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Speech Writing

Updated on
Jan 16, 2024

The power of good, inspiring, motivating, and thought-provoking speeches can never be overlooked. If we retrospect, a good speech has not only won people’s hearts but also has been a verbal tool to conquer nations. For centuries, many leaders have used this instrument to charm audiences with their powerful speeches. Apart from vocalizing your speech perfectly, the words you choose in a speech carry immense weight, and practising speech writing begins with our school life. Speech writing is an important part of the English syllabus for Class 12th, Class 11th, and Class 8th to 10th. This blog brings you the Speech Writing format, samples, examples, tips, and tricks!

This Blog Includes:

What is speech writing, speech in english language writing, how do you begin an english-language speech, introduction, how to write a speech, speech writing samples, example of a great speech, english speech topics, practice time.

Must Read: Story Writing Format for Class 9 & 10

Speech writing is the art of using proper grammar and expression to convey a thought or message to a reader. Speech writing isn’t all that distinct from other types of narrative writing. However, students should be aware of certain distinct punctuation and writing style techniques. While writing the ideal speech might be challenging, sticking to the appropriate speech writing structure will ensure that you never fall short.

“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.”- Alexander Gregg

The English language includes eight parts of speech i.e. nouns , pronouns , verbs , adjectives 410 , adverbs , prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Noun- A noun is a word that describes anything, such as an animal, a person, a place, or an emotion. Nouns are the building blocks for most sentences.
Pronoun – Pronouns are words that can be used in place of nouns. They are used so that we don’t have to repeat words. This makes our writing and speaking much more natural.
Verb – A verb is a term that implies activity or ‘doing.’ These are very vital for your children’s grammar studies, as a sentence cannot be complete without a verb.
Adjective – An adjective is a term that describes something. An adjective is frequently used before a noun to add extra information or description.
Prepositions- A preposition is a term that expresses the location or timing of something in relation to something else.
Conjunction- Because every language has its own set of conjunctions, English conjunctions differ from those found in other languages. They’re typically used as a connecting word between two statements, concepts, or ideas.
Interjections- Interjections are words that are used to describe a strong emotion or a sudden feeling.

Relevant Read: Speech on the Importance of English

The way you start your English speech can set the tone for the remainder of it. This semester, there are a variety of options for you to begin presentations in your classes. For example, try some of these engaging speech in English language starters.

Rhetorical questions : A rhetorical question is a figure of speech that uses a question to convey a point rather than asking for a response. The answer to a rhetorical question may be clear, yet the questioner asks it to emphasize the point. Rhetorical questions may be a good method for students to start their English speeches. This method of introducing your material might be appealing to the viewers and encourage them to consider how they personally relate to your issue.
Statistics: When making an instructive or persuasive speech in an English class, statistics can help to strengthen the speaker’s authority and understanding of the subject. To get your point over quickly and create an emotional response, try using an unexpected statistic or fact that will resonate with the audience.
Set up an imaginary scene: Create an imaginary situation in your audience’s thoughts if you want to persuade them to agree with you with your speech. This method of starting your speech assists each member of the audience in visualizing a fantastic scenario that you wish to see come true.

Relevant Read: Reported Speech Rules With Exercises

Format of Speech Writing

Here is the format of Speech Writing:

Introduction : Greet the audience, tell them about yourself and further introduce the topic.
Body : Present the topic in an elaborate way, explaining its key features, pros and cons, if any and the like.
Conclusion : Summary of your speech, wrap up the topic and leave your audience with a compelling reminder to think about!

Let’s further understand each element of the format of Speech Writing in further detail:

After the greetings, the Introduction has to be attention-getting. Quickly get people’s attention. The goal of a speech is to engage the audience and persuade them to think or act in your favour. The introduction must effectively include:

A brief preview of your topic.
Define the outlines of your speech. (For example, I’ll be talking about…First..Second…Third)
Begin with a story, quote, fact, joke, or observation in the room. It shouldn’t be longer than 3-4 lines. (For Example: “Mahatma Gandhi said once…”, or “This topic reminds me of an incident/story…”)

This part is also important because that’s when your audience decides if the speech is worth their time. Keep your introduction factual, interesting, and convincing.

It is the most important part of any speech. You should provide a number of reasons and arguments to convince the audience to agree with you.

Handling objections is an important aspect of speech composition. There is no time for questions or concerns since a speech is a monologue. Any concerns that may occur during the speech will be addressed by a powerful speech. As a result, you’ll be able to respond to questions as they come in from the crowd. To make speech simpler you can prepare a flow chart of the details in a systematic way.

For example: If your speech is about waste management; distribute information and arrange it according to subparagraphs for your reference. It could include:

What is Waste Management?
Major techniques used to manage waste
Advantages of Waste Management
Importance of Waste Management

The conclusion should be something that the audience takes with them. It could be a reminder, a collective call to action, a summary of your speech, or a story. For example: “It is upon us to choose the fate of our home, the earth by choosing to begin waste management at our personal spaces.”

After concluding, add a few lines of gratitude to the audience for their time.

For example: “Thank you for being a wonderful audience and lending me your time. Hope this speech gave you something to take away.”

Practice Your Speech Writing with these English Speech topics for students !

A good speech is well-timed, informative, and thought-provoking. Here are the tips for writing a good school speech:

Speech Sandwich of Public Speaking

The introduction and conclusion must be crisp. People psychologically follow the primacy effect (tendency to remember the first part of the list/speech) and recency effect (tendency to recall the last part of the list/speech).

Use Concrete Facts

Make sure you thoroughly research your topic. Including facts appeals to the audience and makes your speech stronger. How much waste is managed? Give names of organisations and provide numerical data in one line.

Use Rhetorical Strategies and Humour

Include one or two open-ended or thought-provoking questions. For Example: “Would we want our future generation to face trouble due to global warming?” Also, make good use of humour and convenient jokes that engages your audience and keeps them listening.

Check Out: Message Writing

Know your Audience and Plan Accordingly

This is essential before writing your speech. To whom is it directed? The categorised audience on the basis of –

Knowledge of the Topic (familiar or unfamiliar)

Use the information to formulate the speech accordingly, use information that they will understand, and a sentence that they can retain.

Timing Yourself is Important

An important aspect of your speech is to time yourself. Don’t write a speech that exceeds your word limit. Here’s how can decide the right timing for your speech writing:

A one-minute speech roughly requires around 130-150 words
A two-minute speech requires roughly around 250-300 words

Speech Writing Examples

Here are some examples to help you understand how to write a good speech. Read these to prepare for your next speech:

Write a speech to be delivered in the school assembly as Rahul/ Rubaina of Delhi Public School emphasises the importance of cleanliness, implying that the level of cleanliness represents the character of its residents. (150-200 words)

“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” said the great John Wesley. Hello, respected principal, instructors, and good friends. Today, I, Rahul/Rubaina, stand in front of you all to emphasise the significance of cleanliness.

Cleanliness is the condition or attribute of being or remaining clean. Everyone must learn about cleaning, hygiene, sanitation, and the different diseases that are produced by unsanitary circumstances. It is essential for physical well-being and the maintenance of a healthy atmosphere at home and at school. A filthy atmosphere invites a large number of mosquitos to grow and spread dangerous diseases. On the other side, poor personal cleanliness causes a variety of skin disorders as well as lowered immunity.

Habits formed at a young age become ingrained in one’s personality. Even if we teach our children to wash their hands before and after meals, brush their teeth and bathe on a regular basis, we are unconcerned about keeping public places clean. On October 2, 2014, the Indian Prime Minister began the “Swachh Bharat” programme to offer sanitation amenities to every family, including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems, village cleanliness, and safe and appropriate drinking water supplies. Teachers and children in schools are actively participating in the ‘Clean India Campaign’ with zeal and excitement.

Good health ensures a healthy mind, which leads to better overall productivity, higher living standards, and economic development. It will improve India’s international standing. As a result, a clean environment is a green environment with fewer illnesses. Thus, cleanliness is defined as a symbol of mental purity.

Thank you very much.

Relevant Read: Speech on Corruption

You are Sahil/Sanya, the school’s Head Girl/Head Boy. You are greatly troubled by the increasing instances of aggressive behaviour among your students. You decide to speak about it during the morning assembly. Create a speech about “School Discipline.” (150 – 200 words)

INDISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS,

It has been reported that the frequency of fights and incidences of bullying in our school has increased dramatically in the previous several months. Good morning to everyone present. Today, I, Sahil/Sanya, your head boy/girl, am here to shed light on the serious topic of “Increased Indiscipline in Schools.”

It has come to light that instructor disobedience, bullying, confrontations with students, truancy, and insults are becoming more widespread. Furthermore, there have been reports of parents noticing a shift in their children’s attitudes. As a result, many children are suffering emotionally, psychologically, and physically. The impact of this mindset on children at a young age is devastating and irreversible.

Not to mention the harm done to the school’s property. Theft of chalk, scribbling on desks, walls and lavatory doors, destruction of CCTV cameras and so forth. We are merely depriving ourselves of the comforts granted to us by doing so.

Following numerous meetings, it was determined that the main reasons for the problem were a lack of sufficient guidance, excessive use of social media, and peer pressure. The council is working to make things better. Everyone is required to take life skills classes. Counselling, motivating, and instilling friendly ideals will be part of the curriculum. Seminars for parents and students will be held on a regular basis.

A counsellor is being made available to help you all discuss your sentiments, grudges, and personal problems. We are doing everything we can and expect you to do the same.

So, let us work together to create an environment in which we encourage, motivate, assist, and be nice to one another because we are good and civilised humans capable of a great deal of love.

Relevant Read: How to Write a Speech on Discipline?

The current increase in incidences of violent student misbehaviour is cause for alarm for everyone. Students who learn how to manage their anger can help to alleviate the situation. Write a 150-200-word speech about the topic to be delivered at the school’s morning assembly. (10)

HOW TO CONTROL ANGER

Honourable Principal, Respected Teachers, and Dear Friends, I’d like to share a few “Ways to Manage Anger” with you today.

The growing intolerance among the younger generation, which is resulting in violence against teachers, is cause for severe concern. The guru-shishya parampara is losing its lustre. Aggressive behaviour in students can be provoked by a variety of factors, including self-defence, stressful circumstance, over-stimulation, or a lack of adult supervision.

It has become imperative to address the situation. Life skills workshops will be included in the curriculum. Teachers should be trained to deal with such stubborn and confrontational behaviours. Meditation and deep breathing are very beneficial and should be practised every morning. Students should be taught to count to ten before reacting angrily. Sessions on anger control and its importance must also be held.

Remember that Anger is one letter away from danger. It becomes much more crucial to be able to control one’s rage. It’s never too late to start, as a wise man once said.

“Every minute you stay angry, you lose sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Relevant Read: English Speech Topics for Students

Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ is one of his most famous speeches. Its impact has lasted through generations. The speech is written by utilising the techniques above. Here are some examples:

“still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” – emotive Language

“In a sense, we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check” – personalising the speech

“to stand up for freedom together” – a call to action.

Importantly, this is an example of how the listener comes first while drafting a speech. The language chosen appeals to a specific sort of audience and was widely utilised in 1963 when the speech was delivered.

The Best Day of My Life
Social Media: Bane or Boon?
Pros and Cons of Online Learning
Benefits of Yoga
If I had a Superpower
I wish I were ______
Environment Conservation
Women Should Rule the World!
The Best Lesson I Have Learned
Paperbacks vs E-books
How to Tackle a Bad Habit?
My Favorite Pastime/Hobby
Understanding Feminism
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Is it real or not?
Importance of Reading
Importance of Books in Our Life
My Favorite Fictional Character
Introverts vs Extroverts
Lessons to Learn from Sports
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Also Read: How to Ace IELTS Writing Section?

Ans. Speech writing is the process of communicating a notion or message to a reader by employing proper punctuation and expression. Speech writing is similar to other types of narrative writing. However, students should be aware of some different punctuation and writing structure techniques.

Ans. Before beginning with the speech, choose an important topic. Create an outline; rehearse your speech, and adjust the outline based on comments from the rehearsal. This five-step strategy for speech planning serves as the foundation for both lessons and learning activities.

Ans. Writing down a speech is vital since it helps you better comprehend the issue, organises your thoughts, prevents errors in your speech, allows you to get more comfortable with it, and improves its overall quality.

Speech writing and public speaking are effective and influential. Hope this blog helped you know the various tips for writing the speech people would want to hear. If you need help in making the right career choices at any phase of your academic and professional journey, our Leverage Edu experts are here to guide you. Sign up for a free session now!

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Speech Writing

Speech Examples

20+ Outstanding Speech Examples for Your Help

Speech Examples

Talking in front of a bunch of audiences is not as easy as it seems. But, if you have some good content to deliver or share with the audience, the confidence comes naturally.

Before you start writing your speech, it is a good idea that you go through some good speech samples. The samples will help to learn how to start the speech and put information into a proper structure.

Speech Examples for Students

Speech writing is a huge part of academic life. These types of writing help enhance the creative writing skills of students.

Here is an amazing farewell speech sample for students to learn how to write an amazing speech that will captivate the audience.

Below, you will find other downloadable PDF samples.

Speech Examples for Students

Every school and college has a student council. And every year, students elect themselves to be a part of the student council. It is mandatory to impress the student audience to get their votes. And for that, the candidate has to give an impressive speech.

Here are some speech examples pdf for students.

Speech Examples For Public Speaking

Speech Examples About Yourself

Speech Examples Short

Speech Examples For College Students

Speech For Student Council

Speech Examples Introduction

Speech Example For School

Persuasive Speech Examples

The main purpose of a speech is to persuade the audience or convince them of what you say. And when it comes to persuasive speech , the sole purpose of speech becomes more specific.

Persuasive Speech Example

Informative Speech Examples

Informative speeches are intended to inform the audience. These types of speeches are designed to provide a detailed description of the chosen topic.

Below we have provided samples of informative speech for you.

Informative Speech Example

Informative Speech Sample

Entertainment Speech Examples

Entertainment speeches are meant to entertain the audience. These types of speeches are funny, as well as interesting. The given speech samples will help you in writing an entertaining speech.

Entertainment Speech Example

Entertainment Speech Sample

Argumentative Speech Examples

Making a strong argument that is capable of convincing others is always difficult. And, when it comes to making a claim in an argumentative speech, it becomes more difficult.

Check out the argumentative speech sample that demonstrates explicitly how an argumentative speech needs to be written.

Argumentative Speech Example

Demonstration Speech Examples

The demonstrative speeches are intended to demonstrate or describe the speech topic in depth. Get inspired by the demonstrative speech sample given below and write a captivating demonstrative speech.

Demonstration Speech Example

Demonstration Speech Sample

Motivational Speech Examples

Motivational speeches are designed to motivate the audience to do something. Read out the sample motivational speech given below and learn the art of motivational speech writing.

Impromptu Speech Examples

Impromptu speech writing makes you nervous as you are not good at planning and organization?

Check out the sample impromptu speech and learn to make bullet points of your thoughts and plan your speech properly.

Graduation Speech Examples

Are you graduating soon and need to write a graduation farewell speech?

Below is a sample graduation speech for your help.

Wedding Speech Examples

“My best friend’s wedding is next week, and I’m the maid of honor. She asked me to give the maid of honor speech, but I’m not good at expressing emotions. I’m really stressed. I don’t know what to do.”

If you are one of these kinds of people who feel the same way, this sample is for you. Read the example given below and take help from it to write a special maid of honor speech.

Best Man Speech Examples

Father of The Bride Speech Example

Speech Essay Example

A speech essay is a type of essay that you write before writing a proper speech. It helps in organizing thoughts and information.

Here is a sample of speech essays for you to understand the difference between speech format and speech essay format.

Tips to Write a Good Speech

Reading some famous and incredible sample speeches before writing your own speech is really a good idea. The other way to write an impressive speech is to follow the basic tips given by professional writers.

