writing procedure indefinitely, or produce multiple drafts first before you can

settle on the right one.

Speech Writing Process

Figure 1: Speech
Writing Process

Figure 1 shows the logical process a speech has to undergo before one can
deliver it successfully. Each stage is composed of components which are all essential to
the development of you piece.

Conducting Audience Analysis

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.
a. Demography determines the interest of the audience, and will also affect the
language style and formality of the speech
Ex: age range, male-female ratio, educational background and affiliations
or degree program taken, nationality, economic status, academic or
corporate designations
b. Situation will affect the length of speech, visual aids, and formality of the
situation.
Ex: time, venue, occasion, and size
c. Psychology will let the writer know which appeal to use and how to situate his/
her text in the context of the audience.
Ex: (values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, cultural and racial ideologies,
and needs)
Determining the purpose of the speech
The purpose for writing and delivering the speech can be classified into three—to
inform, to entertain, or to persuade.
a. An informative speech provides the audience with a clear understanding
of the concept or idea presented by the speaker.
b. An entertainment speech provides the audience with amusement.
c. A persuasive speech provides the audience with well-argued ideas that
can influence their own beliefs and decisions.
Selecting and Narrowing a Topic
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.”
i

Data Gathering
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.

Selecting a Writing Pattern

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.

Pattern Description Examples

Presents descriptions To inform my audience about my
of your life or of a Purpose grandfather, the late former
Biographical person, famous or not President Ramon Magsaysay
Describing the life and works of my
Topic grandfather, the late former
President Ramon Magsaysay
Presents related To persuade the community
Categorical/ categories supporting Purpose members to reduce, reuse, and
Topical the topic recycle as means of eliminating
garbage and protecting the
environment
Why the community members
Topic should promote reducing, reusing,
and recycling
Present cause and To inform my audience on the effects
Causal effect relationship Purpose of overeating

Explaining the possible effects of

Topic overeating to one’s health
Presents the idea in To inform my audience about the
time order Purpose significant events in the 1986 EDSA
Revolution or People Power
Chronological Describing the significant events
Topic before, during, and after the 1986
EDSA Revolution or People Power
Presents comparison/ To persuade the audience that living
Comparison/ contrast of two or Purpose in the Philippines is better than
contrast three points living in Australia
Explaining why the Philippines is
Topic more habitable than Australia
Presents an identified To persuade the audience to
problem, its causes, Purpose support the educational programs
Problem- and recommended of the national government
solution solutions Explaining the reasons for supporting
Topic the government’s educational
programs seen as the primary means
of increasing the literacy rate in the
Philippines

Preparing an Outline
An outline is a hierarchical list that shows the relationship of your ideas. 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. Preparing an outline is important
because it forms the foundation of the student’s speech, and keeps the speech
coherent and
cohesive.

a. Table Format

b. List Format
Creating the Body of
the Speech

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 following are some strategies to highlight your main idea.
a. Present real-life or practical examples
b. Show statistics
c. Present comparisons
d. Share ideas from the experts or practitioners
Remember that the main idea of your speech may also be presented using a
thesis statement (sentence that expresses a claim or directly answering a question).
Preparing the Introduction

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.
a. Use a real-life experience and connect that experience to your subject.
b. Use practical examples and explain their connection to your subject.
c. Start with a familiar or strong quote and then explain what it means.
d. Use facts or statistics and highlight their importance to your subject.
e. Tell a personal story to illustrate your point.

Preparing the Conclusion

The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech
Editing/ Revising

Editing/Revising your written speech involves correcting errors in mechanics,

such as grammar, punctuation, capitalization, unity, coherence, and others.
a. Edit for focus
- “So, what’s the point? What’s the message of the speech?”
- Ensure that everything you have written, from introduction to conclusion, is
related to your central message.
b. Edit for clarity
- “I don’t understand the message because the examples or supporting
details were confusing.”
- Make all ideas in your speech clear by arranging them in logical order
(e.g., main idea first then supporting details, or supporting details first
then main idea).

c. Edit for concision

- “The speech was all over the place; the speaker kept talking
endlessly as if no one was listening to him/her.”
- Keep your speech short, simple, and clear by eliminating unrelated stories
and sentences and by using simple words.

d. Edit for continuity

- “The speech was too difficult to follow; I was lost in the middle.”
- Keep the flow of your presentation smooth by adding transition words and
phrases.
e. Edit for variety
- “I didn’t enjoy the speech because it was boring.”
- Add spice to your speech by shifting tone and style from formal to
conversational and vice-versa, moving around the stage, or adding
humor.
f. Edit for impact and beauty
- “There’s nothing really special about the speech.”
- Make your speech memorable by using these strategies: surprise the
audience, use vivid descriptive images, write well-crafted and
memorable lines, and use figures of speech
Rehearsing
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.”

Some Guidelines in Speech Writing

1. Keep your words short and simple. Your speech is meant to be heard by your
audience, not read.
2. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical words because they can confuse your
audience.
3. Make your speech more personal. Use the personal pronoun “I,” but take care not
to overuse it. When you need to emphasize collectiveness with your audience,
use the personal pronoun “we.”
4. Use active verbs and contractions because they add to the personal and
conversational tone of your speech.
5. Be sensitive of your audience. Be very careful with your language, jokes, and
nonverbal cues.
6. Use metaphors and other figures of speech to effectively convey your point.
7. Manage your time well; make sure that the speech falls under the time limit.

1. Knowing the audience and the occasion is crucial in writing a speech.

2. Rehearsing is a major requirement.
3. Speech writing is a recursive process.
4. The approach that you will use in your introduction can determine the
success of your speech.
5. The primary objective of speech writing is getting the right or appropriate
topic.
6. The purpose of the speech will help you identify ideas that will support your
main idea or message.
7. Word choice is one consideration in writing a speech