Speeches
Part I
To Write A Speech
And other useful things
Types of Speeches
 Informative Speaking
 Persuasive Speaking
 Impromptu
 Group Presentation
 Interviews
Informative Speaking
Used to:
Give Directions/Explain a Process
Ex. “how to tie your shoes”
Describe an Object/Thing/Idea
Ex. “giving a speech on the economy of France”
Clarify a Concept
Ex. “giving a speech examining the idea of nonviolent
resistance”
Persuasive Speaking
 What is a Persuasive Speech?
 A speech that not only informs, but also asks the
audience to do something based on the information given
 A persuasive speech demands you:
 Convince your audience to believe as you do
 Influence your audience to do some sort of action
Ex. Convincing your parents/guardian to let you do
something
Appeals of Persuasive
Speaking
 Logical Appeal:
 Comes from the Greek word, “logos”
 Argument uses facts, reason, logic, proof
 Emotional Appeal:
 Greek word, “pathos”
 An argument that appeals to the audiences emotions
 “Tugs at your heart strings”
 Personal Appeal
 Greek word, “ethos”
 Audiences listens because they trust your credibility or
agree with your morals
Format of a Speech I
 Attention Getter (Anecdote, Question, Quotation,
Humor, Shocking Statistic)
 Link
 Thesis
 Preview Statement
 Introduce the three points you will be discussing in the speech
Attention Getters I
 Anecdote - A personal story that would relate to
the topic
 “when I was a kid, my father would tell me ‘the early
bird catches the worm’…”
 Question - asking a question to introduce the
subject
 “How many people in here have ever procrastinated?”
 Quotation - using a quotation (usually famous) to
draw in an audience and introduce the subject
 “Martin Luthor King Jr. once said, ‘love is the only force
capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.’
Attention Getters II
 Humor - using jokes, anti-jokes, puns, funny
stories, etc, to introduce your topic
 “3 procrastinators walk into a…”
 Shocking Statistic
 “99 in 100 people will experience the effects of
procrastination in their lifetime”
Format of Speech II
1. Topic 1
1. Make sure to verbally cite your sources “according
to CNN,” “Fox,” “Journal Article,” etc.
2. Explain topic in detail
2. Repeat for Topics 2 and 3
Format of a Speech III
Conclusion
Summarize (review) points 1, 2, & 3
Tie all three points together
Clincher
Try to tie you closing statement back into your attention
getter
Transitions
Make sure to use transitions between the
Introduction, Points 1, 2, & 3, the
Conclusion, and the Conclusion should
connect to the Attention Getter
Transitions - are words, phrases, or
sentences that connect one topic or idea to
another
Impromptu Speaking
Brief speeches with little or no preparation
The subject is usually chosen for the speaker
and the speaker is usually asked to explain:
Words (love, greed, happiness)
Quotations (“we have nothing to fear, but fear itself”
or “the early bird catches the worm.”
People/Places/Events (MLK, Vietnam War Memorial,
or 9/11)
The speech is typically less than 10 minutes
Impromptu Speaking
Format
1. Statement of Main Topic (“I agree with the statement
“the early bird catches the worm, here’s why”).
1. Needs an Attention Getter
2. Support the Main Topic with examples, illustrations,
statistics, and testimonies
1. Usually 2-3 points
2. Don’t usually need sources
3. Conclusion
1. Restate the main idea
Speech part II
Audiences
1.Types of Audiences
1.Supportive Audiences - Audience members like
or agree with what you have to say
2.Uncommitted Audiences - Neutral audience;
they have no opinion on the topic you are
presenting
3.Indifferent Audiences - Audiences that appear
bored or uninterested in the topic
Types of Audiences II
1. Captive Audiences (different from
“captivated’) - Audiences that are forced
to be in attendance (ie. YOU)
2. Opposed Audiences - Members are hostile
towards you, what you’re promoting, or
both.
Writing a Speech
Picking a Topic
If you are given the ability to choose your
topic:
Pick something you’re interested in
Pick something that you would like to know
more about
If a topic is assigned to you
Try to find something interesting about your
topic
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Find your purpose:
Ex. The purpose of my speech is to inform my
audience about _________
Ex. The purpose of my speech is to persuade my
audience to believe ________
Figure out (if you can) who you will be
speaking to
Research
 Step 1: Begin with preliminary research
 Basic research; read up on the topic.
 Doesn’t have to be (but is recommended) legitimate
sources
 Step 2: Plot out your main points
 Typically 3 main points
 Step 3: Find data to support your main points
 Change your main points if necessary
Outline
Step 1: Put your research onto an outline
Step 2: Explain your findings
Elaborate on the research
Step 3: Fill out your conclusion
Step 4: Fill out your introduction
Writing the Speech
Step 1: Start off with a strong introduction
Give a good attention getter
Clearly explain what you’re discussing
Clearly tell the audience your three main points
 Step 2: Write your body
Strongest point first, weakest point in the
middle, second strongest last
Transition from one point to the other
Writing the Speech
 Step 4: Conclusion
 Repeat your main ideas
 Tie your ending back into your attention getter
 Step 5: Practice
 Ask someone to listen to you
 Record yourself giving the speech and watch it
 Say it in front of the mirror
 Step 6: Revise
 Make necessary corrections
Extras
 Are you going to dress a certain way?
 Ex. Speech on life guarding? Wear a lifeguard uniform
 Otherwise, dress semi-formal - formal
 If in doubt, dress a little nicer than your audience
 Are you being visual aids?
 Slides
 Pictures
 Diagrams
 Etc
Before the Speech
Step 1: Warm up
Say the intro to your speech a few times
Tongue twisters
Step 2: Before you begin
Breath
During the Speech
 Movement:
 Only move during transitions
 The “Triangle”
 Be aware of nervous movement
 If you mess up
 Try not to be frustrated
 If you need to clarify:
 Clarify and move on
 If you messed up the wording:
 Your audience doesn’t know, don’t apologize
 APPEAR CONFIDENT