What are the 3 principles of speech writing?

Speech is an oral presentation of information or delivery of messages through the use of words of spoken words delivered in front of or to an audience who have gathered in a seminar, meeting, conference, or some other event. It is a form of oral communication which is the oldest method and also the most effective method of communication. Speech is considered to be one of the most effective ways of delivering a message in any event. A speaker can present his thoughts and opinions on various matters to a large group of audience through his or her speech. Due to its efficacy, it is widely used around the world. Be it for social purposes or religious purposes, a speech can come in handy for several kinds of events. 

The 10 principles and characteristics of speech writing are as follows: 

Contents

Clarity

A speech is considered to be effective when it is clear and concise. The information presented in the speech should be comprehensible to the present audience and the speech should be delivered by the speaker in a fluent and eloquent manner. 

Conciseness

Along with being clear, the message presented through the speech should also be concise so that the speech does not get tedious and does not get boring. 

Definiteness

The subject matter presented through the speech should be relevant and definite to the present audience. 

Interesting

Apart from being clear and concise, there is also a need for the speech to have an element of interest. This interest should not be limited to the subject matter but rather, the speech itself should be delivered in an engaging and interesting manner. 

Audience-centered

The message of the speech should be centered more around the audience rather than the speaker himself or herself. 

Speak Slowly

If the speaker speaks too fast, the listeners may lose track of the information being presented and hence, one must speak slowly but not too slowly so asn to put the listeners to sleep. 

Unbiased

The information presented in the speech should not be biased and it should be presented from a neutral point of view. 

Body Gestures

One should also maintain a proper posture and use appropriate body gestures to deliver the speech. 

Ensure Participation Of Audience

Asking questions to the listeners or the audience and involving them is necessary. 

Free From Emotions

The speaker should not dwell too much on his or her emotions to ensure that the speech can be delivered in an effective manner. 

It’s also true, however, that great speeches start on the page. All the rhetorical skill in the world cannot make a badly written speech soar – at best, it can only make a pedestrian speech not feel like a drag! And we all want to achieve more than that.

Most prominent speakers have speechwriters to one extent or another, and the relationship between speaker and writer is often very personal: Barack Obama called his speechwriter, Jon Favreau, his “mind-reader”. The truth is that the intimacy is necessary, because the best speeches will sound like the natural words of the speaker.

That means that the other 90% of us must write our own presentations. The good news is, we have an advantage; we can speak in our own voice. This is really powerful, and –  beyond any Speechwriting 101 course you might take – remember the rule of thumb, “Write like yourself.” Audiences respond to authenticity.

Within that all-important context, there are four principles of good speechwriting that you should bear in mind when putting pen to paper.

1. Structure. This is the big one. Your speech needs to have a very clear structure if you are to capture and hold your audience’s attention. A strong beginning and end, plus a series of signposts in the middle, will help locate your argument at every point in the presentation. Your audience needs to keep up with you – and a solid structure is how you’ll manage that.

2. Tone. Now you know how to ensure your audience can follow your argument, you need to get tone right if you are to win them over. More formal or less formal, humorous or sober, entertaining or informative: ask yourself who your audience is, and then write for them specifically. This will help “break the ice” and meet your audience on their ground.

3. Simplicity. It can be tempting to make your speech a bit too clever. The truth, though, is that the best speeches are often the most simple: a clear argument made in a plain way, with a few killer facts to seal the deal. Most importantly, simplicity means your speech will be memorable. This is key: the more straightforward your speech, the more easily your audience will remember what you said – long after you leave the Zoom room.

4. Storytelling. This last principle might be the most powerful. Humans are storytelling animals, and we respond powerfully to narratives of any kind. Including a story in your speech will go a long way to engaging your audience with an argument. In fact, telling a story offers a structure, a tone, and a technique for simplifying your message all at the same time. Great speeches are very often also good stories.

These four principles of good speechwriting should get you to a written text that can then be the basis for a great performance. The written text should never be the priority, of course –instead, it’s preparation for the most important moment, when you open your mouth.

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