The Speech Writing Process

Just like events planning, or any other activities, writing an effective speech follows certain steps or processes.
The process for writing is not chronological or linear; rather, it is recursive. That means you have the opportunity to
repeat a writing procedure indefinitely, or produce multiple drafts first before you can settle on the right one. Figure 1
shows the schematic diagram.

 Conducting an audience analysis

 Determining the purpose of the speech
 Selecting a topic
 Narrowing down a topic
 Gathering data
 Selecting a speech pattern
 Preparing an outline
 Creating the body of the speech
 Preparing the introduction
 Preparing the conclusion
 Editing and/or Revising
 Rehearsing\

The following are the components of the speech writing process.

Audience analysis entails looking into the profile of your target audience. This is done so you can tailor-fit your speech
content and delivery to your audience. The profile includes the following information.

 demography (age range, male-female ratio, educational background and affiliations or degree program taken,
nationality, economic status, academic or corporate designations)
 situation (time, venue, occasion, and size)
 psychology (values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, cultural and racial ideologies, and needs)

The purpose for writing and delivering the speech can be classified into three—to inform, to entertain, or to persuade.

 An informative speech provides the audience with a clear understanding of the concept or idea presented by the
speaker.
 An entertainment speech provides the audience with amusement.
 A persuasive speech provides the audience with well-argued ideas that can influence their own beliefs and decisions.

The topic is your focal point of your speech, which can be determined once you have decided on your purpose. If you
are free to decide on a topic, choose one that really interests you. There are a variety of strategies used in selecting a
topic, such as using your personal experiences, discussing with your family members or friends, free writing, listing,
asking questions, or semantic webbing.

Narrowing down a topic means making your main idea more specific and focused. The strategies in selecting a topic can
also be used when you narrow down a topic. In the example below, “Defining and developing effective money
management skills of Grade 11 students” is the specific topic out of a general one, which is “Effective money
management.”

Data gathering is the stage where you collect ideas, information, sources, and references relevant or related to your
specific topic. This can be done by visiting the library, browsing the web, observing a certain phenomenon or event
related to your topic, or conducting an interview or survey. The data that you will gather will be very useful in making
your speech informative, entertaining, or persuasive.
Writing patterns, in general, are structures that will help you organize the ideas related to your topic. Examples are
biographical, categorical/topical, causal, chronological, comparison/contrast, problem-solution, and spatial.

An outline is a hierarchical list that shows the relationship of your ideas. Experts in public speaking state that once your
outline is ready, two-thirds of your speech writing is finished. A good outline helps you see that all the ideas are in line
with your main idea or message. The elements of an outline include introduction, body, and conclusion. Write your
outline based on how you want your ideas to develop.

The body of the speech provides explanations, examples, or any details that can help you deliver your purpose and
explain the main idea of your speech. One major consideration in developing the body of your speech is the focus or
central idea. The body of your speech should only have one central idea.

 The introduction is the foundation of your speech. Here, your primary goal is to get the attention of your audience and
present the subject or main idea of your speech. Your first few words should do so. The following are some strategies.
 The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech. Furthermore, it provides a summary, emphasizes the message,
and calls for action. While the primary goal of the introduction is to get the attention of your audience, the conclusion
aims to leave the audience with a memorable statement.

Editing/Revising your written speech involves correcting errors in mechanics, such as grammar, punctuation,
capitalization, unity, coherence, and others. Andrew Dlugan (2013), an awardwinning public speaker, lists six power
principles for speech editing.

Rehearsing gives you an opportunity to identify what works and what does not work for you and for your target
audience. Some strategies include reading your speech aloud, recording for your own analysis or for your peers or
coaches to give feedback on your delivery. The best thing to remember at this stage is: “Constant practice makes
perfect.”

Insights on Public Speaking

According to Stephen Lucas (2011), author of The Art of Public Speaking, a good delivery means that you are capable and
able to present your message in a clear, coherent, and interesting way. In addition to this, he also says:

“Good delivery…conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the audience. Most audiences
prefer delivery that combines a certain degree of formality with the best attributes of good conversation—directness,
spontaneity, animation, vocal and facial expressiveness, and a lively sense of communication” (p. 244).

As a student of public speaking, you should know that public speaking is not simply reading your speech or talking about
your topic. It requires making connections with your audience and presenting yourself formally to the public. There are
types of speeches according to purpose and delivery from which you can choose the best one or the most appropriate in
a given situation.

Types of Speech According to Purpose

1. An informative speech provides the audience with a clear understanding of a concept or idea. The lectures of your
teachers are the best examples of this type.

2. An entertainment speech amuses the audience. The humorous speeches of comedians and performers are the best
examples of this type.

