how to write a speech in igcse

Writing a speech

Topic outline.

The purpose of a speech is often to inform or persuade an audience. 

Speeches are usually written to be spoken directly to an audience and can be used to entertain, influencing the listeners that the viewpoint of the speaker is correct. 

Speeches can also be used to encourage the audience to take action or to change their behaviour in some way; for example, to join a particular school club or society, or to recycle more. 

The ways you use language and vocabulary when writing the words of a speech will depend on the audience and the purpose you are writing for; for example, in a speech to a group of teachers and parents giving your views on a recent proposal, formal language is most appropriate.

• think about the audience that the speech is for  – are you giving your speech to a group of people you know, or do not know, or a mixture of both? If you know your audience well, you may be able to relax a little, but a speech is still a formal kind of talk and would usually not include slang
• whether your audience are likely to disagree with what you say – you will need to consider any possible objections and deal with them. Use language carefully to make objections seem less significant; for example, using phrases like ‘A few people may still think, however’
• the reason you are giving this speech and how you feel about this topic  – try to imagine the words of your speech as you would speak them out loud. Your tone of voice must match your message, so choose words that appeal to the emotions of your listeners. Focus on what you want your audience to know and feel by the end of your speech
• how to engage your listeners  – f or example, you might use inclusive words or phrases like ‘we’, ‘all of us’ and ‘our’ to make your listeners feel that you are all on the same side.
• Plan where you want to finish your speech and how you will get there before you start writing – t h e structure of a speech is usually in three parts. For example: 
• An opening that grabs your audience's attention and makes the overall topic of your speech clear  – for example, pose a question to the audience where you can predict the answer.
• A well-structured, supported and developed argument –  for example, to support your argument you might use real life examples or anecdotes.
• A powerful conclusion  –  for example, group your final words or ideas in threes to help make them memorable or end with a thought- provoking question or image and thank your audience for listening.
• Organise your ideas into paragraphs as appropriate – this will help you to develop and support your points convincingly, to build your argument and/or offer a full explanation of a particular point of view.
• S how the connectio ns between ideas in sentences and paragraphs  –  where a new point or idea follows on from what you have already said you might use linking words or phrases such as, ‘in addition’, ‘likewise’ or ‘similarly’.
• Select activity Example of a speech Example of a speech

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Writing Speeches for IGCSE First Language English

What will this course cover.

On this course, we will examine how to write a speech. This could appear on your First Language English IGCSE Paper 1 (Q3).

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This course includes:

• A video lesson
• A* Exemplar
• Review quiz

Course Content

Sarah O’Rourke

I’ve been teaching for nine years, working in the UK and in China. I have a Master’s degree in Education and an Undergraduate degree in English language and literature.

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Whatmakesagoodspeech?

A speech is a planned and practised text that you will need to perform in front of other class members. It should be approximately two minutes, although your teacher will make this clear. Speech topics range from the more serious ‘Present a global issue affecting the planet in the twenty-first century’, or the light-hearted ‘Persuade the class to watch a film of your choice.’ No matter what the topic, you will need a clear message with a concise argument. It is no use shrugging your shoulders and saying ‘I don’t know.’ You will need to be proactive with your research and opinions.

Watch the following video on Michelle Obama:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-YYnz7JHVc

How well written is the speech?

How does she perform the speech?

Obama has clearly structured her speech. She has memorised the planned words.

• Use of pauses

Obama allows for audience reaction and response. It is is easy to fear pauses, but let the audience have time to consider the message of your speech. Note that she does not stutter or stumble over her words.

• Use of voice

Obama considers where the emotion in her voice should lie. As she is discussing her children, her voice sounds warmer and more emotional.

• Use of hand movement

Obama does not keep her hands still. She allows herself to show her emotion through her hand gestures. You need to keep still but allow yourself to express feeling.

How should you structure your speech?

You must structure your speech according to purpose and topic:

• Introduction - clearly state your view and
• Arguments - provide 3 clear arguments. They should all strengthen and build upon your introduction. Think of each argument as a hamburger:

Each detail should be well researched. Provide statistics for your audience that are useful and support your argument. Your ‘colourful vocabulary’ should adhere to the purpose of your speech.

• Conclusion - reiterate your argument clearly. Ensure you end with a strong finish.

What is Standard English?

There are two types of English: Standard English and non-Standard English. Standard English is widely considered to be the ‘correct’ form of the language, whilst the non-Standard form is a more informal form of the language.

Look at these two sentences:

• 2mrw I go 2 the cinema 4 my brthday.
• Tomorrow, I will go to the cinema for my birthday.

Which is Standard and which is non-Standard?

• 2mrw I go 2 cinema 4 brthday (non-Standard)
• Use of numbers instead of letters
• Incorrect spelling
• Use of tense is incorrect
• Lack of accurate grammar
• Lack of accurate punctuation
• Tomorrow, I will go to the cinema for my birthday (Standard)
• Letters are used
• Correct spelling
• Tense is correct
• Accurate grammar
• Accurate punctuation

It is incredibly important that the speech is written in Standard English, so that you sound professional and formal.