Audience Analysis: Understand your audience's interests, knowledge, and expectations. Tailor your speech to resonate with them.
Clear Purpose: Define a clear and concise purpose for your speech. Ensure your audience knows what to expect right from the beginning.
Engaging Opening: Start with a captivating hook – a story, question, quote, or surprising fact to grab your audience's attention.
Main Message: Identify and convey your main message or thesis throughout your speech.
Logical Structure: Organize your speech with a clear structure, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Transitions: Use smooth transitions to guide your audience through different parts of your speech.
Conversational Tone: Use simple, conversational language to make your speech accessible to everyone.
Timing: Respect the allocated time and write the speech accordingly. An overly long or short speech can diminish the audience's engagement.
Emotional Connection: Use storytelling and relatable examples to evoke emotions and connect with your audience.
Call to Action (if appropriate): Encourage your audience to take action, change their thinking, or ponder new ideas.
Practice Natural Pace: Speak at a natural pace, avoiding rushing or speaking too slowly.

So, now you know that effective communication is a powerful tool that allows you to inform, persuade, and inspire your audience. Throughout this blog, we've provided you with numerous examples and invaluable tips to help you craft a compelling speech.

And for those moments when you require a professionally written speech that truly stands out, remember that our team is here to help. We can rescue you from writer's block and deliver an outstanding speech whenever you need it.

With our professional essay writing service , you can be confident in your ability to communicate your message effectively and leave a lasting impact.

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Speech Writing Examples: Format, Tips, and Samples to Inspire Your Audience

Stepping up to the podium can seem like an insurmountable task , right? Believe me, I know that feeling all too well – the racing heart, shaky hands, and the overwhelming fear of facing an audience.

It’s a daunting journey I’ve embarked on myself. But through a mix of conquering those fears and mastering the art of speechwriting , I’ve uncovered some strategies that significantly ease the process.

In this article, you’ll find formats, tips, and examples designed not just to get you through your speech but to ensure you leave your audience feeling inspired and impressed . Let’s dive in together!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Know your audience before writing a speech. Consider their age, interests, and background to make your message hit home.
Use engaging opening lines to grab attention right from the start. A surprising fact or compelling story can set the tone for an unforgettable presentation .
Organize your speech with a clear structure : a strong introduction, main points with evidence or examples, and a memorable conclusion. This makes it easier for listeners to follow and remember your message.
Visual aids like slides or props can enhance your speech. They help clarify points and keep the audience engaged but keep them simple so they don’t distract.
Great speeches come in many forms like persuasive, informative, motivational, impromptu, and graduation speeches . Each type has its own way of connecting with audiences deeply beyond just words.

Understanding Speech Writing

Understanding Speech Writing involves crafting a message for delivery to an audience, ensuring clarity and impact. It is essential for successful public speaking and effective communication.

Speech writing is the art of creating a script for delivering a message to an audience. This process involves choosing a topic, setting goals , and deciding on the best way to present your ideas.

The aim might be to inform, convince, motivate, or entertain listeners. Writing speeches requires clear organization and strong points to make sure your audience understands and remembers what you say.

Good speech writing also means keeping your audience engaged . You can use stories, facts, humor, or quotes to grab their attention right from the start. Knowing who your listeners are helps tailor your speech so it speaks directly to them.

Whether you’re aiming for inspirational messages in public speaking or persuasive writing techniques in debates, how well you write can deeply influence your effectiveness as a speaker.

Understanding the importance of speech writing is crucial for mastering public speaking . Engaging with your audience through a well-crafted speech can inspire, persuade, and captivate.

It’s vital to remember that a good speech has the power to leave a lasting impact and resonate with the listeners . Crafted meticulously, it not only conveys your message effectively but also establishes your authority on the subject matter.

Moreover, delving into different types of speeches opens up opportunities for personalized creative expression tailored towards specific objectives like persuasion or motivation. This underpins the significance of honing your speech writing skills as you embark on your public speaking journey.

Tips for Writing a Successful Speech

To write a successful speech, know your audience and narrow down your topic. Grab attention with engaging opening lines and organize your speech effectively. Use visual aids if applicable to enhance your message.

Know your audience

Understand who will be listening to your speech. Consider their age, background, and interests. This helps tailor your message for maximum impact. When you connect with your audience , they are more likely to listen and engage with what you have to say.

It’s important to speak in a way that resonates with them.

As a speaker, it’s crucial to know what the audience expects from your speech. Tailoring your content towards their needs ensures that they walk away feeling fulfilled by the experience.

Narrow down your topic

Before diving into writing your speech, it’s crucial to narrow down your topic. This means focusing on a specific subject that you are passionate about and that will resonate with your audience.

Think about what message you want to convey and the key points you want to emphasize in your speech. By narrowing down your topic, you can ensure that your speech remains focused and impactful, making it easier for both you as the speaker and for your audience to understand and remember.

Keep in mind that simplicity is key when selecting a topic – choose something meaningful yet manageable for effective communication.

Grab attention with opening lines

Looking to captivate your audience from the start? An intriguing opening line is key. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question , a surprising fact , or a compelling story , the goal is to hook your listeners right away.

For instance, did you know that in just 18 minutes, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech changed history? That’s the power of a gripping opening line! As you craft your speech, think about what will pique curiosity and draw people in immediately.

Remember, those first few words can set the tone for an unforgettable presentation.

Organize your speech effectively

To organize your speech effectively, start by choosing a clear and specific topic that resonates with your audience. Next, create an outline with a strong introduction, main points supported by evidence or examples, and a memorable conclusion.

Make sure to use transitional phrases to guide the flow of your speech. Additionally, consider using visual aids to enhance understanding and engagement . Finally, practice delivering your speech multiple times to ensure confidence and fluency on the day of the presentation.

Once you have chosen your topic and structured your speech accordingly, make sure it aligns with the purpose of the speech – whether it is meant to inform, persuade or entertain. Using supporting materials such as anecdotes or statistics can further reinforce key points in an engaging manner for better retention.

Use visual aids if applicable

Enhance your speech with visual aids , like slides or props , to clarify key points and captivate your audience . Visual aids can help reinforce your message and keep the audience engaged.

When using visual aids, remember to keep them simple and relevant to avoid overwhelming the audience. Integrating visuals can provide a dynamic element to your speech delivery, making it more memorable for your audience.

Ready to dive into crafting compelling speeches? Let’s explore examples of great speeches next!

Examples of Great Speeches

Explore captivating examples of persuasive, informative, motivational, impromptu, and graduation speeches that will inspire your audience. Witness the power of effective speech writing in action!

Looking to persuade your audience? A persuasive speech aims to convince people to see things from a different perspective. Using strong evidence and logical reasoning can help sway opinions.

It’s crucial to understand the audience’s beliefs and concerns in order to tailor the speech accordingly. Engaging storytelling, powerful statistics, and emotional appeal are effective tools for making a persuasive impact.

Remember, the key is to establish credibility and build trust with your audience through well-structured arguments and compelling delivery.

Crafting a persuasive speech requires thorough research, an understanding of rhetorical devices , and clarity in presenting arguments. As you prepare your speech, keep these tips in mind: choose a topic that resonates with the audience; use credible sources to support your claims; anticipate counterarguments and address them convincingly; incorporate persuasion techniques such as repetition or call-to-action statements ; practice delivering your speech with confidence and conviction.

Informative

Are you ready to craft an engaging and informative speech? Speech writing is an art that involves choosing a compelling topic , understanding your audience, and creating a clear structure .

Researching your subject thoroughly and using concrete details will make your speech stronger. You can inspire and captivate your audience by being clear about the goal of your speech from the beginning.

Remember to consider the context, including the event’s purpose and location . Understanding these elements will help you tailor your message effectively.

Ready to dive into some great examples of informative speeches? Let’s explore persuasive writing techniques next.

Motivational

Transitioning from informative to motivational, let’s delve into the art of crafting motivational speeches. As you embark on the journey of speech writing, it is important to note that a well-crafted motivational speech has the potential to inspire, uplift, and energize your audience.

With carefully chosen words and compelling anecdotes, you can ignite passion and drive positive change in those listening. By incorporating real-life examples and powerful stories, you can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impact.

Motivational speeches have the power to instill belief and determination in individuals while also inspiring collective action for a greater cause. Through engaging storytelling and relatable experiences, speakers can connect with their audience on a deeper level, igniting sparks of motivation that lead to meaningful transformation.

Transitioning from preparing motivational speeches to impromptu ones, I can understand the nervousness surrounding speaking off-the-cuff. Being able to give a speech without any prior planning can be daunting, but it’s not impossible.

The key is to stay composed and rely on your knowledge and quick-thinking abilities . When faced with an impromptu speaking situation, remember that simplicity is key . It’s about being clear, concise, and confident in whatever you’re saying.

Drawing on real-life examples or personal experiences can add authenticity to your impromptu speech.

As you prepare for your graduation speech, consider the significance of the moment . Your audience will consist of your peers, teachers, and family members who have supported you throughout your educational journey.

It’s important to reflect on what this achievement means to everyone present and how it symbolizes a transition into a new phase of life . Consider sharing personal stories or challenges you’ve overcome during your academic years to inspire and motivate others as they embark on their own future endeavors.

When crafting your graduation speech, remember that it’s an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments but also offer encouragement for what lies ahead. Keep in mind the impact you want to make with words that resonate and uplift those listening.

Creating a captivating speech can change the world around us. It makes our ideas heard and inspires those who listen. When I stepped into Toastmasters International, my goal was simple: conquer my fear of public speaking .

Little did I know, this journey would not only transform me but also give me insights to share with others eager to master this art.

Understanding speech writing is like learning the rules of a new game; once you know them, playing becomes fun and engaging. Successful speeches hinge on knowing your audience and crafting messages that resonate with them deeply.

Whether using humor or heart-stirring stories, the aim is to connect and leave a lasting impression.

Great speeches come in various forms—persuasive to motivate change, informative to spread knowledge, motivational to inspire action, impromptu for spontaneous moments, and graduation talks that mark new beginnings.

Each type serves a unique purpose but shares common ground: they engage audiences on levels deeper than mere words.

Speech writing is an art perfected over time with practice and dedication. The tips shared here—from understanding your audience’s needs to structuring your message for maximum impact—are tools at your disposal.

Use them wisely as you embark on creating memorable speeches that not only convey your message but do so in an impactful manner that resonates long after the applause fades.

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Speech And Debate

Speech Writing

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

How to Write a Speech - Outline With Example

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Sep 8, 2020

Giving a speech for a class, event or work can be nerve-wracking. However, writing an effective speech can boost your confidence level.

A speech is an effective medium to communicate your message and speech writing is a skill that has its advantages even if you are a student or a professional.

With careful planning and paying attention to small details, you can write a speech that will inform, persuade, entertain or motivate the people you are writing for.

If this is your first speech. Take all the time you need.

Like other skills, you can learn speech writing too.

Give yourself enough time to write and practice it several times for the best possible results.

On this Page

You have a message that you want people to hear or you are preparing a speech for a particular situation such as a commemorative speech.

No matter what the case, it is important to ensure that the speech is well structured or else you will fail to deliver your effective message. And you don’t want that, do you?

You can also explore our complete guide to write a commemorative speech . Make sure to give the article a thorough read.

How to Create a Speech Outline?

Want to write a speech your audience will remember? A speech outline is a thing you should start with.

‘How to write a speech outline?’

A speech outline is very important in helping you sound more authoritative and in control. As you write your speech outline you will have to focus on how you will introduce yourself, your topic, and the points that you will be going to cover.

A speech outline will save a lot of your time and will help you organize your thoughts. It will make sure the speech is following a proper structure and format.

Before you start writing your own speech you need to know:

WHO you are writing the speech for
WHAT the speech will be going to cover
HOW long it needs to be e.g if it is a 5-minute speech (then how many words in a 5-minute speech)

These speech tips will help you get on the right track from the start. Here is an example of how you can craft a speech outline.

Preparation

Choose your topic and the main points that your speech will cover. Know your audience and get to know what they are looking for. Pay attention to their needs
Define the purpose of the speech and properly organize it

Introduction

A strong statement to grab the reader’s attention
Refine the thesis statement
State something that establishes credibility
Provide your main idea and include some supporting statements.
Examples and further details (if needed)
Summarize the main points of the speech
Closing statement
Call to action

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

How to Write an Effective Speech?

‘How to write a graduation speech?’

‘How to write a speech for school?’

‘How to write a speech about yourself?’

Get your answers in the below sections.

Just like essays, the speech also follows three sections: Introduction, the main body, and conclusion.

However, unlike essays, a speech must be written to be heard as opposed to just being read. It is important to write a speech in a way that can grab the reader’s attention and helps in painting a mental image.

It is the opening statement of a speech. It is important to know how to start a speech that can grab the attention of the audience.

‘How to write a speech introduction?’

It should include a hook-grabber statement about your topic. It should end with a strong transition from a big idea of the introduction to the main body of the essay. Some great ways to begin your speech are, to begin with, a rhetorical question, a quote, or another strong statement.

Make sure the introduction is not more than one paragraph. This will ensure you do not spend much time on the background before getting to the main idea of the topic.

The introduction is a great chance to make sure your opening is memorable as this is the point when your audience will make up their mind about you.

The Main body

The majority of the speech should be spent presenting your thesis statement and supporting ideas in an organized way.

Avoid rambling as it will immediately lose your audience’s attention. No need to share everything, instead pick some points and stick to them throughout your speech.

Organize your points in a logical manner so they support and build on each other. Add as many points as needed to support the overall message of your speech.

State each point clearly and provide all the required information, facts, statistics, and evidence, to clarify each of your points.

It is a good idea to include your personal experiences to make your speech more interesting and memorable.

Another important thing to be kept in mind is the use of transition. The purpose of adding transition words is to improve the overall flow of the information and help the reader to understand the speech structure. Words like next, then, after, before, at that moment, etc. are the most commonly used transition words to make the whole writing less choppy and more interesting.

The conclusion should restate and summarize all the main points of the speech. Because the audience will most likely remember what they have heard last. Beautifully wrap up the whole speech and give something for the audience to think about.

For an extra element, close your speech by restating the introduction statement so it feels like a complete package.

A good approach to conclude your speech is to introduce a call to action. Encourage your audience to participate in the solution to the problem that you are discussing. Give your audience some direction on how they can participate.

Practice and more practice is key to a great speech so it is important that you read your speech and listen to yourself. When writing, take care of the required length also.

Speech Topics - Engaging Topics to Choose From

You feel relief when your teacher says you are free to choose your speech topic. Feel free to write about anything you want. The problem is students still feel stuck in choosing an effective speech topic. If you are one of them, here is a list of the best speech ideas to help you get through the process.

What role do cats play in human’s lives
How to improve communication disorders
World’s fastest-growing country
Today’s world pollution rate
How to improve interpersonal skills
Are paper books better than e-books
Should the death penalty be abolished
Should prisoners be allowed to vote
Should voting be made compulsory
Is it better to live together before marriage

These are some of the interesting topics that you can consider. However, if you are still not sure about the topic of your speech, you can explore our article on informative speech topics and pick any of your choices.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Speech Example

Stressing over on how to write a good speech? Speech examples are sure to be your best friend for effective speech writing and its effortless delivery.

Here is a sample speech example to help you get through your own speech writing process. Explore this example and get the answer on how to give a good speech.

Get Professional Help for Your Speech

If you are good at public speaking but lack writing skills or you do not have enough time to follow the mentioned points and write a speech, don't worry.

You can always contact us at 5StarEssays.com.

We have a highly qualified and amazing team of expert writers who can help you if you want to buy speeches online with high-quality content.

Contact our " write my essay " service with your requirements. Our essay writer will provide you with quality material that your audience will remember for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best introduction for a speech.

The best way to open a speech’s introduction is, to begin with, a story. Tell an inspiring story to your audience and connect it with your personal narrative.

What is the first step of speech writing?

The first step of writing a speech is to choose a topic. Choosing a good topic is important to have an engaging and great speech.

What are the five steps in speech writing?

Here are the five steps involved in writing a speech.

Choose a topic.
Investigate your audience.
Built an outline.
Rehearse the speech.
Revise and finalize.

What are the types of speech delivery?

Here are the types of speech delivery.

Extemporaneous

What are the two P’s required for good speech delivery?

The two P’s required for proper speech delivery are Preparation and Practice.

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

Informative Speech Topics - Interesting Ideas By Experts

Commemorative Speech: Guide to Craft an Engaging Speech

Persuasive Speech Topics - 150+ Topics for Students

50+ Demonstration Speech Ideas for Your Next Great Speech

Impromptu Speech Topics - 150+ Interesting Ideas

Debate Topics (2024) - Top 200+ Compelling Topics

100+ Motivational Speech Topics for an Inspirational Speech

Extemporaneous Speech - How to Write One Successfully?