3. A persuasive speech seeks to provide the audience with favorable or acceptable ideas that can influence their own
ideas and decisions. The campaign speeches of the running candidates for government posts are the best examples of
this type.
Types of Speech According to Delivery

1. Extemporaneous- Speaking with limited preparation

2. Impromptu- Speaking without advanced preparation
3. Manuscript- Reading aloud a written message
4. Memorized- Reciting a written message word-for-word from memory

Aims of an Entertainment Speech

An entertainment speech aims to share goodwill, joy, and pleasure to the audience. The purpose of an entertainment
speech is not to educate, inform, or inspire because the primary goal is to make the audience relax, enjoy, and even
laugh. This means that you, the speaker, are expected to be friendly and relaxed, but still courteous during the speech
delivery. Moreover, you should know your audience well in order to entertain them effectively.

How to Make your Speech Entertaining

To make your speech entertaining, you may:

• tell jokes;
• share funny stories;
• dramatize experiences; and
• recall a scary story.

Steps in Writing an Entertaining Speech

1. Choose! Choose a light topic. Remember, you are there to give the audience a good time.
2. Enjoy! If you exude confidence and you obviously enjoy the moment, the audience will enjoy your presence, too.
3. Simplify! Simplify the flow of your speech. Your audience does not need a mentally exhausting message.
4. Visualize! Your words should be highly descriptive. Use vivid words and keep them flowing to make your audience feel
as if they were in your story.
5. Surprise! Astonish your audience with unexpected twists in your presentation. The more you surprise them, the more
entertaining your speech will become.

Types of Informative Speeches

Generally, there are four types of informative speeches which vary depending on the topic. These are speech about
objects or people, speech about processes, speech about events, and speech about concepts.

1. Speech about objects or people

2. Speech about processes
3. Speech about events
4. Speech about concepts

Organizational Patterns

A. Chronological Pattern. This can be used if you want to present the history, evolution, or development of your topic in a
sequential order, from past to present or beginning to end.
B. Spatial Pattern – this pattern is used when you want to talk about the physical structure of an object or the way things fit
together in a certain space (Glendale Community College; University of Washington Tacoma). Topics that deal with
geography fit this pattern best.
C. Topical/Categorical Pattern. This can be used if you want to inform your audience about the main features, descriptions,
or categories of your topic.
D. Cause-Effect Pattern. This can be used if you want to show the causal relationship of events or phenomena.
E. Comparison-Contrast. This can be used if you want to compare objects, events, or concepts underscoring their
similarities and differences.

Definition of Persuasive Speech

Persuasive speaking is the form of communication that people of diverse backgrounds mostly engage in. This kind of
speech can center on any arguably interesting topic under the sun. When you deliver your persuasive speech, your
primary goal is to influence the thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors or attitudes of your listeners (Gamble &
Gamble, 2012). Likewise, you also aim to change their perception and convince them that your argument is more
important, practical, attainable, or feasible. In essence, you—as a persuasive speaker—advocate for whatever your
message is.

Qualities of an Effective Persuasive Speech

1. Well-defined goal
2. Clear main point
3. Sufficient supporting ideas
4. Logical reasoning (concrete reasons why your listeners should support your ideas)
5. Effective and powerful ways to gain the attention of your audience
6. Compelling ideas to make your target audience feel and think
7. Salient motives to target the salient needs of your audience

Types of Claims in Persuasive Speech

1. Speech that Questions Fact-This type questions the existence of a particular event or happening. In this case, the
persuasive speaker poses questions of fact, derives conclusions from different sources of information, and attempts to
convince the audience to believe in his/her ideas.
2. Speech that Questions Value This type focuses on questions of value regarding topics on the self, family, friendship,
religion, government, freedom, love, and money, among others. In this case, the persuasive speaker (1) makes a
statement or claim which reflects his/her judgment, (2) attempts to convince his/her audience of his/her judgment, and
(3) justifies it based on standards.
3. Speech that Questions Policy This type questions the current state of things which can impact the future. In this case,
the persuasive speaker asks relevant questions that can help in making a decision on whether or not something should
be implemented, observed, or done.

MANUSCRIPT READING

When speaking from a manuscript, you write and deliver a speech word for word. The question is, for whom is the
manuscript method most advantageous?

1. Public figures. Since public figures are always constrained by a hectic schedule, they need ghost writers.
Consequently, they would have to read the text of the speech as it is. The President’s State of the Nation Address
(SONA) is a concrete example of this situation.

2. Media personalities. Speakers on radio and television always battle with time limits. For example, a televised panel
discussion about a social issue may require radio and TV anchors to critically choose and refine the words of their speech
in advance.
3. Spokespersons for government and private organizations. This public speaking role requires a great deal of
contemplation and preparation. For example, we have speeches of different country’s spokespersons in an international
seminar on climate change.

