How to Plan, Structure, and Write a Speech for a Presentation
At this point in the term, you’ll have selected your modules for the summer LAMDA exam. For those doing Public Speaking, you’ll be starting work on writing and preparing your presentations. So for this week’s Director’s Note, I wanted to discuss how to plan, structure and write speeches - with our public speaking module in mind, but also useful for Reading for Performance links, and presentation skills more broadly!
1. Planning Your Speech
Before you start writing, take time to plan your speech properly. Here are key steps to follow:
Understand Your Audience: Consider who will be listening to your speech. Are they classmates, teachers, or a general audience? Tailor your language, examples, and tone accordingly.
Define Your Purpose: Are you trying to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire? Your purpose will shape your content and delivery.
Choose a Strong Topic: Select a topic that interests you and is relevant to your audience. Ensure it is not too broad or too narrow.
Research Thoroughly: Gather credible information, statistics, and examples to support your points. Reliable sources will add weight to your arguments.
Outline Key Points: Identify the main ideas you want to convey. Aim for three to four key points to keep your speech focused and digestible.
2. Structuring Your Speech
A well-structured speech is easier to follow and more impactful. Use the following structure to organize your ideas effectively:
Introduction
Your introduction sets the tone for your speech and captures your audience’s attention. It should include:
A Hook: Start with an engaging statement, question, quote, statistic, or anecdote to grab attention.
A Clear Purpose Statement: Briefly explain the purpose of your speech and what your audience can expect.
A Preview of Key Points: Give a brief overview of the main ideas you will discuss.
Body
The body of your speech should present your main points in a logical order:
Organize Your Points Clearly: Use chronological, topical, or problem-solution structures to present your ideas effectively.
Support with Evidence: Use examples, facts, quotes, and personal experiences to strengthen your arguments.
Use Transitions: Ensure smooth flow between ideas using transition phrases like “Furthermore,” “On the other hand,” or “For example.”
Conclusion
A strong conclusion leaves a lasting impression. Your conclusion should:
Summarise Key Points: Recap the main takeaways from your speech.
End with Impact: Use a call to action, a powerful quote, or a thought-provoking statement to leave your audience with something to remember.
Thank Your Audience: Show appreciation for their time and attention.
3. Writing Your Speech
Once you have a structure, start writing your speech with clarity and engagement in mind:
Use Simple, Concise Language: Avoid jargon and complex sentences to keep your speech easy to understand.
Write as You Speak: Use conversational language to make your speech sound natural.
Vary Your Sentence Length: Mix short and long sentences to maintain a natural rhythm.
Incorporate Rhetorical Devices: Use storytelling, repetition, and rhetorical questions to enhance engagement.
Practice Out Loud: Read your speech multiple times to ensure it sounds fluent and conversational.
4. Rhetorical Devices - further reading
Here are some key rhetorical devices that can enhance your public speaking and make your speech more engaging and memorable. Have you heard of all of them? Try to use some in your English lessons at school for bonus points!
1. Alliteration
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. ✔ "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." ✔ "Bold, brave, and brilliant."
2. Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, creating rhythm and emphasis. ✔ "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields..." – Winston Churchill
3. Antithesis
Placing contrasting ideas side by side to highlight differences. ✔ "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." – Charles Dickens ✔ "Give me liberty, or give me death!" – Patrick Henry
4. Metaphor
Comparing two unrelated things without using “like” or “as” to create a vivid image. ✔ "Time is a thief." ✔ "Her voice was music to my ears."
5. Simile
A comparison using “like” or “as” to clarify an idea. ✔ "As brave as a lion." ✔ "The news spread like wildfire."
6. Rhetorical Question
A question asked for effect rather than an answer, prompting the audience to think. ✔ "Isn’t it time we took action?" ✔ "Who doesn’t want success?"
7. Tricolon (Rule of Three)
Grouping ideas in threes for a rhythmic and memorable effect. ✔ "I came, I saw, I conquered." – Julius Caesar ✔ "Government of the people, by the people, for the people." – Abraham Lincoln
8. Hyperbole
Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. ✔ "I’ve told you a million times!" ✔ "The whole world was watching."
9. Parallelism
Using similar grammatical structures to create balance and rhythm. ✔ "Easy come, easy go." ✔ "To err is human, to forgive divine." – Alexander Pope
10. Epistrophe
The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. ✔ "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." ✔ "Of the people, by the people, for the people."
11. Personification
Attributing human qualities to non-human things. ✔ "The wind whispered through the trees." ✔ "Fear knocked on the door, but courage answered."
12. Anadiplosis
Repeating the last word of a sentence at the beginning of the next one to create a flowing effect. ✔ "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." – Star Wars
13. Polysyndeton
Using multiple conjunctions (e.g., "and," "or") in close succession for emphasis. ✔ "We lived and laughed and loved and left." – James Joyce
14. Asyndeton
Omitting conjunctions to create a fast-paced effect. ✔ "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Final Thoughts
Crafting and delivering a great speech requires careful planning, a solid structure, and confident delivery. By understanding your audience, organising your ideas effectively, and practicing thoroughly, you can make a lasting impact with your words. Remember, public speaking is a skill that improves with time and experience, so embrace the opportunity to grow and express yourself with confidence!
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