It’s important to practise your speech and not just use the tips for memorising:

• Use a video recorder or phone and record yourself. Watch the tape and ensure you are looking still and confident.
• Practise in front of the mirror. You can add different body movements to show your confidence.
• Ask the family to be an audience. They will probably love to be involved in your school project. It does not matter how well they speak English but they can tell you if you are standing still and looking confident!

Remember to write a list of possible questions down that you might be asked by your teacher or fellow students. You must plan the answers.

You will be nervous on the day and the words will probably escape you. Your classmates will all be feeling exactly the same.

• Stand confidently
• Do not fidget
• Speak loudly and clearly
• Do not be scared to show emotion in your voice
• Do not laugh

You need to look professional when you are performing your speech.

You will be assessed immediately and feedback should be provided straight away. There are a few official forms to complete, so try not to be surprised if your teacher is writing lots of notes. You may even be asked to peer assess other members of the class.

10 Best Ways to Write a Speech - IGCSE English

What is a speech.

Speech is the delivery of a message to an audience via the spoken word. It is often used to persuade the audience to support an idea, or to explain/describe an interesting topic or event.

This question mostly appears in Paper 1 of your English Language and Literature question paper .

Features of Speech Writing

You will be given a reading booklet insert containing the passage for the speech writing. Read through the passage carefully. The adjacent question will be provided in the question paper booklet.

You would have to choose relevant points from the passage after having a thorough understanding of the question.

Now, convert the passage's selected points into your own words. After that, you can start putting the points together in a cohesive manner in the form of an effective speech.

Let’s take a look at how to convert the selected points from the passage into your own words.

“We could only see barren mountains despite walking for four hours. There were no other travellers on the mountain except a few lonely dwellings.”

"Four hours had passed, and all we could see were barren mountains. The route was devoid of other travellers; the only sign of human habitation was a couple of tiny, isolated dwellings."

Can you see how I modified the sentence structure and words from the highlighted section without altering the paragraph's meaning? This is how it's done; it's not easy at first, but with practise, it will become easier.

• A speech shouldn't be a stream of consciousness, it should rather be well planned out. It should seem effortless and smooth. Make sure that you bring out a strong sense of voice and use words that are simple yet impactful.

Let’s look at an example of an impactful and powerful speech from history and analyse it to understand better.

“we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Winston Churchill, 4 June, 1940

This speech was delivered by Winston Churchill in 1940 during adverse situations to inspire people to come together and fight on. If we take a closer look at the highlighted text we see repetitions of phrases and a rhyme scheme cleverly embedded into the speech. This evokes feelings of awe in us. We are automatically drawn to the articulation and our hearts pound in patriotism.

This is precisely the effect a speech should have on people. Your speech need not necessarily evoke awe but it should convey the message in an effective and efficient manner.

Always write your speech in the first person point of view . Since you are the person who is delivering the speech in front of an audience.

You may need to refer to the audience at times during your speech; in those situations, it is better to use the term we . Why, you may wonder, because it evokes a sense of unity rather than division. When giving a speech, this is a vital consideration. As seen in the example above, Churchill uses we repetitively thus inspiring the listeners. It unites the crowd and creates a sense of oneness in them.

Have clear topic sentences with separate ideas for each paragraph. It need not be mentioned but should have an idea what each paragraph should be about. This helps your speech be coherent and not mixed up.

Use informal language to connect with the audience, using high diction will create no effect in the minds of the audience. The message may be unclear, misconstrued or confusing.

Usage of emotive language, rhetorical questions, comparison are advisable. As seen in the example above Churchill has used emotive language via rhythm and repetition.

Keep the sentences short so you don’t deviate from the topic. This makes sure that the listener is following you and you don’t lose track of your sentence. It also ensures your sentence structure is perfect.

Here’s an Example:

Read Passage A in the insert and answer this question

You are the Head Guide, Chris (Peter’s boss). You are responsible for training the safari guides. When a group of new trainee guides arrives at the camp, you give a talk to prepare them for what lies ahead.

Write the words of your talk.

In your talk, you should:

• describe the range of attractions Idube Camp and the area around it have to offer and how these might appeal to guests
• explain what being a trainee guide is like – the kind of activities they will be asked to do and what they should and should not do as trainees
• suggest what makes a good safari guide, the challenges of the job and the personal qualities they will need to develop.

Welcome to Idube Camp! I hope you are excited for the new experience of the camp. There are many exciting things ready for you to explore, one of them is the safari drives where you can see dangerous animals in their habitat and how they interact with each other. Secondly, there will be guided walks where the safari guides will explain the surroundings and tell what you missed during the walk. Lastly, there are dinner nights with delicious food and service with socializing under the starlight. The place is decorated with lanterns.

Being a trainee guide one should remain calm at all times. You should always be the ones to lead the group. Trainees are also required to carry liquid drinks to Bush Camp. My advice to you is to never run whatever you do. Try to never forget this point as it is essential and crucial.

What makes a good safari guide are the little things which are often overlooked. The in-depth knowledge of trees, birds and insects will help you. You should also be aware of taking shortcuts and changing paths when required. There are also some challenges guides should overcome first of all, carrying cans when they happen to let go of the wheelbarrow. It is also important to know the different bird calls to know whether they are alarm calls against predators or you. This will help you in navigation and protection.

So, I hope you are excited to begin this journey with us. We welcome you to Camp Idube with all our hearts! Thank you!

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