Potential Problems with the Manuscript Method

1. Since this type of speech follows a word-for-word method, you might be tempted to skip practicing the speech.

2. In relation to the previous point, if you fail to practice your speech and decide to read it during the time of delivery
itself, you might be glued to the speech all throughout. You may overlook making eye contact with your audience. Note
that glancing at the audience only at the end of a sentence is not sufficient to establish and maintain rapport during the
speech.
3. Lastly, because everything is planned based on the time allotted, you will surely want to cover everything in your
speech before you run out of time. This might affect your connection with the audience, as there is a tendency to ignore
the audience and neglect responding to their feedback when busy with the speech. Pay attention and make sure to
check and adjust if the audience displays anxiety, impatience, or boredom.

Strategies in Organizing and Delivering the Manuscript Speech

1. Practice! Practice delivering the speech several times. Mark the text. Even if it’s a manuscript, know the speech by heart.
Only if you do these can you keep frequent eye contact with the audience.

2. Adapt! Even if you have a manuscript, feel free to modify the text when the situation demands it. If you observe that
your audience is bored, you may use shorter yet more vigorous words. If your audience is impatient, add words of
strong motivational power. If your audience is anxious, share personal anecdotes to lighten the mood.

MEMORIZED SPEECH

A memorized speech requires you to commit the speech to memory so that you do not bring your notes when
delivering it. As with the manuscript speech, you also run the risk of sounding mechanical during a memorized delivery.
For this reason, keep your memorized speech short and work harder on your facial expressions and the tone of your
voice.

Tips in Memorizing a Speech

1. Break it down! You cannot memorize a speech in one sitting. If your speech has four paragraphs, you should focus on
one paragraph at a time. Once you have memorized the first paragraph, focus on the next one.

2. Build it up! After memorizing the speech in snippets, you need to put them together. Recite the first paragraph and
move on to the second. After this, recite the first and second paragraphs and move on to the third. The next thing you
know, you have completed your speech.

3. Speak out! Do not memorize the speech silently. When you recite your speech over and over while memorizing it,
your brain multitasks and aids your memory retention.

4. Identify keys! Identify a key point in every paragraph. Even if you miss out some of the words in the actual speech
delivery, you can easily expound on the key points.
5. Have a break! After memorizing some parts of your speech, take a break for some hours or for a day. After this, recite
the speech again. This will test how well you can recall what you think you have memorized.

6. Record and listen! Record yourself delivering the speech and listen to it over and over again. Like a song, the speech
will get stuck in your head.

7. Use note cards! Write one key point on one note card. Bring these note cards wherever you go and take them out
whenever you have extra time to memorize, especially during idle times of the day.

IMPROMPTU SPEECH

Impromptu speeches are delivered with little or no time for preparation. In most instances, you are called to speak at
the spur of the moment because you are expected to be knowledgeable about the subject.

For example, your teacher assigned you to read an article before the class starts. Then, during the class you were asked
to deliver an impromptu speech about what you have learned from the article. Another instance to illustrate an
impromptu situation is when you are asked by a friend or a relative about your current or planned vacation trip or when
you are campaigning for a position in school and you are asked by your fellow students to respond to their questions.

Strategies in Organizing and Delivering an Impromptu Speech

1. Past, Present, Future

Example: In the past, I was not comfortable in making impromptu speeches because I could not think right away of what
to say; maybe it was because of nervousness and lack of time to prepare. At present, however, I am enjoying it because I
constantly practice and keep on exposing myself to any speaking situation. In the future, I look forward to teaching
others how to survive impromptu speech situations.
2. Point-Reason-Example/Explanation-Point
3. Opening, Rule of Three, Clincher

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH

An extemporaneous speech is a planned and prepared speech. Unlike memorized or manuscript speeches which are
delivered word-for-word, an extemporaneous speech is delivered with the help of short notes and a clear outline. Most
people who speak in public often prefer the extemporaneous method of delivery. Although it might look more
challenging than the manuscript or memorized speeches, it is more spontaneous and personal.

Three Steps in Studying your Extemporaneous Topic

1. Identify the type of extemporaneous question that you have to answer.

 Is it a question of fact? This type of question is typically answerable by “Yes” or “No.” It revolves around whether
something is true or not, existent or not.

Example: Is Syria’s crisis a problem of the whole world?

 Is it a question of value? It is centered on whether a topic is good or bad, moral or immoral, just or unjust.
Example: Is it better for the European nations to step in and aid Syria or ignore the country’s civil crisis?

 Is it a question of policy? It is focused on what policy or rule should be followed.

Example: Should European countries enforce laws to accommodate Syrian refugees?

2. Determine the purpose appropriate to your topic.

3. Stick to your topic and look at all of the sides and angles of the problem.