Speeches analysed

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Speechwriting tips!

What tips do the students already know?

Tips

– KISS: the golden rule of Keep It Short and Simple 

– Rule of 3

– Imagery: Metaphors, similes and descriptions

– Pronouns:  “we” to create a sense of unity, “them” for a common enemy...

– Poetry: Repetition, rhyme and alliteration are sound effects

– Jokes: Humour is powerful. 

– Key words: “Every”, “improved”, “natural”, “pure”, “tested’ and “recommended” will press the right buttons and get a positive response 

What is it, that makes this speech so powerful?

Oprah's speech analysed:

* powerful and convincing text

* sense of audience: 

• simple but strong message
  
• reliable and relatable: personal pronouns, historical events made personal

* tone

* text type conventions > speeches

Queen Elizabeth's speech analysed:

! Pronouns:  

• “we” =a sense of unity, 
  
• “them” = a common enemy, 
  
• “you”= reaching out
  
•  “I” / “me” = take control
  

Queen Elizabeth's speech analysed:

! Pronouns: 

"I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust."

Queen Elizabeth's speech analysed:

Imagery: Metaphors, similes and description to help the audience understand you, and keep them entertained.

Queen Elizabeth's speech analysed:

Imagery: "I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, ..."

 Analyse John F. Kennedy's speech:

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

John F. Kennedy's speech analysed:

Pronouns: 

"because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too."