Writing a good speech

A good speech can do incredible things. Preparation is the key. According to Mark Twain; "It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." Here's an example of how one man's speech made him the president of America. In 2004, no one had the slightest idea about who Barack Obama was. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="4" ihc_mb_template="3"] At the Democratic National Convention, he had the chance to introduce himself. He started his speech with a story about his family. He spoke about his father, who was born and raised in a small village in Kenya and how he worked so hard to secure a scholarship for his studies in a magical place like America. He spoke "My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, and went to school in a tin-roof shack." Notice that he hasn't used the word 'poor' in his life. He created the imagery of how his father worked his way up to achieve his dreams through passion, hard work and perseverance. The word 'poor' is subjective, so it does not hold the same power as the images. He told about his mother, who was born in Kansas and his grandfather, who fought in World War 2. He spoke about the diversity of his parents and yet the unity that held them strong together and how that wasn't just of love but more of the abiding faith in the possibilities of America. He wrapped his story by relating to many Americans' stories that happened in their lives and built a relatability and strong connection. He created an emotional bonding with the audience so that they felt similarities in their lives with his stories and made trust. He said, There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. He emphasised that all men are created equal. He instilled confidence, trust and courage in each and everyone sitting in front of him through his examples and emotions regardless of gender, colour, age or status. His speech was powerful. It struck a chord between him and the audience. His words were authentic and the closing sentence remained in the hearts of the audience. He said, "Out of this long, political darkness, a brighter day will come." There are a few things that Obama used in his speech that made his address effective. Let's look at those ones one by one. Research: Preparation of any speech is a vital aspect of public speaking. It makes your confidence clear in your head and propels you to deliver the speech with emotion, confidence and engagement. Obama listened to several keynote speeches and read previous keynote addresses as part of his research. He invested a lot of time and spent several weeks writing and editing his speech. Using stories: Stories create an emotional bond with the audience. All of us as human beings are connected by stories. We come together in unison and vow to fulfil our dreams when we hear stories of hope, dreams, passion and hard work. Do we start our speech with a story? or an illustration? Human beings are social creatures; they raise their hopes and happiness through emotional stories. So, a story is always undoubtedly a good option. However, the key is not to overdo it and carefully balance it with an illustration in the opening text. Rhetorical devices: "Repeating the first word or phrase in one sentence at the beginning of successive sentences." He said, "We have real enemies in the world. They must be found, they must be pursued, and they must be defeated." Antithesis: Using contradictions or opposing ideas in adjacent sentences or phrases is also an excellent way to write your speech. Examples from Obama's speech: "I say to them tonight; there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America." "There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America." Passion: Creating a passionate text that delivers your intention, commitment, love for your work and persistence is very important. Your speech should motivate and inspire people to walk the extra mile to achieve their dreams. For example, the following lines from Obama's speech delivers that passion in his words. "I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper that makes this country work" "We stand at the crossroads of history.." This speech had introduced Obama in such a way that by the end of the address he had become a people's person. That speech was one of the reasons that made him President of America. A good speech has a significant impact on the audience. To write a good talk, you have to first come up with a headline of one or two or three sentences because that's what you'll be writing about in your speech. Tips for writing a good speech Start with a rhetorical question. Another effective way of starting your speech is with a quirky one-liner. It will lift up the mood of the audience and keep them engaged. You can start with: (i) Did you know.... (i) Do you ever worry about...? (iii) Have you ever wondered about...? Write a relatable story. A good start will make your audience feel like they are on the same line with you, and as you all know, "Well begun is half done". Make them feel like they are with you. You can start your story by : (i)Once upon a time. (ii) I'm here for a reason. And it's an interesting story. (iii)The best thing that ever happened to me was. Along with the story, there are multiple ways to start a speech. One of these is putting your big idea. Starting with the main idea of the speech helps the audience get a clear view of what the speech will be about. You can start the introduction to an idea by: (i) You're here for a reason. It's.. (ii) The most critical thing I want to share with you today is.. (iii) Today I want to share a big idea. Portray Authenticity Every good speech has its authenticity. While writing a speech, you have to keep in mind that you write what you firmly believe in. A good sense of humour can make your address even better. Create illustrations/images As the famous saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is so true, and the audience will get connected to your content almost instantly when you have an illustration embedded in your writing. If you are using a powerpoint presentation to project on a screen while speaking, this is a fantastic way of presenting your ideas, emotions and stories in a short, sweet way. Know your audience To write an impressive speech, you have to know your audience well. Whether it be a high school speech, a graduation speech, or a political one, knowing your audience will help you write an address in a way that will impact their minds and hearts. Knowing your audience will help you put the right words at the right time. To write a good speech you have to read a lot to understand other people's lives and see a world beyond your views. The conclusion of your speech should summarise all the main points and a powerful closing statement. Selecting a topic unrelated to your audience will only make them sit idle. That is the reason you should know your audience well. Lack of emotion in the speech will make the audience feel disconnected, and eventually, they will lose interest in your speech. But if you speak about your idea together with emotion, it will be a memorable speech. Identify the purpose A great speech is considered to fulfil the purpose for which it was written. To write a good speech, you need to identify the purpose of your speech. After identifying the purpose, you have to research the idea as well as your audience. Use simple language while writing a speech; it will make the speech more fair and understandable. Create a good structure With all this, you need a good structure of the speech. The way the speech is going to proceed depends on the structure you give it. A structure depends on the topic of the speech. It may be a comparison between past, present, and future; it may be stating reasons why your main idea is true or explaining certain accomplishments step by step. A well-structured speech will keep the audience engaged. On the other hand, if the speech is not structured and you are only jumping on topics, there is no reaction or interest of the audience in your speech. Along with the introduction, the body of the speech should cover the main idea of the speech. All the great speeches have one thing in common: they depict a picture more prominent than the current one. It creates motivation among the audience, a hope that will become a reality one day, making the speech even more effective. Speech is an effective way of communication. Writing a speech is the art of organising your thoughts and conveying them in a way people can understand. A great speech influences people of all ages; it motivates them and creates an energised atmosphere. Great leaders used speeches as a way of communication because once a speech is delivered, it keeps influencing people regardless of the era. Citations : [citationic styles="apa,mla,chicago,harvard,vancouver,ieee"] Power Words : Impromptu Imagery Relatability Adjacent Quirky Prominent Democratic Perseverance Emphasised Conservative One-liner Convention Diversity Keynote Intention Authenticity Scholarship Abiding Vow Persistence Embedded Critical thinking challenge question : Create a speech on any topic that you think is worth motivating other people to join forces with you. Watch this video for further learning : [presto_player id=11428] Are you ready to solve the puzzle? Start Puzzle [/ihc-hide-content] Hashtags : #GPSforLifeAndCareer #ConsciousIntelligence #Kidswiki #MindInTheMaking #RelevanceInEducation #MeaningfulLearning #RealWorldSkills #SafeContent #360DegreeDevelopment #Skillioma #BeyondCurriculum #SkillsBeyondSchool

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