Principles Of: Speech Writing

Principles of
Speech Writing
Learning Objectives
• By the end of the lesson, you will have been able to
• identify the principles of speech writing;
• differentiate the stages or processes in speech writing;
• use principles of effective speech writing focusing on audience profile, logical organization,
• duration, word choice, and grammatical correctness;
• plan a speech;
• evaluate a written speech;
• apply principles of editing to a given speech;
• apply learning and thinking skills, life skills, and ICT literacy in understanding the principles
• of speech writing; and
• reflect on your learning on the principles of speech writing.
The Speech Writing Process
• 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.
The Speech Writing Process
Components of the Speech Writing Process
1. Conducting an audience analysis
2. Determining the purpose of the speech
3. Narrowing down a topic
4. Data gathering
5. Selecting a writing pattern
6. Preparing an outline
7. Creating the body of the speech
8. Preparing the introduction
9. Preparing the conclusion
10. Editing / Revising
11. Rehearsing
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.
Audience analysis
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)
Sample checklist
Purpose
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 purpose can be general and specific. Study the
examples below to see the differences.
Narrowing down 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.
Example
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.
Below are different writing patterns from which you can select the
one that best suits your topic and/or purpose.
one that best suits your topic and/or purpose
one that best suits your topic and/or purpose
Outline
• An outline is a hierarchical • A good outline helps you
list that shows the see that all the ideas are
relationship of your ideas. in line with your main
Experts in public speaking idea or message. The
state that once your elements of an outline
outline is ready, two-thirds include introduction,
of your speech writing is body, and conclusion.
finished. Write your outline based
on how you want your
ideas to develop.
Below are some of the suggested formats.
Below are some of the suggested formats.
Creating the Body of the Speech
• The body of the speech • One major consideration in

provides explanations, developing the body of
examples, or any details your speech is the focus or
that can help you deliver central idea. The body of
your purpose and explain your speech should only
the main idea of your have one central idea.
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.
Your first few words should do so.
The following are some strategies in preparing the
introduction:
• 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.
• 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. 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.
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
• Editing/Revising your written speech involves

correcting errors in mechanics, such as grammar,
punctuation, capitalization, unity, coherence, and
others.
Andrew Dlugan (2013), an award winning public
speaker, lists six power principles for speech editing.
• Edit for focus

• Edit for clarity
• Edit for concision
• Edit for continuity
• Edit for variety
• Edit for impact and beauty
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.
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.”
Some Guidelines in Speech Writing
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.

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Principles of

• The process for writing is not chronological or linear;

• Audience analysis entails looking into the profile of

The profile includes the following information.

• Data gathering is the stage where you collect ideas,

• Writing patterns, in general, are structures that will

• Examples are biographical, categorical/topical, causal,

• The body of the speech • One major consideration in

• Present real-life or practical examples

• The introduction is the foundation of your speech. Here,

• The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech.

• Begin your conclusion with a restatement of your

• Editing/Revising your written speech involves

• Edit for focus

• Rehearsing gives you an opportunity to identify what

1. Keep your words short and simple. Your speech is

4. Use active verbs and contractions because they add to

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