This document provides guidance on how to structure an effective speech. It recommends determining the purpose and main points before writing. The introduction should grab attention, state the thesis, establish credibility, and preview points. Transitions are needed between each point. The conclusion should summarize the points and leave a lasting impression. Examples of each section are provided.

1. Speech Writing
PREPARATION IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

2. Develop your Purpose
 Determine your REASON for speaking:
 General purposes: inform, persuade,
entertain
 Specific purpose: Complete sentence that
begins with “After listening to my speech,
my audience will….”
If you don’t know your purpose, DON’T start
writing your speech yet!

3. Start…and Finish
 The introduction and
conclusion:
 Are vitally important
 Occupy less than 20%
of speaking time
 Help listeners form
impressions early
 Leave lasting
impressions

4. Introduction
 Four basic functions:
 Get audience attention
 Refer to the audience,
occasion , something
familiar
 Cite a startling fact or
opinion
 Ask a yes/no, raise-your-
hand, or rhetorical
question
 Tell a brief story
 Use a quote
 Tell a relevant joke

5. Attention Getters
 Examples:
 “Did you know that adults who began volunteering as youth are twice as likely
to volunteer as those who did not volunteer when they were younger?”-Ask a
question/pose a statistic
 “Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs. These are all great
inventors and innovators that have had an enormous effect on everyone living
in the world today.” – Refer to something familiar
 “Trick or Treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!” – Use a quote

6. Introduction
 Four basic functions:
 Get audience attention
 State your thesis or
proposition
 Your thesis is one sentence
that tells your audience
what the entire speech is
about.
 It is NOT an English paper
thesis. Be direct.
 A proposition is used in a
persuasive speech. It states
your POSITION on the
topic, as well as what you
hope to accomplish with
the speech.

7. Thesis or Proposition
Statement
 Examples:
 “I plan to convince you to start volunteering as well by
demonstrating the benefits it has for everyone
involved.” - Proposition
 “Steve Jobs had an interesting life and contributed
greatly to the world, which is why I plan to share more
about his life with you today.” - Thesis
 “Today, I want to inform you all of the history and
traditions behind this spooky holiday.” - Thesis

8. Introduction
 Four basic functions:
 Get audience attention
 State your thesis or
proposition
 Establish your credibility
 Why are you an authority
on the topic?
 Why did you choose this
topic?
 State if you have
experience with the topic
or if you have done
research.

9. Credibility Statements
 Examples:
 “Volunteering is something that has been a huge part of my life for
about 5 years.” - Experience
 “Steve Jobs had a personal impact on my own life by inspiring me
to major in technology innovation. I’ve also read his biography
recently.” – Reason for choosing/Authority on Topic
 “Like me, I am sure all of you have celebrated Halloween in some
way or another—but as a great enthusiast of Halloween, I
researched more about this holiday to understand where it started.”
– Reason for choosing/Authority on Topic

10. Introduction
 Four basic functions:
 Get audience attention
 State your thesis or
proposition
 Establish your credibility
 Preview your main points
 Directly state or list the 3-
5 main points BRIEFLY that
you plan to make.
 This should be a clear list.
 It should correspond
exactly with your main
points.

11. Preview Statements
 Examples:
 “I’ll begin with why volunteering first and foremost
improves the lives of those being helped, then why it
personally changes and benefits the person volunteering,
and lastly I will convince you that the long term impacts
of volunteering are high.”
 “To begin, I will tell you about the early life of Steve Jobs
with his childhood and education. Then, I’ll tell you about
his professional achievements, and lastly about his
death.”
 “First, I will tell you what Halloween is and where it came
from; Second, I will tell you about the traditions and
customs that go along with this holiday; and lastly, I will

12. Another Example:
 Attention getter: How many people in here have a
hard time balancing school work, working, family, and
personal time?
 Thesis: For many of you in here, time management can
be a major struggle, but it doesn’t have to be.
 Credibility: I’ve been effectively using time
management strategies for years now, and it has made
my life much easier to balance.
 Preview: First, I’ll discuss how to manage your school
time, then work time, and lastly family and personal
time.

13. Transitions
 Shift the speech from one point to another
 Provide a brief recap or forecast
 Occur between EVERY PARAGRAPH and sometimes
between main points and sub points
 You will VERBALLY state every transition clearly.
 These are not subtle, English paper transitions. They
are direct and clear statements that can be audibly
detected by your audience.

14. Transition Examples
 “Let me begin with the first people who benefit from
volunteer work.” – Shifts the point
 “This brings me to next point: Steve Jobs’ professional
achievements.” – Forecasts the next point
 “Now that I’ve told you the origins and traditions of
Halloween night, I’ll discuss how fun it is to go take
part in the freaky and creepy parts of Halloween.” –
Provides a recap and forecast

15. Conclusion
 Transition over completely to conclusion
 “So as you can see…” or “To conclude…”
 Then SUMMARIZE THE POINTS AGAIN.
 “First I told you about (point 1), then I discussed (point 2)
and lastly, I explained (point 3).”
 In persuasive speaking only, Call to Action
is here
 End with a memorable thought

16. Tips for an Effective Conclusion
 Do not end abruptly
 Don’t ramble
 Don’t introduce new
points
 Don’t apologize

17. Conclusion Example #1
Transition statement: “With that in mind, let me
conclude.”
Conclusion
 “First, I told you about the positive impact it has on the
person being helped, then I told you about how it
affects the volunteer and lastly I told you about the
long term benefits of volunteering. - Recap
 I hope this inspires all of you to begin volunteering
today! – Call to Action
 This is our time—let’s make a difference.” –
Memorable thought

18. Conclusion Example #2
 Transition statement: “Let me conclude by recapping
my points.”
Conclusion
 “I began by telling you of his humble beginnings, how
he progressed to change the modern world with his
cutting-edge products and left a mark on the
computer industry, and his tragic death. - Recap
 Some of you may not realize it, but every one of you
has personally been affected by this pioneer of the
computer industry.” – Memorable thought

19. Conclusion Example#3
Transition statement: “With such a fun-filled holiday,
there’s much more to say, but for now I must conclude.”
Conclusion
 “First, I told you where the day Halloween came from and
what the meaning behind it is, second, I told you what
traditions are practiced on this night, and lastly, I
explained what amusing activities come along with
Halloween. - Recap
 Now that you all are more informed about this fun filled
holiday, I would like to share a little piece of Halloween
with you.” (Pass out Candy and play “Thriller” by Michael
Jackson) – Memorable thought and action