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How to write a good speech in 7 steps

By:  Susan Dugdale  

- an easily followed format for writing a great speech

Did you know writing a speech doesn't have be an anxious, nail biting experience?

Unsure? Don't be.

You may have lived with the idea you were never good with words for a long time. Or perhaps giving speeches at school brought you out in cold sweats.

However learning how to write a speech is relatively straight forward when you learn to write out loud.

And that's the journey I am offering to take you on: step by step.

To learn quickly, go slow

Take all the time you need. This speech format has 7 steps, each building on the next.

Walk, rather than run, your way through all of them. Don't be tempted to rush. Familiarize yourself with the ideas. Try them out.

I know there are well-advertised short cuts and promises of 'write a speech in 5 minutes'. However in reality they only truly work for somebody who already has the basic foundations of speech writing in place.

The foundation of good speech writing 

These steps are the backbone of sound speech preparation. Learn and follow them well at the outset and yes, given more experience and practice you could probably flick something together quickly. Like any skill, the more it's used, the easier it gets.

In the meantime...

Step 1: Begin with a speech overview or outline

Are you in a hurry? Without time to read a whole page? Grab ... The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist And come back to get the details later.

• WHO you are writing your speech for (your target audience)
• WHY you are preparing this speech. What's the main purpose of your speech? Is it to inform or tell your audience about something? To teach them a new skill or demonstrate something? To persuade or to entertain? (See 4 types of speeches: informative, demonstrative, persuasive and special occasion or entertaining for more.) What do you want them to think, feel or do as a result of listening the speech?
• WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic) - You'll want to have thought through your main points and have ranked them in order of importance. And have sorted the supporting research you need to make those points effectively.
• HOW much time you have for your speech eg. 3 minutes, 5 minutes... The amount of time you've been allocated dictates how much content you need. If you're unsure check this page: how many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide . You'll find estimates of the number of words required for 1 - 10 minute speeches by slow, medium and fast talkers.

Use an outline

The best way to make sure you deliver a perfect speech is to start by carefully completing a speech outline covering the essentials: WHO, WHY, WHAT and HOW.

Beginning to write without thinking your speech through is a bit like heading off on a journey not knowing why you're traveling or where you're going to end up. You can find yourself lost in a deep, dark, murky muddle of ideas very quickly!

Pulling together a speech overview or outline is a much safer option. It's the map you'll follow to get where you want to go.

Get a blank speech outline template to complete

Click the link to find out a whole lot more about preparing a speech outline . ☺ You'll also find a free printable blank speech outline template.  I recommend using it!

Understanding speech construction

Before you begin to write, using your completed outline as a guide, let's briefly look at what you're aiming to prepare.

• an opening or introduction
• the body where the bulk of the information is given
• and an ending (or summary).

Imagine your speech as a sandwich

If you think of a speech as a sandwich you'll get the idea.

The opening and ending are the slices of bread holding the filling (the major points or the body of your speech) together.

You can build yourself a simple sandwich with one filling (one big idea) or you could go gourmet and add up to three or, even five. The choice is yours.

But whatever you choose to serve, as a good cook, you need to consider who is going to eat it! And that's your audience.

So let's find out who they are before we do anything else. 

Step 2: Know who you are talking to

Understanding your audience.

Did you know a  good speech is never written from the speaker's point of view?  ( If you need to know more about why check out this page on  building rapport .)

Begin with the most important idea/point on your outline.

Consider HOW you can explain (show, tell) that to your audience in the most effective way for them to easily understand it.   

Writing from the audience's point of view

To help you write from an audience point of view, it's a good idea to identify either a real person or the type of person who is most likely to be listening to you.

Make sure you select someone who represents the "majority" of the people who will be in your audience. That is they are neither struggling to comprehend you at the bottom of your scale or light-years ahead at the top.

Now imagine they are sitting next to you eagerly waiting to hear what you're going to say. Give them a name, for example, Joe, to help make them real.

Ask yourself

• How do I need to tailor my information to meet Joe's needs? For example, do you tell personal stories to illustrate your main points? Absolutely! Yes. This is a very powerful technique. (Click storytelling in speeches to find out more.)
• What type or level of language is right for Joe as well as my topic? For example if I use jargon (activity, industry or profession specific vocabulary) will it be understood?

Step 3: Writing as you speak

Writing oral language.

Write down what you want to say about your first main point as if you were talking directly to Joe.

If it helps, say it all out loud before you write it down and/or record it.

Use the information below as a guide

(Click to download The Characteristics of Spoken Language  as a pdf.) 

You do not have to write absolutely everything you're going to say down * but you do need to write down, or outline, the sequence of ideas to ensure they are logical and easily followed.

Remember too, to explain or illustrate your point with examples from your research. 

( * Tip: If this is your first speech the safety net of having everything written down could be just what you need. It's easier to recover from a patch of jitters when you have a word by word manuscript than if you have either none, or a bare outline. Your call!)

Step 4: Checking tone and language

The focus of this step is re-working what you've done in Step 2 and 3.

You identified who you were talking to (Step 2) and in Step 3, wrote up your first main point.  Is it right? Have you made yourself clear?  Check it.

How well you complete this step depends on how well you understand the needs of the people who are going to listen to your speech.

Please do not assume because you know what you're talking about the person (Joe) you've chosen to represent your audience will too. Joe is not a mind-reader!

How to check what you've prepared

• Check the "tone" of your language . Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
• Check the length of your sentences. You need short sentences. If they're too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.

Check for jargon too. These are industry, activity or group exclusive words.

For instance take the phrase: authentic learning . This comes from teaching and refers to connecting lessons to the daily life of students. Authentic learning is learning that is relevant and meaningful for students. If you're not a teacher you may not understand the phrase.

The use of any vocabulary requiring insider knowledge needs to be thought through from the audience perspective. Jargon can close people out.

• Read what you've written out loud. If it flows naturally, in a logical manner, continue the process with your next main idea. If it doesn't, rework.

We use whole sentences and part ones, and we mix them up with asides or appeals e.g. "Did you get that? Of course you did. Right...Let's move it along. I was saying ..."

Click for more about the differences between spoken and written language .

And now repeat the process

Repeat this process for the remainder of your main ideas.

Because you've done the first one carefully, the rest should follow fairly easily.

Step 5: Use transitions

Providing links or transitions between main ideas.

Between each of your main ideas you need to provide a bridge or pathway for your audience. The clearer the pathway or bridge, the easier it is for them to make the transition from one idea to the next.

If your speech contains more than three main ideas and each is building on the last, then consider using a "catch-up" or summary as part of your transitions.

Is your speech being evaluated? Find out exactly what aspects you're being assessed on using this standard speech evaluation form

Link/transition examples

A link can be as simple as:

"We've explored one scenario for the ending of Block Buster 111, but let's consider another. This time..."

What follows this transition is the introduction of Main Idea Two.

Here's a summarizing link/transition example:

"We've ended Blockbuster 111 four ways so far. In the first, everybody died. In the second, everybody died BUT their ghosts remained to haunt the area. In the third, one villain died. His partner reformed and after a fight-out with the hero, they both strode off into the sunset, friends forever. In the fourth, the hero dies in a major battle but is reborn sometime in the future.

And now what about one more? What if nobody died? The fifth possibility..."

Go back through your main ideas checking the links. Remember Joe as you go. Try each transition or link out loud and really listen to yourself. Is it obvious? Easily followed?

Keep them if they are clear and concise.

For more about transitions (with examples) see Andrew Dlugan's excellent article, Speech Transitions: Magical words and Phrases .

Step 6: The end of your speech

The ideal ending is highly memorable . You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners long after your speech is finished. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Example speech endings

Example 1: The desired outcome of a speech persuading people to vote for you in an upcoming election is that they get out there on voting day and do so. You can help that outcome along by calling them to register their support by signing a prepared pledge statement as they leave.

"We're agreed we want change. You can help us give it to you by signing this pledge statement as you leave. Be part of the change you want to see!

Example 2: The desired outcome is increased sales figures. The call to action is made urgent with the introduction of time specific incentives.

"You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!"

How to figure out the right call to action

A clue for working out what the most appropriate call to action might be, is to go back to your original purpose for giving the speech.

• Was it to motivate or inspire?
• Was it to persuade to a particular point of view?
• Was it to share specialist information?
• Was it to celebrate a person, a place, time or event?

Ask yourself what you want people to do as a result of having listened to your speech.

For more about ending speeches

Visit this page for more about how to end a speech effectively . You'll find two additional types of speech endings with examples.

Write and test

Write your ending and test it out loud. Try it out on a friend, or two. Is it good? Does it work?

Step 7: The introduction

Once you've got the filling (main ideas) the linking and the ending in place, it's time to focus on the introduction.

The introduction comes last as it's the most important part of your speech. This is the bit that either has people sitting up alert or slumped and waiting for you to end. It's the tone setter!

What makes a great speech opening?

Ideally you want an opening that makes listening to you the only thing the 'Joes' in the audience want to do.

You want them to forget they're hungry or that their chair is hard or that their bills need paying.

The way to do that is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a "hook".

Hooks to catch your audience's attention

Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what specific hook is needed to catch your audience.

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech?

Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do, and, or take away, as a result of listening to you?

Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

Choosing the best hook

• Is it humor?
• Would shock tactics work?
• Is it a rhetorical question?
• Is it formality or informality?
• Is it an outline or overview of what you're going to cover, including the call to action?
• Or is it a mix of all these elements?

A hook example

Here's an example from a fictional political speech. The speaker is lobbying for votes. His audience are predominately workers whose future's are not secure.

"How's your imagination this morning? Good? (Pause for response from audience) Great, I'm glad. Because we're going to put it to work starting right now.

I want you to see your future. What does it look like? Are you happy? Is everything as you want it to be? No? Let's change that. We could do it. And we could do it today.

At the end of this speech you're going to be given the opportunity to change your world, for a better one ...

No, I'm not a magician. Or a simpleton with big ideas and precious little commonsense. I'm an ordinary man, just like you. And I have a plan to share!"

And then our speaker is off into his main points supported by examples. The end, which he has already foreshadowed in his opening, is the call to vote for him.

