- Choose an important topic.
- Consider your audience.
- Prepare a structure.
- Begin with a strong point.
- Use concrete details and visual aids.
- Include a personal element.
- Consider rhetorical devices.
- End memorably.
How to write a perfect speech | BBC Ideas
What is a speech?
A speech is spoken communication directed at a particular audience. Typically, a speech serves one or more of the following three purposes: to inform, to persuade, or to mark a special occasion. You may need to give a speech several times throughout your career, such as during a presentation for coworkers, managers, or clients. A speech must be interesting and convey information that is significant to the audience in order to be effective.
How to make a good speech
Here are eight steps you can follow to write a powerful speech for any circumstance:
1. Choose an important topic
Choosing a topic for your speech is the first step in writing one. Although you may already have a general idea of what you want to talk about, it will be easier to keep your speech interesting if you can focus on just a few key points or one overarching goal.
Make a list of every potential item you could include first. After that, review your list and cross off any unnecessary items. Do this repeatedly until your topic has been reduced to a few important points.
Perform any research that might be useful to your goal before writing your speech. You might need to look up information on usage statistics, case studies, sales figures, company or product history, or demographic data. Once you have gathered all of your information, you can choose how to relate it to your audience.
2. Consider your audience
The audience you will be addressing is the most important consideration when determining how to approach a topic. Take a few moments to research the following considerations:
These guidelines will assist you in deciding what to talk about and how to present your information. For instance, if the majority of the audience is unfamiliar with your subject, your speech should be mostly informative. Your speech will need to be convincing if they are already familiar with your subject but may not be interested.
3. Prepare a structure
To write a speech that is effective, it is especially crucial to have a clear structure for your ideas. Have notes on hand during your speech so you can adhere to this structure. Outline a logical sequence for each point you will use to discuss your topic. It will be easier for you to persuade your audience, educate them, and stay on topic if your ideas flow smoothly.
4. Begin with a strong point
When a speaker first speaks, an audience is typically most attentive, so make the most of this time. Put your speech’s main point or purpose into one sentence that you can use to begin your presentation. Your audience will be able to see where you intend to go by starting with a strong, clear purpose, which should help pique their interest.
5. Use concrete details and visual aids
Use concrete details to support your points. Using succinct narratives, fascinating examples, or factual information will help you engage your audience and prove your point.
Consider using visual aids to further support your speech. Images can be powerful and engaging. To accompany your speech, you could make a digital presentation or bring in some relevant props, like a sample of the item you’re talking about.
6. Include a personal element
When your audience is interested in you, they are more likely to be interested in the subject of your speech. Consider using a personal story or example in your speech. You can increase the likelihood that the audience will pay close attention to you and take what you have to say seriously by making yourself appear knowledgeable and reliable.
7. Consider rhetorical devices
A technique for using words to make them particularly memorable is called a rhetorical device. Consider some of the most memorable lines from famous speeches. These lines are typically memorable because they affect the audience’s feelings by repeating crucial words or phrases, flipping the order of words, inverting the structure of a repeated phrase, or using an unexpected turn of phrase. Alliteration and repetition are stylistic devices that can be used to draw in your audience.
8. End memorably
Typically, the audience remembers a speech’s conclusion the most clearly. Your speech should conclude with a clear call to action, a vision of the future, or some other meaningful way that connects to the speech’s strong purpose from the beginning.
FAQ
What are the 5 principles of effective speech writing?
- First Principle: Choosing the topic.
- Second Principle: Analyzing the Audience.
- Third Principle: Sourcing the Information.
- Fourth Principle: Outlining and Organizing the Speech Content.
What makes a speech successful?
Your capacity to establish a connection with your audience and convey information that is either significant, entertaining, or both, determines how effective a speech will be. No matter how far along in your career you are, there is usually room for improvement when it comes to public speaking. You must be organized and polished if you are in the spotlight.
What are the 3 guidelines in writing a good speech?
…
3 Essential Guidelines to Writing a Good Speech
- Know your goal. What type of speech is it? …
- Know your audience. …
- Know how much time you have.
What are the 7 guidelines in speech writing?
- Begin with an outline. You must be prepared if you want your audience to remember your speech.
- Use a conversational tone. Write your speech the way you would normally talk.
- Use the speaker notes. …
- Be specific. …
- Use short sentences.