Graduation Speech - Write Your Best Graduation Speech

What this handout is about

This handout will help you create an effective speech by establishing the purpose of your speech and making it easily understandable. It will also help you to analyze your audience and keep the audience interested.

What’s different about a speech?

Writing for public speaking isn’t so different from other types of writing. You want to engage your audience’s attention, convey your ideas in a logical manner and use reliable evidence to support your point. But the conditions for public speaking favor some writing qualities over others. When you write a speech, your audience is made up of listeners. They have only one chance to comprehend the information as you read it, so your speech must be well-organized and easily understood. In addition, the content of the speech and your delivery must fit the audience.

What’s your purpose?

People have gathered to hear you speak on a specific issue, and they expect to get something out of it immediately. And you, the speaker, hope to have an immediate effect on your audience. The purpose of your speech is to get the response you want. Most speeches invite audiences to react in one of three ways: feeling, thinking, or acting. For example, eulogies encourage emotional response from the audience; college lectures stimulate listeners to think about a topic from a different perspective; protest speeches in the Pit recommend actions the audience can take.

As you establish your purpose, ask yourself these questions:

What do you want the audience to learn or do?
If you are making an argument, why do you want them to agree with you?
If they already agree with you, why are you giving the speech?
How can your audience benefit from what you have to say?

Audience analysis

If your purpose is to get a certain response from your audience, you must consider who they are (or who you’re pretending they are). If you can identify ways to connect with your listeners, you can make your speech interesting and useful.

As you think of ways to appeal to your audience, ask yourself:

What do they have in common? Age? Interests? Ethnicity? Gender?
Do they know as much about your topic as you, or will you be introducing them to new ideas?
Why are these people listening to you? What are they looking for?
What level of detail will be effective for them?
What tone will be most effective in conveying your message?
What might offend or alienate them?

For more help, see our handout on audience .

Creating an effective introduction

Get their attention, otherwise known as “the hook”.

Think about how you can relate to these listeners and get them to relate to you or your topic. Appealing to your audience on a personal level captures their attention and concern, increasing the chances of a successful speech. Speakers often begin with anecdotes to hook their audience’s attention. Other methods include presenting shocking statistics, asking direct questions of the audience, or enlisting audience participation.

Establish context and/or motive

Explain why your topic is important. Consider your purpose and how you came to speak to this audience. You may also want to connect the material to related or larger issues as well, especially those that may be important to your audience.

Get to the point

Tell your listeners your thesis right away and explain how you will support it. Don’t spend as much time developing your introductory paragraph and leading up to the thesis statement as you would in a research paper for a course. Moving from the intro into the body of the speech quickly will help keep your audience interested. You may be tempted to create suspense by keeping the audience guessing about your thesis until the end, then springing the implications of your discussion on them. But if you do so, they will most likely become bored or confused.

For more help, see our handout on introductions .

Making your speech easy to understand

Repeat crucial points and buzzwords.

Especially in longer speeches, it’s a good idea to keep reminding your audience of the main points you’ve made. For example, you could link an earlier main point or key term as you transition into or wrap up a new point. You could also address the relationship between earlier points and new points through discussion within a body paragraph. Using buzzwords or key terms throughout your paper is also a good idea. If your thesis says you’re going to expose unethical behavior of medical insurance companies, make sure the use of “ethics” recurs instead of switching to “immoral” or simply “wrong.” Repetition of key terms makes it easier for your audience to take in and connect information.

Incorporate previews and summaries into the speech

For example:

“I’m here today to talk to you about three issues that threaten our educational system: First, … Second, … Third,”

“I’ve talked to you today about such and such.”

These kinds of verbal cues permit the people in the audience to put together the pieces of your speech without thinking too hard, so they can spend more time paying attention to its content.

Use especially strong transitions

This will help your listeners see how new information relates to what they’ve heard so far. If you set up a counterargument in one paragraph so you can demolish it in the next, begin the demolition by saying something like,

“But this argument makes no sense when you consider that . . . .”

If you’re providing additional information to support your main point, you could say,

“Another fact that supports my main point is . . . .”

Helping your audience listen

Rely on shorter, simpler sentence structures.

Don’t get too complicated when you’re asking an audience to remember everything you say. Avoid using too many subordinate clauses, and place subjects and verbs close together.

Too complicated:

The product, which was invented in 1908 by Orville Z. McGillicuddy in Des Moines, Iowa, and which was on store shelves approximately one year later, still sells well.

Easier to understand:

Orville Z. McGillicuddy invented the product in 1908 and introduced it into stores shortly afterward. Almost a century later, the product still sells well.

Limit pronoun use

Listeners may have a hard time remembering or figuring out what “it,” “they,” or “this” refers to. Be specific by using a key noun instead of unclear pronouns.

Pronoun problem:

The U.S. government has failed to protect us from the scourge of so-called reality television, which exploits sex, violence, and petty conflict, and calls it human nature. This cannot continue.

Why the last sentence is unclear: “This” what? The government’s failure? Reality TV? Human nature?

More specific:

The U.S. government has failed to protect us from the scourge of so-called reality television, which exploits sex, violence, and petty conflict, and calls it human nature. This failure cannot continue.

Keeping audience interest

Incorporate the rhetorical strategies of ethos, pathos, and logos.

When arguing a point, using ethos, pathos, and logos can help convince your audience to believe you and make your argument stronger. Ethos refers to an appeal to your audience by establishing your authenticity and trustworthiness as a speaker. If you employ pathos, you appeal to your audience’s emotions. Using logos includes the support of hard facts, statistics, and logical argumentation. The most effective speeches usually present a combination these rhetorical strategies.

Use statistics and quotations sparingly

Include only the most striking factual material to support your perspective, things that would likely stick in the listeners’ minds long after you’ve finished speaking. Otherwise, you run the risk of overwhelming your listeners with too much information.

Watch your tone

Be careful not to talk over the heads of your audience. On the other hand, don’t be condescending either. And as for grabbing their attention, yelling, cursing, using inappropriate humor, or brandishing a potentially offensive prop (say, autopsy photos) will only make the audience tune you out.

Creating an effective conclusion

Restate your main points, but don’t repeat them.

“I asked earlier why we should care about the rain forest. Now I hope it’s clear that . . .” “Remember how Mrs. Smith couldn’t afford her prescriptions? Under our plan, . . .”

Call to action

Speeches often close with an appeal to the audience to take action based on their new knowledge or understanding. If you do this, be sure the action you recommend is specific and realistic. For example, although your audience may not be able to affect foreign policy directly, they can vote or work for candidates whose foreign policy views they support. Relating the purpose of your speech to their lives not only creates a connection with your audience, but also reiterates the importance of your topic to them in particular or “the bigger picture.”

Practicing for effective presentation

Once you’ve completed a draft, read your speech to a friend or in front of a mirror. When you’ve finished reading, ask the following questions:

Which pieces of information are clearest?
Where did I connect with the audience?
Where might listeners lose the thread of my argument or description?
Where might listeners become bored?
Where did I have trouble speaking clearly and/or emphatically?
Did I stay within my time limit?

Other resources

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit group that provides communication and leadership training.
Allyn & Bacon Publishing’s Essence of Public Speaking Series is an extensive treatment of speech writing and delivery, including books on using humor, motivating your audience, word choice and presentation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Boone, Louis E., David L. Kurtz, and Judy R. Block. 1997. Contemporary Business Communication . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Ehrlich, Henry. 1994. Writing Effective Speeches . New York: Marlowe.

Lamb, Sandra E. 1998. How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Write . Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Speech to Engage your Audience

February 19, 2021 - Dom Barnard

In order to write a speech, you need to think about your audience, the required length, and the purpose or topic. This is true whether you are writing a wedding speech, conference presentation, investor pitch, or any other type of speech.

Being a great speech writer can help you get a promotion, motivate people, sell a business idea, persuade others and much more – it’s an essential skill in the modern world. In this article, we cover key tips for writing a speech.

Initial planning – Why? Who? What?

You should invest time strategically considering the speech. This will help you decide on the key message and content about your topic. Here are some points to consider.

What do I want to achieve?
When I achieve this, what will that do for me?
Why am I speaking?
What is the purpose of this speech?
Who are the audience and who do they represent?
Who do I represent?
What do I know about them? (culture, language, level of expertise)
How much influence do they have?
What is the main message and key points?
What specific action is implied?
What level of information should I include?
What is important to them?

Popular speech structure

You need to catch the audience attention early, very early (see section below). Deliver a memorable beginning, a clear middle and structured ending.

Popular speech structure:

Explanation 1
Explanation 2
Explanation 3

Secondary Point (Optional: supports main)

Tertiary Point (Optional: supports secondary and main)

Attention span of your audience

Research shows that attention span is greatest at the beginning of a speech, reduces considerably during the middle of your speech and picks up again towards the end when your audience know you about to finish.

Don’t try to put too many ideas into your speech. Research shows that people remember very little from speeches, so just give them one or two ideas to hang onto.

Attention span graph of audience in a conference or speech

These two articles explain audience attention span in more detail, and how to write a speech to extend it:

How many minutes is the audience’s attention span?
What to do when you’re losing your audience

Speech introduction

Make sure your opening few seconds are memorable as this is when your audience will make up their minds about you. Use a bold sentence to grab their attention, works best with numbers reinforcing your point.

An example sentence might be – “After this speech, I’m confident 50% of you will go out and buy a VR headset.” Follow these tips on how to write a speech intro:

Remember the INTRO model

This is more focused on presentations but sections can be applied broadly to other general speeches.

1. Interest

You: Introduce yourself confidently and clearly Audience: Why should I listen to you?

You: Remind the audience the reasons for this speech Audience: What’s in it for me?

You: State length of speech at beginning, “Over the next 15 minutes” Audience: How long until I can get a coffee?

4. Routemap

You: State the main points, “Today I’m going to cover 4 main points” Audience: Which sections of the speech are important to me?

5. Objectives

You: Clearly state the objective, “By the end of this speech, I would like to…” Audience: So that’s what you want from me today…

Example: Great speech opening

This speech opening is by Jamie Oliver, giving a TED talk on teaching every child about food.

Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead through the food that they eat. My name’s Jamie Oliver. I’m 34 years old. I’m from Essex in England and for the last seven years I’ve worked fairly tirelessly to save lives in my own way. I’m not a doctor; I’m a chef, I don’t have expensive equipment or medicine. I use information, education. I profoundly believe that the power of food has a primal place in our homes that binds us to the best bits of life. We have an awful, awful reality right now. America, you’re at the top of your game. This is one of the most unhealthy countries in the world.

How not to open your speech

Avoid the following opening comments:

“ Apologies, I’m a little nervous about speaking ” – no need to make the audience aware of this, it will make them focus on how nervous you are instead of what you are saying
“ I’ve got the graveyard shift ” – you are telling people not to expect much
“ I’m what stands between you and lunch ” – even if people weren’t thinking it, after this comment, all they are thinking of is when will you finish so they can eat
“ We are running late, so I’ll do my best to explain… ” – instead of this, state how long your speech will take so that people know when they will be leaving

Middle of the speech

The body of your speech is where the majority of the information is. The audience has been introduced to the subject and reasons for the speech. Now you need to present your arguments and examples, data, illustrations backing up your key message.

How to write a speech body can be difficult, the best way to build this section is to write down three points you are trying to convey in your speech, your main, secondary and tertiary points. Then write down three descriptions clarifying each of these points. The descriptions should be simple, memorable and meaningful.

The middle of your speech is where the audience start losing attention. Keep this in mind and ensure your message is clear. Use images, jokes and rhetoric questions to keep the audience engaged.

Don’t overwhelm your audience with many points. It is much more valuable to make a small number of points well, than to have too many points which aren’t made satisfactorily.

Obama and his speeches

Obama’s speeches are well prepared with a focus on powerful words “A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things“. His speeches use simple language and quotes from famous speeches his listeners can relate to.

For additional trademark Obama techniques, check out How Barack Obama prepares his speeches.

How to end a speech

Similar to the opening, your closing statements should be impactful, re-stating the key message of your speech. We advise learning your ending few lines word for word. The ending is an opportunity to:

Leave the audience with a lasting impression of your speech
Summarise the main points
Provide further ideas and discussion points for the audience to take away with them
Thank the audience for taking the time to listen

Methods to end your speech

Quotation Close – use a famous quote to get the audience’s attention and create a link to your speech.

Bookend Close – refer back to an opening statement and repeat it or add a few extra words to elaborate on it.

Open Question – ask the audience a provocative question or a call to action to perform some task on the back of your speech.

For additional tips on how to write a speech, in particular how to close your speech, read:

5 great ways to end a speech
10 ways to end your speech with a bang
Presentations: language expert – signposting

Ideas for ending a speech

Key message
Refer to opening impact statement
Objectives met
Call to action
End on an Up

Step-by-step process for writing a speech

Here’s how to write your speech from concept to completion.

Outline your speech’s structure. What are the main ideas for each section?
Write out the main ideas in your outline. Don’t worry about making it perfect – just write as much of it down as you can
Edit and polish what you’ve written until you have a good first draft of your speech
Now you need to practice and memorize your speech . The more you practice, the more you’ll figure out which sections need changing. You’ll also get an idea of length and if you need to extend / shorten it.
Update your speech, practice some more, and revise your speech until it has a great flow and you feel comfortable with it.

Classic speech transcripts

One of the best ways for learning how to write a speech is reading other well written ones. Here are a list of famous speeches to read and learn from:

Bill Gates TED Talk Transcript from 2015: Warns of Pandemics, Epidemics
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Commencement Speech at Harvard 2014
Ronald Reagan Memorial Day Speech Transcript 1984
I Have Been to the Mountaintop Speech Transcript – Martin Luther King Jr.

Games, topic printables & more
The 4 main speech types
Example speeches
Commemorative
Declamation
Demonstration
Informative
Introduction
Student Council
Speech topics
Poems to read aloud
How to write a speech
Using props/visual aids
Acute anxiety help
Breathing exercises
Letting go - free e-course
Using self-hypnosis
Delivery overview
4 modes of delivery
How to make cue cards
How to read a speech
9 vocal aspects
Vocal variety
Diction/articulation
Pronunciation
Speaking rate
How to use pauses
Eye contact
Body language
Voice image
Voice health
Public speaking activities and games
About me/contact

Speech examples

Farewell, welcome, engagement, introduction, persuasive, maid of honor, thank you, icebreaker, and more!

By: Susan Dugdale

There are speech examples of many types on my site. If you have a speech to write and don't know where to begin, you're most welcome to use any of them to kick start your own creative process into action.

They're listed in alphabetical order: from birthday speeches through to welcome speeches.

Happy reading, Susan

Click the links to find the speech examples you want to read.

Birthday speeches : 50th, 40th and 18th
Christmas speeches : 3 examples for an office party

Demonstration speech sample

Engagement party speeches : 5 sample toasts
Eulogy samples : 70+ funeral speeches
Farewell speeches : from a colleague leaving and to a colleague leaving
Golden wedding speech
Icebreaker speech for Toastmasters
Introduction speeches : for a guest speaker, and for oneself
Maid of honor speeches : 3 examples, including one for a sister

One minute speeches

Persuasive speech sample
Retirement speech sample
Student Council : examples of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer campaign speeches
Thank you : an award acceptance speech example
Tribute : a commemorative speech example
Welcome speech examples : to an event, to a church, to a family

Birthday speeches

There are three birthday speeches for you to read.

50th birthday speech sample

A collage of 3 birthday images celebrating 40th, 50th and 18th birthdays.

The first example is a 50th birthday speech for a man. It is written as if from a close male friend. You could call it a loving roast!

Here's the opening sentences:

"Good evening all. It's great to have you here. Most of you know my feeling on birthdays. Generally I say, what's the big deal?

By the time you've had over thirty, there should be a cease and desist order against them.

They're not unusual. Everybody has them and at the same rate as everybody else - one a year. They happen whether you want them to or not.

Believe me, I know. I've had quite a few and looking around this room I can see it's the same for others as well.

So why are we here?"

40th birthday speech example

The second example is a 40 birthday speech for a daughter and the speech is written as if it comes from her mother.

These are the opening sentences:

"On behalf of the Martin family and Camille in particular, it is my pleasure to welcome you here tonight to her 40th birthday celebration.

We are delighted to have you with us and especial thanks to those who have traveled from afar.