Prepare several hooks

Experiment with several openings until you've found the one that serves your audience, your subject matter and your purpose best.

For many more examples of speech openings go to: how to write a speech introduction . You'll find 12 of the very best ways to start a speech.

That completes the initial seven steps towards writing your speech. If you've followed them all the way through, congratulations, you now have the text of your speech!

Although you might have the words, you're still a couple of steps away from being ready to deliver them. Both of them are essential if you want the very best outcome possible. They are below. Please take them.

Step 8: Checking content and timing

This step pulls everything together.

Check once, check twice, check three times & then once more!

Go through your speech really carefully.

On the first read through check you've got your main points in their correct order with supporting material, plus an effective introduction and ending.

On the second read through check the linking passages or transitions making sure they are clear and easily followed.

On the third reading check your sentence structure, language use and tone.

Double, triple check the timing

Now go though once more.

This time read it aloud slowly and time yourself.

If it's too long for the time allowance you've been given make the necessary cuts.

Start by looking at your examples rather than the main ideas themselves. If you've used several examples to illustrate one principal idea, cut the least important out.

Also look to see if you've repeated yourself unnecessarily or, gone off track. If it's not relevant, cut it.

Repeat the process, condensing until your speech fits the required length, preferably coming in just under your time limit.

You can also find out how approximately long it will take you to say the words you have by using this very handy words to minutes converter . It's an excellent tool, one I frequently use. While it can't give you a precise time, it does provide a reasonable estimate.

Step 9: Rehearsing your speech

And NOW you are finished with writing the speech, and are ready for REHEARSAL .

Please don't be tempted to skip this step. It is not an extra thrown in for good measure. It's essential.

The "not-so-secret" secret of successful speeches combines good writing with practice, practice and then, practicing some more.

Go to how to practice public speaking and you'll find rehearsal techniques and suggestions to boost your speech delivery from ordinary to extraordinary.

The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist

Before you begin writing you need:.

• Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them. (If you haven't done one complete this 4 step sample speech outline . It will make the writing process much easier.)
• Your RESEARCH
• You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long you're speaking for

The basic format

• the body where you present your main ideas

Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending.

How to write the speech

• Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research
• Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression
• Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action
• Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your audience listening
• An often quoted saying to explain the process is: Tell them what you're going to tell them (Introduction) Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending)

TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

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• Speech Topics For Kids
• How To Write A Speech

How to Write a Speech: A Guide to Enhance Your Writing Skills

Speech is a medium to convey a message to the world. It is a way of expressing your views on a topic or a way to showcase your strong opposition to a particular idea. To deliver an effective speech, you need a strong and commanding voice, but more important than that is what you say. Spending time in preparing a speech is as vital as presenting it well to your audience.

Read the article to learn what all you need to include in a speech and how to structure it.

Table of Contents

• Self-Introduction

The Opening Statement

Structuring the speech, choice of words, authenticity, writing in 1st person, tips to write a speech, frequently asked questions on speech, how to write a speech.

Writing a speech on any particular topic requires a lot of research. It also has to be structured well in order to properly get the message across to the target audience. If you have ever listened to famous orators, you would have noticed the kind of details they include when speaking about a particular topic, how they present it and how their speeches motivate and instill courage in people to work towards an individual or shared goal. Learning how to write such effective speeches can be done with a little guidance. So, here are a few points you can keep in mind when writing a speech on your own. Go through each of them carefully and follow them meticulously.

Self Introduction

When you are writing or delivering a speech, the very first thing you need to do is introduce yourself. When you are delivering a speech for a particular occasion, there might be a master of ceremony who might introduce you and invite you to share your thoughts. Whatever be the case, always remember to say one or two sentences about who you are and what you intend to do.

Introductions can change according to the nature of your target audience. It can be either formal or informal based on the audience you are addressing. Here are a few examples.

Addressing Friends/Classmates/Peers

• Hello everyone! I am ________. I am here to share my views on _________.
• Good morning friends. I, _________, am here to talk to you about _________.

Addressing Teachers/Higher Authorities

• Good morning/afternoon/evening. Before I start, I would like to thank _______ for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts about ________ here today.
• A good day to all. I, __________, on behalf of _________, am standing here today to voice out my thoughts on _________.

It is said that the first seven seconds is all that a human brain requires to decide whether or not to focus on something. So, it is evident that a catchy opening statement is the factor that will impact your audience. Writing a speech does require a lot of research, and structuring it in an interesting, informative and coherent manner is something that should be done with utmost care.

When given a topic to speak on, the first thing you can do is brainstorm ideas and pen down all that comes to your mind. This will help you understand what aspect of the topic you want to focus on. With that in mind, you can start drafting your speech.

An opening statement can be anything that is relevant to the topic. Use words smartly to create an impression and grab the attention of your audience. A few ideas on framing opening statements are given below. Take a look.

• Asking an Engaging Question

Starting your speech by asking the audience a question can get their attention. It creates an interest and curiosity in the audience and makes them think about the question. This way, you would have already got their minds ready to listen and think.

• Fact or a Surprising Statement

Surprising the audience with an interesting fact or a statement can draw the attention of the audience. It can even be a joke; just make sure it is relevant. A good laugh would wake up their minds and they would want to listen to what you are going to say next.

• Adding a Quote

After you have found your topic to work on, look for a quote that best suits your topic. The quote can be one said by some famous personality or even from stories, movies or series. As long as it suits your topic and is appropriate to the target audience, use them confidently.  Again, finding a quote that is well-known or has scope for deep thought will be your success factor.

To structure your speech easily, it is advisable to break it into three parts or three sections – an introduction, body and conclusion.

• Introduction: Introduce the topic and your views on the topic briefly.
• Body: Give a detailed explanation of your topic. Your focus should be to inform and educate your audience on the said topic.
• Conclusion:  Voice out your thoughts/suggestions. Your intention here should be to make them think/act.

While delivering or writing a speech, it is essential to keep an eye on the language you are using. Choose the right kind of words. The person has the liberty to express their views in support or against the topic; just be sure to provide enough evidence to prove the discussed points. See to it that you use short and precise sentences. Your choice of words and what you emphasise on will decide the effect of the speech on the audience.

When writing a speech, make sure to,

• Avoid long, confusing sentences.
• Check the spelling, sentence structure and grammar.
• Not use contradictory words or statements that might cause any sort of issues.

Anything authentic will appeal to the audience, so including anecdotes, personal experiences and thoughts will help you build a good rapport with your audience. The only thing you need to take care is to not let yourself be carried away in the moment. Speak only what is necessary.

Using the 1st person point of view in a speech is believed to be more effective than a third person point of view. Just be careful not to make it too subjective and sway away from the topic.

• Understand the purpose of your speech: Before writing the speech, you must understand the topic and the purpose behind it. Reason out and evaluate if the speech has to be inspiring, entertaining or purely informative.
• Identify your audience: When writing or delivering a speech, your audience play the major role. Unless you know who your target audience is, you will not be able to draft a good and appropriate speech.
• Decide the length of the speech: Whatever be the topic, make sure you keep it short and to the point. Making a speech longer than it needs to be will only make it monotonous and boring.
• Revising and practicing the speech: After writing, it is essential to revise and recheck as there might be minor errors which you might have missed. Edit and revise until you are sure you have it right. Practise as much as required so you do not stammer in front of your audience.
• Mention your takeaways at the end of the speech: Takeaways are the points which have been majorly emphasised on and can bring a change. Be sure to always have a thought or idea that your audience can reflect upon at the end of your speech.

How to write a speech?

Writing a speech is basically about collecting, summarising and structuring your points on a given topic. Do a proper research, prepare multiple drafts, edit and revise until you are sure of the content.

Why is it important to introduce ourselves?

It is essential to introduce yourself while writing a speech, so that your audience or the readers know who the speaker is and understand where you come from. This will, in turn, help them connect with you and your thoughts.

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How to Write a Speech GCSE – Score 9 in English GCSE Exam

Ever pondered ‘How do I start my GCSE English speech?’ or ‘What should I write my GCSE speech on?’ Crafting a compelling speech can be daunting, especially when it’s for your GCSE English exam. This guide will help you navigate the nuances of the GCSE English speaking and listening topic ideas and master the art of speech writing.

What is the GCSE Speech Exam?

The Speech GCSE includes an assessment of students’ spoken language abilities. This assessment is an integral part of the English GCSE exam , where you are required to demonstrate your speaking and listening skills. Most students typically choose from a range of GCSE spoken language topic ideas and present a speech, followed by a discussion with the examiner. This assessment not only evaluates your knowledge of the topic but also the ability to structure your thoughts, use persuasive techniques , and engage the audience.

What’s the Good Starting Point for GCSE Speech?

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to structuring your speech, understanding the basic speech layout can provide a solid starting point. Typically, you’ll want to start with an engaging introduction, followed by 2-3 key points that support your topic, and a compelling conclusion to wrap things up.

How to Choose the Right Topic For GCSE Speech? 

Before you even begin writing a speech, it’s crucial to have a well-defined topic. Your topic sets the tone for your entire speech, so it has to be something you are passionate about and can speak on with authority. Moreover, a well-chosen topic significantly impacts what makes a good speech.

While your GCSE English speaking topic should ideally be interesting to your audience, it should also resonate with your own interests and strengths. This is the time to brainstorm English GCSE speaking ideas . The right topic can not only engage your audience but also allow you to showcase your oratory skills effectively.

Knowing Your Audience

If there’s one factor that can make or break your speech, it’s the audience. Knowing who you’re speaking to allows you to tailor your language, tone, and content to resonate with them effectively. Ask yourself the following questions:

The better you understand these aspects, the easier it will be to connect and make a meaningful impact, thus further defining what makes a good speech.

Ideas for Speaking and Listening GCSE English

Choosing a topic that resonates with your audience is key. Given the requirements for GCSE speaking exam topics, you may want to consider issues like climate change, social media’s impact on mental health, or the importance of voting. These subjects are not only engaging but also provide ample scope for discussion and argument.

