Lesson 2: Speech Writing – Speaking to an Audience

🟦 Introduction

Hello, future public speaker! 🎤
Have you ever stood in front of your class, school, or community to speak? Maybe to welcome guests, give a vote of thanks, or motivate your mates?
That is speech writing — preparing your ideas carefully so that when you stand up to speak, you sound clear, confident, and convincing.

In today’s lesson, we’ll learn how to plan, structure, and write speeches that will wow any audience — and ace your BECE exam too!

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

What is a Speech?

A speech is a written text prepared to be delivered to an audience aloud.
It is meant to inform, persuade, inspire, welcome, or thank listeners.

Important:

• A speech must be clear.

• A speech must be organized logically.

• A speech must connect emotionally with listeners.

Types of Speeches You Might Write

✅ Tip: Always know why you are speaking and who you are speaking to!

Structure of a Good Speech

Every good speech has three main parts:

Characteristics of a Good Speech

• Audience awareness: Match your language to who is listening (students? teachers? officials?)

• Clear organization: Easy to follow.

• Simple, powerful language: Short sentences are better.

• Emotional connection: Use examples, stories, or quotes.

• Confidence: Imagine you are talking to your friends!

🟨 Sample Problem Walkthroughs

✍️ Example 1: Welcome Speech

Task: Write a short welcome speech to greet guests at your school’s Speech and Prize Giving Day.

Outline:

• Greet important personalities (e.g., “The Chairperson, respected guests, staff, students…”)

• Welcome them warmly to the occasion.

• Mention the purpose of the event briefly.

• Express excitement and gratitude.

• End with: “Thank you and enjoy the program!”

✍️ Example 2: Vote of Thanks

Task: Write a vote of thanks speech after a school debate.

Outline:

• Greet the audience.

• Thank the Chairperson, judges, teachers, participants, and audience.

• Mention special contributions (e.g., judges’ efforts, organizers’ hard work).

• End with: “Thank you all for making this event successful!”

🟨 Extra Sample Walkthrough: Persuasive Speech

Task: Write a speech to convince your classmates to form a Reading Club.

Structure:

• Greeting: “Good morning, fellow students…”

• Introduction: State the problem (students don’t read enough).

• Body:

  • Why reading is important.

  • Benefits of forming a Reading Club.

  • How everyone can participate.

• Conclusion:

  • Strong emotional appeal: “Imagine a school where every student loves books!”

  • Thank the audience.

✅ Tip: Persuasive speeches often use rhetorical questions:

• “Don’t you want to succeed?”

• “Isn’t knowledge the key to greatness?”

🟨 Phrases You Can Use in Speeches

🟨 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Welcome Speech

Write a welcome speech for the opening ceremony of your school’s inter-school sports competition.

✅ Points to cover:

• Welcome dignitaries, athletes, spectators.

• Highlight the importance of sports.

• Wish participants good luck.

Exercise 2: Persuasive Speech

Write a speech convincing your classmates to keep the school compound clean.

✅ Points to cover:

• Problems caused by dirty surroundings.

• Benefits of a clean environment.

• How students can help.

Exercise 3: Vote of Thanks

Write a short vote of thanks after a seminar on “Career Choices After Junior High School”.

✅ Points to cover:

• Thank the speaker(s).

• Thank the organizers.

• Thank the audience for participating.

🟨 Common Mistakes in Speech Writing (and How to Avoid Them)

🔁 Recap

Today, we learned:

• What a speech is and why it’s important.

• Different types of speeches (welcome, farewell, persuasive, informative).

• The structure and language of a good speech.

• How to organize ideas clearly.

• Useful phrases to make your speech sound professional.

• How to confidently write and deliver speeches for school or BECE exams.

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Imagine you are selected to give a short speech on “The Importance of Clean Water” during World Water Day at school.
Plan 3 main points you would include in your speech.
Write them down in order.