Writing a Speech Organize n Plan Your Speech

Writing a Speech

Organize! n Plan Your Speech n Write Your Speech n Practice Your Speech n Present Your Speech

1. Plan Your Speech What’s The Purpose? Inform: You need to educate your audience and prepare an informative speech – Collect a lot of details!!! Persuade: Are you arguing a point? If so, your main job is to develop a convincing & logical argument Demonstrate: Do you need to show something is done? If so, you need to put together a clear, step-by-step explanation

What is your subject? n Know your subject: You need to know (or own) your subject. Become your person! n Choose the right subject: Make sure your subject meets the requirements and purpose of the assignment n Choose a specific subject: Stay focused on your subject. Is it specific enough to cover in the time allowed?

Collect Interesting & Important Details n Use your memory: Is your speech based on a personal experience? Jot down the details, facts, and feelings you remember n Talk with people: People are good sources! Discuss your subject with people who know about or have an interest in it n Experience: Trying out your subject is good for demonstration speeches n Library & Internet: Use books, magazines, pamphlets, videos, newspapers, and web sites

2. Write Your Speech Have an Attention-Getting Speech The beginning of the speech must grab the listener’s attention AND tell what the speech is about. Suggestions are: • Ask a question • Give a surprising fact • Tell an interesting or surprising story • Ask listeners to imagine something • Repeat a famous quotation

Include a Convincing Main Part n Turn each fact or detail into an interesting, smooth-reading sentence n Explain or describe each part of your topic clearly. You want your audience to follow along easily and enjoy what you’re saying n Support your point of view with facts and reasons

Have a Strong Ending Your ending should be just as interesting s the beginning. Suggestions are: • Tell one last interesting fact or story • Explain why the topic is important • Sum up the most important ideas in your speech • Share a final idea that will keep the topic in your listeners’ thoughts • End with a famous quote

3. Practice & Present Your Speech Make a Final Copy • Type or neatly write your speech in pen • Do not use abbreviations • Number each page/note card to help keep things in order • Make font easy to read while you present

PRACTICE, PRACTICE Start practicing your speech at least 4 days ahead of time n Practice by yourself at first. Record yourself, if possible n Then, practice your speech in front of others n Practice until you know your speech inside and out n

Present Your Speech n n n n Stand straight and tall Speak loudly and clearly Take your time & use your voice to add color and interest to your speech Look up as often as you can Use your hands in a planned way Keep your feet firmly on the floor. Don’t sway from side to side Show interest in your topic all the way through your speech

What is plagiarism? n n n Using the ideas, opinions, information, organization of materials, video clips, sounds, images, pictures or words of another person without acknowledging that the material is not your original work. Copying without giving credit Paraphrasing or summarizing without giving credit

Citing Sources Every source you use you need to write down where you received the information n Use handout to cite sources for books, newspapers and magazines, encyclopedias, world wide web, and an article on an online resource n Use the Mill Pond Library web page to help cite your resources n http: //easybib. com/ http: //westborough. ma. schoolwebpages. com/educatio n/components/scrapbook/default. php? sectiondetaili d=11311&sc_id=1161009191