Before we eat I am going to say a few words about my beautiful daughter. I've promised her two things. I'll keep it short and I won't embarrass her by telling tales she'd rather I forgot."

18th birthday speech sample

The third example is an 18th birthday speech of thanks . The speaker is thanking their family and friends for coming along to their 18th birthday celebration. It's a mix of humor and sincerity.

The speech begins like this:

"This is a moment I’ve waited a long time for. 18! I am an adult. Yep, I’ve come of age. Hard to believe, isn’t?

(Dad, you were not supposed to agree so quickly.)

I can now vote, drive a car, marry, buy alcohol, a lottery ticket and tobacco, get a tattoo, or join the military without having to ask permission. Let me see. Which one will I do first?

Perhaps a more honest question is, which of those will I continue to do without fear of getting caught?

And while you think about that, I’d like to say thank you."

Christmas speech - an office party example

Image: illustration of a man standing in his office. Text: Joe Brown's Christmas speech for the office party.

This example is a mix of notes, which the speaker Joe Brown will expand as he delivers the speech, and full text which he'll say as written. The speech follows the step by step process of an outline.

Here's an extract from the concluding sentences:

"It's been a tough year but I'm proud of what we accomplished together. Some businesses haven't been able to do what we have done.

Thanks to you we'll be going into the new year with strength, to build on our accomplishments and to consolidate our position.

Let's celebrate that. It's a gift to be grateful for."

To read more: Christmas office party speech example

2 short company Christmas party speech samples

Image: Colorful Christmas background with label. Text: 2 company Christmas party speeches

You have the full text of these two short speeches to read. Both come in at between 2-3 minutes when delivered.

Here's an excerpt from one of them:

"OK, let's be honest; who thought we'd be gathered together for a heigh-ho-merry-old-time back in August? Remember? How can we possibly forget?!

Martin and Co, one of our more significant customers, downsized their regular order by more than 50% - a move that caught us on the hop and had has us scrambling for a bit.
There was a little more of that, when an opportunistic phishing expedition by some very clever clowns threatened to hold us to ransom."

For more please go to: 2 short company Christmas party speech samples .

This demonstration speech covers the process involved in learning to how to leave an effective voice mail message.

Image: wall paper background saying blah, blah, blah. Text: A sample demonstration speech, plus video. How to leave a good voice mail message.

I've entered the text of the whole speech into a step by step outline template so that you can see the structure. Then I made a video (audio + slides) too, so you can hear as well as read it if you want to.

Here's the opening:

"How many important voice mail messages have you bumbled through after the beep? Does recalling them make you feel a little uncomfortable?

Yep, me too. I’ve blundered. Mumbled and muttered. If it were possible, I would have gladly saved the person I was calling the hassle of deleting those messages myself. Before they were heard."

Engagement party speeches - 5 sample toasts

Images: drawing of two young friends with quirky hats. Text:"Thankfully Bill changed his mind about girls being, as he put it aged 12, really dumb." 5 sample engagement toasts.

Here are five short (and sweet) engagement party speeches. They've been written from the point of view of a mother, a father, a friend, the groom and the bride-to-be.

The extract is the opening from the speech a mother might give:

"Mary welcome to the family!

While we're all delighted that Bill has shown such good sense in choosing you I've got an extra reason to celebrate. Finally I get a daughter! Thankfully Bill changed his mind about girls being, as he put it aged about 12, 'really dumb'."

To see all five speeches: engagement party toasts

Eulogy samples

Image: a spray of blue/violet forget-me-nots. Text: 70 + eulogy examples

We are extraordinarily blessed to be able offer over 70 eulogies for folk to read. These have been sent in by people from all over the world who intimately understand the need to see what others have written before beginning the task of writing a eulogy for a loved one of their own.

You'll find funeral speeches for mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, work colleagues...

Visit: eulogy examples

Two farewell speech examples

An example goodbye speech to colleagues .

Image: illustration of a woman waving goodbye to a departing train. Text: Words for when it's time to say goodbye.

This example farewell speech is written from the point of view of a person leaving their workplace: a goodbye speech to colleagues. It's upbeat and follows the suggested content guidelines you'll find when you visit the page. (There's a recording of it too.)

Here's part of the opening:

"Do you realize we've been sharing each other's company for 2920 days?

Eight years of fun times, challenging times and everything in between.

And today I am officially leaving you!"

Go to: farewell speech example : a goodbye speech to colleagues.

A sample farewell speech for a colleague leaving

Writing a farewell speech for a colleague who is leaving can be challenging. What do you put in? What do you leave out?

My example is the result of following a start to finish 7 step process for a speech to say goodbye to a co-worker.

Here's the introductory sentences:

"Who else has been marking off the days until Sam finally leaves us? It’s sad but from next Monday there’ll be a huge hole in our team. She’ll be basking in the sun on a beach in Bali and we’ll be wondering how we’re going to manage without her..."

To read more of the speech and to find out about the process of writing it click the link: farewell speech to a colleague leaving .

Golden wedding - 50th anniversary speech

What do white daisies, finding a stray coin down the back of the sofa, and motorbikes have in common?

Yes, they're all part of a golden wedding speech.

I've written this speech example as if it's being delivered by a man called Mark, to his much-loved wife of 50 years, Sarah.

Here's an excerpt from the beginning:

"After 50 years Sarah knows I am not good at romance or speaking about love. Those kind of words always got tangled on my tongue and caught between my teeth. They never did come out right, not as I intended anyway. Even when I proposed, it came out all wrong."

For more: 50th wedding anniversary speech example

An icebreaker speech for Toastmasters example

Image: paper boat sailing through ice floe Text: Master your Toastmaster Icebreaker speech. 5 ways to choose a topic & prepare your speech.

Ahh, the icebreaker speech! It's much loved by club members worldwide and whichever of the eleven Toastmaster pathways you choose when you join, this is always the first assignment.

My icebreaker example, 'Stepping up to speak out', was written to illustrate an easily followed, step by step, process for getting from topic choice to speech preparation and delivery.

The beginning of the speech goes like this:

"Would you be surprised to know I nearly didn't make it here tonight?

I wonder how many of you experienced a moment or two of panic before giving your icebreaker speech. Just nod to let me know. { pause - look around }

Thank you, that's very reassuring. You've survived, so probably I shall too.

I am here wobbling rather nervously in front of you for three main reasons which I'll share.

Here's the first."

For more: Icebreaker speech for Toastmasters

Samples of introduction speeches

Image: line drawing of a woman with a red "hello my name is ?" sticker.

There two introduction speech examples for you to look at.

One is an example self introduction speech - the kind of brief 1-2 minute speech you are often expected to make to introduce yourself to a group of people you're meeting for the first time at some sort of workshop or similar event.

Here's the opening of that speech:

"Hi everybody!

I'm Masie Smith, Senior Marketing Executive, from Watts and Frederick in Smalltown, Bigstate.

It's great to be finally here. I've been dreaming about the opportunity and possibilities of working collectively and directly with each other for a long time now. Jane and Sam can attest to that. There's been hours put in balancing the schedules to make it happen.

Webinars and email are fine but nothing beats face to face ."

For more: self-introduction speech example

The second is an introduction speech in which you introduce a guest- speaker to an audience.

Here are the closing sentences. What's preceded them has carefully primed the audience to give the guest a warm welcome, by piling one piece of compelling biographical information on top of another.

"How she got from awkward tongue tied silence to an eloquent front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight.

Ladies, I give you ... Rose Stephenson on speaking to lead."

For more: guest-speaker introduction example

Maid of Honor speech examples

There are three Maid of Honor (MOH) speeches for you to read: two from the point of view of a best friend, and one from the point of view of a sister.

You'll find step by step guidelines with examples to illustrate each part of the process of preparing a speech for yourself. Follow them carefully and you'll finish with a Maid of Honor speech you'll be proud to deliver.

Two Maid of Honor speech examples

Collage of 5 pictures of women and their best female friends

The first example is heartfelt, a speech written from the point of view of a close childhood friend. She's shared the best and most difficult of times with the bride.

Here are its opening sentences:

"Some one very wise, and obviously someone who knew Sonja and Mark said, “Don't marry a person you can live with. Marry somebody you can't live without."

That's what we're witnessing today – the union of two people who belong together. A perfect match!"

The second example is more light-hearted. It's a combination of sentiment and fun, and is written from the point of view of a trusted and loved friend.

Here's the beginning:

"Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.

That's what we're celebrating today: a story of true love, a dream come true.

My name is Felicity and it's my privilege to be Sarah’s Maid of Honor.

Sarah is my Best Friend. I know it's a cliché. However clichés become clichés for a very good reason, because they're true. She's my BFF: Best Friend Forever.

For her I would wear the gaudiest, frothiest taffeta maid of honor dress possible and still smile. Fortunately I don't have to."

For more see: Maid of Honor speech examples

A Maid of Honor speech for a sister example

Image: Bridal party. Text: Catch flowers. Eat cake. Hear me give a maid of honor speech for my sister.

The opening segment of the speech is below. It recalls a loved childhood game which unites the past and present while drawing listeners in.

"What a day, Mary!

Remember when we were kids, how we dressed up in Mom’s old party dresses? Put a white table cloth on our heads and marched around, singing, “Here comes the bride, fair fat and wide.”?

My name is Jennifer, and this beautiful woman, this stunning bride – the antithesis of “fair fat and wide” is my beloved little sister.

We laughed ourselves silly over that game. Now here we are 25 years later.

Not laughing. Mary’s not wearing a table cloth. And this time it’s for real.

I am honored to be asked to speak. Thank you."

For more go to: maid of honor speech for a sister

As part of a page offering 150 one minute speech topics I wrote and then recorded three example speeches to demonstrate what you could do with a one minute speech.

One of those speeches was on the topic: 'What my work clothes say about me'.

Image: man in business dress adjusting tie. Text: What my work clothes say about me. 150 one minute speech topics.

Here is the opening two paragraphs of that speech:

"Clothes make the man. Yes, we judge each other on what we wear. And have done forever.

For better, or for worse, in the western working world, nothing says dependable and professional as eloquently as a tailored grey business suit, a crisp white shirt and a pair of good shoes."

To read, and hear, all three speeches please visit: one minute speech topics *

* There is also a free downloadable printable one minute speech planner which will help you consolidate the process of putting a speech together with minimum fuss.

A persuasive speech example

Here's a persuasive speech example using Monroe's Motivated Sequence - a five step structural pattern frequently used by professional persuaders: politicians and marketers.

The topic is somber: suicide and its impact on those left behind. The purpose of the speech is to persuade listeners to learn more about the special needs of family members, friends and colleagues in the immediate aftermath of a suicide.

Here are the opening sentences:

"One fine Spring day I biked home from school and found a policemen guarding our backdoor. Through it came sounds I'll never forget; my quiet, well-mannered Mother screaming. He said, "You can't go in."

I kicked him in the shins and did. It was the 15th of September, three days before my thirteenth birthday and my father was dead. Killed by his own hand. Suicide."

A sample retirement speech

Image: back ground - definition of leave on parchment paper with multiple synonyms. Text in foreground: Leave.

This retirement speech is an example of one that could be given by a teacher who's signing off after many years service in the same school.

Here's a taste of it:

"I've been asked what I'm going to do now. I'm going to do a lot of things and very few of them conform to the notion of retirement as a time of waiting for the inevitable end. Helen Hayes, put it this way: 'People who refuse to rest honorably on their laurels when they reach “retirement” age seem very admirable to me."

Read the whole speech: retirement speech sample

Sample student council speeches

This page has everything you need to help you prepare a winning student council speech: comprehensive guidelines, a template, example speeches and a printable speech planner and outline document.

Image: row of multi-colored hands reaching upwards. Text above hands: YES.

The speaker in my first example is running for president.

Here's the opening to her speech:

"I’ve got a question for you. I’m not asking you to shout your answer out, or raise your hand. All I’m asking is that you give it room in your mind. Let it sit for a bit, and have a think about it.

My question is – do you believe like I do, that all of us deserve the opportunity to make the best of ourselves? Not second best, 3 rd , or even, highly commended. The BEST."

Get the guidelines, the template, and read the whole speech: sample Student Council speech for President

And now I've added three more sample Student Council speeches:

Student Council speech for Vice President
Student Council speech for Secretary
Student Council speech for Treasurer

Thank you speech sample

Image: Thank you repeated in many different fonts on parchment background scattered with stylized marigolds.

The example thank you speech expresses gratitude for being the recipient of a community service award.

"Who's considered the incredible power of thank you? Those two words express gratitude, humility, understanding, as well as acknowledgement.

I am here with you: my family, many of my friends and colleagues, because I need to say all of that, and then some more."

You'll find the full speech, and guidelines covering how to write a speech of thanks here: thank you speech example

An example tribute speech

A tribute speech may also be a commemorative speech. That is a speech celebrating, praising or paying tribute to the memory of: a person, a group, an institution, a thing, an event or even an idea. Or it could be a eulogy or funeral speech; a speech celebrating a person's life.

This example tribute speech was written in memory of my mother, Iris.

Image:old-fashioned purple flag iris blooms. Text: A tribute speech for my mother, Iris.

"My Mother's name marked her out as the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger for the ancient Olympian gods and carrier of faith, hope and wisdom.

She was Iris. And although the meaning of her name is rich in imagery and history that wasn't why her parent's called her that. Instead it was something much closer to home.

After her birth my grandmother saw iris flowering out her bedroom window. She was named for the regal beauty of their dark purple flowers."

Example welcome speeches

There are three welcome speech examples for you to read: welcome to an event, welcome to a church, and welcome to the family. All three come with guidelines to help you prepare a good welcome speech of your own.

This example is welcoming listeners to an event. As part of that, the special guests are mentioned, as is, an outline of what's going to happen.

This is the opening:

"Sue-Ellen Thomas, Jim Smith, Jane Brown and all of our guests, welcome.

My name is April Molloy, and it's my privilege and pleasure on behalf of Parents United to welcome you here today.

We are delighted to have you with us to participate and share in our 5th annual Children's Day. Thank you for coming. That many of you have traveled long distances to be here serves as a reminder to us all just how important our work is."

You can read the rest here: sample welcome speech .

A church welcome speech example

This sample speech welcomes visitors to the congregation. Along with the speech you'll also find links to additional resources to assist.

Here's the opening passage:

"I want to take a moment to extend a very warm welcome to everyone who's visiting us for the first time this morning. Whether you're just having a look, or are searching out for a place to worship, we're delighted to have you here.

To give you some idea of what we're all about, I'll quickly sketch some of our foundational beliefs."

Read more: church welcome speech example

Example welcome to the family speech

This is a short, and sweet, speech welcoming a bride or groom-to-be into a family at an event arranged for that purpose. The template it uses is entirely flexible.

Mary {Replace the name Mary with the name of the person you are welcoming} - welcome to the family!

Family, tribe, clan, kin, group - call it what you will: it's us - all of us!

We're mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, cousins, 3rd cousins, even 53rd cousins, old and young, generations of us, linked together through shared DNA and history.

Look around. The faces smiling back at you are now your people too."

See more: example welcome to the family speech

In addition to providing speech examples, I also custom write speeches.

If you have a speech to give for a special occasion that's coming up you may like to find out more, especially if you find writing stressful. ☺ Go to: speech writer for hire

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5 Tips on How to Write a Speech Essay

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M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

When figuring out how to write a speech, the essay form can offer a good foundation for the process. Just like essays, all speeches have three main sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

However, unlike essays, speeches must be written to be heard as opposed to being read. You need to write a speech in a way that keeps the attention of an audience and helps paint a mental image at the same time. This means that your speech should contain some color, drama, or humor . It should have “flair.” Make your speech memorable by using attention-grabbing anecdotes and examples.

Determine the Type of Speech You're Writing

Since there are different types of speeches, your attention-grabbing techniques should fit the speech type.

Informative and instructional speeches inform your audience about a topic, event, or area of knowledge. This can be a how-to on podcasting for teens or a historical report on the Underground Railroad. It also can relate to health and beauty, such as "How to Shape Perfect Eyebrows," or hobby-related, such as "Make a Great Bag Out of Old Clothing."

Persuasive speeches attempt to convince or persuade the audience to join one side of an argument. You might write a speech about a life choice, such as, "Abstinence Can Save Your Life," or getting involved in the community, such as "The Benefits of Volunteering."

