Essential Elements of a Speech

How to Write a Speech

• Writing a speech is very similar to writing an essay. A well developed speech will include:

• An Introduction

• Body

• Conclusion

Introduction

• The introduction is important to grab the audience’s attention. Students should try using an interesting fact, a famous quote or intriguing question to begin the speech.

• It should also have a thesis statement that tells the audience the focus of the speech.

Body

• The body of the speech should have three main points.

• The three main points should be supported with information that includes researched details or well-known facts. Telling where their facts came from can bolster the believability of the speech.

Conclusion

• The conclusion should let the audience know that the speech is almost over.

• It should restate the thesis and summarize the three main points in the body

• It should give the audience something to think about or call the audience to act.

Speech Delivery

• First, a speaker should write their speech on note cards.

• The next step is to practice the delivery.

Delivery Tips

• The volume of the speaker needs to be loud enough for the entire audience to be heard, no shouting or whispering.

• The speed of words spoken needs to be understood by all, not too fast or slow.

• http://www.ehow.com/video_4976658_good-presentations-voice.html

Delivery Tips

• Gestures should be used to emphasize important facts, not the fact that the speaker is nervous.

• http://www.ehow.com/video_4989631_gesture-during-speech.html

Delivery Tips

• Eye contact with audience is key. A speaker should not be looking at their note cards the whole time. They should only glance at them occasionally.

• http://www.ehow.com/video_4976656_good-presentations-eye-contact-1.html

• http://www.ehow.com/video_4976657_good-presentations-eye-contact-2.html

Visual Aids

• A speaker might enhance their speech by using visual aids. Visual aids should be creative and colorful.

• Visual Aids can be posters, images, charts, graphs, or video clips.

• The text or image should be big enough to be read by the majority of the audience.