Here are some English Speaking Exam Topic Ideas to Consider:

• Climate Change and Its Global Impact
• Social Media and Mental Health
• The Importance of Voting
• Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
• The Future of Work in a Post-Pandemic World
• The Role of Education in Shaping Character
• Sustainable Living and Consumer Choices

To sum up, here are some tips to consider:

Choose a topic that excites you; your enthusiasm will be contagious.

Make sure the topic is relevant to your audience.

Opt for subjects that are neither too broad nor too narrow.

The Structure of a Good GCSE Speech

A successful speech is more than just a string of words; it’s a well-thought-out sequence designed to captivate your audience. Here, we’ll delve into the speech structure and discuss how to structure a speech for maximum impact. A typical speech will consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: Capture attention and state your main point.

Body: Build your argument or narrative with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Summarise the key points and finish with a strong statement or call to action.

How do I start my GCSE English speech?

You have but a few precious moments to seize your audience’s attention. The way you start a speech can dictate whether your audience tunes in or zones out. The opening sets the tone and context for everything that follows, making it an integral part of how to open a speech effectively.

Dos and Don’ts of Starting Your GCSE Speech

• Open with a Provocative Question: Pose a question that challenges common beliefs or perceptions. For instance, “What if I told you that everything you knew about climate change was wrong?”
• Share a Personal Story: Relate an anecdote or personal experience that ties into your main topic. “Three years ago, I stood at the edge of a shrinking glacier, and that moment changed my perspective forever.”
• Use a Relevant Quote: Start with a powerful quote from a renowned figure that encapsulates the essence of your speech. “As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.'”
• Present a Shocking Statistic: Share a surprising fact or figure that grabs attention immediately. “Did you know that every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our oceans?”
• Paint a Vivid Picture: Use descriptive language to create a vivid scene or imagery in the minds of your audience. “Imagine a world where forests no longer exist, where silence replaces the chirping of birds.”
• With an Apology: Avoid starting with phrases like “Sorry for…” or “I’m not an expert, but…”. It undermines your credibility from the get-go.
• Using Clichés: Starting with overused phrases like “Webster’s dictionary defines…” can come off as uninspired.
• Being Too Broad or Vague: Avoid generic openings like “Today, I want to talk about life.” It doesn’t give the audience a clear sense of direction.
• Overloading with Information: Avoid bombarding your audience with too many stats or facts right at the start. It can be overwhelming.
• Being Negative or Confrontational: Starting with a confrontational tone, such as “Most of you probably won’t agree with me…” can put the audience on the defensive.

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Types of Speech Starters

So, what makes an opening memorable? There are numerous speech starters that can serve as a strong foundation for your talk. Here are a few tried and true methods:

Start with a provocative question to engage your audience’s curiosity.

Use a relevant quote that encapsulates your message.

Kick off with a shocking fact or statistic that supports your argument.

for instance

• Start with a Provocative Question: Engage your audience’s curiosity right from the outset. For instance, “What if I told you that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish?”
• Use a Relevant Quote: Begin with a powerful quotation that encapsulates the essence of your message. Consider using, “Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'”
• Kick off with a Shocking Fact or Statistic: Share a surprising piece of information that supports your argument and grabs immediate attention. For example, “Recent studies reveal that an alarming 70% of young adults experience social media-induced anxiety.

Tailoring the Opening to GCSE Criteria

For students particularly interested in GCSE speaking exam topics, it’s crucial to note that examiners look for a range of specific elements in your opening. These can include clarity of expression, engagement with the audience, and a clear outline of what the speech will cover.

How to Structure My GCSE Speech?

A well-structured speech isn’t just a nicety—it’s a necessity. Especially when it comes to GCSE English, having a well-organised flow of ideas is pivotal to engaging your audience and making your points hit home. The way you structure your speech impacts not just its effectiveness but also how smoothly you can deliver it . When we talk about structure in the English language, we’re referring to the arrangement of your introduction, body, and conclusion, as well as the logical progression of your arguments.

Common Structural Techniques in GCSE English

There are several structural techniques in GCSE English that can amplify your speech’s effectiveness. For example:

• Repetition :Reinforcing key points by repeating them helps to keep your audience engaged.
• Tripling : Enumerating three related points or arguments can make your speech more memorable.
• Rhetorical questions : These engage the audience and provoke thought, without requiring an answer.
• These are some of the tried-and-true structural techniques GCSE students can employ to enhance their presentations.

How Structure and Language Interact?

The marriage between language and structure is a match made in rhetorical heaven. Your language choices should serve your structural design and vice versa. For example, if you’re using tripling, you’ll need to select words or phrases that have a similar tone or rhythm to create a sense of unity. By having your English language structure techniques complement your chosen words, you’re setting the stage for a cohesive and engaging presentation.

Implementing Structural Techniques for GCSE Criteria

How do these techniques match up with GCSE criteria? To excel in GCSE English , you’ll need to demonstrate an adept use of a range of structural devices. Whether it’s crafting a compelling introduction or providing a powerful conclusion, these structural elements are integral in showcasing your understanding of the English language structure techniques required for this level of examination.

Why Language Matters in GCSE English?

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.” Well, when it comes to your GCSE English speech, both matter immensely. Your choice of words and how you string them together can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. Employing the right GCSE English language techniques is paramount in this regard.

The Essentials of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices are the tools of the trade when it comes to effective speech writing. These include metaphors, similes, and alliteration, among others. Familiarising yourself with these techniques in the English language will enable you to elevate the quality of your speech. By doing so, you’re more likely to meet and perhaps even exceed GCSE language techniques expectations.

Crafting Sentences for Maximum Impact

The structure of your sentences can significantly influence the power of your speech. Consider varying sentence length to maintain interest, employing short, impactful sentences for key points and longer, more complex ones for detailed explanations. These are among the essential English language techniques for GCSE that you’ll want to master.

Practical Examples of Effective Structure

To solidify your understanding, consider these real-world examples:

Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech is an excellent study in effective repetition and emotive language.

Winston Churchill’s ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ uses tripling to emphasise Britain’s determination during WWII.

Both examples can be adapted to meet GCSE standards, offering invaluable lessons in how to effectively employ structural techniques.

How to End My GCSE Speech?

Every great GCSE speech deserves a powerful finish. Your conclusion is the final impression you’ll leave on your audience and the examiner, so it’s vital to get it right. Whether you’re discussing GCSE spoken language topic ideas or any other English GCSE speaking exam topics, your conclusion should encapsulate your main points and leave a lasting impression. Here’s how:

Reiterate Key Points

Quickly recap the main arguments or insights from your speech’s body. This helps solidify your message and reminds the audience of your core GCSE English speaking and listening topic ideas.

End with a Bang

A thought-provoking statement, a call-to-action, or a powerful quote can provide that final punch. Wondering how to end a speech in a way that lingers? Think of a statement that encapsulates your entire speech’s essence.

Here are examples:

• Thought-Provoking Statement: “In a world driven by screens, it’s our humanity that keeps us connected.”
• Call-to-Action: “Let’s pledge to unplug for an hour each day and reconnect with the world around us.”
• Powerful Quote: “As Albert Einstein once said, ‘I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”

Relate to the Bigger Picture

Connect your GCSE speech ideas to broader themes or global issues. If you discussed technology’s impact on mental health , perhaps conclude with its overarching role in modern society .

Engage and Involve

Pose a final question or challenge to your audience. It could be related to English spoken language topics or any other theme you’ve explored. By involving your audience, you ensure they remain engaged even after you’ve finished speaking.

Use Language Techniques

Integrate GCSE language techniques and English language techniques GCSE standards advocate for. A sprinkle of speech techniques, perhaps a rhetorical question or a vivid imagery, can elevate your conclusion.

Understanding language techniques is more than memorising definitions, it’s about seeing the powerful role they play in shaping narratives and evoking responses. From the dramatic irony of Shakespeare to the poignant metaphors in modern poetry, these tools are the backbone of effective communication in literature.

Explore Our Comprehensive Guide

In this introductory overview, we cover a range of language techniques that every student should be familiar with:

• Metaphor – Dive deeper into the art of implicit comparison and discover how language techniques colour narratives.
• Alliteration and Assonance – Feel the rhythm and flow these sound devices inject into poetry and prose, showcasing effective language techniques .
• Personification – Bring inanimate objects to life with our insights into personification, a classic example of engaging language techniques .

For those interested in a detailed breakdown of each technique, including examples from classical and contemporary works, check out our full guide on language techniques . Here, you’ll find expert analysis, detailed examples, and thoughtful commentary that will prepare you for your exams and beyond.

Call-to-Action

Whether it’s a plea for change, a challenge, or a simple request for reflection, ending with a clear call-to-action gives your audience a direction post your speech.

Tip: Remember, while it’s essential to know how to write a good speech, it’s equally crucial to know how to wrap it up effectively. Your conclusion should resonate with the speech structure and content, ensuring a cohesive and memorable presentation.

In essence, your conclusion is not just a summary; it’s your final chance to make an impact, to inspire, and to be remembered. Craft it with care, and your GCSE English speech will undoubtedly stand out.

GCSE English Past Papers

Navigating the road to GCSE English excellence requires not just hard work but also smart strategies. One of the most effective methods for ensuring you’re well-prepared for exam day is the use of past papers . This blog post delves into why past papers are an indispensable resource for both students and teachers.

Past papers offer a wealth of benefits, from familiarizing you with the exam format and question styles to improving your time management skills during the test. Gain insight into the types of questions that frequently appear, understand the marking scheme better..

Whether tackling AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or Eduqas exam boards, we’ve compiled every available past paper to give you a comprehensive practice tool. Practising with these papers not only boosts confidence but also sharpens English language skills, setting on a path to achieving top marks.

Ready to Ace Your GCSE Speech?

The GCSE is a pivotal milestone in one’s academic journey. Excelling in your GCSE English speech can significantly boost your overall grade, making it essential to get it right. While this guide provides a comprehensive overview, personal guidance can make all the difference.

