Planning and Writing a Speech.

When giving a speech it helps to plan what you are going to talk about first.
You may have produced some kind of mind-map when coming up with ideas.
However, you need to turn this one idea into a four minute speech! To do this
you will need to think carefully about what you are going to say.
Plans are very personal. You can set them out using different strategies, such
as:

Bullet Points
Mind-maps
Hands
Sub-headings
Grids

There is no set way to plan. It depends largely on which method you are
comfortable with. You may find that your methods change over time and you
try several different strategies before finding your preferred way of planning.

Attached are some examples of how you might plan a speech, using
some of the above strategies. Spend some time looking through them
and considering which you find easier to understand.

Structure
Now you may have an idea in mind of what strategy you might use when
planning. There are still several aspects to consider before beginning
however. The first is the structure of your writing. When writing speeches and
essays you need to follow a basic three-part structure:
1) Opening or Introduction
2) Main Body
3) Closing or Conclusion
Opening
The first thirty seconds of your speech is perhaps the most important. Your
opening needs to grab the attention of your audience. This can be achieved
in several ways:

Raise a thought-provoking question

Make an interesting or controversial statement
Recite a relevant quotation
Recount a joke
Speak directly to the audience or involve them (you; we)

You also need to ensure that you have introduced yourself and the subject of
your speech.

Main Body
The main body of your speech is always the largest part. In this section of
your speech you need to present your points. In other words, you need to
give your arguments or thoughts. You should aim to give a minimum of three
points.
Your points need to be organized so that your audience understands what you
are trying to say. Each point should follow or build on the previous one. This
can be done by using discursive markers. A few examples of discursive
markers are given for you to use when planning and writing your speech.
Each point should be a new paragraph.
It is in your main body that you need to employ powerful persuasive,
argumentative or descriptive techniques.
Writing to Argue Techniques
F
E
A
R
R
R

facts
emotions
adjectives
rhetorical Q
repetition
rule of 3

Writing to Describe Techniques

C
A
S
S
I
E

colours
adjectives
senses
long & short sentences
imagery (similes, metaphors)
emotions

Conclusion
Like your opening, the closing needs to be strong. This is an opportunity for
you to:

Briefly summarize your key points or thoughts

Provide a few more thoughts for the audience to think about or consider
End with a final thought or emotion

The attached examples demonstrate some detailed and appropriate

planning and some poorer, inappropriate planning.
Spend some time looking through them and considering which are
suitable.

Example Plan One.

Speech: Bridegrooms Speech at friends wedding
Opening

Introduce myself

Body

Pay tribute to key participants

-

Compliment & raise toast to the bride

Thank & compliment the bridesmaids
Pay tribute to parents of bride and groom

Recount how I became friends with groom

-

First day of school. Both got detention. Best friends ever since.
Describe key moments 18 th birthday; graduation; gap year travelling
round world; buying our first houses

Describe some of the groom's best traits - with humour

Words of advice to Groom from a married man

Closing

Ask the audience to be upstanding

Raise a toast to the bride and groom

Example Plan Two.

Example Plan Three.

Introduction
- introduce myself
introduce issue bringing back
Dreamland fairground

Main Body

Arguing for a local issue

Conclusion

Example Plan Four.

Discursive Markers
Firstly

Secondly

Thirdly

Moreover

Furthermore

In addition

As well as
that

What is more

Besides

However

Even so

But

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

All the same

On the whole

Lastly

Finally

To begin with

To start with

In the
first/second/third
place

To sum up

Briefly

In short