5 speech writing strategies everyone should know about

 

Have you ever heard a good speech and just sat there thinking “Wow I didn’t think of it this way, this is going to change my life.” That is the authority and boldness a well-made, motivating, and thought-provoking speech should evoke in a listener. A good speech not only makes the crowd cheer for you but also has the power to take over nations and overthrow governments. So in other words, speech writing essentially means ‘choose your words wisely.‘

To help you do that, we are going to tell you how to shape and word your speech correctly. We will also share 5 tips in this blog, using which you can add more value to your speech. But before we get into that, let’s understand what speech writing is.

What is a speech? 

A speech is an effective and strong medium of communication that gets your verbal message to a wider audience. Throughout history, leaders have used this method to their advantage. The goal of public speaking is to present your thoughts logically while also providing sufficient supporting facts to back them up. 

To do this effectively, you first need to understand why speech writing is important and what is your purpose of writing that speech. Two other facts you should also keep in mind are-

1. The time limit.
2. How big, or what kind of audience you are going to face. 

Coming up with a great speech might be a little tough, since you constantly need to think about capturing the attention of your audience. However, if you follow the fundamental rules and stick to the right speech format, you will be able to deliver a superb speech, one that will leave your audience with something to think about!

Format of speech writing 

Speech writing follows the standard 3-act structure format that can be found in most speeches out there. You will find these 3 important acts/points below- 

1. Introduction 

Penning down a strong introduction gives you a good head start in the speech writing process. While the introduction itself varies from one speech to another, its purpose is quite clear – to grab the attention of the audience within the first 5 seconds.

What you write in this para entirely depends on the purpose of your speech. Speeches that are informative in nature contain an introductory part that informs the audience about the topic of discussion. While others start with an example or a story. In general, though, covering the speech’s basic idea and then providing the audience with more information works well.

If your speech is meant to be thought-provoking, you can start it by asking a disturbing question or telling a heartbreaking story. If it’s a general informative speech, you can start it with statistical data or cool facts. 

Pro tip: Starting with a question after you introduce yourself in any speech can be a good hook to grab your audience’s attention. Since our brain always needs answers, if you ask questions at the beginning of the speech, they are more likely to listen to you throughout to find the answer. 

2. The body 

There aren’t any specific rules as to what the body of a speech should be like. But there are some tips that you should remember while writing it-

• The body of the speech should follow the order of events and provide information to the audience one at a time. 
• Whatever speech writing topic you have, the body should show some timely data based on that.
• These paragraphs should follow a cause-and-effect pattern.
• In order to persuade your audience to believe you, use rhetorical methods such as ethos, pathos, and logos.

3. Conclusion 

A good speech almost always ends by leaving the audience with some key takeaways that can entirely shift their perspectives.

To do this, you should state the main points of a speech again in the end, but this time leave something for the audience to think and work on. The, provide them with a call to action and end it with a strong statement to make them remember your ideas. 

Next – practice, practice, practice!

One you’re done writing your speech-

• Read it aloud to check how you think it would affect the audience and what you feel about it
• Practice it in front of your family or friends to ensure that it has the necessary effect.
• And make it sound like a real person talking, not like you’re reading a book!

Strategies and tips 

When preparing a speech, you want to achieve two things- 

• Make a good impression.
• Leave your audience with multiple takeaways.

The rest is for you to strategize and take advantage of. So consider the below-mentioned strategies to make the most out of your speech!

1. Find the right tone 

You must adapt to the right tone in your speeches.

If you’re addressing a business audience, the tone of your speech should be formal. If you’re speaking to a group of people about political change or oppression in your speech writing, use a tone that is thought-provoking.

Pro tip: People may forget what you have said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. If people have a smile at the end, consider your speech a success. 

2. Be human 

You appear just as human as your speech. If your audience doesn’t buy into you, they will resist your ideas too. The right body language and confidence in your speech will make the biggest impression on the audience. 

Share your experiences in your speech to make yourself more trustworthy. The speech definitely should follow a structure, but it’s important that it appears more like a firm conversation with your family or friends. 

3. Repeat yourself

Repetition is the key to speech writing. Repeat keywords and phrases a couple of times to make sure you grab the attention of the audience, especially when they have drifted in their own world. 

However, make sure this repetition doesn’t sound like you’re nagging them, but like you are making them think. It might appear annoying to repeat yourself a few times, but if you rephrase and place your words intelligently, the effects of repetition will be profound!

4. Make transitions when necessary 

It’s important to make the transitions so that the audience realizes what’s important. One way to do this is to ask a question to the audience and follow it with a pause. Silence always gets the audience’s attention and creates anticipation, while also grabbing the attention of those who weren’t paying attention. 

This is why transitions are important – they can alert the audience by implying that something important is about to be shared with them. 

5. Keep it short 

When it comes to delivering a speech, you must never overdo it. Your audience’s attention is precious and you must use it wisely. 

A few things you can do to keep your audience engaged are-

• Use tools and technologies on stage.
• Add a few jokes every once in a while.
• Learn to intonate your speech.
• Share thought-provoking stories, etc.

FAQs 

Q1. What are the few steps in speech writing? 

Answer-The first step is to select your topic. Second, find the purpose of your speech. Third, develop a structure. Fourth, write your speech. And lastly, review your speech. 

Q2. How do I speak more confidently?

Answer– Try practicing in front of your friends and family. You can also read more to learn how to phrase your thoughts in a better way. This will help you be more confident while delivering a speech or even while talking to your friends. 

Q3. In a speech, how do you greet the audience? 

Answer- “Hello everyone! Good morning/afternoon/evening. Welcome to [the name of the event]. Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is [name] and I work for [firm].”- is one way you can greet your audience. 

Well. this is all we have for you for now. We hope you found this blog informative.

If you have any doubts, feel free to contact us at +91-9145-332-283 or email us at hello@ischoolconnect.com. You can also comment below and share your thoughts!

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