Preparing for your GCSE revision can be daunting, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Edumentors, the expert tutors have not only aced their GCSEs but also possess the insights to guide you towards success. Take, for example, tutor Milan . Once anxious about her speech, she achieved top marks and is now furthering her studies at University of St. Andrews. Why not explore her journey? Schedule a complimentary introductory session with her today and discover the perfect mentorship match for your GCSE journey.

The standout feature of Edumentors? Their tutors hail from the UK’s top universities, bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience, and best practices to the table. They understand the nuances of the GCSE, the expectations of examiners, and the techniques that can set your speech apart.

So, why navigate this journey alone when you can have an expert by your side? Whether it’s mastering the art of speech writing or preparing for other aspects of the GCSE exams, Edumentors is your gateway to excellence.

Take the leap. Reach out to Edumentors and ensure your GCSE speech isn’t just good, but exceptional.

Make a GCSE Speech Finally, the moment has come for making a speech . This is where all your hard work pays off. Keep in mind all the elements we’ve discussed—from structure to language techniques. Try to maintain eye contact with your audience, employ strategic pauses for effect, and remember to breathe. A well-prepared speech, delivered with confidence, can make all the difference in your grades and in how you are perceived.

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5 Tips on How to Write a Speech Essay

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When figuring out how to write a speech, the essay form can offer a good foundation for the process. Just like essays, all speeches have three main sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

However, unlike essays, speeches must be written to be heard as opposed to being read. You need to write a speech in a way that keeps the attention of an audience and helps paint a mental image at the same time. This means that your speech should contain some color, drama, or humor . It should have “flair.” Make your speech memorable by using attention-grabbing anecdotes and examples.

Determine the Type of Speech You're Writing

Since there are different types of speeches, your attention-grabbing techniques should fit the speech type.

Informative  and instructional  speeches inform your audience about a topic, event, or area of knowledge. This can be a how-to on podcasting for teens or a historical report on the Underground Railroad. It also can relate to health and beauty, such as "How to Shape Perfect Eyebrows," or hobby-related, such as "Make a Great Bag Out of Old Clothing."​

Persuasive  speeches attempt to convince or  persuade  the audience to join one side of an argument. You might write a speech about a life choice, such as, "Abstinence Can Save Your Life," or getting involved in the community, such as "The Benefits of Volunteering."

Entertaining  speeches entertain your audience, and topics may not practical. Your speech topic could be something like, "Life Is Like a Dirty Dorm," or "Can Potato Peels Predict the Future?"

Special occasion  speeches entertain or inform your audience, like graduation speeches and toasts at celebrations.

Explore the different types of speeches and decide what speech type fits your assignment.

Craft a Creative Speech Introduction

Thoughtco.com / Grace Fleming

The introduction of the informative speech should contain an attention-grabber, followed by a statement about your topic. It should end with a strong transition into your body section.

As an example, consider a template for an informative speech called "African-American Heroines." The length of your speech will depend on the amount of time you have been allotted to speak.

The red section of the speech in the graphic provides the attention-grabber. It makes audience members think about what life would be like without civil rights. The last sentence states directly the purpose of the speech and leads into the speech body, which provides more details.

Determine the Flow of the Body of the Speech

Thoughtco.com / Grace Fleming

The body of your speech can be organized in a number of ways, depending on your topic. Suggested organization patterns include:

• Chronological: Provides the order of events in time;
• Spatial: Gives an overview of physical arrangement or design;
• Topical: Presents information one subject at a time;
• Causal: Shows cause-and-effect pattern.

The speech pattern illustrated in the image in this slide is topical. The body is divided into sections that address different people (different topics). Speeches typically include three sections (topics) in the body. This speech would continue with a third section about Susie King Taylor.

Writing a Memorable Speech Conclusion

The conclusion of your speech should restate the main points you covered in your speech and end with a memorable statement. In the sample in this graphic, the red section restates the overall message you wanted to convey: that the three women you've mentioned had strength and courage, despite the odds they faced.

The quote is an attention-grabber since it is written in colorful language. The blue section ties the entire speech together with a small twist.

Address These Key Objectives

Whatever type of speech you decide to write, find ways to make your words memorable. Those elements include:

• Clever quotes
• Amusing stories   with a purpose
• Meaningful transitions
• A good ending

The structure of how to write your speech is just the start. You'll also need to finesse the speech a bit. Start by paying attention to your audience and their interests. Write the words you'll speak with passion and enthusiasm, but you also want your listeners to share that enthusiasm. When writing your attention-grabbing statements, make sure you are writing what will get their attention, not just yours.

Study Famous Speeches

Gain inspiration from others' speeches. Read famous speeches and look at the way they are constructed. Find things that stand out and figure out what makes it interesting. Oftentimes, speechwriters use rhetorical devices to make certain points easy to remember and to emphasize them. 

Get to the Point Quickly

Remember to begin and end your speech with something that will gain and hold the attention of your audience. If you spend too much time getting into your speech, people will zone out or start checking their phones. If you get them interested immediately, they will be more likely to stick with you until the end.

Keep It Conversational

How you deliver the speech is also important. When you  give the speech , think about the tone you should use, and be sure to write the speech in the same flow that you'd use in conversations. A great way to check this flow is to practice reading it out loud. If you stumble while reading or it feels monotone, look for ways to jazz up the words and improve the flow. 

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Oral presentation

Giving an oral presentation as part of a speaking exam can be quite scary, but we're here to help you. Watch two students giving presentations and then read the tips carefully. Which tips do they follow? Which ones don’t they follow?

Instructions

Watch the video of two students doing an oral presentation as part of a speaking exam. Then read the tips below.

Melissa: Hi, everyone! Today I would like to talk about how to become the most popular teen in school.

Firstly, I think getting good academic results is the first factor to make you become popular since, having a good academic result, your teacher will award you in front of your schoolmates. Then, your schoolmates will know who you are and maybe they would like to get to know you because they want to learn something good from you.

Secondly, I think participating in school clubs and student unions can help to make you become popular, since after participating in these school clubs or student union, people will know who you are and it can help you to make friends all around the school, no matter senior forms or junior forms.

In conclusion, I think to become the most popular teen in school we need to have good academic results and also participate in school clubs and student union. Thank you!

Kelvin: Good evening, everyone! So, today I want to talk about whether the sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.

As we all know, cigarettes are not good for our health, not only oneself but also other people around. Moreover, many people die of lung cancer every year because of smoking cigarettes.

But, should the government make it illegal? I don’t think so, because Hong Kong is a place where people can enjoy lots of freedom and if the government banned the sale of cigarettes, many people would disagree with this and stand up to fight for their freedom.

Moreover, Hong Kong is a free market. If there's such a huge government intervention, I think it’s not good for Hong Kong’s economy.

So, if the government wants people to stop smoking cigarettes, what should it do? I think the government can use other administrative ways to do so, for example education and increasing the tax on cigarettes. Also, the government can ban the smokers smoking in public areas. So, this is the end of my presentation. Thank you.

It’s not easy to give a good oral presentation but these tips will help you. Here are our top tips for oral presentations.

• Use the planning time to prepare what you’re going to say. 
• If you are allowed to have a note card, write short notes in point form.
• Use more formal language.
• Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly.
• Pause from time to time and don’t speak too quickly. This allows the listener to understand your ideas. Include a short pause after each idea.
• Speak clearly and at the right volume.
• Have your notes ready in case you forget anything.
• Practise your presentation. If possible record yourself and listen to your presentation. If you can’t record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend understand you?
• Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions to give your opinion .
• Look at the people who are listening to you.
• Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart. 
• Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.
• Use very informal language.
• Only look at your note card. It’s important to look up at your listeners when you are speaking.

Useful language for presentations

Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:

I’m going to talk about ... I’d like to talk about ... The main focus of this presentation is ...

Use these expressions to order your ideas:

First of all, ... Firstly, ... Then, ... Secondly, ... Next, ... Finally, ... Lastly, ... To sum up, ... In conclusion, ...

Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:

In addition, ... What’s more, ... Also, ... Added to this, ...

To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:

However, ... On the other hand, ... Then again, ...

Example presentation topics

• Violent computer games should be banned.
• The sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
• Homework should be limited to just two nights a week.
• Should school students be required to wear a school uniform?
• How to become the most popular teen in school.
• Dogs should be banned from cities.

Check your language: ordering - parts of a presentation

Check your understanding: grouping - useful phrases, worksheets and downloads.

Do you think these tips will help you in your next speaking exam? Remember to tell us how well you do in future speaking exams!  

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10 BEST WAYS TO WRITE A SPEECH: IGCSE ENGLISH

• Author: Litera Centre
• Updated: June 22, 2023
• Language: English

IGCSE – ENGLISH:

IGCSE – English, part of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculum, is a comprehensive English language program designed for students aged 14 to 16. It aims to develop essential language skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening while also fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities. The IGCSE English curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including literature, language analysis, and communication. Students engage in various language activities, explore literary texts, and develop their writing skills through different genres. IGCSE English provides a solid foundation for further academic pursuits, as well as effective communication in real-life situations.

Speech in IGCSE?

In the context of the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam, a speech is a form of oral communication that requires students to present a prepared topic or theme clearly, structured, and engagingly. It allows students to showcase their communication skills, critical thinking, and ability to convey their ideas effectively to an audience. A speech in IGCSE exam typically follows a specific format: an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction captures the audience’s attention, establishes the purpose of the speech, and introduces the main points that will be discussed. The body paragraphs delve into these points, providing supporting evidence, examples, and arguments. Finally, the conclusion summarizes the key points and leaves a lasting impression on the audience. The IGCSE exam assesses various aspects of a speech, including content, structure, language, delivery, and overall impact. Students must demonstrate their ability to articulate their thoughts, organize their ideas coherently, use persuasive language and techniques, and engage the audience effectively. Moreover, students should exhibit confidence, clarity of expression, and an understanding of the audience’s needs and interests. Preparing for a speech in IGCSE exam involves extensive research, planning, writing, and practice. Students must select a relevant and compelling topic, gather supporting materials, craft a well-structured speech, and refine their delivery through repeated rehearsals. By mastering the art of delivering a powerful speech, students can excel in the IGCSE exam and develop valuable communication skills that will benefit them in various aspects of their academic and professional lives.

