For many students, creating and delivering a speech is a daunting task. Creating a successful speech can be difficult in terms of structuring and what to include. In order to be successful, you first need to understand what a speech is. A speech is a dialogue delivered to an audience either formally or informally. There are many aspects of a speech you need to consider in order to captivate your audience and give your speech a professional edge. Hopefully, these 10 tips I have put together will give you some guidance.
If you find yourself struggling to write your speech or with the prospect of delivering it, I urge you to continue reading the rest of this article for 10 top tips for writing and presenting your head boy or head girl speech.
1. Planning is key
To create a successful speech, it is important that first you plan. Many students will just dive straight into writing their speech. Creating a plan will allow you to structure your speech and allocate specific information into specific sections. This will enable you to remain organised which will make writing your speech a much easier task.
When planning your speech, you should include an introduction, a main section and a conclusion. In your introduction, you should introduce yourself and the main reasons why you would like the role of head boy or head girl.
Following this, you should have a main section in your speech. This will be the bulk of your speech. Within this, you may wish to use subheadings to further divide your speech.
You should discuss reasons why you would like the role of head boy or head girl and what qualities you have that would make you a suitable candidate. For example, you may discuss what you would introduce to your school or sixth form to make it better for students or what you think needs to be improved and why this change would be necessary.
Furthermore, you will need to end your speech with a conclusion. This should summarise why your peers should choose you as their head boy or head girl and how you will make a difference. Finally, thank your audience for their time and for listening.
For more information about planning a speech check out this article by wittcom.
2. Consider your audience
It is important when writing a speech that you consider your audience. To define your audience, you could consider age, gender and school year group for example. Your audience is important as it will influence the tone of your speech and the type of language you choose to use in it.
If your audience are students in your year group at school or sixth form, you may choose to use humour and more simplistic language in your speech. This will ensure your audience understands your speech and find it enjoyable to listen to.
If your audience was a mix of sixth form students and teachers for example, you may choose to use more complex and sophisticated language within a more formal structure to make your speech sound more professional.
It is especially important to consider your audience if they will determine whether or not you achieve the role of head boy or head girl.
3. Consider the tone
When both creating and presenting your speech, it is important to consider the tone you use. You may decide to give your speech a humorous, passionate or serious tone to name a few. However, the tone you choose to use will indicate certain feelings including joy, humour, sadness or optimism. Your audience can also influence your use of tone.
For a speech to become a head boy or head girl, many students will aim to use a humorous tone to engage their audience, combined with a passionate tone to underpin their desire to achieve the role.
Your choice of tone can also present your speech as well-mannered and respectful so is an important aspect to consider.
Your tone is not just evident in your written piece, but also when you deliver your speech. When you speak, the pace at which you talk and the tone of your voice can impact the meaning of the words you say.
Furthermore, if you use the same tone throughout your speech, it can become boring to your audience. Therefore, the use of a humorous tone for example, will enable you to adapt the tone of your voice making you sound more passionate about what you are discussing.
4. Use persuasive language
Using persuasive language is important, especially when creating a head boy or head girl speech. You want to persuade your audience to choose you for the role and therefore, make yourself stand out.
Using techniques such as rhetorical questions can help to persuade your audience. Additionally, the use of personal anecdotes can help to persuade, for example you could talk about something that happened to make you want to apply for the role of a head boy or head girl.
Furthermore, you could find out what your peers want to change within your school or sixth form and then discuss how you will change this in your speech. Students will recognise this issue as something they are not happy with and this may persuade them to choose you as the head boy or head girl, because you are representing their opinions.
5. Memorise parts of your speech
Some students may decide to remember their speech in full and recite it to their audience. Although this would demonstrate the students dedication, many students would probably find this a difficult task. Instead, it is best to try and remember key points from within your speech.
Remembering several key points will allow you to show a level of dedication to your speech. It also means you will not just be reading your entire speech off a piece of paper meaning you can make eye contact with your audience. Although many pupils may feel anxious at the prospect of making eye contact, this will demonstrate your engagement with the audience. Furthermore, it means your audience are more likely to listen to you and feel persuaded by your message.
For more information on how to remember your speech, check out this page by scotthyoung.
