2025 Montfort EL P1 Speech Writing notes

Montfort Secondary School (Secondary 3) Page 1 SPEECH WRITING

Montfort Secondary School (Secondary 3) Page 7 Planning and Writing a Speech Step 1: Ask yourself these questions 1) What is the purpose of the speech? • To give information • To entertain the audience • To argue the case for or against something 2) Who is my audience? • Is the audience a specialised one? • Will they know the details I am going to say and hold strong opinions on the topic? • Is the audience male, female or mixed? • What is the average age of the people in the audience? • Does this matter for the topic of my talk? Step 2: Structure your speech 1) Your speech should have • An introductory statement • A series of arguments • A conclusion

Montfort Secondary School (Secondary 3) Page 8 Writing an Introduction 1. Begin with an interesting anecdote connected to the point of your essay/speech. I had a wonderful childhood. I was doted upon by my parents and grandparents. When I stepped into secondary school, gradually, in a very imperceptible way, I realised that I had left my childhood behind. (the opening of an essay on ‘The pains and joys of growing up’) 2. Start with a provoking idea or startling statistics By the time you finished reading the first paragraph of this essay, that is, the introduction – at least 200 people would have died of starvation. Every year over 4 million will die of hunger. (the opening of an essay on ‘The biggest problem the world is facing today’) 3. Use an interesting quotation or meaningful proverb. Before one seeks vengeance, one would do well to heed the old Chinese proverb, ‘Before you set off on revenge, dig two graves.’ (the opening of an essay titled ‘Do you agree with the statement that revenge is sweet?’) 4. Ask an interesting question or two, the answers of which will be the whole point of your speech/essay. How would you feel is you were taken against your will and caged up all day long for all to see? How would you feel if your freedom were removed from your existence, and when once you roamed the lands freely, you are now hemmed in by steel bars, with only a small square of sky above you? (the opening of an essay on ‘ “Zoos ought to be abolished.” Do you agree?’) 5. Make an appealing connection between current news and your topic. Recent news of Lance Armstrong’s confession of doping to Oprah on her talk show has stirred the sports world yet again. Armstrong is only one of the many sports casualties who have fallen to the clutches of steroids and drugs to win at all costs. (the opening of an essay on ‘Has sports lost its value and meaning?’) 6. Define key terms. ‘Emancipation’ means ‘freedom’ or ‘liberation’ and implies a release from old thinking and bonds to do as one wishes. There is no doubt that women today are more emancipated, that is, have much more freedom than in the last century. (the opening of an essay on ’What changes