In this slideshow you will find tips on writing an effective essay or speech about a famous person. It covers the rhetorical structure of the speech, the ways to make your essay/speech engaging for the audience, and some cohesive devices to make your essay/speech flow smoothly. The slideshow also includes useful phrases and vocabulary to talk about outstanding people.

1. Describing an outstanding person
A guide for speaking and writing
Developed by Alina Dashkevich

2. The rhetorical structure
What to include in each paragraph?
Introduction Body Conclusion

3. Introduction: how to start?
Do NOT state the name of the person you are
going to write about from the very beginning.
• Instead, build suspense. Start by mentioning one of the
most well-known achievements of this person and pose a
question to the audience/reader (The person who has
given the world the most emotionally-charged characters
such as Ron, Hermione and Harry, needs no introduction./
I will talk about a person who has turned the world of
education on its head./Who doesn’t know and love a
talking duck named Donald, an adventurous mouse, and
the man behind these characters?). You can also start with
a famous quote by this person.

4. Body: what to include?
Reasons for choosing this person
• (What is so remarkable about them? What makes the
different?)
What do you expect your audience to
know/feel/understand after your speech?
• ( I hope you will learn a few things about Steve
Jobs/Oprah that you didn’t know before./ I hope you will
see why I feel that this person is one of the most
outstanding singers of all time.)

5. What else to include?
Background information, biography
• The story of success, trials and tribulations that this person had to overcome
on their way
Characterize their art/work
• What is so special about their talent? What do they do? What makes their
work stand out among the rest? Do they have a particular peculiar style?
What and who are their greatest influences / sources of
inspiration?

6. And some more …
Throw in some funny or peculiar tidbits and trivia
facts about them
• (And were you aware that she has at least thirteen
tattoos/ likes pickled onions?)
How did they influence the society?
What is the scope of their influence?

7. Conclusion
Refer back to the speech and wrap it up:
• what do you want your audience to remember?
What is the take-home message of your speech?
How do you want your audience to feel about the
person you have chosen?
Look to the future:
• mention some future plans of that person.

8. You can also:
End with a meaningful quotation by that
person.
End with a question.
End with a reference to a meaningful
event from that person’s life and the
lesson we can all learn from it.
Images source: http://blogs.msdn.com/

9. I hope you will learn a
few things about…
I am sure this artist
needs no introduction.
To say that this artist
has changed the
world of
music/paining/cinema
is to say nothing.
To say that this is a
great artist is a gross
understatement.
Maybe you are
wondering why I have
chose this person.
Well, I am sure you
are all familiar with…
Introduction

10. And were
you aware
that… ?
Did you
know … ?
I am sure
you will
agree that…
Perhaps you
are aware
that…
You might
not know
that…
You won’t be
surprised to
hear…
That brings
us to …
Body

11. Let me just finish by
saying…
There is so much more I
could tell you, but…
In a nutshell, it is easy to
see why ____ is
considered to be one of
the most outstanding
singers/dancers/leaders.
I want to leave you with
a thought that…
Conclusion

12. Words and expressions
• Like a lot of great innovators, s/he didn’t set
out to change the world.
• S/he has turned the world of education on its
head.
• To show terrific promise
• S/he is a true education pioneer.
• S/he started by creating cartoon characters,
but her/his impact on _______ might truly
be incalculable.

13. Words and expressions
• S/he presides over her/his company/network
• What I love about him/her is that _____
• S/he has not bought into the Hollywood
myth.
• Few singers/actors/writer have gotten
attention/respect/admiration of the same
magnitude.

14. Words and expressions
• S/he has used her/his extraordinary talent
to ….
• His/her talents were put to use to …
• S/he worked tirelessly to …
• Her/his _____ has earned him a world-
wide renown and respect.
• Genuine ambition
• S/he is one of the world’s most admired
and respected people.

15. Words and expressions
• S/he has handed down plenty of lessons
over the years.
• S/he reminds us that life is not only about
the value you see. It’s about the values
you stand for.
• Her/his life tells a story of a personal and
professional excellence.
• S/he is a soul-stirring singer/writer/etc.
• S/he affords me great hope for the future.

16. Describing a famous person
• In groups of two or three quickly read a short
description of one of the TIME 100 People of the year
2012 and 2011.
• Share your description with other teams.
*(See TIME 100
http://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/all/)
Note: Draw attention to the words and expressions
used to describe the person and to engage the
audience

17. Create a speech outline
• http://www.biography.com/people/steve-
jobs-9354805/videos
Watch the following video and create a catching
introduction and a well-rounded conclusion.
For the body, write only a short outline.
For each part of your speech indicate the phrases
that you can use to make your speech cohesive
and to keep the attention of your audience.

18. Try it out
In groups of three prepare a presentation on one of the two topics.
Use the language and techniques to engage your audience and to
make the speech cohesive.
Topic 1:
•A successful music star
•The importance of musical
talent
•The importance of other issues
like fashion, personality, private
life and work for good causes
Topic 2:
•A person who has inspired you
•The importance of luck in
her/his story
•What other people can learn
from this story.

19. • Developed by Alina Dashkevich