Importance Of Writing Good Speech in IGCSE:

Writing a good speech for the IGCSE exam holds immense importance. It is an opportunity to showcase not only one’s knowledge and understanding of the subject but also their communication and presentation skills. A well-crafted speech captivates the audience, effectively delivers key points, and leaves a lasting impact. It demonstrates the ability to organize thoughts coherently, utilize persuasive techniques, and engage the listeners. A good speech can elevate an individual’s performance, earning them higher marks and distinguishing them from their peers. Moreover, it cultivates essential skills like critical thinking, research, and public speaking, which are invaluable in academic and professional settings.

Speech, besides, is a powerful tool for influencing opinions and promoting change. Public speaking, for instance, has been used throughout history to rally crowds, inspire movements, and advocate for social justice. Individuals can raise awareness about important issues by delivering persuasive speeches, challenging prevailing norms, and igniting positive societal transformations. The impact of influential speeches can be seen in historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr ., whose “I Have a Dream” speech fueled the Civil Rights Movement. One of the most iconic speeches in Indian history, Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny ” emphasizes the significance of the historical moment and outlines the country’s vision for the future. Similarly, “Quit India” by Mahatma Gandhi, and “Tryst with the Past” by B.R. Ambedkar are a few examples of exemplary speeches.

10 Best Ways To Write A Speech in IGCSE:

Whether you are presenting to your classmates or in front of an examiner, a well-crafted speech can leave a lasting impression. To help you excel in your IGCSE exam,

Here are the 10 best ways to write a good speech for IGCSE English:

1. Understanding the Purpose:

Before you start writing, clearly understand the purpose of your speech. Are you informing, persuading, or entertaining your audience? Identifying the purpose will guide your speech’s tone, structure, and content.

2. Knowing the Audience:

Tailor your speech to suit your audience’s interests, knowledge, and expectations. Consider their age, background, and specific characteristics that influence how they receive and respond to your message.

3. A Captivating Opening:

Grabbing attention from the beginning. Begin with a powerful quote, an intriguing question, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking statement. This helps engage your listeners and makes them eager to hear more.

4. Structure Of Speech:

Organize your speech logically and coherently. Use a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion structures the speech organically. Each section should flow smoothly, transitioning from one idea to the next.

5.  A Strong Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement of your speech is its central idea or the main argument. Clearly state this in your introduction, previewing the key points you will discuss throughout your speech.

6. Persuasive Language and Techniques:

To effectively convey your message, use persuasive language and techniques such as rhetorical questions, anecdotes, statistics, and emotional appeals. These devices will enhance your speech and make it more compelling.

7. Support Your Points with Evidence:

Support your statements with credible evidence, examples, and facts. This will add credibility to your speech and make your arguments more persuasive. Use reputable sources and cite them appropriately.

8. Vivid Language and Imagery:

Make your speech memorable by using vivid language and imagery. Paint a picture with your words, appealing to the senses and evoking emotions. This builds connectivity between you and your audience with your message on a deeper level.

9.  Practice Delivery and Timing:

After writing your speech, practice delivering it aloud. Pay attention to your tone, pace, and body language. Aim for a natural and confident delivery. Time yourself to ensure that your speech fits within the allocated time limit.

10. Craft a Powerful Conclusion:

End your speech with a strong and impactful conclusion. Summarize your key points, restate your thesis, and leave your audience with a lasting impression. Consider ending with a memorable quote, a call to action, or a thought-provoking question.

Conclusion:

Writing a compelling speech requires careful thought and consideration. It is to be noted that writing a good speech requires careful planning, practice, and attention to detail. By following these 10 best ways, you can write a compelling speech that showcases your communication skills, knowledge, and ability to engage an audience. Remember to practice your delivery and be authentic in your delivery. With these strategies, one can be well-equipped to write an exceptional speech that will engage and move your audience. To ace the art of writing a good speech, head to our Litera Center IGCSE English curriculum and book a free demo class. Good luck with your IGCSE exam!

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25+ GCSE English Speaking and Listening Ideas

In GCSE by Think Student Editor February 11, 2023 1 Comment

One of the most important parts of studying GCSE English Language is that you are tested not only on your written communication but also on your verbal communication. This component of GCSE English Language is surrounding spoken language and exists in the form of a presentation or speech that you have to make.

While this may seem straightforward, there is quite a lot of work that you will have to put into this presentation and a range of factors that you may struggle with. However, the first problem you will have is in deciding what topic you’re going to choose. If you’re struggling to decide, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Continue reading to get some ideas for what you could do for your own GCSE English speech. This article will not only provide you with over 25 great ideas for your GCSE presentation but also give you a few tips on picking your topic.

How to choose your GCSE English Language speaking exam topic

First of all, you need to make sure that the topic you pick will allow you to meet the requirements of your presentation. For this component of your GCSE, you are meant to demonstrate that you can present information and ideas by selecting the right information for your speech and using it effectively and appropriately for the audience you have and the purpose you are using it for.

You are also meant to show that you can speak in Standard English and also that you can respond to any questions or feedback that you are given. If you would like to learn more about this, check out this guide on the government website for more information about the aims and content of GCSE English Language.

These requirements can have quite a big impact on what topic you decide to choose. This is because you will need to make sure that you can do lots of research into your topic area so that you can demonstrate your ability to present information and that the topic is clear enough so that you can show your ability to present ideas.

Other than that, it’s important to remember that your presentation topic is primarily up to you. As long as it is approved by your teacher and otherwise allows you to meet the requirements of your presentation then the choice is yours.

There are many different categories that the topic you choose may fall into. Some of the main ones include social issues, school life or even your personal interests or hobbies. In the rest of the article, you will be able to get some ideas for your presentation centred around these 3 categories.

GCSE English Language speaking exam ideas related to social issues

As previously mentioned, for your GCSE English Language presentation you’re going to be tested on how well you can present ideas and information. One of the best ways to score highly on this is to choose a topic that allows you to present opposing ideas and to reach a conclusion. This is because it would allow you to show that you can evaluate and weigh up the significance of the information you have selected, which in turn shows off your critical thinking skills.

One of the main topics that would allow you to present opposing ideas easily is a topic to do with social issues. This is because they tend to be controversial with people having completely different ideas about how to deal with them.

The only problem with choosing a topic like this is whether you will be comfortable to talk about it in a way that shows that you can present ideas and information appropriately and whether your teacher approves the topic. Due to this, in this section I will take you through some of the ideas to do with social issues that aren’t too controversial and that you can easily talk about in your GCSE English Language speaking exam.

1. Should climate change be taken more seriously by the government?

When thinking about social issues, climate change is arguably one of the best ones to talk about. This is because it pretty much affects everybody and most people have an opinion on it, whether they feel it’s incredibly important or if they feel it’s incredibly not. This makes it something of a safe zone on terms of how controversial the topic is and thus a good topic idea to avoid offending anyone (kind of).

Also, there are so many facts and figures that you can use and manipulate to make your presentation stand out. With these, you can show off your great researching skills, making it one of the best topics you can do as it allows you to do this so easily with statistics and information being readily available.

2. Should zoos be banned?

In recent years, there has been more and more emphasis on exposing animal cruelty and trying to protect animals from being exploited by humans. While this takes many forms, such as animal testing, which can be another great idea for your presentation and will be looked at later. One that you may not quite think of are zoos.

As it is slightly less expected as zoos are generally seen as harmless, this can be a great topic idea. This is because it can feel a lot more original than other topics that may have been done many times before.

Also, as zoos are typically thought of in a neutral or even positive light, exploring both the positives and negatives of them can really show your creativity in presenting ideas. This is because you can use a range of different techniques in your speech to create the most effect while contrasting these opposing ideas and coming to your judgement.

3. Does social media have more drawbacks than benefits?

Social media was only created in 1997, yet since then it has evolved and been transformed into something that we use in our daily lives. For more on this, look at this article by CBS News.

Even if this doesn’t apply to you directly, it most likely will to at least a few of your classmates, which makes it even more of a relevant topic to choose. This could make it more engaging for your audience, which could lead to more question/ feedback at the end of your presentation.

As a result of this, as long as you prepare for these, it could allow to score more highly on the listening and responding requirement of this component. However, it is important to note that this will depend on how your presentation is structured and whether your classmates can freely interact with your presentation.

Another reason why this topic could be great is if you do regularly use social media. T his is because, while you will still need to do the research, you will probably have first-hand knowledge about the advantages and drawbacks of using social media.

This background knowledge can make tackling this topic even easier and may even help to improve your presentation in several ways. To begin with, you may choose to use anecdote alongside your research when presenting your ideas and coming to your judgement . Alternatively, you may want to simply use your pre-existing knowledge as a starting point for your research in order to gain examples.

4. Is animal testing ethical?

As previously mentioned, there has been more emphasis on protecting animals from animal cruelty and from being overexploited by humans. In this, many debates and controversies have been sparked, one of the main ones being to do with animal testing.

Once again, this topic can be a great choice as it is current and relevant. You can even make it even more so by applying this debate to things that apply to you and your audience, which are your teacher and classmates. To do this, you may want to look at particularly businesses or even business industries that particularly do use animal testing or that particularly don’t and what this means for your judgement.

Moreover, this topic can be great in allowing you to show that you can effectively present ideas and information as there is so many different arguments within this debate. This means that you will have to be selective in presenting and fully backing up only your strongest points.

5. Should euthanasia be allowed in the UK?

Euthanasia is quite a heavy topic to tackle, particularly for something like your GCSE English Language speaking exam. However, this arguably makes it more thought provoking and makes how you use language even more important in making the presentation good . Therefore, if you’re looking for a bit of a challenge, choosing a heavier topic, such as this one could be a good idea.

Even more than that, this topic is an incredibly controversial subject that often sparks lots of debate. This is especially as it relates to general ethics, people’s personal beliefs and the need for regulation or some kind of laws surrounding it to decide whether or not it should be allowed.

Once again, this could be good for your presentation as being able to tackle a topic such as this one would show off your ability to present ideas, as per the requirements for this component. Other than just being able to present ideas, to be able to do this topic properly, you would be showing off your critical thinking and analytical skills. This would help you to score better within this component.

