PRINCIPLES

OF
SPEECH WRITING
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
Editing and/ or Revising
Creating the body of the speech
Rehearsing Preparing the introduction
Preparing the conclusion
Audience Analysis
Entails looking into the profile of your
target audience.

Demography ( age range, male female ratio,

educational background and affiliations or degree
program taken, nationality, economic status,
academic or incorporate designations).
Situation ( time, venue, occasion and size).
Psychology (values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences,
cultural and racial ideologies and needs).
Purpose of writing and delivering the
speech

To inform – an informative speech provides the

audience with a clear understanding of the
concept or idea presented by the speaker.
To entertain – an entertainment speech
provides the audience with amusement.
To persuade – a persuasive speech provides
the audience with well-argued ideas that can
influence their own beliefs and decisions.
Selecting a Topic
The topic is your main point, which can be determined
once you have decided on your purpose.
Narrowing Down a Topic
Means making your main idea more specific and
focused.
… Selecting a Topic

Data Gathering
Is the stage where you collect ideas,
information, sources and references
relevant or related to your specific
topic.

Writing Patterns
In general, are structures that will help
you organize the ideas related to your
topic.
Pattern Descriptions Type of speech
Examples
appropriate to

Biographical Presents descriptions of To inform Specific Purpose

your life or of a person, To entertain To inform my student about my grandfather.
famous or not.
Describing the life and works of my grandfather.
Specific Topic
Categorical/ Presents related To inform Specific Purpose To persuade the community members to reduce, reuse and
categories supporting the To entertain recycle as means of eliminating garbage.
Topical topic. To persuade
Why the community members should promote
Specific Topic reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Specific Purpose To inform my audience on the effects of overeating.
Causal Presents cause-effect To inform
relationships.
Explaining the possible effects of overeating to one’s
Specific Topic health.
Chronological Presents the idea in time To inform Specific Purpose To inform my audience about the significant events in the
order. 1986 EDSA Revolution or People Power.

Describing the significant events before, during and

Specific Topic after the People Power.

Comparison/ Presents To inform Specific Purpose To persuade the audience that living in the
comparison/contrast of To persuade Philippines is better than living in Australia.
Contrast two or three points.
Explaining why the Philippines is more habitable
Specific Topic than Australia.
To persuade the audience to support the educational
Problem- Presents an identified To inform Specific Purpose programs of the national government.
problem, its causes and To persuade
solution recommended solutions. Explaining the reasons for supporting the government’s
Specific Topic educational programs.
Preparing an Outline
An outline is a hierarchical list that shows
the relationship of your ideas
1. Table format
Purpose To inform
Specific purpose To persuade the community members to reduce, reuse, and
recycle as means of eliminating garbage and protecting the
environment.
Topic Promoting the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling in
eliminating wastes and protecting the environment.
Pattern Problem-solution
Introduction Share facts on the current situation of the environment.
Body Discuss how improper wastes disposal becomes an environment
problem. Explain how reducing, reusing and recycling would
eliminate wastes and protect the environment.
Conclusion State the specific purpose of your speech again.
Call for action.
1.0 As of today, there is an alarming increase of wastes in our
community.
1.1 According to Solid Waste Management Office, if
we do not tale immediate action, we might face more perils caused by
natural calamities.
1.2 Now, I am going to talk about how to eliminate
wastes and protect the environment.
2.0 Improper waste disposal causes environmental problems.
2.1 Wastes contaminate the soil.
2.2 Wastes contaminate the water.
2.3 Wastes can cause floods.
3.0 There are ways to eliminate wastes and protect the
environment.
3.1 Reducing, reusing, and recycling can help
eliminate wastes.
3.2 People should start doing these at home.
3.3 This solution should be supported by the local
government.
4.0 We must act now
Creating the Body of the Speech
The body of the speech provides an explanation,
examples, or any details that can help you deliver your
purpose and explain the main idea of your speech.

The following are some strategies to highlight your

main idea.
• Present real-life or practical examples.
• Show Statistics.
• Present comparisons.
• Share ideas from the experts or practitioners.
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.

• Use a real-life experience and connect that

experience to your subject.
• Use practical examples and explain their
connection to your subject.
• Start with a familiar or strong quote and
then explain what it means.
• Use facts or statistics and highlight their
importance to your subject.
• To tell a personal story to illustrate your
point.
Preparing the Conclusion
The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech. Furthermore,
it provides a summary, emphasizes the message, and calls for action.

The following are some strategies.

• Begin your conclusion with a restatement of
your message.
• Use positive examples, encouraging words, or
memorable lines from songs or stories familiar
to your audience.
• Ask a question or series of questions that can
make your audience reflect or ponder.
Editing/Revising
Your written speech involves correcting errors in
mechanics, such as grammar, punctuation, capitalization,
unity, coherence and others.
• Edit for focus.
“So, what’s the point? What’s the message of the speech?”
• Edit for clarity
“I don’t understand the message because the examples or
supporting details were confusing.”
• Edit for concision
“The speech was all over the place; the speaker kept on
talking endlessly as if no one was listening to him/her”
… Editing/Revising

• Edit for continuity

“The speech was to difficult to follow; I was lost in the
middle.”
• Edit for variety
“I didn’t enjoy the speech because it was boring.”
• Edit for impact and beauty
“There’s nothing really special about the speech.”
Rehearsing
It gives you an opportunity to
identify what works and what does not
work for you and for your target
audience.
The best thing to remember at this
stage is,

”Constant practice makes progress.”

Some Guidelines in
Speech Writing
1. Keep your words short and simple.
2. Avoid jargon, acronyms or technical words.
3. Make your speech more personal. Use the
personal pronoun “I” and “We”.
4. Be sensitive to your audience.
5. Use metaphors and other figures of speech to
effectively convey your point.
6. Manage your time well.