The Formal Speech

1. The Formal Speech Guidelines for Teachers and Students Jill Taylor 2018 version

2. Contents of this powerpoint • 1. Title page • 2. Contents page • 3. What is the purpose of a formal speech? • 4. How do I choose a topic? • 5. Some suggested topics • 6. … more topic suggestions • 7. How do I write my speech? • 8. Especially for persuasive speeches • 9. Some speech-making techniques • 10. Some effective sentence starters • 11. Cue cards • 12. Learning and delivering my speech • 13. Learning and delivering my speech … continued • 14. My voice • 15. Some rather important points • 16. Speech delivery checklist • 17. A general checklist • 18. And one more for those who get through to the next round

3. What is the purpose of a formal speech? • To entertain • To inform • To persuade • To inspire • To interest or stimulate or a combination of these. An informative speech becomes a persuasive speech when you add personal opinion or ‘bias’. Write a purpose sentence: * I want to inform and entertain the audience about body language. * The purpose of my speech is to persuade the audience that children should start school at six years of age.

4. How do I choose a topic? Think of a subject that: • you are interested in • you/your family know quite a lot about • you feel strongly about • you have had experience with • people can relate to • comes from a different angle than the usual one • is in good taste – this is a formal speech Your speech should have a message. It might: • show how you feel about a situation • be aimed to make your audience think • add to the audience’s knowledge and appreciation of a topic • help people see the funny side of life or • present another point of view.

5. Some suggested topics To entertain To inform To persuade/inspire Small is okay Monsters or teenagers For love of reading 21st Century parents Becoming popular Always hungry Why I don’t want to be a millionaire What can animals teach us Body language Family What is really In your food? A Natural Disaster – do you have a particular involvement? A sport you are involved in Sleep Proud to be Maori/Island/Chinese …. A famous person – someone you have a connection with/interest in? The power of love Family Adoption Schools should feed children Winning is not what matters It is tough to be a child today Life is better than it was fifty years ago Bad roads or bad drivers Are dogs every man’s best friend? Bullies are not born that way Is it better to give than receive Children are over-protected We learn by example The new Tauranga – better?

6. Some more topic ideas … To entertain To inform To persuade/inspire What makes people compatible? What makes boys tick? What makes girls tick? The power of advertising Journey into the unknown Winning is what matters! Parents need to remember they were children once What really makes people happy in life? Time Travel The Effect of Technology Stereotyping Homeless in New Zealand Fair Trade Cars of the future Old age Learning a second language The internet spells death to newspapers Telling lies is never worth it Everything comes back to your attitude Don’t be in a hurry to grow up We live in the best country in the world Dogs are better pets than cats Better to be a night owl or an early bird? Is hunting animals ever alright? Athletes are paid too much

7. How Do I Write My Speech?Brainstorm first then use the Hamburger model – your teachers will help you. The Introduction The Body The Conclusion It is said that an audience judges us in the first 30 seconds of our speech. How will you ensure that you make a memorable first impression? A short anecdote that relates to your topic A link with the audience A question/s A list A profound thought or fact Never start with, “I am going to talk to you about ….”. This is the main part of your speech. Go back to your brainstorm and organise your information into 3-5 main areas (paragraphs) which will follow a logical order. Each paragraph will contain information (statement or reason) which you should back up with two or three supporting facts and examples from your experience or your research: examples, evidence, quotations, anecdotes. Make sure your paragraphs flow into each other smoothly by using connectives – ‘Another point worth considering…’ ‘One of the strongest arguments …’ How will you sum up your speech, tie it all together, relate it back to your introduction? (Try to summarise your main points without making it sound like a list.) How will you leave your audience with a lasting impression? How will your audience know you have finished? There should be no slang, swearing or toilet humour in a formal speech.

8. Especially for persuasive speeches … • Decide my position – How do I feel about this and why? • The opening statement – how can I hook my audience in? - a startling statistic - an amusing anecdote - an intriguing question/s that illustrates the viewpoint being presented. • Research to back up my case – - where will I find it? - what evidence will make my point most effectively - if I can’t find enough evidence to support my viewpoint, I may have to change my topic • Presenting my arguments – how can I make the greatest impact? - strongest argument first or last? - looking at both sides of my topic shows I am well educated about the issue • A closing statement – I reiterate and reinforce the opening statement.

