Student Leadership: Write Speeches Like an Expert in 5 Easy Steps
Public speaking is an essential leadership skill for any student leadership class.
However, it can be overwhelming to most teens because they are not experienced speakers.
Imagine having to come up with a speech without any type of structure to go by.
Although speech writing may seem intimidating to aspiring youth leaders, it can be made simple by organizing it into several main areas.
Speech writing can be broken down into five key steps that, when used properly, will result in an interesting and effective speech: Introduction with an Attention-Getter An introduction should set the tone for the speech, as well as addressing the topic.
However, it also needs to include an attention-getter that will engross the audience.
Some good attention-getters include questions, quotes, and powerful facts or statistics.
Three Main Points The body of the speech should be made up of three main points.
These are the points that the student leader is trying to make to the audience.
They should be related to each other, and the speaker should talk about them in such a way as to make them memorable to the audience.
Here's how...
Storytelling Everybody loves a good story.
Teen leadership classes should include storytelling practice because they make the speech more compelling.
Most good speeches include an interesting story that relates to the topic or one of the main points of the speech.
The story may be personal or, often, about a well-known person and his or her triumphs or tribulations.
Quotes, Examples, and Powerful Statements An effective speech needs to include quotes, examples, and powerful statements.
These stress the importance of the speaker's points.
Many people can relate to famous quotes and examples.
Powerful statements get the audience's attention and make them want to learn more about the subject.
Conclusion with a Request The conclusion of the speech should sum up everything that was said.
It should review the main topics, tie them together and state why they are important.
However, an effective speech should also close with a request.
Here are three common types of requests:
Youth leadership training that includes teaching these speech writing steps will have students well on their way to becoming successful leaders in their schools and communities.
However, it can be overwhelming to most teens because they are not experienced speakers.
Imagine having to come up with a speech without any type of structure to go by.
Although speech writing may seem intimidating to aspiring youth leaders, it can be made simple by organizing it into several main areas.
Speech writing can be broken down into five key steps that, when used properly, will result in an interesting and effective speech: Introduction with an Attention-Getter An introduction should set the tone for the speech, as well as addressing the topic.
However, it also needs to include an attention-getter that will engross the audience.
Some good attention-getters include questions, quotes, and powerful facts or statistics.
Three Main Points The body of the speech should be made up of three main points.
These are the points that the student leader is trying to make to the audience.
They should be related to each other, and the speaker should talk about them in such a way as to make them memorable to the audience.
Here's how...
Storytelling Everybody loves a good story.
Teen leadership classes should include storytelling practice because they make the speech more compelling.
Most good speeches include an interesting story that relates to the topic or one of the main points of the speech.
The story may be personal or, often, about a well-known person and his or her triumphs or tribulations.
Quotes, Examples, and Powerful Statements An effective speech needs to include quotes, examples, and powerful statements.
These stress the importance of the speaker's points.
Many people can relate to famous quotes and examples.
Powerful statements get the audience's attention and make them want to learn more about the subject.
Conclusion with a Request The conclusion of the speech should sum up everything that was said.
It should review the main topics, tie them together and state why they are important.
However, an effective speech should also close with a request.
Here are three common types of requests:
- Emotional request - such as asking for more understanding about a subject
- Persuasive request - such as asking for student members' votes or donations
- Call for action - such as to ask youth members to go out and win a sports game.
Youth leadership training that includes teaching these speech writing steps will have students well on their way to becoming successful leaders in their schools and communities.
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