Entertaining speeches entertain your audience, and topics may not practical. Your speech topic could be something like, "Life Is Like a Dirty Dorm," or "Can Potato Peels Predict the Future?"

Special occasion speeches entertain or inform your audience, like graduation speeches and toasts at celebrations.

Explore the different types of speeches and decide what speech type fits your assignment.

Craft a Creative Speech Introduction

Thoughtco.com / Grace Fleming

The introduction of the informative speech should contain an attention-grabber, followed by a statement about your topic. It should end with a strong transition into your body section.

As an example, consider a template for an informative speech called "African-American Heroines." The length of your speech will depend on the amount of time you have been allotted to speak.

The red section of the speech in the graphic provides the attention-grabber. It makes audience members think about what life would be like without civil rights. The last sentence states directly the purpose of the speech and leads into the speech body, which provides more details.

Determine the Flow of the Body of the Speech

Thoughtco.com / Grace Fleming

The body of your speech can be organized in a number of ways, depending on your topic. Suggested organization patterns include:

Chronological: Provides the order of events in time;
Spatial: Gives an overview of physical arrangement or design;
Topical: Presents information one subject at a time;
Causal: Shows cause-and-effect pattern.

The speech pattern illustrated in the image in this slide is topical. The body is divided into sections that address different people (different topics). Speeches typically include three sections (topics) in the body. This speech would continue with a third section about Susie King Taylor.

Writing a Memorable Speech Conclusion

The conclusion of your speech should restate the main points you covered in your speech and end with a memorable statement. In the sample in this graphic, the red section restates the overall message you wanted to convey: that the three women you've mentioned had strength and courage, despite the odds they faced.

The quote is an attention-grabber since it is written in colorful language. The blue section ties the entire speech together with a small twist.

Address These Key Objectives

Whatever type of speech you decide to write, find ways to make your words memorable. Those elements include:

Clever quotes
Amusing stories with a purpose
Meaningful transitions
A good ending

The structure of how to write your speech is just the start. You'll also need to finesse the speech a bit. Start by paying attention to your audience and their interests. Write the words you'll speak with passion and enthusiasm, but you also want your listeners to share that enthusiasm. When writing your attention-grabbing statements, make sure you are writing what will get their attention, not just yours.

Study Famous Speeches

Gain inspiration from others' speeches. Read famous speeches and look at the way they are constructed. Find things that stand out and figure out what makes it interesting. Oftentimes, speechwriters use rhetorical devices to make certain points easy to remember and to emphasize them.

Get to the Point Quickly

Remember to begin and end your speech with something that will gain and hold the attention of your audience. If you spend too much time getting into your speech, people will zone out or start checking their phones. If you get them interested immediately, they will be more likely to stick with you until the end.

Keep It Conversational

How you deliver the speech is also important. When you give the speech , think about the tone you should use, and be sure to write the speech in the same flow that you'd use in conversations. A great way to check this flow is to practice reading it out loud. If you stumble while reading or it feels monotone, look for ways to jazz up the words and improve the flow.

100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students
How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech
How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay
How to Write a Great Process Essay
How To Write an Essay
How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian
Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
What Is Expository Writing?
Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay
How to Give an Impromptu Speech
How to Write a Persuasive Essay
Understanding Organization in Composition and Speech
How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay
Writing a Descriptive Essay
Writing a Paper about an Environmental Issue

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Writing Tips

How to Write a Professional Speech

5-minute read

7th May 2022

At some point in your professional career, you may find yourself with the daunting task of writing a speech. However, armed with the right information on how to write an engaging, attention-grabbing speech, you can rest assured that you’ll deliver a truly memorable one. Check out our guide below on how to write a professional speech that will successfully communicate your message and leave your audience feeling like they’ve truly learned something.

1.Understand your audience

Knowing your target audience can help guide you along the writing process. Learn as much as possible about them and the event you’re planning to speak at. Keep these key points in mind when you’re writing your speech.

● Who are they?

● Why are they here?

● What do they hope to learn?

● How much do they already know about my topic?

● What am I hoping to teach them?

● What interests them about my topic?

2. Research your topic

Perform in-depth research and analysis of your topic.

● Consider all angles and aspects.

● Think about the various ways you can discuss and debate the subject.

● Keep in mind why you’re passionate about the topic and what you’re hoping to achieve by discussing it.

● Determine how you can use the information gathered to connect the dots for your audience.

● Look for examples or statistics that will resonate with your audience.

● Sift through the research to pick out the most important points for your audience.

3. Create an opening hook

The first few minutes of your speech are paramount to its success. This is the moment when your audience truly pays attention and listens attentively.

● Start with a bold, persuasive opening statement that captures your audience’s attention.

● Ask a question to get them involved.

● Offer a shocking statistic or a powerful, well-known quote.

● Make a statement or rhetoric question and then pause for a moment, allowing them to grasp the gravity of what you’ve just said.

● Use a personal anecdote or life experience related to your topic to engage them.

4. Use an easy-to-grasp format

When you have the information you need, outline your speech in a way that your audience can easily follow.

● Start with what you plan to discuss in the speech.

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● Go deeper into the details of the subject matter.

● Repeat what you’ve already mentioned in a few brief points.

● End with a strong statement that sums up what you were trying to achieve.

A typical structure should include:

● Introduction: Outline the main talking points of your speech.

● Body: Discuss these points in more detail, offer statistics, case studies, presentation aids, and other evidence to prove your theories.

● Conclusion: Wrap up your discussion with a bold message that leaves your audience feeling empowered, hopeful, and more knowledgeable about the topic.

5. Add some personality and humor

Remember to let your personality shine through. This speech is more than just words on a page. Allow the audience to feel your passion and vigor. Force them to think about the message you’re conveying.

● Share personal stories, fears, memories, or failures to help the audience relate to you as a person.

● Include some humor, jokes, puns, or limericks to give them a brief respite from the complex discussion.

● Offer well-known, popular, resounding quotes to help them acknowledge the significance of the topic.

5. Use anaphora for emphasis

Repetition is key in speeches. Realistically, you may lose your audience’s attention at times. By repeating key messages, they’ll be able to remember these vital takeaways despite drifting off somewhere in between. Anaphora allows you to repeat certain words or phrases in a clever, unique way that emphasizes your core message.

6. Keep it short and sweet

● Say what you need to in the shortest amount of time possible.

● You can’t realistically expect your audience to actively listen if you drone on and on.

● Provide clear, concise explanations and supporting examples or evidence.

7. Adopt presentation aids

People will quickly understand your message if you show them charts, tables, graphs, photos, or even regular household items .

8. Read it aloud

● This ensures you achieve a compelling tone of voice.

● It can also help you determine if the length is appropriate.

● Reading it aloud can also help you decide if you need to add more jokes, personal anecdotes, or even dramatic pauses and rhetoric questions.

9. End on a powerful note

End with a message that makes your reader feel inspired, motivated, and informed.

10. Proofread your speech

Finally, a well-researched speech riddled with errors, inconsistencies, and an ineffective tone of voice won’t help you achieve your ultimate goal – namely, to enlighten and educate your audience and have them walk away with the topic still playing on their mind. Have a friend or colleague read through your speech to highlight areas that require correction before you’re ready to present.

If you want to learn more about how we can help you write a powerful, resounding, and well-written speech, send us a free sample today.

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Speechwriting

How to Write a Speech

Last Updated: May 6, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,973,504 times.

Giving an original speech for a class, event, or work presentation can be nerve-wracking. However, writing an effective speech can help to bolster your confidence. With careful planning and an eye for detail, you can write a speech that will inform, persuade, motivate, or entertain! Give yourself plenty of time to craft your speech and practice it several times for best results.

Sample Speeches

Drafting an Effective Speech

If you are writing a speech for a class, make sure to check with your teacher to get details about the number and acceptable types of sources.

If you are writing an informative or persuasive speech, then plan to arrange your speech with a problem and solution structure. Start the speech by talking about what is wrong, then explain how to fix the problem in the second half of your speech. [4] X Research source

Tip : Keep in mind that you can always refine your outline later or as you draft your speech. Include all of the information that seems relevant now with the expectation that you will likely need to pare it down later.

Step 3 Choose a hook to grab the audience’s attention right away.

For example, if you are writing a motivational speech about weight loss, then you might say something like, “Five years ago, I could not walk up a flight of stairs without needing to take a break halfway up.”
If you hope to persuade audience members to reduce their use of fossil fuels, then you might start off by saying, “Gas-powered vehicles are the reason why global warming is threatening to destroy our planet.”

Step 4 Connect your topic to a larger issue to give background information.

For example, if you are giving a speech on increasing funding for Alzheimer’s research, it would be helpful to provide information on how common Alzheimer’s disease is and how it affects families. You could accomplish this with a combination of a statistic and an anecdote.

Tip: Keep your introduction less than 1 paragraph or 1 double-spaced page long. This will help to ensure that you do not spend too much time on the context and background before getting to the meat of your topic. [7] X Research source

Step 5 Address each of your main points in a logical order.

For example, in a speech about ending animal testing for cosmetics, you might start with a point about how animal testing is cruel, then explain that it is unnecessary, and then talk about the alternatives to animal testing that make it obsolete.

Step 6 Introduce new topics and summarize material you have already covered.

For example, if you are about to cover the concept of delayed onset muscle soreness (also known as DOMS), then explain what it is in a nutshell first, then go into more detail about it and how it relates to your point, then end that section of your speech with a brief summary of the main point you are trying to make.

Step 7 Include transitions to guide your audience through your speech.

In that moment
The following week

Step 8 Conclude your speech with a call-to-action.

For example, if you have just described the effects of global warming on the polar bear population, conclude your speech by telling your audience about non-profit organizations that are working to protect the environment and the polar bear population.
If you have just shared your weight loss story to motivate your audience, tell them what they can do to start their own weight loss journey and share resources that you found helpful.

Making Your Speech More Engaging

Step 1 Keep your words and sentences short and simple.

For example, instead of saying, “Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight is the pinnacle of human existence because it enables you to accomplish physical feats that boost your confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment,” say, “A healthy body weight allows you to do more physically, and this may make you happier overall.”
Keep in mind that it is also important to vary your sentence structure. You can include a longer sentence once or twice per page to add variety to your speech. Just avoid using lots of long sentences in your speech. [15] X Research source

Step 2 Favor nouns over pronouns for clarity.

For example, if you are giving a speech for a group of sales associates who are trying to increase sales of a new product called “Synergy,” then you might repeat a simple phrase to that effect, such as “Tell your customers about Synergy,” or you could simply say, “Synergy” a few times during your speech to remind your audience of this product.
If you are writing a motivational speech about how running can help people to overcome emotional hurdles, then you might repeat a phrase in your speech to emphasize this idea, such as, “Run through the pain.”

Step 4 Limit statistics and quotes to avoid overwhelming your audience.

For example, if you are giving a speech about moose mating patterns, 2 numbers that show the decline in the moose population over a 50 year period may be a striking addition to your speech. However, sharing a complex set of moose population statistics would be less compelling and possibly even confusing to your audience.
Choose quotes that are easy to follow and make sure that you explain how each quote you use supports to your argument. Try to stick with quotes that use simple language and take up no more than 2 lines on your page.

Step 5 Maintain an appropriate tone throughout your speech.

For example, when describing your love of food in a motivational speech about becoming a chef, you might decide to include a joke and say something like, “I always wanted to become a chef, ever since I was a little kid and I discovered that people actually make donuts and they don’t just randomly fall from the sky.”

Step 6 Provide visual aids if you are allowed.

Avoid relying on the slides to make the speech for you. You will still need to deliver your speech in an engaging manner. Only use the slides as a complement to your words.

Step 7 Practice and check for weak spots that you can improve.

Make sure to read your speech out loud when you review it! This will help you to determine if it sounds natural and if there are any awkward sections that you can cut, smooth out, or explain more clearly. [22] X Research source

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

↑ http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/speech/tips.htm
↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
↑ https://www.write-out-loud.com/howtowritespeech.html
↑ https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/7-sensational-essay-hooks/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/speeches/
↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-introductions
↑ https://pac.org/content/speechwriting-101-writing-effective-speech

About This Article

To write a speech, start off with an attention-grabbing statement, like "Before I begin my speech, I have something important to say." Once you've gotten everyone's attention, move on to your strongest argument or point first since that's what audiences will remember the most. Use transitions throughout your speech, like "This brings us back to the bigger picture," so the audience doesn't get lost. To conclude your speech, restate the key points and leave your audience with a question or something to think about. To learn how to edit your first draft, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Writing and Delivering Spectacular Short Speeches (A-Z guide)

Hrideep barot.

Public Speaking , Speech Topics , Speech Writing

A man making his point while 2 other men listen to him.

Short speeches are bite-sized speeches . Unlike other speeches, short speeches try to provide consolidated and on-point information.

How long should short speeches be?

Short speeches are about 1 minute to 15 minutes long depending on the situation. Its duration is also dependent on the audience.

Human speech roughly comprises the ability to speak 100-150 words per minute . Depending upon the appropriate duration for a short speech in a situation, one can calculate how many words would be required.

It is advisable to keep at least a 15 seconds buffer while writing your short speech. As When you speak you may emphasize a point, make a joke, or give time to the audience to let a point sink in, all of which take up time, probably around 15 seconds to half a minute.

You are free to add more words depending on your speed of speaking and pace.

At the end of the day, the idea behind giving a speech is to convey a message to your audience

Things to keep in mind while writing ,

1-2 minute speeches.

One-minute speeches don’t leave you enough time to put forth many points, even in their most condensed form. Keeping one unexpected message in mind and making it the central point of your speech can prove to be effective in delivering your speech to your audience.

Quoting stories, anecdotes, facts, and figures to support your idea further can make your speech more impactful.

Lastly, having a simple opening line and restating your main idea in your conclusion should be sufficient to put your idea across.

A short speech for your Facebook audience works best when they are 1-3 minutes long.

5-minute speeches

A 600-800 words speech would be sufficient for a 5-minute speech.

5-minute speech gives you enough time to introduce your topic and elaborate on it. You can even add a minute to conclude your topic rather than just restating the main takeaway.

Ideally, the initial 1 minute is dedicated to the introduction. It can be an introduction to yourself or to your topic. Having more points can make your speech a little messy . Allocating a minute to each point and then concluding your speech can be an effective way of presenting your 5-minute speech.

Can a speech be too short?

Have you ever looked at a speaker and complained about their speech being too short? Rather opposite, we tend to like the speaker more for having the ability to fit all the relevant information in a short time.

But if you are looking for a specific word count or time duration, then it can be as short as George Washington ‘s second inaugural address which was 135 words long.

The idea behind giving any speech is to cover all the important points and not just to keep a check on the timer. It is the quality of your speech that reaches the audience. While the quantity of your speech , i.e., how long or short it is, comes secondary .

If you have been questioning how to create a short speech? and How to write good short speeches? the section below might guide you on how to do so.

Writing spectacular short speeches

A spectacular speech is one that has credibility, an emotional element, and logic.

Writing spectacular short speeches involves the following stages:

To make the process of writing short speeches easier for you to understand, Let’s take the example of making a cake . Might as well bake one later!

1. Ideation Stage

A man in deep thought with his laptop in front of him

Before starting to make any cake, you’d first decide on which flavor of the cake you want to make, right?

In speech writing, this stage is concerned with deciding a topic for your speech .

If you have been given a broad topic, you might have to take a deeper look at what elements you wish to add. It is advisable to go for a topic that interests you the most and the one that the audience would like as well.

You can decide upon the information you want to add to your speech by answering the following questions:

What ? includes what the topic is, ie, its definition. What is the problem that you want to highlight? What is the situation in which the speech is to be given?

Who? is concerned with which section of people you will be talking about.

Why? Is concerned with reasoning as to why the topic is to be included and what the audience will gain from introducing this information to them. Hence, this forms your takeaway from the speech.

All these Who? What? Why? questions form the core of the ideation stage.

2. Collection stage

A man researching some information on his laptop.

The next step in making a cake is getting all the ingredients we require.

In speech writing, this is the collection stage . Once you have a broad idea of what points you want to add to your speech, you can then go and research those specific topics.

Research plays a very important role when it comes to public speaking. A well-researched speech would be more credible for the audience, making it easier for them to trust your information and you. It also frees us of any biases or stereotypes we may be carrying as a speaker.