6. Should the death penalty be brought back?

Once again, this topic is rather heavy and even a bit dark. However, if you feel comfortable tackling it then it could make for a rather interesting speech.

As with other topics within this category, this topic being so controversial is partially what makes it such a good topic. This is because the ideas that you need to present are quite distinctly opposing views. This allows you to show off high-level skills such as evaluation and analysis in order to present these ideas and come to a conclusion.

Also, you can show off your ability to select the appropriate information due to the extent of facts and data that exists on this topic. This is because you can adapt your entire presentation based on what kind of information you use.

For example, if you use historic data of the death penalty being used in the UK, you could consider why it was abolished in the first place and its ineffectiveness, particularly in later years. Otherwise, you could look at information from other countries that still use the death penalty.

Therefore, this topic is also quite versatile, which can also make it a good pick.

7. Should the voting age be lowered?

As of 2023, the voting age is 18 and you now need some kind of photo ID to be able to vote. For more information about this, check out this page on the government website.

This topic could be a great pick, if you’re interested in young people’s involvement in politics and just politics in general. This is because it allows you to look at the political system in the UK and research into an area which may be relevant to you, especially if you’re under the age of 18.

Not only does this topic area easily allow you to fulfil the research requirements of your GCSE English Language spoken language endorsement, but it will also enable you to be a bit more varied in how you can show off your ability to “present ideas”. This is because instead of just giving you opposing views and ideas to present and to give a judgement on, students also need to present ideas on the specifics of this topic.

By this, I mean that due to the slight vagueness of this topic, you can also present your ideas of what age the voting age should or shouldn’t be lowered to and why this is the case. In this way, you’re able to open up this topic to not only be focused on politics. This means that you can also look into the responsibility and maturity of people under the age of 18 in the case of making decisions, such as voting.

Therefore, this topic can be quite in-depth, allowing you to talk more on the topic to better meet the requirements.

8. Is nature or nurture more influential on someone’s personality?

The nature vs nurture debate is an old one that tends to have an answer something along the lines of “it depends”. Despite this, arguing for one side is most certainly doable, especially for your GCSE English Language speech.

If you’re interested in psychology, then this social issues debate is great for you. This is especially as psychology is the main discipline that this debate comes under, although it may also be applied to others.

To meet the requirements of presenting ideas and presenting information appropriately, you will probably need to rely on case studies and psychologists’ research to base your argument on. As these are likely to be quite advanced and very detailed, this topic could allow you to show off your ability to present information as you will need to be selective to make sure that the information in your presentation is relevant.

9. Is AI dangerous?

Science fiction films and books love to tell stories of AI and robots turning against the humans that created them and taking over the world. While that seems unlikely to happen in real life, it does strike the question on the possible dangers of AI.

With this topic being so up to date and relevant, it can be a great idea to choose as it will be more engaging. This is both for you and your audience, allowing you to benefit from more potential feedback or questions, depending on how this part of the speaking exam will work.

Also, the term “dangerous” can be a bit vague. This gives you the opportunity to look at a range of different ideas for what this actually means and then to present your strongest ones. This allows you to meet the requirement of presenting ideas well.

10. Is vaping better or worse than smoking?

Vaping at least used to be an alternative to smoking, one that was seen as better and a way to quit smoking. However, with the rise of vaping, it’s been made clear that vaping isn’t actually good for you.

Due to this, you can compare vaping and smoking in your presentation and explore the ways in which one is worse than the other. This topic idea would give you lots of opportunity to research with there being a lot of information available about smoking and vaping statistics.

Please note that this topic may be a bit more difficult to get approved due to the problems of both smoking and vaping in schools.

11. Are teenagers addicted to their phones?

You’ve probably heard older people say that teenagers are addicted to their phones. By doing this for your presentation you can present an argument for why this may be true as well as one for why it’s not.

This once again gives you an excellent opportunity to show how well you can present ideas. They also give you the opportunity to analyse and evaluate these in order to reach your conclusion. This can allow you to show your critical thinking skills, which would enable you to score higher.

However, the only problem with this topic idea is that you might fall into the trap of being too comfortable with the topic. Remember that while you can use techniques, such as anecdotes to talk about your own experiences, you will still need to actively do some research in order to meet these requirements.

GCSE English Language speaking exam ideas related to school life

Your GCSE English Language speech doesn’t have to be on a heavy, thought-provoking topic to still be good. As previously mentioned, the main idea of the component is to test your speaking and presentation skills as well as your researching skills.

This means that lighter topics, such as things to do with school, can still be great choices. This is especially as you will be more familiar with these topics and so they’re automatically more relevant to you and your peers.

12. Should detention be banned?

Detentions are probably the most common type of punishment that is used in schools in the UK. For more on this, check out this Think Student article , where you can learn more about the different types of punishments used in the UK.

As a student, you will probably be familiar with how they work and may even have experienced detention(s) yourself. Due to this, this topic can be a great idea as it can make it easier for you to present different ideas as you consider your own idea as well as the opposing view.

Like other ideas that you may be more familiar with, it’s still important to remember that you are also being tested on your ability to present the information and so you need to make sure that you do the research. As this is a topic that relates to both you and your classmates, you could do a survey during your presentation asking your audience, your classmates, if they agree or disagree. You could then to use these results in your presentation.

13. Should students have to wear uniform?

Do you agree that clothing is a form of expression and so everyone should be allowed to wear what they want at school? Alternatively, you may be arguing for the use of uniforms in schools.

This topic can be a great idea for your GCSE English Language speaking assessment as there are so many ideas that you can present both for and against the statement, allowing you to show off your ability to do this.

Also, like the other school related topics, this affects both you and your peers directly. Therefore, this means that you can engage with them more easily, which could help you to indirectly lead the feedback section into questions that you feel more prepared to answer.

14. Should teachers stop giving homework?

Homework is often the source of troubles for students as it can be tedious and boring and it’s even worse if you’ve forgotten to do it. However, there are many reasons why homework may actually be a good thing.

If you take on this topic, you will have the interesting task of deciding whether there are more pros of homework or more cons. As this topic is very light hearted, it gives you the opportunity to bring in presentation techniques, such as humour and potentially other ones, such as hyperbole. Due to this, you can make your presentation higher level, which in turn can help you gain more marks.

15. Should the school day be shorter?

Choosing this topic could be a great idea for you. This is because it is relevant for all involved, including, you and your classmates but also your teacher. This could make it more engaging for them to watch and thus easier for you to react to their feedback or questions.

Plus, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably felt at times that the school day is way too long. Due to this, this topic could be a great idea as you’ll feel more involved with it, making it easier to present clear ideas, as per the requirements.

However, this topic can still be a bit difficult as you still need to justify your argument, whether you’re agreeing or disagreeing. This means that you still need to do the research to back up your points and to consider the other side of the argument.

16. Should everyone have to study English and maths until they’re 18?

In 2023, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his plans to have all students study some form of maths until they’re 18. For more on this, look at this page on the government website.

While he’s basing this off his own education, should this be the case for all students? That’s what you get to decide with this topic idea.

Like with all the other topic ideas, you will need to present clear ideas on the pros and cons of this topic. While you will still need to do the research, you can very much tailor your response on your own plans for after GCSEs.

For example, if you’re planning to study some form of maths, whether that is A-Level Maths, Core Maths or something else, you can explain the benefits to you of choosing this option. Whereas, if you’re planning to do an apprenticeship, which would give you the training you need for your role, or any qualification that isn’t related to maths, you could explain why you don’t actually need this.

Remember that you will still need to do research, so you could look into statistics of the number of people who do maths qualifications after GCSEs or even look into the education histories of successful people. This would allow you to better show off your researching and presenting of information skills.

17. Is it important to learn about […]?

This can cover a wide range of subjects or topics, such as history or a specific type of history, such as black history or even wars, to religion or something completely different such as maths or science or even art.

This topic idea can be great as it can relate to you and students around you . However, unlike other options, such as detentions and uniforms, you’re more likely to see disagreement on whether it is or isn’t important to learn something.

This could also be beneficial for the feedback section of your presentation. Therefore, it’s even more important to make sure that your points are clear and well backed up.

Also, this topic idea can provide you with a bit more variety than the other school related ideas. This is because you have complete freedom as to what subtopic you choose and so you can easily tailor it to yourself and your preferences.

Alternatively, you could use this as an opportunity to tailor it to your audience. This would help to show off your ability to be selective in order to present effectively to your audience.

18. Should learning another language be compulsory?

The world is becoming more and more globalised with every passing day, so should learning another language be compulsory. If you already take a language, this topic idea could be great as you should already be familiar with both the pros and cons of language learning and you can apply this to your speech.

As always, research is key in order to meet the requirements for your presentation. However, as language learning can also be done outside of the academic sense, you should be able to find more information about the potential pros of it in general. Then, to consider the drawbacks, you can think about it in the academic context.

You can look at this Think Student article , which goes through the benefits of studying a language, to help you get started.

19. Should Shakespeare be taught in schools?

As part of the GCSE English Literature specification, students have to be taught a Shakespeare play. For more information about this, check out this guide on the government website.

Plus, even before that in Years 7- 9, students will still be taught Shakespeare due to the National Curriculum. You can also learn more about this by clicking on this link to the government website.

Due to this, this topic idea is definitely relevant to all students. Therefore, it can once again be more engaging for both you and your peers to break down this topic. If done right, you can do this to show off your ability to present ideas and information effectively for your audience.

Also, by looking into Shakespeare some of the research may also be easier. This is because in your GCSE English Literature studies, you will probably have needed to look into Shakespeare to get context points for your essays. This means that you can actually do a bit of revision for GCSE English Literature while researching for your presentation.

20. Should phones be banned at school?

Many schools across the UK have banned phones. In this presentation, you would come to a judgement on whether that’s the right decision or not.

With this topic idea, you can talk about the wider context and debates that exist around students, particularly one that are teenagers and phones. For example, you may want to slightly look into the notions of teenagers being addicted to their phones, as mentioned above, or at other issues, such as cyberbullying.