9. Some speech-making techniques … • Ask a rhetorical question – ‘How would you feel in the same • situation ? • Personal experiences to illustrate a point – ‘I know first hand ….’ • Involving facts and numbers to support our ideas – ’75% of those involved were ….’ • Sentences with groups of three adjectives – ‘Television is fun, free and informative.’ • Use alliterative slogans–’Wise walkers win.’ • Repetition – ‘These young people have no qualifications, no jobs, no home, no hope and tragically, no future.’ • Words that involve emotions and feelings – ‘Helpless animals ….’ • Repeating phrases using pronouns – ‘We have listened. We have learned. We have responded’ • Involve the audience – ‘Together, we can bring about change.’ • A strong, memorable conclusion – ‘We must act now, before it is too late.’

10. Some effective sentence starters … • In my opinion • For this reason • I am sure that • You can be certain • We can see from the evidence • It is a known fact • There are reasons why • A sensible idea would be to • Are we expected to • Here are two reasons why • Some people believe • Surely • Firstly • The fact is • It could be argued

11. Cue Cards • Best to have sentence or paragraph starters bullet-pointed on ONE palm-sized card – you can use both sides if necessary • Your cue card should be unobtrusive – you will be penalised for big cue cards • Preferably, you will know your speech so well that you will be able to do away with your cue card completely - or just have it there as a back-up! • Avoid the ‘cue-card-cling’ – keep one hand free for gestures

12. Learning and delivering my speech • Check that your speech is within the time allowances. • Learn! Learn! Learn! Practise! Practise! Practise! • Practise by yourself then with an audience at home. Video yourself. • Stand comfortably, feet a little apart, shoulders back, chin level with the floor. Hair off your face, neat clothing. Cue card in your left hand - keep your hands free for gesture. • Voice– clear, well-paced, vocal variety, good volume.

13. Learning and delivering my speech … continued • Speech – watch your middle and end sounds – water, not warder; better, not bedder; going to, want to, not gonna, wanna. • Eye contact – so important. Scan the room, speak to your audience and involve them. • Gesticulation and facial expression – natural, not overdone. • Manner – poised, but show your passion and enthusiasm for your subject. If you don’t feel confident, act it! • Don’t overdo movement – a natural step one way or the other is fine.

14. My voice • Pace and Pause– a steady pace and well-placed • pauses • Articulation – clear, easily understood speech • Pitch and volume– vary these for effect • Projection – the people at the back should hear you • clearly

15. Some rather important points … The Introduction The Body The Conclusion You must greet your audience: Begin your introduction, pause, greet your audience (Good morning ……) at an appropriate point, then complete your introduction. You do not need to say your name – you have already been introduced. Never start with, “I am going to talk to you about ….” or ‘My speech is about …”. There should be no visual aids or props used in the Formal Speech. The last thing you say should be said with your head held high and in a manner that lets the audience know that it is time to applaud. No need to say “Thank you” at the end – the audience will thank you with their applause – stand graciously and enjoy it!

16. Speech delivery checklist • Stand tall with your chin level with the ground, legs slightly apart, arms relaxed. • Cue card – small, in one hand. • Dress neatly, wear shoes/sandals and keep hair off your face. Avoid clothing/accessories which will distract the audience. • When you stand to speak, wait 5 seconds before starting to speak. • You may move a little from your starting spot but it should be natural and spontaneous. • Scan your audience – make eye contact. • A change of facial expression or a simple hand gesture may help to emphasise a point or signal that you are moving to a new idea. • Maintain a pleasant demeanour – the audience enjoys a friendly face. • Speak with confidence, passion, assurance and enthusiasm. Show that you believe in your speech.

17. A general checklist: • The language used should not offend – no slang, swearing. • Try to avoid annoying mannerisms often brought on by nervousness – touching your hair or face, pulling at clothes, shuffling legs/feet, swaying • Remember– no props or visual aids - always greet the audience but don’t introduce yourself - no “I am going to talk about…” or “My speech is about…” - slow down - a small cue card - keep to the time limits - 3-5 minutes (Y7/8), 2½-4 minutes (Y5/6). - no need to thank your audience at the end, or to say, “That is the end of my speech”. - relax and enjoy yourself – if you prepare well, you will!

18. And one more, for those who get through to the next round! Consider Your Audience Remember to match your greeting to the time of day that you are delivering your speech – “Good morning”, “Good afternoon” or “Good evening”. It may be different for each performance! If you ask questions of your original audience, or make references to people in that audience, be prepared to change these or your responses to suit your new audience. You could be speaking in different sized venues – adjust your voice projection to suit – more, or less.