Public Speaking: Crafting and Delivering a Speech
Plan, organize, and present ideas with confidence
Public Speaking: Crafting and Delivering a Speech
Plan, organize, and present ideas with confidence
Language Arts - Grade 6-8
- 1
You have been asked to give a 2-minute speech encouraging students to join a school recycling program. Write a clear purpose statement for your speech.
Start with the words, My purpose is to...
A strong purpose statement could be: My purpose is to persuade students to join the school recycling program by explaining how it helps the environment and makes our school cleaner. - 2
Choose the best thesis statement for a speech about why students should get more sleep. A. Sleep is something people do every night. B. Middle school students should get enough sleep because it improves focus, mood, and health. C. I like sleeping on weekends. Explain why the best choice is strongest.
Choice B is the strongest thesis statement because it clearly states a position and gives three main reasons that can be explained in the speech. - 3
Create a simple speech outline for the topic: Why our school should have more outdoor learning activities. Include an introduction, three main points, and a conclusion.
Use the structure: introduction, main point 1, main point 2, main point 3, conclusion.
A complete outline should include an introduction that gets attention and states the topic, three main points such as outdoor learning improves focus, supports health, and connects lessons to the real world, and a conclusion that summarizes the ideas and asks the school to add more outdoor learning. - 4
Write an attention-grabbing opening sentence for a speech about reducing plastic waste.
An effective opening could be: Every plastic bottle we throw away today could still be sitting in a landfill hundreds of years from now. - 5
A student says, We should have a longer lunch because it would be better. Rewrite this idea by adding one specific reason and one piece of evidence or example.
Add details that answer why and how you know.
A stronger version could be: We should have a longer lunch because students need enough time to eat a healthy meal, and many students currently spend half of lunch waiting in line instead of eating. - 6
Read this transition: Another reason school gardens are helpful is that they teach responsibility. Explain what a transition does in a speech and why it helps the audience.
A transition connects one idea to the next. It helps the audience follow the speaker's organization and understand how the next point relates to the topic. - 7
Look at these delivery notes: speak clearly, look at the audience, stand straight, pause after important points. Choose two notes and explain how each one improves a speech.
Think about what the audience sees and hears during a presentation.
Speaking clearly improves a speech because the audience can understand every word. Looking at the audience improves a speech because it shows confidence and helps listeners feel included. - 8
A speaker reads every word from a paper in a quiet voice without looking up. Identify two delivery problems and explain how the speaker could improve.
One problem is that the speaker is not making eye contact, so the audience may lose interest. Another problem is that the speaker is too quiet, so the speaker should practice projecting their voice and using brief notes instead of reading every word. - 9
Write a concluding statement for a speech persuading classmates to volunteer at a local animal shelter. The conclusion should summarize the main idea and include a call to action.
End by telling the audience one clear action they can take.
A strong conclusion could be: Volunteering at the animal shelter helps animals, supports our community, and teaches responsibility, so sign up this week and make a difference for pets that need care. - 10
Study a presentation practice plan with three parts: day 1, revise the speech; day 2, practice with note cards; day 3, present to a friend and get feedback. Explain why practicing in steps can lead to a stronger speech.
Think about how revision, rehearsal, and feedback each help the speaker improve.
Practicing in steps can lead to a stronger speech because the speaker has time to improve the writing, become familiar with the main points, and use feedback to fix delivery problems before presenting to the full audience.