Ways to conduct your research

Depending on the purpose of your speech, you can choose any one research methodology or a combination of those given below.

a. Conducting Primary research

Primary Research is when you collect the data yourself . You can do it through surveys or interviews or any other means that is convenient for you.

Suppose you are giving a speech on success and want to add that grades do not affect your likelihood of succeeding in life. You can circulate a small survey asking people who are doing well in their fields about their grades and check for the results yourself.

b. Through secondary research

Secondary research is when you adopt the information or results from someone else’s research.

A plethora of freely available books, newspapers, and other sources online, make the task easier.

However, it is important to check for the credibility of these resources before committing to them in your speech.

A couple of websites that provide resources for free that you can use in your speech are:

Research Papers: Google Scholar , Shodhganga
Books: BookBub , Zlibrary
Youtube: Bloomberg Quicktake , TED

The more diverse your research sources, the broader will be your perspective on your speech topic.

3. Structuring the information

Once you have collected all the information that you need, you might want to give it a proper structure.

The most basic format of writing a speech is:

Flow chart of structuring information from introduction to body to conclusion.

The introduction includes basic information about the topic like its definition. You can also introduce a problem here.

In short speeches you don’t necessarily have to allot a lot of time introducing your topic, Hence keeping it short is always a good idea.

The body comprises a major part of your speech. It involves a detailed explanation of your topic. It may have a few subtopics that you may want to highlight. If you had introduced a problem in the introduction, then the body would include some solutions to that problem .

The conclusion is the summary of your speech .

While this is a structure we have learned since the day we were taught about speech writing, Another technique to structure and enhance your speech is the one given by Aristotle . It is a persuasive speech technique that includes the use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

Ethos is the credibility element, Pathos means emotion , and Logos is the logical component .

I believe a lot of us here grew up privileged. When i say priveleged, we mean you had clothes to wear, a house to live in and food to eat, most probably you also had choices. Now try to imagine a life without those facilities (pathos) . About 689 million people today live under poverty (logos) . As a social activist and privleged citizen (Ethos) , I would like to address the issue of poverty today.

4. Enhancing Stage

The next step in making our cake is to get the right quantity of our ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.

This is the enhancing stage in speech writing, where you add a few things that would enhance your speech overall.

The use of literary techniques conveniently enhances any speech, no matter how mundane it may be. A few literary techniques that you can use are:

a. Tripling

A technique in which you take 3 words and group them together for maximum impact. The use of alliteration while tripling can make it even more impactful.

An example would be “His only philosophy of a fulfilling life was to love, laugh, and live .

The repetition of words in threes can also be used to exaggerate or evoke a particular emotion in the audience. This is called a Diacope . An example of Diacope that can be used in your speech on global warming could be: “With global warming on a rise, it is only going to get hotter and hotter and hotter with time.”

b. Cohesive ideas

Cohesive ideas refer to things that help in connecting two ideas . In simple terms, it includes the use of proper connectors like although, hence, and, because, furthermore, and so on.

Although it may seem irrelevant, It brings a sort of structure to your speech by connecting the ideas and forming a link.

An example of using cohesive ideas in your speech is given below:

According to the Evans Data Corporation, there are about 4.4 million software developers in North America. Although Washington, California, and Oregon are the top three recruiters for software developers in the USA; California has more software development positions which could be because of the famous silicon valley being located in North California. The average salary is expected to be around $126937 per year. However , Washington offers the highest salary at 164,000 per year.

c. Taking pauses

Taking necessary pauses is an effective way of getting across your information. It guides the audience on the ideas that you want them to focus on. Hence, It gives due emphasis to important sub-topics in your speech.

This is also an effective way to make your speech longer.

To learn ways in which you can harness the power of taking a pause in your speech, check out the video below.

5. Evaluation stage

Once we have mixed all the ingredients well, the next step in making our cake would be to pour the batter into a pan and keep it in the oven to cook, right?

In speech writing, this step can be called the Evaluation stage .

As you already have the first draft of your speech ready what you can do next is to see where your speech requires improvements. Keeping a timer can help you understand if there is time to add more information to your speech or if you need to compress it a little more.

This is when you decide on your pace of speaking.

After evaluation, If the speech is too short , you might want to add a few more points . Adding in a few stories can also prove to be helpful while engaging the audience at the same time. You can also open yourself up for a question-and-answer session after your speech. This would make your contribution longer with no change that would be required in your speech

For more ways to lengthen your speech, check out Ways to Make a Speech Longer .

And if the speech is too long you jump to the next step.

A man cutting the edges of a paper with scissors.

What do you do when you realize that the top layer of your cake is burnt? Most possibly you will trim that layer while making sure that it doesn’t ruin the shape of your cake.

Similarly, after a few evaluations of your speech, you can start editing it. The idea is to remove anything extra, repetitive, and even flowery words . In case any idea is going off the topic, it can be dropped.

You might also want to change passive voice to active voice.

Other aspects of your speech can be edited depending on the areas that need improvement.

An example of how you can edit your speech is given below

Climate change is here and the issue is only going to escalate quickly with time. 17% of Bangladesh is predicted to be submerged underwater by 2050. A lot of other cities like Mumbai in India, Tokyo in Japan, and New York City in the USA have been predicted to meet a similar fate.

An edited version of it could be:

Climate change is here and the issue is only going to escalate quickly with time. 17% of Bangladesh is predicted to be submerged underwater by 2050. A lot of other famous cities have also been predicted to meet a similar fate.

7. Final touch

Once we have given our cake a good shape, it is time for frosting and sprinkles!

Hence it is time for the Final touch in speech writing.

A few things you can use in your speech to enhance it more are:

a. Jokes : A little joke here or there would help lighten the mood of the audience. However, you must make sure that it is by no means derogatory to anyone.

It is okay if you are not confident in coming up with a joke yourself, You can even quote someone else’s joke.

An example of quoting someone to make your speech humorous is given below:

If in the first go you are not able to succeed in achieving your goals, do not give up right away. After all, it is your resilience and persistence that would eventually help you succeed and achieve your goals. But if at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you .” (Steven Wright)

A light-hearted and humorous story can also be added to your speech, provided it doesn’t make the speech unnecessarily long.

Ted talk by Vinay Menon is the best example of how you can casually add humor to your speech. He opens the speech by introducing himself when he says that he is both a lecturer and a stand-up comedian. He follows it by saying “ So most of you might be complaining about having a poorly-paying job; I’ve got two.”

Self-directed jokes would be a better option than targeting someone else or a community.

b. Quotes : Inserting quotes helps to enhance your credibility, especially if you are quoting some renowned personality.

If for example, your speech is about What is happiness? You might want to add a few quotes by personalities like Dalai Lama or even Buddha to your speech. One such quote could be:

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama

c. Props : Props make any concept easier to understand. It can also increase the likelihood of the audience believing in what you are saying.

While using props, you should make sure to use the prop early in your speech to not distract the audience and have them wondering what the prop is for.

In the video below, would you have believed if Lauren Singer simply said she lived a zero-waste lifestyle? probably not until you see all the waste she has collected in 3 years.

8. Practicing stage

The last thing to do with your cake before you munch on it is to let it set in the refrigerator for some time.

The practicing stage in speech writing is when we evaluate our final speech and practice it so that it sets perfectly for the day when we have to present.

You can practice using any technique that you are comfortable with. A few techniques you can use are:

Recording : You can practice your speech by recording it on your phone. This will give you an opportunity to go back and check how you did. It would also help in a comparative analysis of your progress. You can compare your first video recorded to your most recent one, to see your improvements.
Visualizing : Visualizing is a technique that involves visualizing or imagining as if you were giving a speech in front of a crowd. If convenient you can also go to the place where you will be presenting your speech and practice there while visualizing the place to be filled with a crowd.
Look for a volunteer crowd : If possible you can also look for people who might be happy to help you practice. This volunteer crowd could even be your friends and family members.

Now you don’t need to follow the same steps in speech writing. You may skip a few or even go back and forth, as per your convenience. The thing you need to understand is that there are no set rules for speech writing .

The last step would be to enjoy your cake or in our case, the delivery of your speech.

Delivering spectacular short speeches

The delivery of short speeches can be different depending on the situation. Two broad differences are when you have presented the topic on the spot, that is an impromptu speech. And the second case is when you are given enough time to prepare for your speech.

Delivery of a Prepared Speech

A. make sure that the audience can hear you..

At times your voice may not reach the ones sitting far behind. It is better to make sure that everyone can hear you before you start your speech. As it will give you time to rectify that limitation at the beginning itself.

This can prove to be helpful especially if the situation doesn’t give you enough time to clarify the audience’s doubts later through a questions and answers session.

b. Simple speech opener

When it comes to short speeches, we often do not have a lot of time to form an initial rapport with the audience.

What you can do is start with an open-ended question. Such rhetorical questions require the speaker to ask a question and pause for some time to let the audience think. It also helps in setting enough curiosity among the audience members to make them listen to what you have to say.

You can also start by adding some humor through jokes as we discussed.

You can further start by bringing the audience’s attention to some fact or statistical information . An example would be “Did you know an estimated 5.6 million people die each year due to poor countries’ lack of access to proper healthcare?”

If you are looking for more opening lines for your short speech, consider watching the video below.

c. Storytelling

Again, while we know that there is no set time for short speeches, it still doesn’t have the flexibility of elongated time to explain the concept in detail.

Stories are one of the best ways to get the audience engaged. In short speeches, stories can be used to explain a concept. You can structure your speech in a way that conveys a story as well.

Delivery of an Impromptu Speech

While delivering impromptu speeches, you might not have enough time to spare and structure the information in a sequential manner. In these cases, you can follow a few models that might make the task of giving the speech easier for you.

a. PREP Model

The idea is to make a point, and give a reason that supports the point. The reason shall be followed by an example which would then introduce another point.

An example of using the PREP model when giving a best man speech could be

Hello everyone, I am XYZ, the best man of this amazing man who just got married (Point). All it took for me to get this title today was 10 years of ubering this fellow who is 32 and yet sits there proudly with no driving license (Reason). I still remember the first day of college when he made me wait for 2 hrs (Example). This day brings me immense joy as I gladly hand over my driver duties to (Bride’s name) (Point).

b. WWW model

The idea is to start by sharing who you are followed by some information on what you do. This shall be followed by answering the third question, that is, where are you going from here?

An example of the WWW model from a farewell speech could be:

Hello, I am XYZ (Who are you). I had been working as a product manager in this organization for the past 6 years (What do you do) and I’m grateful to all of you who have contributed to my journey here. I realized a few months ago that my contribution towards the work here and that my own venture was not meeting its mark. That was when I realized that it was the right time for me to bid goodbye so as to give my 100% to my own venture (Where you are going from here ) . Thank you again for such a wonderful working experience; I shall cherish them with me forever.

Short speeches by famous personalities

While there are a number of short speeches by famous personalities, 3 of the most hard-hitting short speeches we would like to take a look at are given below.

These are also some of the most inspiring short speeches of all time.

1. Leonardo DiCaprio

The speech given by Leonardo DiCaprio at the opening of the Climate Summit 2014 is an amazing example of a short 3-minute speech .

The way his speech has been structured is worth nothing. In the initial 1 minute, he introduces how humans have conveniently ignored the issue of climate change as if it were a work of fiction. He then proceeds to explain the grave effects of climate change that have already been observed. Thus establishing the need to take action Now.

He emphasizes the word “Now” to indicate the urgency of taking some action for climate change. This also forms his one takeaway.

He concludes by restating his takeaway in a very impactful manner by saying,

The time to address humnakind’s greatest challenge is Now .

2. Denzel Washington

One of the most motivating speeches of all time was given by Denzel Washington while receiving his image award for outstanding actor in Motion Picture.

The way he uses repetition to emphasize the phrase “Ease is a greater threat than progress,” and the use of tripling in “Keep moving, keep growing, keep learning” is commendable.

Another noteworthy feature of the speech is how he takes pauses and slows down when he wants to audience to focus on the word or the idea that he is talking about.

3. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai who is well known for advocating education for girls, during her speech at the 2015 Nobel Concert showed some excellent skills that must be noted and if possible adopted in your speech.

She gracefully observes the room and starts with humor , when she says

Please have a seat, I know you have been standing a lot and clapping and people get tired.

She quotes statistics when she mentions that there are about 57 million children who are out of school , thus establishing her credibility and at the same time making people aware of the grave reality.

Lastly, she establishes one clear takeaway , when she urges the audience,

I want you to think about how can you help, how can you help these children to go to school

Short speech topics

Here is a list of unique short speech topics that you can make use of. The list also caters to short speech topics for students.

Final words

Writing and delivering short speeches don’t have any specific rules. You are free to choose a way that suits best for you and your speech.

The only idea is to make the content precise and to the point with little chance of drifting from the topic. Stories, jokes, and props can help in effectively delivering your speech to the audience.

No speech is too short, but it can be short of a meaningful takeaway.

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Writing a speech

Topic outline.

The purpose of a speech is often to inform or persuade an audience.

Speeches are usually written to be spoken directly to an audience and can be used to entertain, influencing the listeners that the viewpoint of the speaker is correct.

Speeches can also be used to encourage the audience to take action or to change their behaviour in some way; for example, to join a particular school club or society, or to recycle more.

The ways you use language and vocabulary when writing the words of a speech will depend on the audience and the purpose you are writing for; for example, in a speech to a group of teachers and parents giving your views on a recent proposal, formal language is most appropriate.

think about the audience that the speech is for – are you giving your speech to a group of people you know, or do not know, or a mixture of both? If you know your audience well, you may be able to relax a little, but a speech is still a formal kind of talk and would usually not include slang
whether your audience are likely to disagree with what you say – you will need to consider any possible objections and deal with them. Use language carefully to make objections seem less significant; for example, using phrases like ‘A few people may still think, however’
the reason you are giving this speech and how you feel about this topic – try to imagine the words of your speech as you would speak them out loud. Your tone of voice must match your message, so choose words that appeal to the emotions of your listeners. Focus on what you want your audience to know and feel by the end of your speech
how to engage your listeners – f or example, you might use inclusive words or phrases like ‘we’, ‘all of us’ and ‘our’ to make your listeners feel that you are all on the same side.
Plan where you want to finish your speech and how you will get there before you start writing – t h e structure of a speech is usually in three parts. For example:
An opening that grabs your audience's attention and makes the overall topic of your speech clear – for example, pose a question to the audience where you can predict the answer.
A well-structured, supported and developed argument – for example, to support your argument you might use real life examples or anecdotes.
A powerful conclusion – for example, group your final words or ideas in threes to help make them memorable or end with a thought- provoking question or image and thank your audience for listening.
Organise your ideas into paragraphs as appropriate – this will help you to develop and support your points convincingly, to build your argument and/or offer a full explanation of a particular point of view.
S how the connectio ns between ideas in sentences and paragraphs – where a new point or idea follows on from what you have already said you might use linking words or phrases such as, ‘in addition’, ‘likewise’ or ‘similarly’.
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The Art Of Writing Effective Speeches

Imagine that you have been asked to emcee at an event tomorrow. What’s the first thing you’re going to do?…

Imagine that you have been asked to emcee at an event tomorrow. What’s the first thing you’re going to do? You’re most likely going to write down your speech and rehearse it till you feel confident. You’ll probably think about ways to connect with the audience and adjust your speech accordingly.

Speech writing is more common than we realize. Whether it’s wedding vows or farewell speeches, there are many times when we find ourselves making a speech. Writing a speech is easier than it sounds. Read on to learn tips that will help you write impactful speeches.

What Is Speech Writing?

A speech is a form of formal spoken communication that an individual delivers with the proper choice of words, expressions and examples. Its purpose is to explain, inform or persuade others. Speech writing is the art of writing a message for an audience that can captivate and influence them.

Writing a speech is different from writing any other piece of written communication because you write to be heard and not to be read. Effective speech writing not only helps you connect with a large number of people, it also helps you direct them towards a particular agenda. The ability to write and deliver good speeches will help you at conferences, client meetings and even dinner parties!

If you feel that drafting a speech is an unusual activity, here are a few real-life examples of speech writing that will change your mind:

Employees often use PowerPoint presentations to get their message across—whether it’s about a new business strategy or new initiatives. They’re usually required to explain those slides so that the audience understands their points. Employees often draft a speech to communicate their ideas during such presentations.

