The Speech Writing Process developing effective money management skills of Grade

11 students” is the specific topic out of a general one,

Just like events planning, or any other activities, writing
which is “Effective money management.”
an effective speech follows certain steps or processes.
The process for writing is not chronological or linear; • Data gathering is the stage where you collect ideas,
rather, it is recursive. That means you can repeat a information, sources, and references relevant or related
writing procedure indefinitely or produce multiple to your specific topic. This can be done by visiting the
drafts first before you can settle on the right one. Figure library, browsing the web, observing a certain
1 shows the schematic diagram. 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.

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)

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 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
  An outline is a hierarchical list that shows the you have written, from introduction to
relationship of your ideas. Experts in public conclusion, is related to your central message.
speaking state that once your outline is ready, • Edit for clarity. “I don’t understand the message
two-thirds of your speech writing is finished. A because the examples or supporting details
good outline helps you see that all the ideas are were confusing.” Make all ideas in your speech
in line with your main idea or message. The clear by arranging them in logical order (e.g.,
elements of an outline include introduction, main idea first then supporting details, or
body, and conclusion. Write your outline based supporting details first then main idea).
on how you want your ideas to develop. Below • Edit for concision. “The speech was all over the
are some of the suggested formats place; the speaker kept talking endlessly as if no
• The body of the speech provides explanations, one was listening to him/her.” Keep your
examples, or any details that can help you speech short, simple, and clear by eliminating
deliver your purpose and explain the main idea unrelated stories and sentences and by using
of your speech. One major consideration in simple words.
developing the body of your speech is the focus
Edit for continuity. “The speech was too difficult to
or central idea. The body of your speech should
follow; I was lost in the middle.” Keep the flow of your
only have one central idea
presentation smooth by adding transition words and
• The following are some strategies to highlight
phrases.
your main idea.
• Present real-life or practical examples Q Show • Edit for variety. “I didn’t enjoy the speech
statistics because it was boring.” Add spice to your
• Present comparisons Q Share ideas from the speech by shifting tone and style from formal to
experts or practitioners. conversational and vice-versa, moving around
the stage, or adding humor.
The introduction is the foundation of your speech.
• Edit for impact and beauty. “There’s nothing
Here, your primary goal is to get the attention of your
really special about the speech.” Make your
audience and present the subject or main idea of your
speech memorable by using these strategies:
speech. Your first few words should do so. The following
surprise the audience, use vivid descriptive
are some strategies. Q Use a real-life experience and
images, write well-crafted and memorable lines,
connect that experience to your subject.
and use figures of speech.
• Use practical examples and explain their • Rehearsing gives you an opportunity to identify
connection to your subject. what works and what does not work for you
• Start with a familiar or strong quote and then and for your target audience. Some strategies
explain what it means. include reading your speech aloud, recording
• Use facts or statistics and highlight their for your own analysis or for your peers or
importance to your subject. coaches to give feedback on your delivery. The
• Tell a personal story to illustrate your point. best thing to remember at this stage is:
“Constant practice makes perfect.”
The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech.
Furthermore, it provides a summary, emphasizes the Some Guidelines in Speech Writing
message, and calls for action. While the primary goal of
1. Keep your words short and simple. Your speech is
the introduction is to get the attention of your
meant to be heard by your audience, not read. 2.
audience, the conclusion aims to leave the audience
Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical words because
with a memorable statement. The following are some
they can confuse your audience.
strategies.
3. Make your speech more personal. Use the
• Begin your conclusion with a restatement of
personal pronoun “I,” but take care not to overuse
your message.
it. When you need to emphasize collectiveness with
• Use positive examples, encouraging words, or
your audience, use the personal pronoun “we.”
memorable lines from songs or stories familiar
to your audience. 4. Use active verbs and contractions because they
• Ask a question or series of questions that can add to the personal and conversational tone of your
make your audience reflect or ponder. speech.
Editing/Revising your written speech involves 5. Be sensitive of your audience. Be very careful
correcting errors in mechanics, such as grammar, with your language, jokes, and nonverbal cues.
punctuation, capitalization, unity, coherence, and
others. Andrew Dlugan (2013), an awardwinning public 6. Use metaphors and other figures of speech to
speaker, lists six power principles for speech editing. effectively convey your point.

• Edit for focus. “So, what’s the point? What’s the 7. Manage your time well; make sure that the
message of the speech?” Ensure that everything speech falls under the time limit.