How to Write a Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide
The ability to speak in an engaging and well-informed way is one of the most highly valued skills in the modern world. Do you envy people who feel comfortable on stage and can speak in a way that makes others want to listen? The good news is that nobody is born a master speaker. Excellent presentations are usually the result of thorough preparation. Find out how to write the perfect speech.
What is a speech?
A speech is a statement prepared to be delivered in front of an audience. Its main purpose is to present the speaker’s opinion and persuade listeners to adopt a particular point of view.
We encounter speeches frequently – both at conferences and during family celebrations or special occasions.
A good speech should encourage the audience to respond in a particular way. It should also prompt listeners to take a specific position on the issue being discussed.
How do you prepare a good speech?
Although a speech is an oral form of communication, you should prepare a written version of it before delivering it.
Before you begin, you need to consider several points:
- think about who you want to address – this will help you choose language and vocabulary suited to your audience; remember Plato’s famous observation: “The measure of a speaker is not the one who speaks, but the one who listens”;
- consider the purpose of your speech – this could be to interest the audience in a particular topic or persuade them to change their views on an issue;
- give your speech a clear structure – support every claim you make with carefully chosen, logical arguments.
Carefully considering these points is an important step towards creating a compelling argument. Find out how to write a speech capable of “captivating a crowd” through both its informative content and engaging delivery.
How to write a speech: the structure
Good speeches are usually created according to a specific structure. In most cases, a presentation includes:
- a title – it should be factual while also being intriguing and attention-grabbing;
- a greeting – a brief and polite opening suited to the occasion and nature of the event, such as “Dear students” or “Good morning, everyone”;
- an introduction – the opening to the speech; this is the ideal place to outline the issue in general terms and interest listeners in a particular subject;
- the main body – the section used to present the essence of the topic in detail and discuss individual claims, arguments and, where appropriate, counterarguments;
- a conclusion – a summary of the argument, together with the resulting findings and final conclusions.
So much for theory. But how do you write a speech in practice? Here is some practical advice.
The introduction – the key to a successful speech
A good introduction is like product packaging – it must encourage people to “unwrap” the whole thing. You could begin with a quotation, a joke, a question or a story: anything that engages listeners straight away.
It is often highly effective to follow the principle that “the conclusion of a speech should be as close to its beginning as possible”. Opening a speech with its conclusion is a well-known and effective way to intrigue listeners.
When writing your introduction, avoid using tired formulas such as “my name is”, “I want to talk about…” and “so…”.
The main body – the essence of the topic in an accessible form
In the main body, the speaker presents arguments supporting the claims made earlier. When preparing this section, it is worth making sure that the ideas are arranged logically. Every opinion presented should be supported by specific examples.
If you are preparing a longer speech, you must do everything you can to prevent the audience from becoming bored while you are delivering it. One excellent solution is the sandwich technique. Its basic principle is to alternate important content with lighter, sometimes humorous remarks. This helps maintain listeners’ attention for a long time.
The conclusion – the finishing touch
The final moments of a speech are the best time to summarise its key points and draw appropriate conclusions.
At the end of your presentation, you could share an emotional personal story connected in some way with the subject of your speech. You could also offer a memorable conclusion showing the consequences of taking or failing to take a particular course of action. In the final sentence, it is a good idea to remind listeners of the central message behind the entire speech.
Example speeches
Below are several short examples of speeches.
A best man’s speech at a wedding
Hello, everyone,
I’ve been handed a microphone today, so tradition says I should say something funny, something moving and, ideally, not go on too long. I’ll try to manage at least two out of three.
I’ve known James for years. We’ve survived teenage stupidity, the early years of adulthood and several decisions neither of us would want to repeat. But when Sarah came along, something changed in him.
Not that he suddenly started doing the washing or remembering his mum’s birthday (although perhaps he did a little). What changed was the way he talked about the future. He went from someone who said, “We’ll see what happens,” to someone who said, “We’ll do this”, “we’ll go there” and “our home”.
And that’s what love is about, isn’t it? It stops being only “me” and “mine”. It becomes “us”. You don’t lose yourself – your interests, your sense of humour or your independence – but you still choose to be with someone. Not because you have to. Because you want to.
Cheers to you both. To a future in which you’ll be together – and still completely yourselves.
A teacher’s speech at the end of the school year
Dear students,
The school year has come to an end – and I know that for many of you, this simply means that you can hide your school bags at the back of a cupboard.
But before we go our separate ways, I would like you to pause for a moment and look back.
Because the past year was about more than tests and lessons. It was also about conversations, disagreements, laughter in the corridors and small successes that perhaps only you noticed – but these are the things that build confidence.
You studied maths, English and history – but, in truth, you also learnt about one another. Patience. Communication. Responsibility. These are lessons you will not find in the curriculum.
I am proud of you – not because of your marks, but because of who you have become over the past year.
I wish you a wonderful summer break – one that truly allows you to rest, but also plants at least one question in your mind, ready for you to return to in September.
A CEO’s speech at an industry conference
Good morning, everyone,
I’m supposed to be talking about innovation, so I’ll begin in an uninnovative way – with a quotation.
“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future,” Niels Bohr once said. And in our industry, we try to do it every day. With varying degrees of success.
Over the past few months, our team has been working on a solution with one main goal: to bring order to our work and make it more meaningful. Because we have more than enough information – but what about quality? What about usefulness? And what about the people who have to make sense of it all?
We did not want to create something that was “new” in name only. We wanted to make a real improvement to everyday work. And that is what we would like to show you today.
But before we begin, I would like to thank the team. Not only for the hours they put in, but for something more important – the courage to say “this is not working” when everyone else was saying “it will be fine”.
Because innovation is not only about brilliant ideas – it is also about the many mistakes someone must have the courage to make.
And now, let us get down to business.
Summary
- A speech is an oral form of communication intended to be delivered in public.
- Anyone can learn the art of writing speeches independently by following the most important principles of speechwriting.
- A good speech should consist of an intriguing title, an engaging introduction, a logical main body and a conclusion that summarises the argument.
Your comment has been added and is awaiting approval.
Leave a Reply