anti's Guide to Speechwriting

[anti]

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Speeches

The idea behind a speech is to convey an idea to the audience; it is sometimes persuasive but usually it is used to inform.

It’s important to remember that somebody would be expected to read this speech (probably you!) – this is why you can’t just whack a few attention-catching jokes to the intro and end and call it a speech.

Construction
Like a feature article, your speech has to catch the attention of the audience. A lot of the techniques used in feature articles for creating repartee, making an impression etc. can be used in speechwriting – anecdotes and rhetorical questions, for example. The idea here is to make an impression so everybody sits up and says ‘hey, this guy is interesting’. Later in the body of your speech you want them to say ‘hey, he’s not just interesting, he knows what he’s talking about!’. Finally you want them to remember what you’ve said.Your conclusion should be more memorable than an essay conclusion, or even a feature article conclusion. It’s pretty much a fact that people will probably only take away about 10% of a speech; let that 10% include your conclusion!

Planning
So again I’m going to mention the dreaded Plan. Why don’t people plan? It’s the simplest thing you can do which will keep you on track and help you regain your train of thought if you lose focus.

Before writing down exactly what points you want to talk about (for example, ‘Huxley context vs Scott context’, ‘how globalisation in Clueless is exposed – commercialism, fashion etc’) you want to read the question and decide what it’s asking you to do. Is it asking you to inform? Is it asking you to analyse, debate, criticise, discuss? If you’re asked for something a lot more analytical you could probably assume you’re giving a lecture on the texts of your choosing. If it’s asking you to ‘write a speech about’, you can choose the level of language to suit your audience. (see below)

Then you can write down your arguments / points of discussion and how they relate to one another. If you’re asked to discuss your texts, you might want to show both sides of the discussion and then resolve the discussion in your conclusion. Make sure you plan out your conclusion so you know exactly what you’re going to write in it. Don’t just leave it to ‘when I get around to it’.


Language
Write your speech for your audience. If you are requested to write for “people your age”, you don’t want to be using four syllable words and long sentences. To get their attention you need to be snappy and to the point. Nobody can read over your speech a second time – once you’ve said it, that’s it. I’ve heard that the best way to get your point across in a speech is to say it three times in three different ways. People your age don’t want to hear about things not relevant to them or their times. A great skill of speechwriters is being able to connect with their audience.

Speeches are allowed to be emotional: you are talking to an audience and putting forth your perspectives, but avoid the sentimental. The line you have to draw is having enough wit to keep the audience’s attention without them thinking that you’re just appealing to their softer side, not to their intellect.

Avoid being too general. It’s not enough to say “it is not the journey which matters but the process” (for example – I know you’re sick of journeys!); you need to elaborate and go into some detail as to why and how you think that way. Facts are good, you’ll probably be referring to additional texts so quote them, feel free to reference bored of studies too (for extra bonus points)



Writing it down
There’s a few other things I want to mention about speechwriting in an exam situation.

Firstly, keep your sentences and paragraphs short. In a real speech nobody sees those paragraphs and sentences all seem to flow together (at least, they should) but it will assist markers who are trying to follow the flow of your speech. Eg.:

“The opening scenes of Blade Runner give rise to a number of questions: where are we? What are we doing here? If this is Earth, how did it end up this way? Scott emphasises his vision of the future with panoramic shots of plumes of fire and smoke rising up through the ruins of ‘Los Angeles’ in the near future.

This vision is then starkly contrasted with whatshisface’s pyramid rising out of the ruins like some kind of monument to a deity. Capitalism has taken its toll on the city, it seems. Scott asks us: is this the future?”
(I really have to watch BR again.)

You CAN include stage tips, but I think it’s bad form to include “(laughter)” – c’mon, if they’re meant to laugh they’ll laugh regardless.

For some people it’s hard to write ‘funny’ during an exam so figure out some generalised openings maybe and adapt them in the exam. I’ve never done this and I don’t know how effective it is. Maybe a “God is dead” quote for BR/BNW or something. (Nietzsche, if you’re wondering).

Avoid retelling the story. Assume the audience knows the plot, who the characters are – although you could probably include something about ‘Deckard, a rebellious officer of the law..’ – and focus on telling them the themes and techniques.

I’ve always found telling the audience situations is a lot more effective than stating things to them – allow them to draw their own conclusions, and then back it up at the end of your point. Then again I think this is a lot harder to write than a conventional speech.

And as I said at least twice up there (three times, remember?): don’t be too funny. Make sure you get your point across, whether you’re trying to persuade or inform the audience. If you’re having a mental blank dump the corny jokes and just tell them what you know about your texts – you won’t get full marks for style, but you’ll do better than writing superfluous barrels of nothing.