Educational institutions often invite chief guests for graduation ceremonies, where the chief guest delivers a speech. Typically, these speeches are inspiring and filled with good wishes for the graduating students. Chief guests often read from a speech that they have drafted beforehand.

Techniques For Writing A Speech

Anybody can learn how to become a speechwriter—it’s a skill that can be developed with patience and persistence. Here are a few powerful strategies for writing compelling speeches:

Monitor Language And Style

Use language appropriate to your audience. Make your speeches interesting by including real-life examples and quotes. Avoid using complex words and jargon. Deliver your speech with appropriate nonverbal cues that help draw your audience in. For instance, use an even tone, pause when needed, maintain eye contact and stand straight without fidgeting.

Make Room For Questions

An effective way to liven up your speech is to ask your audience open-ended questions. Not only does it engage them but it also helps them remain focused. Prepare a set of relevant or related questions in advance. You may also conclude your speech with a thought-provoking question.

Pause At The Right Moments

A powerful pause adds impact to a sentence. When writing a speech, group your sentences into short paragraphs and use the paragraph breaks to take a pause. Don’t be afraid to wait for a few seconds before speaking again. The drop and rise in your voice as you begin speaking after a pause will help you emphasize key points.

Use The Power Of Three

Words and messages are best remembered in groups of three. Group your ideas into threes and use alliteration to make them memorable. An example is, “Live, laugh and love is the motto we live by.” The power of three makes speeches impactful.

Implement Dramatic Contrast

When you place two opposing ideas or viewpoints together, you create a dramatic contrast. This method is extremely useful if you want to surprise your audience and draw them into your speech. Here’s an example: “Five years ago, we had nothing, but look at us today! Our earnings have doubled every quarter and we have opened offices in five cities.”

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Articulating ideas and knowledge in front of an audience is a skill, that requires precision, proper structure, and a deep understanding of the audience’s expectations. As such, the art of speech-making isn’t merely about voicing thoughts, but creatively crafting words that resonate with the listeners, enlightening them, and perhaps, even inspiring action. Crafting the perfect speech begins with a solid understanding of its very essence and purpose.

What are Speech Examples?

Speech examples are predefined templates or prototypes that provide insights into the construction and presentation of speeches. They serve as a foundational structure, reflecting the elements necessary for an impactful delivery. These samples come from various arenas, be it a university lecture hall, a wedding reception, or a corporate retirement event. The nature of the speech is invariably tied to its context, thus understanding where and how they are used becomes crucial.

Types of Speeches

Persuasive speeches are crafted with the primary aim of influencing the audience’s beliefs, attitudes, or actions. A hallmark of such speeches is their ability to tap into the audience’s emotions, reason, and values. The speaker must employ a blend of logical arguments, emotional appeals, and credible evidence. Furthermore, understanding the demographic and psychological makeup of the audience is crucial. A clear strategy, combining ethos, pathos, and logos, can make the difference between an effective and an ineffective persuasive speech.

Informative Speeches

An informative speech, as the name suggests, centers around imparting knowledge on a specific topic. Unlike persuasive speeches, the primary objective here is to educate, not necessarily to sway opinion. The hallmark of a good informative speech is its clarity, organization, and authenticity. Speakers should focus on presenting facts, statistics, or processes in a way that’s easy to grasp, steering clear of personal biases or persuasive undertones. It’s pivotal for the speaker to be well-versed in the subject matter, ensuring that the audience walks away enlightened.

Wedding Speeches

Wedding speeches, delivered amidst a backdrop of love and celebration, have the unique task of encapsulating the essence of a couple’s journey. They often intertwine stories of joy, challenges, love, and hope. Such speeches, be it from a family member, friend, or the couple themselves, should resonate with the warmth of the occasion. It’s a moment to reminisce about shared experiences, to laugh, to shed a tear, and to look forward with optimism. The audience, a mix of different relationships and generations, should feel the universality of love through the words.

Birthday and Retirement Speeches

Birthday speeches are often a delightful mix of past recollections and future aspirations, all wrapped in the warmth of the present celebration. They might be playful, touching upon childhood escapades, or reflective, contemplating the journey of life. Retirement speeches, conversely, are more about culmination and gratitude. They honor an individual’s years of service, dedication, and the legacy they leave behind. While the tones may differ, both types of speeches share a common thread of appreciation, acknowledgment, and looking forward.

Graduation and Farewell Speeches

Graduation speeches stand at the crossroads of accomplishment and anticipation. They honor the dedication and hard work of students, while also stoking the fires of excitement for the journey ahead. Speakers often infuse them with motivational anecdotes, life lessons, and visions of a promising future. Farewell speeches, conversely, have a tinge of finality. They are moments of reflection, gratitude, and a heartfelt goodbye. They serve to remind both the speaker and the audience of the bonds forged and the memories created.

Tribute and Funeral Speeches

Tribute speeches shine a spotlight on individuals, celebrating their achievements, character, and the impact they’ve had on others. They can be delivered during a person’s lifetime or posthumously. The emphasis is on admiration, gratitude, and inspiration. Funeral speeches, on the other hand, are solemn, introspective, and deeply emotional. They seek to honor the departed, reminisce about shared moments, and offer comfort to the grieving. While both speeches are rooted in emotion, the context and purpose define their tone.

Motivational Speeches

These speeches aim to inspire, uplift, and spur the audience into action. Motivational speakers often weave personal stories, challenges, and triumphs into their narratives to connect and galvanize their listeners. The objective is to ignite a spark, to push individuals beyond their perceived limits, and to instill a belief in their potential.

Debate Speeches

Debate speeches are structured discourses, aimed at presenting or refuting a particular viewpoint. Precision, logic, and evidence are paramount. Debaters must anticipate counter-arguments, ensuring they present their stance cogently and convincingly. They not only showcase the speaker’s knowledge on a topic but also their analytical and persuasive prowess.

Special Occasion Speeches

These are speeches tailored for specific events, be it a product launch, an anniversary celebration, or a community gathering. The tone, content, and delivery depend heavily on the occasion and the audience’s expectations. The objective is to resonate with the moment, whether it’s to entertain, honor, or inform.

Entertaining Speeches

As the name suggests, these speeches aim to entertain. They could be peppered with humor, anecdotes, or witty observations. The primary objective is to captivate the audience, make them laugh, and ensure they have a good time. Crafting such speeches requires a good sense of timing, humor, and an understanding of the audience’s sensibilities.

Why Is It Important for Students to Study Speech Examples

Studying speech samples offers students a blueprint for effective communication. Such examples showcase the nuances of tone, structure, and content. Students learn how to craft speeches tailored to specific audiences and events, gaining a deep understanding of rhetorical techniques. More importantly, by analyzing these samples, students can distinguish between what makes a speech ordinary versus one that’s truly compelling.

Creating a Speech Outline Example

Crafting a compelling speech is similar to sculpting a masterpiece from a raw block of marble. The essence lies not just in the final product but in the meticulous process leading up to it. Central to this process is the creation of a carefully prepared speech outlines sample. Think of this outline as the scaffold or blueprint upon which the entire edifice of the speech is built. It not only offers a structured overview but also provides a sense of direction, ensuring the speech remains coherent, focused, and impactful.

Post the determination of the objective, the real work begins. The speech should be segmented into clear, cohesive sections. Each section must serve a distinct purpose, be it setting the context, presenting the main argument, offering supporting evidence, or drawing a compelling conclusion. Structuring the speech in this manner not only aids in the organization but ensures a logical, seamless flow of ideas. It prevents the speech from meandering into tangential territories and keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

Furthermore, for novice speakers or those looking to refine their technique, examining a speech outline sample can prove invaluable. Such samples offer a tangible representation of what a well-structured speech looks like. They shed light on the intricacies of organization, the balance between various sections, and the art of weaving a narrative that captivates an audience. In essence, while the words and charisma of the speaker breathe life into a speech, it’s the robust outline behind the scenes that ensures its success.

How to Start: Speech Introduction Examples

An effective introduction can set the stage for the entire speech, seizing the audience’s attention from the outset. Start with a thought-provoking quote, a startling statistic, or a personal anecdote. The objective is to not only draw the audience in but also to set the tone and provide a glimpse of what’s to come. A motivational story, for instance, can instantly inspire and prime the audience for the content ahead.

Tips for Writing Your Own Speech Sample

Crafting an impeccable speech is an art form, a harmonious blend of content and delivery. Whether addressing a vast audience or a small boardroom, the key to an impactful speech often lies in the finer details. From understanding your audience to refining your delivery pace, numerous things intertwine to create a compelling narrative. Here are some tips for you to consider:

Know Your Audience

Recognizing the demographics, interests, and knowledge level of your audience is paramount. Tailor your content to cater to their specific needs, understanding their expectations and values. This ensures relevance and resonance.

Be Authentic

Authenticity creates a bond of trust. Rather than trying to emulate another, ensure your speech reflects your true beliefs, feelings, and experiences. An authentic voice is both compelling and memorable.

Structure is Key

A well-structured speech is like a well-crafted story. Ensure there’s a clear beginning, introducing the topic and purpose; a substantial middle, providing the meat of the content; and a concise end, wrapping up your thoughts. This not only aids clarity but also enhances coherence.

Use Evocative Language

A speech isn’t just about conveying facts. The art lies in how you convey them. Using vivid descriptions, metaphors, and emotive language can paint pictures in the minds of your listeners, making your speech both memorable and impactful.

Incorporate Stories

Narratives, especially personal anecdotes or experiences, humanize content and add a layer of relatability. They can simplify complex ideas, making them digestible and compelling for the audience.

Practice, Practice, Practice

A well-written speech is only half the battle. Rehearsing your speech multiple times ensures a smooth delivery, helps in time management, and significantly builds confidence. Familiarity with content minimizes the risk of stumbles or omissions.

Engage with the Audience

A speech is a two-way street. Pose rhetorical questions, encourage participation, or employ direct eye contact to foster a connection. Such strategies maintain interest and turn passive listeners into active participants.

Limit Jargon

While specialized language can be impactful within expert circles, it may alienate a broader audience. Ensure your speech is accessible, replacing technical terms with layman’s language where possible.

The conclusion is your final imprint on the listener’s mind. Whether it’s a compelling statement, a poignant story, or a call to action, ensure it encapsulates the essence of your message and leaves a lasting impact.

Seek Feedback

No speech is perfect in its first draft. Before the final delivery, present it to a trusted group—be it peers, mentors, or friends. Their feedback can offer insights into areas of improvement, refining both content and delivery.

Pace Yourself

The speed at which you deliver your speech can influence its efficacy. Too fast, and you might lose your audience; too slow, and you risk boring them. Strike a balanced pace, using pauses effectively for emphasis and comprehension.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids, be it slides, charts, or videos, can complement and reinforce your verbal content. They can provide clarity, especially for complex topics, and cater to visual learners in your audience. Ensure they enhance, rather than distract from, your message.

Writing speech samples is an intricate endeavor, one that requires a careful blend of research, eloquence, and a keen understanding of the audience’s expectations. Whether one is drafting a debate, a tribute, or a motivational speech, the essence lies in connecting with the audience, imparting knowledge, and sparking emotions. With proper guidance, study of speech samples, and adherence to key principles, the journey from a novice speaker to an oratory maestro becomes not just feasible but immensely rewarding.

What are examples of a speech?

Speeches vary widely, ranging from presidential inaugurations, commencement addresses, and TED Talks to best man toasts at weddings. Each serves a distinct purpose, either to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire the intended audience.

What is an example of the best speech?

Often hailed as exemplary, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech stands out. Its powerful message, combined with evocative language, captured the essence of the civil rights movement and left an indelible mark on history.

What are 7 things that make a good speech?

Key elements of a compelling speech include a clear objective, engaging introduction, structured content, authentic delivery, audience engagement, compelling narratives, and a memorable conclusion.

What are 3 famous examples of speeches you can find?

Iconic speeches in history include Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches,” and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself.”

What is a very good speech?

A very good speech transcends mere words. It connects deeply with the audience, communicates its message effectively, stirs emotions, and often prompts thought or action, all while being delivered with clarity and conviction.

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Speechwriting 101: Writing an Effective Speech

Whether you are a communications pro or a human resources executive, the time will come when you will need to write a speech for yourself or someone else. when that time comes, your career may depend on your success..

J. Lyman MacInnis, a corporate coach, Toronto Star columnist, accounting executive and author of “ The Elements of Great Public Speaking ,” has seen careers stalled – even damaged – by a failure to communicate messages effectively before groups of people. On the flip side, solid speechwriting skills can help launch and sustain a successful career. What you need are forethought and methodical preparation.

Know Your Audience

Learn as much as possible about the audience and the event. This will help you target the insights, experience or knowledge you have that this group wants or needs:

Why has the audience been brought together?
What do the members of the audience have in common?
How big an audience will it be?
What do they know, and what do they need to know?
Do they expect discussion about a specific subject and, if so, what?
What is the audience’s attitude and knowledge about the subject of your talk?
What is their attitude toward you as the speaker?
Why are they interested in your topic?

Choose Your Core Message

If the core message is on target, you can do other things wrong. But if the message is wrong, it doesn’t matter what you put around it. To write the most effective speech, you should have significant knowledge about your topic, sincerely care about it and be eager to talk about it. Focus on a message that is relevant to the target audience, and remember: an audience wants opinion. If you offer too little substance, your audience will label you a lightweight. If you offer too many ideas, you make it difficult for them to know what’s important to you.

Research and Organize

Research until you drop. This is where you pick up the information, connect the ideas and arrive at the insights that make your talk fresh. You’ll have an easier time if you gather far more information than you need. Arrange your research and notes into general categories and leave space between them. Then go back and rearrange. Fit related pieces together like a puzzle.

Develop Structure to Deliver Your Message

First, consider whether your goal is to inform, persuade, motivate or entertain. Then outline your speech and fill in the details:

Introduction – The early minutes of a talk are important to establish your credibility and likeability. Personal anecdotes often work well to get things started. This is also where you’ll outline your main points.
Body – Get to the issues you’re there to address, limiting them to five points at most. Then bolster those few points with illustrations, evidence and anecdotes. Be passionate: your conviction can be as persuasive as the appeal of your ideas.
Conclusion – Wrap up with feeling as well as fact. End with something upbeat that will inspire your listeners.

You want to leave the audience exhilarated, not drained. In our fast-paced age, 20-25 minutes is about as long as anyone will listen attentively to a speech. As you write and edit your speech, the general rule is to allow about 90 seconds for every double-spaced page of copy.

Spice it Up

Once you have the basic structure of your speech, it’s time to add variety and interest. Giving an audience exactly what it expects is like passing out sleeping pills. Remember that a speech is more like conversation than formal writing. Its phrasing is loose – but without the extremes of slang, the incomplete thoughts, the interruptions that flavor everyday speech.

Give it rhythm. A good speech has pacing.
Vary the sentence structure. Use short sentences. Use occasional long ones to keep the audience alert. Fragments are fine if used sparingly and for emphasis.
Use the active voice and avoid passive sentences. Active forms of speech make your sentences more powerful.
Repeat key words and points. Besides helping your audience remember something, repetition builds greater awareness of central points or the main theme.
Ask rhetorical questions in a way that attracts your listeners’ attention.
Personal experiences and anecdotes help bolster your points and help you connect with the audience.
Use quotes. Good quotes work on several levels, forcing the audience to think. Make sure quotes are clearly attributed and said by someone your audience will probably recognize.

Be sure to use all of these devices sparingly in your speeches. If overused, the speech becomes exaggerated. Used with care, they will work well to move the speech along and help you deliver your message in an interesting, compelling way.

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Recognition

How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech (With Examples)

The Speaker Lab
May 9, 2024

If you’ve recently won an award — congratulations! There’s a good chance that a lot of hard work and blood, sweat, and tears went into the recognition you’re about to receive. Now, your biggest task is nailing the perfect award acceptance speed. After all, it’s important to show gratitude for the honor while also ensuring that your words will touch hearts and minds and hopefully inspire others to follow in your footsteps. But have no fear — we’re here to help.

From heartfelt gratitude to powerful storytelling, these examples showcase the key elements that make an acceptance speech unforgettable. No matter whether you’re leading a company, launching startups, writing books, teaching students, coaching teams, or giving advice as a consultant—there’s plenty for you to learn when it comes to crafting the perfect acceptance speech.