By doing this, you can make your speech more complexed, which in turn can make the ideas you present feel more sophisticated, which can land you higher up the marking criteria.

21. Should extracurricular activities be compulsory?

Doing extracurricular activities can come with a range of benefits, so should they be compulsory? That’s exactly what you will need to explore with this topic.

Once again, you can personalise this topic based on your own experiences. If you already do extracurricular activities, then you can explain the benefits, using anecdote, which is a good skill in presenting. If you don’t do any, then you may present clear ideas for why this is.

Therefore, this topic can be a great idea as implementing a mixture of your research, including data and statistics alongside your personal anecdote can be a great way of doing your presentation. This is because it shows that you can be selective with the information and ideas you have chosen to present.

GCSE English Language speaking exam ideas related to interests

As mentioned above, it’s important to remember that your presentation is yours. One of the best ways to personalise it even more is to make it about something that you’re interested in .

Due to this, making your presentation on any specific interest that you have can be a great idea. These interests may be more general, being topic areas such as art or science. Alternatively, they may be more focused on specific things.

22. Should Banksy be considered a great artist or a criminal?

If you’re interested in art, street art in particular, this topic idea could be perfect for you. This is because you’ll get to look into one of the most well-known street artists in the UK and consider if Banksy should be called an artist at all.

Banksy is often considered a great artist but technically, the art he does is vandalism and so is illegal.

With this topic, you need to be looking at the different sides of the debate, backing them up with facts and coming to your own conclusion. Unlike other topic ideas, the sides of this debate aren’t entirely opposites as Banksy could be considered both a great artist and a criminal.

Due to this, there is greater variation within this topic as you will fully need to decide how to argue this topic. This may also allow you to score better in your assessment. This is due to the fact that if done well, you will be showing off how you can effectively structure your argument to make it more engaging.

23. Are books becoming obsolete?

Less and less people, both young and old, are reading nowadays. Whether this is due to new technologies, such as phones or there simply being a cultural shift, it raises the question of whether books are becoming obsolete.

This topic is great for all the bookworms out there as it gives you a chance to consider your own reading preferences. By this I mean, are you still reading books? If not, what are you reading?

Also, an interesting feature of this topic is that you can define what this question actually means. This is because you need to state whether you are just talking about physical books becoming obsolete or if you’re considering other types as well, such as e-books or audio books.

By doing so, this allows you to demonstrate that you can present ideas clearly as you are giving the ideas and explaining them well.

24. Is […] the best singer/ actor/ etc.?

Whether you’re an absolute Lizzo stan and you want to spend your entire presentation justifying why she’s the best or if you’ve watched every Tom Hanks film and want to use your presentation to argue that he’s the best actor. This topic idea is great if you’re a fan, regardless of who the celebrity is.

This topic idea gives you so much flexibility whether you want to decide who is the best singer, actor, dancer, comedian or even social media influencer. This allows you to personalise it to you and make it more interesting for yourself.

You can even decide on what your criteria is going to be. This can show that you have produced a well thought out presentation as the criteria can act as a structure for you to go through your speech.

25. Was […] the most influential writer/ artists/ etc.?

If you want to talk about a different kind of famous person, such as a writer or artist, you may want to consider how influential they are rather than if they’re the best. This topic idea can prove to be easier for researching than the previous idea as influence can be a bit easier to measure.

For this topic, you could look into any prizes they won, their connections with important people and their positions or roles. If they’re a historical figure, you may also want to look into their legacy and how they’re remembered, for example if there’s a museum.

Like with the previous topic idea, there are so many different people that you could talk about in your presentation with this idea. For artists, you may want to talk about Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci or even Andy Warhol. Whereas for writers you may want to talk about Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens or even Khaled Hosseini.

26. Do celebrities get paid too much?

The record amounts that celebrities, especially footballers get can often seem ridiculous. The question that you need to answer in your presentation is whether this is justified and if there should be a limit to how much they make.

This topic can be a great idea as you can use particular celebrities as case studies. This allows you to have a basis for your argument but also to be able to research more easily.

27. Is an influencer a real job?

If you’re interested in social media, you’ve probably come across a few influencers. Influencers are generally seen as not having a real job but is this true?

This topic can be a great idea as you first have to define what a real job actually is. Similarly, to other options, you’ll need to create your own criteria and use this as a basis for your presentation. In this, you can show that you have good presentation skills as you have to be selective to make your ideas and your information fit into this structure.

28. Is gaming good for you?

If you enjoy gaming, you’ve probably been told about how bad it is for you and its dangers. However, with your presentation, you could try to present an upside to gaming. Despite this, you will still need to consider both sides of the argument and also consider the cons.

Once again, being able to show the different sides of the argument can show off your ability to present ideas . Also, as you need to come to a judgment, you will need to evaluate, which is also quite a high level skill.

What attributes make a GCSE English Language speaking exam idea good?

While everyone will have their own opinions on what makes a “good” GCSE English Language speaking exam topic, there are a few key principles that actually make one “good”. First of all, as mentioned above, your GCSE English speaking exam topic needs to allow you to meet the aims and requirements of the assessment itself.

These requirements are as follows:

• Students need to demonstrate their presentation skills in a formal setting.
• Students need to listen and respond appropriately to spoken language.
• Students need to use Standard English effectively in their presentations.

For more information about the assessment objectives of the GCSE English Language speaking assessment, check out this page on the AQA website.

In the above list, all the topic ideas allow you to meet these requirements and so they can be considered as “good”. However, you may have many more ideas for your GCSE English Language speaking presentation, which may still allow you to meet these requirements and so they can be “good” also.

Also, your presentation idea will need to be approved by your teacher. Due to this, the basis of a good idea is one that will get approved by your teacher easily.

Does your GCSE English Language speaking exam idea affect your mark?

First things first, you won’t actually get a mark for your GCSE English spoken language endorsement. This is because you are assessed based on a “competency based” criteria and so you are only sorted into a grade rather than actually being given a mark also. For more information about this, check out this guide by AQA.

While you won’t automatically get a higher grade due to the topic you choose, it could have some impact. This is because the criteria for each grade puts emphasis on the ideas, information and feelings you are presenting.

For a Pass, this would be a straightforward idea, feeling or information. For a Merit, this would be a challenging idea, feeling or information. For a Distinction, this would be a sophisticated idea, feeling or information.

If you choose a more complex and thought-provoking topic, it can make it easier to fit into the Distinction-level criteria of presenting a “sophisticated” idea, feeling or information. Therefore, the topic you choose can have some bearing on the grade you get.

However, it is ultimately down to how you present. This is because if you still present “sophisticated” ideas and information, despite having a very simple topic, you will still be able to reach the Distinction level criteria and vice versa.

Also, there are other criteria for what grade you get other than just to do with how you present the ideas and information. These include how you organise and structure your presentation as well as your ability to listen and to respond.

To learn more about these criteria, please refer to this guide by Pearson Edexcel.

If you would like to find out more about how the English speaking exam effects your overall GCSE English grade check out this Think Student article.

very helpful

15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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• Speech Writing /

Labour Day Speech in English: Long and Short 

• Updated on  
• Apr 27, 2024

Labour Day Speech: May 1 is celebrated all around the world to celebrate the presence of the workers who keep working hard and render their services to society. International Worker’s Day, or International Labour Day, honours the workers and labourers of the world in different sectors for rendering their services to society. 

Further, the day also helps in reminding them about their rights at the workplace. In this Labour Day speech, we will discuss some important facts and figures that help the students understand labour more comprehensively.

Long Labour Day Speech in English 

Also Read: World Malaria Day Speech for Students in English: Long & Short

Short Speech Speech on Labour Day for Students 

Also Read: Farewell Speech for Colleague in English

Ans: To start a speech on Labour Day, begin with greeting the audience, like Good morning/ afternoon, everyone. Next, describe the purpose of your speech, like, Today we come together to honour the incredible workforce that powers our nation forward through their skill, determination, and hard work.

Ans: The main message and purpose of Labour Day is to recognise and appreciate the countless contributions and efforts of workers across industries and occupations. The day highlights the importance of upholding the rights of workers, ensuring fair wages and safe conditions, and advocating for their dignity. Labour Day sends a message that society should respect and value the hard work of everyone who works hard to earn a living for their families.

Ans: One of the good quotes on Labour Day is from Abraham Lincoln, “Labour is before and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labour, and could never have existed if labour had not first existed.” 

Popular Speech Topics

This was all about the Labour Day speech. For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Deepika Joshi

Deepika Joshi is an experienced content writer with expertise in creating educational and informative content. She has a year of experience writing content for speeches, essays, NCERT, study abroad and EdTech SaaS. Her strengths lie in conducting thorough research and ananlysis to provide accurate and up-to-date information to readers. She enjoys staying updated on new skills and knowledge, particulary in education domain. In her free time, she loves to read articles, and blogs with related to her field to further expand her expertise. In personal life, she loves creative writing and aspire to connect with innovative people who have fresh ideas to offer.

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Justices Seem Ready to Limit the 2020 Election Case Against Trump

Such a ruling in the case, on whether the former president is immune from prosecution, would probably send it back to a lower court and could delay any trial until after the November election.

• Share full article

Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer

Charlie Savage reported from Washington, and Alan Feuer from New York.

Here are four takeaways from the Supreme Court hearing on Trump’s claim to immunity.

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday about Donald J. Trump’s claim that the federal charges accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election must be thrown out because he is immune from being prosecuted for any official act he took as president.

Here are some takeaways.

Several justices seemed to want to define some level of official act as immune.

Although Mr. Trump’s claim of near-absolute immunity was seen as a long shot intended primarily to slow the proceedings, several members of the Republican-appointed majority seemed to indicate that some immunity was needed. Some of them expressed worry about the long-term consequences of leaving future former presidents open to prosecution for their official actions.

Among others, Justice Brett Kavanaugh compared the threat of prosecution for official acts to how a series of presidents were “hampered” by independent counsel investigations, criticizing a 1984 ruling that upheld a now-defunct law creating such prosecutors as one of the Supreme Court’s biggest mistakes. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. criticized an appeals court ruling rejecting immunity for Mr. Trump, saying he was concerned that it “did not get into a focused consideration of what acts we are talking about or what documents are talking about.”

