Lesson 1 Principles of Speech Writing

Unit III Fundamentals of Public Speaking Lesson 1: Principles of Speech Writing 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 •Editing and/or Revising •Rehearsing •Selecting a speech pattern •Preparing an outline •Creating the body of the speech •Preparing the introduction •Preparing the conclusion Fig. 1. Speech Writing Process 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) A sample checklist is presented below. Audience Analysis Age Range Male-Female Ratio Educational Background Educational Institution Place of Residence (city, province, town) Marital Status Economic Status (Household income above 30,000 or below 30,000) Language Spoken Religious Affiliations/beliefs •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. Page 1 of 19 General Purpose Specific Purpose • To inform Grade 11 students about the process of conducting an automated student government election. • To inform Grade 11 students about the definition and relevance of information literacy today. • To inform Grade 11 students about the importance of effective money management. • To entertain Grade 11 students with his/her funny experiences in automated election. • To entertain Grade 11 students with interesting observations of people who lack information literacy. • To entertain Grade 11 students with the success stories of the people in the community. • To persuade the school administrators to switch from manual to automated student government election. • To persuade Grade 11 students to develop information literacy skills. • To persuade the school administrators to promote financial literacy among students. To inform To entertain To persuade • 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.” General Purpose Specific purpose Topic Narrowing down a topic through listing To inform To inform Grade 11 students on the importance of effective money management. Financial literacy or effective money management. Effective money management. Effective money management of Grade 11 students Developing an effective money management of Grade 11 students Defining and developing effective money management skills of Grade 11 students • 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. Below are different writing patterns from which you can select the one that best suits your topic and/or purpose. Pattern Biographical Categorical/ Topical Descriptions Examples Specific Purpose To inform my audience about my grandfather, the late former President Ramon Magsaysay. Specific Topic Describing the life and works of my grandfather, the late former President Ramon Magsaysay Specific Purpose To persuade the community members to reduce, reuse, and recycle as means of eliminating Presents descriptions of your life or of a person, famous or not. Presents related categories supporting the topic. Page 2 of 19 Specific Topic Presents cause/effect relationship Causal Specific Purpose Specific Topic Specific Purpose Chronological Presents the idea in time order. Specific Topic Comparison/ contrast Presents comparison/ contrast of two or three points Specific Purpose Specific Topic Specific Purpose Problem-solution Presents an identified problem, its causes, and recommended solutions. Specific Topic garbage and protecting the environment. Why the community members should promote reducing, reusing, and recycling. To inform my audience on the effects of overeating. Explaining the possible effects of overeating to one’s health. To inform my audience about the significant events in the 1986 EDSA Revolution or People Power Describing the significant events before, during, and after the 1986 EDSA Revolution or People Power To persuade the audience that living in the Philippines is better than living in Australia Explaining why the Philippines is more habitable than Australia To persuade the audience to support the educational programs of the national government. Explaining the reasons for supporting the government’s educational programs seen as the primary means of increasing the literacy rate in the Philippines • 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. Below are some of the suggested formats. 1. Table format Purpose Specific purpose Topic Pattern Introduction Body Conclusion To persuade. To persuade the community members to reduce, reuse, and recycle as means of eliminating garbage and protecting the environment. Promoting the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling in eliminating wastes and protecting the environment. Problem-solution. Share facts on the current situation of the environment. State the message of the speech (specific topic). Discuss how improper waste disposal becomes an environmental problem. Explain how reducing, reusing, and recycling would eliminate wastes and protect the environment. State the specific purpose of your speech again. Call for action. Page 3 of 19 2. List format 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 take 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. 4.0 We must act now. 4.1 This solution should be supported by the local government. 4.2 Let us learn from the lessons in natural calamities we have experienced • 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. - Present real-life or practical examples - Show statistics - Present comparisons -Share ideas from the experts or practitioners • 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. - 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. • 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 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. “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. - 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). Page 4 of 19