NEW! The Conclusion
Concluding your speech is probably the most difficult part (once you've figured out what to write) because you're probably running short on time, getting a little stressed, and you have to be certain you've covered everything! And those damn examiners are saying "ten minutes left' LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW (sorry.. getting a little edgy here I think )

Okay. Here's a quick overview of what your conclusion should achieve.

* Remind the audience of your topic material.
What were you talking about?

* Cover your points again
What were they AND what relevance did they have to your topic material? If you're trying to use an analogy, mention it again, and state why it's relevant to your topic. It's a very blunt technique, I know, but it ensures that the marker will be able to link your little childhood stories to your actual subject (eg. inner journeys)

* Catch the audience's attention for the last time (especially if you think your speech bombed).
A final joke works if you're a funny person, or another witty story. In a written speech it's not a good idea to 'cool down' like an actual speech-giver would do (eg. moving away from the microphone) because it's hard to implement that on paper. If you want to include actions, try to keep them to a minimum and make it really obvious why they're important (I can't think of an occasion when you'd want to do this.. but the idea is always there for you)

If you had no idea what to write about and you think your speech was a bit too much like an essay, this is where you can remind the marker that they're reading a speech. Keep the tone casual in your conclusion (unless you're talking to a conference or something which requires a formal tone) - not slangy, but maintain a connection with the audience ("As you all know.." "Maybe you'll go home today and think about this.." "If there's one thing you take from my speech today..").

* Give the audience something to clap about
In my opinion there are two really easy speeches to write: the funny speech and the motivational speech, mainly because concluding both is a piece of cake.

For a funny speech (which has no substance) you can just crack another joke (see any of Wil Anderson's ramblings in the Good Weekend for example). For a motivational speech (eg. "The journey is all in the first step") you can really punch your points in. Think patriotic. Think 'this is the most important thing in the world'. And then use that vocabulary of patriotic terms.

"Despite where the journey goes, where it concludes - or even if it never concludes at all - it is that first step that makes the difference. Without the catalyst, that sudden spark of spontanaeity that causes the wheels of time to start turning once again, we will never take those journeys that shape our culture, our environment, or ourselves. 'Go and open the door.' Don't let fear stop you."

[teneale99]

thanks heaps that was awesome..but umm do you have any tips on how to look confidentand all that when giving speeches?

any advice would be great!

[AJohnston1121]

I think the key to being confident is to PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure you know what your saying, like don't write it one night before its due like most of our class does *sigh*. Practice in the mirror, in front of your family/friends (even if they don't care). I use to be nervous with speeches but i'am not anymore (long story). The main things about cooling your nerves are stand upright. Use hand gestures and look not at the audience but i normally look at the back wall (it looks like i'am looking at the back row)

Also just imagine that everyone is holding a $100 note in their hand

[Owyn]

I dont think they will mark you dont for not being funny, but they will mark you up if they see you attempt jokes, because you know the form and all. So if the joke is subtle, a way you can get around having to put the (Laughter) que in is to change it to (pause for laughter), because that is something the speaker can actually do, and it show you tried a joke, which is a feature of speech form.

[loulou58]

aaahh!! thanking you muchly anti...very helpful and whatnot...! now! to write the flippin thing!!!

[princessperzy]

Okay I have a speech due 2moz for advanced english gaah...I hate it anywayz as usual im leaving it to the last minute. It's on Othello and basically we hav to get up in front of our class and talk for 5 minutes about how we are a character (I've chosen Iago) and how a critic has said this and we hav to rebut it...any thoughts or know of any critics?? Ta xx

[tamorapierce13]

Thankyou very much for this! I am compiling a list of conventions for the range of types of texts that we may be asked to write (i.e. speech transcript, feature article, journal entry, etc) and this has been most helpful. =)

[gmrqorsprite 8D]

How do you make it look so easy D:

Hahaha, but anyway .. =)

Thanking you very muchly for this !! <3 <3

Is it fate that Genie just HAPPENS to be writing a speech, right at this moment ?? 8D 8D

*is bash-fied for stupidity*

Ahahaha, anywayy

Thanking you again ! =D

[cute-nesss]

THX SO MUCH mr ANTI!!
U ROCK!
you make writing a speech so easy XD
anyway, thx heapz

[rach.07]

haha

as usual i'm up til midnight writing a speech on one of Othello's soliloquies!! (omg can't believe i spelt that right, or did i?) Argh i'm going to stop agonising over how to finish my last sentence and go to bed, which is waiting patiently beside me! and ask mum about it in the morning

nighty night everyone

rach xx

[tomsav]

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sven90]

Thank you very much for this guide anti!! This guide made speech writing so easy for me now Keep it up! ;D

[Allan vB]

Excellent! This should really help with my ext2 speech...

[tau281290]

I think the most important thing about speeches is to have a superb opener and good ending. The fillings inside should be average to crap, and no one realizes. THis is for those who want to get a band 5 ish for little work.

[S.A.M]

haha awesome u rox
XD
if i was a chick id have ur babys XDXD