. This is the reason why the earth’s temperature is rising.
As a result of this temperature increase, the oceans are rising and coral reefs are dying. Several aquatic species are becoming extinct as glaciers recede. You will be astonished to learn that Greenland loses 20% more mass than it gains from snowfall.
Therefore, it will continue to diminish as the planet warms. Furthermore, dramatic weather patterns are visible to all. Now, heatwaves, droughts, and floods occur with greater intensity and frequency.
Hurricane Katrina provides sufficient evidence to demonstrate that hurricanes are increasing in frequency and intensity. Moreover, the Greenland and Western Antarctic ice sheets are extremely vulnerable to full melting. Please note that these two ice sheets contain approximately 20% of the freshwater on Earth. The rise in sea levels will affect the coastal areas globally. In addition, the frequency of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters may become more volatile, potentially spreading malaria and other fatal infections.
Strategies to Combat Global Warming
The time to avert global warming is now; otherwise, it will become irreversible. Electricity and transportation are major contributors to global warming, so we must focus our efforts there. It is essential to recognise that there is no silver bullet and that we must all work together to combat global warming. Every household, business, and industry, as well as every individual, is essential to combat this catastrophe.
As coal generates tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, we must discover solutions to clean it up. Additionally, we can combat global warming by integrating agriculture into the system. We must urge farmers to adopt more sustainable agricultural practises. For example, they must cultivate land less frequently and plant trees on unused ground.
Additionally, the same system must be applied to other industrial carbon dioxide emitters. For example, the transportation industry, which includes automobiles, trucks, and aircraft, is responsible for 28% of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, we must reduce these pollutants by increasing the fuel economy of vehicles. Also, the moment has come to abandon oil and gasoline-based fuels in favour of cleaner alternatives.
Individually, we must also strive to adopt a greener and healthier way of living. Try to drive less and walk or utilise public transportation more often. Adopt the habit of recycling and avoid needless product waste. Turn off appliances when not in use to conserve electricity. Plant a tree since a single tree may absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide during its lifespan. Therefore, remember that change starts with you.
English Speech Topics for Practice :
- Studying martial arts is good for mind and health.
- Competitive sports can teach us about life.
- Importance of Reading
- Importance of Books in Our Life
- My Favorite Fictional Character
- Introverts vs Extroverts
- Lessons to Learn from Sports
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- Reality shows are exploiting people.
- Community service should be a graduation requirement for all high school students.
- The characteristics that make a person a hero.
- Social Media: Bane or Boon?
- Pros and Cons of Online Learning
- Benefits of Yoga
- If I had a Superpower
- It’s important to grow things in a garden.
- Violent video games are dangerous.
- Lyrics in a song can impact our lives.
- Traveling and studying abroad are positive experiences.
- Journal writing is therapeutic.
- Genetically modified foods should be labeled.
- Do you believe companies who manufacture alcohol should be allowed to advertise on TV?
- Every child should learn to cook.
- Cooking should be taught in schools.
FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions ) :
- What are the 4 types of speech?
There are four fundamental types of speeches: informative, instructive, entertaining, and persuasive. These concepts are not mutually exclusive. You may have multiple objectives in mind for your presentation.
- What are the 7 steps to writing a speech?
- Set your speech objectives.
- Know your audience.
- Know what you want your audience to take away.
- Grab, and hold, the audience’s attention.
- Establish and support your key messages.
- Use visuals to reinforce and enhance your messages.
- Wrap it up nicely.
3. What is formal speech?
Formal Speech is a type of speech used in’serious’, formal settings such as the office or a dinner party.
4. What are elements of a speech?
Speeches are organized into three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.
5. What is informal speech pattern?
Informal speech is speech that is casual and unrestrained, similar to chats between friends. Informal discourse may contain slang, contractions, and colloquial expressions.
6. What are the 3 basics of good speaking?
The following three core elements of vocal production need to be understood for anyone wishing to become an effective speaker:
Volume – to be heard.
Clarity – to be understood.
Variety – to add interest.
