How to Write a Speech

Writing a speech seems like a no-brainer. Just write down what you want to say the way you would say it, and there you go. But we all know that isn't the case. We've all listened to people who are horrible speakers, and we've all heard some excellent speakers too, so clearly if it was that easy everyone would do it right.

Unfortunately, lots of students take speech class because they think it will be a breeze, only to find out that it's much harder than it seems. (Incidentally, this happens a lot, students taking classes they think will be a snap and in the end working much harder than they anticipated.) So, here are a few tips for students taking speech classes.

First, you need to think about the length of your speech, especially related to how you talk. A good general rule is to allocate 150 words per minute. So, write 150 words and then speak them out loud, and time yourself. If you are way far off the minute mark, either getting done far too quickly or far too slowly, you will have to moderate your speaking rate. This will require practice, with timing, and so you might want to use some famous speeches (which are probably in your textbook, and if not, you can get them online) and read them out loud while you time yourself. After awhile, you will have a decent sense of how to pace yourself.

Second, while you are doing this practicing, you should also listen to the ways you pause, or don't, the things you emphasize, or don't, and so forth. If you aren't finding any of these instances, then probably you are reading in a monotone that will send your audience to sleep. Remember, you are supposed to entertain your audience. Think about the good speakers you've experienced -- not just the famous ones, but teachers who are really animated, community leaders who get you on fire about this or that, your beloved grandmother who was really able to deliver a lecture. All of them include great variety in their delivery, from pauses to varied tones, and you need to learn to do this also.

Once you have these things down, at least to a beginner's extent, then you can think about writing your own speeches. Yes, don't write anything until you have these things down. Why? Because you need to incorporate this stuff while you write. Insert "pause here" or "loud tone there" if you need reminders to yourself about when to change up your delivery. Keep in mind the 150-words-per-minute rule when writing to speech assignments (meaning, if your teacher told you to give a 5-minute speech, you need to aim to write 750 words or so, give or take). And remember, you want to fire up your audience, not make them feel like they are on tranquilizers, so be sure to use your most animated language, lots of vivid imagery, and so forth.

Of course, once you have written your speech, you need to practice it, ideally in front of someone else. Take notes on what works and what doesn't work, and make changes to your text as you need to do so. With some time and practice, you will be fine -- maybe you'll never be as good as Martin Luther King, but hey, you'll be fine.