How to Give A Pitch-Perfect Award Acceptance Speech

Your award is a huge accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. But before you start popping the champagne, there’s one more thing you need to do: prepare your acceptance speech.

While you could just say thanks and be done with it, doing so is a disservice to those who helped you get where you are. After all, an acceptance speech is so much more than just a simple thank you. It’s an opportunity to not just express your genuine gratitude, but also to acknowledge why the award is important and share the glory with those who helped you along the way.

Express Genuine Gratitude and Emotion

First and foremost, an acceptance speech is a chance to express your heartfelt appreciation for the honor you’ve received. This isn’t the time to be modest or downplay your achievements. Let your emotions shine through and show how much the award means to you.

Take a cue from Sandra Bullock’s acceptance speech at the 2010 Oscars. She was visibly moved as she thanked her mother, Helga B., along with all “the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from.”

Acknowledge Why It Is Important

Beyond expressing gratitude, your acceptance speech should also acknowledge why the award is significant. What does it represent? Explain how the award is a reflection of your personal principles or highlights where you would like make changes professionally.

For example, when Malala Yousafzai accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she used her acceptance speech to highlight the importance of education and the ongoing fight for women’s rights. “This award is not just for me,” she said. “It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change.”

Share the Glory

Finally, a great acceptance speech shares the spotlight with those who helped make your success possible. This could be your family, your team, your mentors, or even your fans.

When Taylor Swift won Album of the Year at the 2016 Grammys, she made sure to thank her collaborators and supporters. “I want to thank the fans for the last ten years and the recording academy for giving us this unbelievable honor,” she said. “I want to thank all of my collaborators that you see on this stage.”

So as you’re crafting your own award acceptance speech, remember to express genuine gratitude, acknowledge the significance of the honor, and share the glory with those who helped you along the way. With these elements in place, you’ll deliver a speech that not only thanks the right people but inspires and uplifts your audience as well.

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Writing Your Acceptance Speech

You’ve just been honored with a prestigious award and now it’s time to give your acceptance speech. It’s crunch time to create a moment that sticks and sparks motivation in everyone. But where do you even begin?

Crafting an excellent award acceptance speech takes some planning and preparation. You want to strike the right tone, share a meaningful message, and of course, express your heartfelt gratitude. Let’s walk through crafting an acceptance speech that’ll definitely make a mark.

Brainstorm Ideas

Before you start jotting down your speech, take some time to reflect on what this award means to you. Why is it significant? What does it represent in terms of your journey, your values, or your aspirations? Brainstorm some key themes or stories you might want to touch on.

In addition, ask yourself: “What challenges did you overcome? Who helped you along the way? What lessons did you learn? What impact do you hope to make with this recognition?” Your answers to these questions will form the bulk of your acceptance speech.

Write Your Speech

With your brainstorming done, it’s time to start putting pen to paper. Begin with a strong opening line that will grab your audience’s attention. You might share a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, or even a touch of humor.

As you write the body of your speech, keep in mind the time constraint you’re working with. Most acceptance speeches are fairly short, so you’ll need to be selective about what you include. Focus on a few key points or anecdotes that support your central theme.

Be Specific in Your Speech

When it comes to expressing your gratitude, it’s important to be specific. Don’t just rattle off a generic list of thank-yous. Take the time to acknowledge the individuals or organizations that have played a significant role in your success.

For example, in her Golden Globes acceptance speech , Oprah Winfrey specifically thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as well as several other key individuals by name.

The Power of Storytelling in Your Acceptance Speech

One of the most effective ways to make your acceptance speech memorable is by incorporating storytelling. Share a personal anecdote or experience that relates to your journey or the significance of the award.

Again, consider Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes acceptance speech. In it, she opens with a story from her childhood, when she sat on the floor watching Sidney Poitier become the first African American to ever win a Golden Globe. As she states in her speech, “I have tried many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl…and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this same award.” With the power of storytelling, Winfrey highlights the men and women who have sought truth and justice no matter the personal cost.

As you craft your award acceptance speech, remember to brainstorm ideas, be specific in your gratitude, and harness the power of storytelling. Remember, just like the acceptance speech examples we’ve looked at, your words have the power to touch hearts and spark change in those listening.

Preparing to Deliver Your Speech

You’ve written a fantastic award acceptance speech, filled with heartfelt gratitude and inspiring stories. Now, it’s showtime. However, public speaking can be nerve-wracking, even for the most seasoned professionals. That’s why the key to a successful speech delivery is preparation. You want to be confident, polished, and engaging when you step up to the podium. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your big moment.

Rehearsing Your Speech

One of the best ways to calm your nerves and boost your confidence is by practicing your speech beforehand. Read it out loud several times, paying attention to your pacing, tone, body language , and emphasis. Consider practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself so you can see and hear how you come across. In addition, grabbing a buddy or work pal to listen in can provide you feedback for improvement. Remember, the more familiar you are with your speech, the more natural and effortless it will feel when you deliver it for real.

Making Your Speech Memorable

When it comes to making your speech memorable, it’s all about connecting with your audience. Use eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures to engage them and convey your emotions.

You might also consider incorporating a memorable phrase or tagline that encapsulates your message. For example, in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. repeated the phrase “I have a dream” eight times, driving home his vision for a more just and equal society.

Respecting the Audience and the Clock

When delivering your acceptance speech, it’s important to be mindful of your audience and the time allotted. Express your gratitude sincerely, but avoid gushing or going overboard with your thank-yous. Similarly, respect the time limit you’ve been given. A short award acceptance speech is often more impactful than a long, rambling one. Aim to deliver your message concisely and powerfully, leaving your audience wanting more.

As you prepare to deliver your award acceptance speech, remember to rehearse thoroughly, focus on making it memorable, and respect your audience and the clock. With this game plan ready, stepping up to speak will feel a lot less daunting.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in an Acceptance Speech

As you’ve seen from the examples above, a great award acceptance speech has the power to move and inspire an audience. But what goes into crafting and delivering a truly impactful speech? Here are a few final tips to keep in mind as you prepare for your big moment.

General Guidelines

While it’s important to express your gratitude and share your story, there are a few common pitfalls to avoid in your acceptance speech:

Don’t ramble or go off-topic. Stay focused on your central message.
Avoid clichés or generic platitudes. Be specific and authentic in your language.
Don’t forget to thank the important people, but keep your list of thank-yous concise.
Avoid inside jokes or references that may not resonate with your entire audience.

By steering clear of these pitfalls, you’ll ensure that your speech is clear, meaningful, and memorable.

Avoid Going Overboard with Emotions in Your Speech

When that award is finally in your hands, feeling a rush of emotions isn’t just common; it’s expected. This is particularly true if the honor marks a major highlight in either your work or personal journey. However, it’s important to strike a balance between showing genuine emotion and maintaining your composure.

While a few tears or a quavering voice can be powerful, going overboard with your emotions may distract from your message or make your audience uncomfortable. Aim to express your feelings in a way that is authentic but still allows you to deliver your speech effectively.

Remember, your award acceptance speech is an opportunity to share your gratitude, your story, and your vision with the world. By avoiding common pitfalls and finding the right emotional balance, you’ll be able to deliver a speech that truly resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impact.

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Examples of Inspiring Award Acceptance Speeches

Need some inspiration as you craft your own award acceptance speech? Look no further than these powerful examples from some of the world’s most influential figures.

Literature Award Acceptance Speech Example

In his 1962 Nobel Prize acceptance speech , writer John Steinbeck used the opportunity to discuss the purpose of literature. He says, “[A writer] is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement.”

Best Actress Award Acceptance Speech Example

When Emma Stone won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2024 , she used her speech to pay tribute to her fellow actors and the power of cinema. “It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about a team that came together to make something better than the sum of its parts. And that’s the best part about making movies.”

Distinguished Service Award Acceptance Speech Example

In her acceptance speech for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award , Angelina Jolie spoke about the importance of giving back and making a difference in the world. “I have never understood why some people are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had,” she said, “to have this path in life and why across the world, there’s a woman just like me, the same abilities, the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches—only she sits in a refugee camp.”

These are just a few examples of the many inspiring award acceptance speeches out there. When the spotlight hits you for advancing science, creating art masterpieces, or bettering lives, that moment is more than just applause—it’s a platform. Use it wisely; light a fire under others to follow suit and make waves of their own.

FAQs on Award Acceptance Speeches

What do you say in an acceptance speech.

Start by thanking the giver, mention key people who helped along the way, and highlight what this award means to you.

What is an example short award acceptance speech?

“Thank you to everyone who played a part in this award. This honor isn’t just mine; it belongs to all who stood by me. Let’s keep pushing forward.”

How do you format an acceptance speech?

Kick off with thanks, weave in personal stories or a nod to your team, then wrap up on a hopeful note.

What do you say when accepting an award at work?

Acknowledge the recognition with gratitude, shout out those who supported you, and express excitement for future challenges and opportunities.

Crafting an impactful acceptance speech is an art that requires genuine emotion, storytelling, and a touch of inspiration. Through these examples of amazing award acceptance speeches, we’ve shared some great tips on how to say thanks, share your story, and make an impact on your audience.

Remember, your big moment with that microphone isn’t just for saying thanks for the trophy. It’s also about shouting out those that helped you get there and inspiring anyone listening to follow their own path towards success. So, when it’s your turn to shine, make sure you give a speech that’ll stick in people’s minds for years.

Last Updated: May 8, 2024

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Narrative Speech

Narrative speech generator.

Try to let this scenario ply out in your head. It is the first day of school. You see children running around the hallways and the canteen. You see the teachers in the faculty room taking their 15-minute break before the start of the school bell at 7:30 in the morning. You see the high school students doing typical teenager things (e.g. texting, putting make up on, chatting the day away, sleeping, doing their homework at the very last minute, etc…). As the bell begins to ring, the students start to sing the country’s national anthem followed by a patriotic oath to the country then, sometimes the school hymn. You may also see narrative writings .

Speech Examples
Informative Speech

As the students take their seats, the first period teacher walks in the classroom and begins to introduce herself as Ms. Katniss Everdeen. As she was just finishing doing her introductions, the principal made an announcement requesting all the students and faculty to assemble in the school’s multi-purpose room for welcoming remarks of the first day of school. After settling down, the principal walked up to the stage and said: “Here to talk about pursuing your dreams at a young age, I would like to introduce to you the speaker of today’s special talk. You may also see personal narrative essay .

May we please give a special round of applause to none other than Eleven herself from Stranger Things, Millie Bobbie Brown?”

We all wish our first day of school was like that… Oh well. Now considering that you are placed in her shoes and will be asked to talk about a similar topic to that, how would you go about it?

Narrative Speeches

But then, you remembered something. It is actually not that difficult since this speech is all about you, and how that experience allowed you to become a better version yourself. Personal narrative speeches give focus on a specific real life event that served as a turning point for the writer. Speeches are often given as an assignment or a project by the teacher. But in order to write a strong personal narrative about yourself, try to think of an idea that might pique the audience’s curiosity.

Just like every good speech, great books, and awesome movies, it must have an introduction, the middle events, the climax, and finally, the end of the story. Here is an example of a personal narrative that might be able to help you out in writing your own personal narrative. You may also see informative speech .

Basic Personal Narrative Outline Example

Size: 130 KB

Part 1. Brainstorming Ideas for the Narrative

Every good piece of literature or movie must always have a great idea to begin the story. Once you have an idea on what you would want to share with the audience, it makes things easier for you to explain as you just have to boil down to the specifics on what experiences can best go with the theme you are going to share. Listed below are some of the ways to brainstorm ideas:

Think of a memorable event or a moment in your life. Sure there are many moments and memories in your life that you have felt and experienced over the years. But there are only so few that have struck you to the depths of your soul that you cannot help but not forget that instance, even when you become old and gray. It does not have to be something major, it can even be as something simple as your first date with her and how you felt whenever she was with you. You may also see declamation speech .

For example, you can write about how your best friend stood up to you when you were getting bullied by a bunch of jerks in middle school or the time when you and your friends went to the club for the very first time and got wasted. You may also see launch speech .

Expand on an important conflict in your life. Everyone just loves watching drama. When you have found the perfect dramatic event to be included in your speech, include it in the speech and elaborate in detail. You may also see youth speech .

For example, you can write about the time your one and only best friend ditched you to start hanging out with those “plastic” losers and you were abandoned and treated like garbage afterwards by everyone in your class after your “best friend” spread some lies about you. You may also see graduation speech .

Think about a particular theme or idea. When deciding your speech, decide what the message you want to deliver the audience as a jumping off point for the narrative. Base your theme on your personal experiences that you would like to share. Once you have thought about it, ask yourself as to whether it has transformed you for the better or for the worst. Poverty, patience, sacrifice, and endurance are all good choices for a personal narrative. You may also see award speech .

For example, you may want to include in your experience on how a boy with no father or mother makes a living for himself by selling street food and how poverty has made you become more generous and thoughtful for others who are suffering on the streets. You may also see retirement speech .

Read examples of personal narrative. Finally, in order to write a good narrative, you must learn how others o it as well. To quote from the Jedi Master Yoda, he states: “You must unlearn what you have learned”. Very philosophical, but it is true. One cannot claim to know everything. And even if you did know everything, to learn something new, you must be open to change and new things in order to enhance and improve your skill. Here are some reading references you might want to glance at before starting:

The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
The Lives section of The New York Times

David Becomes King Narrative Speech Outline Example

Size: 292 KB

Part 2. Writing the Personal Narrative

Now that you have brainstormed some ideas needed to start with your personal narrative, it is finally time to get to your computer and ignite the thought train full speed ahead.

Start with a hook. First impressions matter! If you have successfully bored out the audience in their chairs, then congratulations, only a few people are going to pay attention to what you have to say throughout the rest of your speech. Attention-grabbers often come in the form of a story, a quote, a personal experience. You may also see valedictorian speech .

For example, you can mention in the first line of your personal narrative: “I remember this one time when I accidentally slipped and fell down on the lake when I was fishing while everyone was staring at me.”

Set the scene with action. Every good story will not be complete without providing some background information and supporting details to the characters in your story.

Move chronologically through the events. When you begin your speech with your four year-old self accidentally drowning in a swimming pool just because he saw a slide and he wanted to get on it, do not immediately proceed to when you nine years old and you accidentally punched someone in the face because he was a jerk. It is important to set things in order as to avoid confusion between the timeline of your story. Finish explaining everything that occurred in event A before proceeding to event B and finally concluding with event C. You may also see acceptance speech .

Use sensory detail and description. They say it is important to show and not just simply to tell. Most speeches would allow visual aids or props to be presented at the front to give an audience a better idea on what the speaker is describing. But if not, then you must be able to use your imagination describing the object or event you have felt using the five senses. You may also see persuasive speech .

Finish with a moral or takeaway. Wrap your personal narrative up with a reflection or analysis of the transpired events. It is important that at the end of your speech, the audience is left with something to recall even if he forgets everything else. Allow them to leave the room with the moral and lessons that they have learned from your speech. You may also see elevator speech .

Speech 101 Narrative Speech Outline Example

Size: 75 KB

At the end of the day, speech writing is one challenge. The next challenge is on how you are going to deliver it in front of the audience. You may refer to these examples for guidance if ever you are still struggling with writing a narrative speech. With that, we would like to end here and wish you the best of luck in your speech writing journey!

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

Create a narrative speech about a life-changing travel experience

2. Help me write a narrative speech on overcoming adversity

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Speech Writing

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Format of Speech Writing

Speech Sandwich of Public Speaking

Use Concrete Facts

Use Rhetorical Strategies and Humour

Know your Audience and Plan Accordingly

Timing Yourself is Important

Speech Writing Examples

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Speech Writing Examples: Format, Tips, and Samples to Inspire Your Audience

Key Takeaways

Understanding Speech Writing

Tips for Writing a Successful Speech

Know your audience

Narrow down your topic

Grab attention with opening lines

Organize your speech effectively

Use visual aids if applicable

Examples of Great Speeches

Informative

Motivational

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What this handout is about

What’s different about a speech?

What’s your purpose?

Audience analysis

Creating an effective introduction

Establish context and/or motive

Get to the point

Making your speech easy to understand

Incorporate previews and summaries into the speech

Use especially strong transitions

Helping your audience listen

Limit pronoun use

Keeping audience interest

Use statistics and quotations sparingly

Watch your tone

Creating an effective conclusion