5. Basic Types of Speeches
Homework revision
1. Find 3 examples of three branches of rhetoric (one for each branch). Explain your choice. Make a video presentation.
Class Work
Mind map "The Basic Types of Speeches"
Mind map "Other Types Of Speeches"
Critical thinking task
Watch the video from the previous section "4. Branches of Rhetoric" again and define the types of speeches in them (from The Queen's 2021 Christmas Speech till the end).
Homework
1. Choose three speeches from the Mind map "The Basic Types Of Speeches" you like most. In written form, propose one theme (choose from English Speech Topics for Students) and give the gist for each.
!!! Pay particular attention to Tips for Writing and Speaking a Speech. Use them while delivering your speech.
While speaking on a particular topic, there are certain things that you must keep in mind to make your speech expressive and effective. Before providing you with a comprehensive list of English speech topics, let’s take a look at some useful topics that help you in acing any topic you are speaking on.
- Always research the topic. If you are participating in an extempore, then make sure to go through the common and popular topics as well as the unconventional ones that you might get. Preparation is the key to delivering an impressive speech.
- Show your interest in the topic. Whether you are given a topic on the spot or you are prepared for the speech, it is always pivotal that you seem interested in speaking about it. Relate the given issues to your own life and this will help you in giving it your twist.
- Pay extra attention to your body language and enunciation. While a gesticulative approach will make you seem outward, having timid body language can cause a wrong impression. Further, if you find it difficult to enunciate complicated words, use simpler ones and even if you fumble, don’t spend too much time hovering over them during your speech.
- Ensure that the choice of words you are using is simpler and corresponds to the level of the vocabulary of your audience. If you include a longer word that is lesser known, try explaining its meaning. Further, make sure to adhere to the tone of the environment you are speaking in. Schools, colleges and professional spaces require you to adhere to a formal tone while giving a speech in an informal environment would demand a different use of vocabulary.
- Ponder upon the different viewpoints on a topic. Try to present a holistic view of the given topic but don’t forget to present your opinion on it as well. Along with this, don’t try to take sides unless the topic demands you to.
- Involve your audience, if possible. This way, you will be able to interact with the people and it will also be useful in fighting the fear of public speaking.
- Don’t mug up a speech. It becomes evident when someone just speaks on a topic continuously and the audience might realise that you have memorized it or you might forget a certain part which will let the whole speech fade away from your brain. Instead, make notes about the topic in your mind, remember certain keywords and try to maintain a particular flow in your speech.
- Incorporate humour in your speech in a way that you do not offend anyone or overdo it but get a positive reaction from the audience. Humour is a great way of lightening the mood as well as ensuring the whole speech is interactive and engaging.
