Writing a Speech with Purpose: writing a speech that knows where it is going

Writing a Speech with Purpose is the second Level 1 project, and the speech runs 5-7 minutes. As the name says, you practice writing a speech that has a purpose. The key is to decide, before you write, what you want the audience to know, feel or do.

Start with the purpose in one sentence

Fill in this blank before you write.

• "When this speech is over, I want the audience to ______."
• For example: "I want the audience to feel like trying a 10-minute walk in the morning."

If you cannot say it in one sentence, the speech is not clear yet. Also think about who the audience is (members, guests, people hearing this for the first time).

How to divide 5-7 minutes

• Opening (about 1 minute): catch their attention and preview the purpose.
• Body (about 3-4 minutes): make 2-3 points, each with a reason and an example.
• Conclusion (about 1 minute): repeat the purpose and suggest one thing the audience can do.

How to prepare

1. Write your purpose in one sentence.

2. Note who the audience is and what they may wonder about.

3. Choose one key message.

4. Pick 2-3 reasons and examples that support it. Cut anything that does not serve the purpose, even if you like it.

5. Write your opening and closing lines first.

6. Say it out loud, time it, and cut if it goes over 7 minutes.

Common mistakes

• Putting in everything you want to say, so the purpose gets blurry.
• Stories and examples that do not connect to the key message.
• Going over 7 minutes.

Evaluation, and in our club

Every speech has an evaluator who tells you whether the purpose was clear and whether the structure was easy to follow. SBTM meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month; in the app, choose your path, Level 1 and Writing a Speech with Purpose, and the speech time (5-7 minutes) is set automatically.

Please check the official guide for the exact project requirements.

• Official guide: Writing a Speech with Purpose (PDF)
• Official evaluation resource: Evaluation resource (PDF)

In the next article we look at Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language.