6. Prepare to answer some questions
After you deliver your speech, your audience may wish to ask you some questions. Therefore, it is useful to prepare some answers to potential questions to make you feel more confident.
Questions may involve you reiterating on something you commented on or an issue you raised. Likewise, it may be concerning why you wish to be head boy or head girl, or what makes you different from all the other candidates.
Your ability to answer questions will demonstrate your passion for the role of head boy or head girl whilst showing your audience you will be reliable within the role. It will further demonstrate your passion for the role and help to keep your audience engaged.
For more information on how to prepare answers for questions you may be asked, check out this useful website.
7. Rehearse
You may have heard the phrase ‘practice makes perfect’. Well this is most definitely true with speeches. The more you practice and rehearse your speech, the more confident and successful your speech will be when you deliver it to your audience.
One way you could do this is by rehearsing your speech in front of an audience, such as family or friends. They may even be able to give you some feedback including ways in which you could improve your speech. This will help you to feel more confident on the day whilst allowing you to become more familiarised with your speech.
Furthermore, you could practice your speech to yourself in front of a mirror. Its also useful to practice your pronunciation of words and if there is a particular word you struggle to pronounce, it may be worth removing this from your speech.
Practicing your pronunciation will enable you to sound more fluent when delivering your speech. The more you rehearse your speech, the more confident you will become, meaning the more professional your speech will sound.
8. Adopt some simple healthy habits
Before delivering your speech, adopting healthy habits can have positive impacts on your performance.
On the day before and the day of your speech, aim to eat wholegrains, fruit such as berries or eggs. These foods can improve brain function and memory. However, just before delivering your speech, eat lightly or not at all as a full stomach can lower your energy levels.
Furthermore, apples can help to promote a clearer voice so is a better option just before your speech.
You should also avoid drinks containing dairy, caffeine and soft drinks straight before your speech as these can negatively affect your speech and pronunciation.
You should also take a bottle of water with you when delivering your speech to help keep you hydrated and to prevent your throat from going dry.
Light exercise before your speech such as gentle jogging or a brisk walk can have positive impacts on your mood and brain function, whilst the fresh air can help to relieve anxiety. If you are someone who often feels anxious before delivering a speech to an audience, you may benefit from practicing some breathing exercises. This will help you to keep yourself calm and confident when talking.
Finally, an early night sleep the night before you deliver your speech will help you to feel energised the next morning and give you a positive mindset.
For more information on how to adopt healthier habits ahead of your speech, take a look at this article by nosweatpublicspeaking.
9. Consider your personal appearance
When delivering your speech to your audience, your appearance can speak many words. If you look presentable and smart during your speech, your audience will be more likely to listen and feel engaged.
First impressions are important, especially when you are attempting to achieve a role like head boy or head girl. Therefore, if you dress smartly and look presentable you will look like you are taking your speech more seriously. This will demonstrate to your audience your passion for the role of head boy or head girl and both your capability as well as determination.
It is also important to carry yourself in a positive way. If your audience feels that you are taking the role seriously and are a responsible student, they may be more likely to choose you as their head boy or head girl.
10. Go for it
Finally, my last tip is to just go for it. Try your best to speak clearly and slowly whilst making eye contact with your audience throughout your speech. This will show you are engaged with your audience and wish to meet their interests if you get the role of head boy or head girl.
Also, be polite towards your audience and most importantly smile. After all, your personal appearance includes your body language too, and the way in which you present yourself to your audience. You want to show others your best qualities and that you will represent them within the role of head boy or head girl.
Most importantly, enjoy delivering your speech to your audience. It is a chance for you to gain experience of delivering a speech and your skills when creating a speech. Make sure that you take the experience in a positive way and enjoy it.
One final word…
Although students often worry about delivering a speech to an audience, there is really no need to. It is a chance for you to demonstrate your passion for becoming a head boy or head girl whilst showcasing your very best qualities.
It is also an experience in which you can practice and learn how to structure a speech, prepare and then deliver your speech to an audience. It is important that you remember to enjoy the experience and take away the positives from it, especially if you achieve the role of head boy or head girl.
Hopefully, these top 10 tips that I have provided you with will help you to get the most out of your speech and to be successful and more confident in your future speeches. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice and encouragement
I am very interested in this discussion
Lets give it a go!
Nice article!!
thanks