“It’s a serious constitutional question whether a statute can be applied to the president’s official acts. So wouldn’t you always interpret the statute not to apply to the president, even under your formulation, unless Congress had spoken with some clarity?” “I don’t think across the board that as serious constitutional question exists on applying any criminal statute to the president.” “The problem is the vague statute — obstruction and 371, conspiracy to defraud the United States can be used against a lot of presidential activities historically with a creative prosecutor who wants to go after a president.” “I think that the question about the risk is very serious. And obviously it is a question that this court has to evaluate. For the executive branch, our view is that there is a balanced protection that better serves the interests of the Constitution that incorporates both accountability and protection for the president.”

The Democrat-appointed justices — Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — asked questions indicating greater concern about opening the door for presidents to commit official crimes with impunity.

“This is what you’re asking us to say, which is that a president is entitled not to make a mistake — but more than that, a president is entitled for total personal gain to use the trappings of his office. That’s what you’re trying to get us to hold — without facing criminal liability.” “Your honor, I would say three things in response to that. First, the doctrine that immunity does not turn on the allegedly improper motivation or purpose is something that this court has reaffirmed in at least nine or 10 —” “That’s absolute immunity. But qualified immunity does say that whatever act you take has to be within what a reasonable person would do. I’m having a hard time thinking that creating false documents, that submitting false documents, that ordering the assassination of a rival, that accepting a bribe, and countless other laws that could be broken for personal gain, that anyone would say that it would be reasonable for a president or any public official to do that.”

The arguments signaled further delay and complications for a Trump trial.

If the Supreme Court does place limits on the ability of prosecutors to charge Mr. Trump over his official actions, it could alter the shape of his trial.

A decision to send all or part of the case back to the lower courts could further slow progress toward a trial, increasing the odds that it does not start before Election Day.

Of the matters listed in the indictment, some — like working with private lawyers to gin up slates of fraudulent electors — seem like the private actions of a candidate. Others — like pressuring the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence to do things — seem more like official acts he took in his role as president.

At one point, Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested that prosecutors could simply drop Mr. Trump’s arguably official actions from their case and proceed to a swift trial focused only on his private actions. And D. John Sauer, the lawyer for Mr. Trump, told the court that no evidence of Mr. Trump’s official actions should be allowed into the trial.

But Michael R. Dreeben, a Justice Department lawyer arguing on behalf of the special counsel’s office, said the indictment laid out an “integrated conspiracy” in which Mr. Trump took the official actions to bolster the chances that his other efforts to overturn the election would succeed.

He argued that even if the court holds that Mr. Trump has immunity from liability for his official actions, prosecutors should still be allowed to present evidence about them to the jury because the actions are relevant to assessing his larger knowledge and intentions — just as speech that is protected by the First Amendment can still be used as evidence in a conspiracy case.

The hearing revolved around two very different ways of looking at the issue.

Looming over the hearing was a sweeping moral question: What effect might executive immunity have on the future of American politics?

Not surprisingly, the two sides saw things very differently.

Mr. Sauer claimed that without immunity, all presidents would be paralyzed by the knowledge that once they were out of office, they could face an onslaught of charges from their rivals based on the tough calls they had to make while in power. He pictured a dystopian world of ceaseless tit-for-tat political prosecutions that would destroy the “presidency as we know it.”

If a president can be charged, put on trial and imprisoned for his most controversial decisions as soon as he leaves office, that looming threat will distort the president’s decision-making precisely when bold and fearless action is most needed. Every current president will face de facto blackmail and extortion by his political rivals while he is still in office. The implications of the court’s decision here extend far beyond the facts of this case. Could President George W. Bush have been sent to prison for obstructing an official proceeding or allegedly lying to Congress to induce war in Iraq? Could President Obama be charged with murder for killing U.S. citizens abroad by drone strike? Could President Biden someday be charged with unlawfully inducing immigrants to enter the country illegally for his border policies? The answer to all these questions is no.

Envisioning the opposite scenario, Mr. Dreeben worried that any form of blanket immunity would place presidents entirely outside of the rule of law and encourage them to commit crimes, including “bribery, treason, sedition, even murder,” with impunity.

“The framers knew too well the dangers of a king who could do no wrong,” he said.

This court has never recognized absolute criminal immunity for any public official. Petitioner, however, claims that a former president has permanent criminal immunity for his official acts unless he was first impeached and convicted. His novel theory would immunize former presidents for criminal liability; for bribery, treason, sedition, murder and here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power. Such presidential immunity has no foundation in the Constitution. The framers knew too well the dangers of a king who could do no wrong.

Both sides found advocates for their positions on the court.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. clearly seemed worried that without some form of criminal immunity, former presidents would be vulnerable to partisan warfare as their successors used the courts to go after them once they were out of office. And that, he added, could lead to endless cycles of retribution that would be a risk to “stable, democratic society.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared more concerned that if presidents were in fact shielded by immunity, they would be unbounded by the law and could turn the Oval Office into what she described as “the seat of criminality.”

If someone with those kinds of powers, the most powerful person in the world with the greatest amount of authority, could go into office knowing that there would be no potential penalty for committing crimes, I’m trying to understand what the disincentive is from turning the Oval Office into the seat of criminal activity in this country? If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldn’t there be a significant risk that future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes with abandon while they’re in office? It’s right now the fact that we’re having this debate, because O.L.C. has said that presidents might be prosecuted. Presidents from the beginning of time have understood that that’s a possibility. That might be what has kept this office from turning into the kind of crime center that I’m envisioning. But once we say no criminal liability, Mr. President, you can do whatever you want, I’m worried that we would have a worse problem than the problem of the president feeling constrained to follow the law while he’s in office.

What happens next?

There did not seem to be a lot of urgency among the justices — especially the conservative ones — to ensure that the immunity question was resolved quickly. That left open the possibility that Mr. Trump could avoid being tried on charges of plotting to overturn the last election until well after voters went to the polls to decide whether to choose him as president in this election.

And if he is elected, any trial could be put off while he is in office, or he could order the charges against him dropped.

It could take some time for the court to do its own analysis of what presidential acts should qualify for the protections of immunity. And even if the justices determine that at least some of the allegations against Mr. Trump are fair game for prosecution, if they do not issue a ruling until late June or early July, it could be difficult to hold a trial before November.

That would become all but impossible if the court took a different route and sent the analysis back to the trial judge, Tanya S. Chutkan. If Judge Chutkan were ordered to hold further hearings on which of the indictment’s numerous allegations were official acts of Mr. Trump’s presidency and which were private acts he took as a candidate for office, the process could take months and last well into 2025.

Aishvarya Kavi

Reporting from Washington

A spectacle outside the Supreme Court for Trump’s defenders and detractors.

Just as the Supreme Court began considering on Thursday morning whether former President Donald J. Trump was entitled to absolute immunity, rap music started blaring outside the court.

The lyrics, laced with expletives, denounced Mr. Trump, and several dozen demonstrators began chanting, “Trump is not above the law!”

Mr. Trump was not in Washington on Thursday morning — in fact, he was in another courtroom , in New York. But the spectacle that pierced the relative tranquillity outside the court was typical of events that involve him: demonstrations, homemade signs, police, news media, and lots and lots of curious onlookers.

One man, Stephen Parlato, a retired mental health counselor from Boulder, Colo., held a roughly 6-foot-long sign with a blown-up photo of Mr. Trump scowling that read, “Toxic loser.” The back of the sign featured the famous painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge of dogs playing poker, adorned with the words, “Faith erodes … in a court with no binding ethics code.” He made the sign at FedEx, he said.

The Supreme Court’s decision to even hear the case, which has delayed Mr. Trump’s election interference trial , was “absurd,” he said.

“I’m a child of the late ’60s and early ’70s and the Vietnam War,” said Mr. Parlato, dressed in a leather jacket and cowboy hat. “I remember protesting that while in high school. But this is very different. I’m here because I’m terrified of the possibility of a second Trump presidency.”

Inside the court, Jack Smith sat to the far right of the lawyer arguing on behalf of his team of prosecutors, Michael R. Dreeben, a leading expert in criminal law who has worked for another special counsel who investigated Mr. Trump, Robert S. Mueller III.

Among those in attendance were Jane Sullivan Roberts, who is married to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., and Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, who is married to Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.

In an orderly line outside along the side of the court, people were calmly waiting to listen to the arguments from the court’s public gallery. More than 100 people, many of them supporters of Mr. Trump, were in line as of 8:30 a.m. Reagan Pendarvis, 19, who had been waiting there since the middle of the night, said the first person in line had gotten there more than a day before the arguments began.

Mr. Pendarvis, a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego who is living in Washington for the spring semester, was wearing a black suit and bright red bow tie. He said he had been struggling to keep warm since he took his place in line.

Mr. Pendarvis, a supporter of Mr. Trump, said he thought that the cases brought against the former president were an uneven application of the law.

“I think a lot of the cases, especially that happen for Donald Trump, don’t really happen for Democrats on the other side,” he said. “That’s just my take on it.”

David Bolls, 42, and his brother, Jonathan, 43, both of Springfield, Va., also in line for the arguments, also contended that the prosecutions against Mr. Trump were an abuse of judicial power.

“For me, I want to see an even application of justice,” David Bolls said.

For others in line, the Supreme Court’s deliberations were not the main draw. Ellen Murphy, a longtime Washington resident, was trying to sell buttons she designs, though she acknowledged that it was unlikely she would be allowed in with all of her merchandise.

Dozens of the buttons, which said, “Immunize democracy now” and “Trump is toast” over a toaster with two slices of bread, were pinned to a green apron she was wearing.

“We lose our democracy,” Ms. Murphy said, “if the president can do whatever he wants just because he’s president.”

Eileen Sullivan contributed reporting.

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Adam Liptak

What’s next: Much will turn on how quickly the court acts.

The justices heard arguments in the immunity case at a special session, the day after what had been the last scheduled argument of its term. Arguments heard in late April almost always yield decisions near the end of the court’s term, in late June or early July.

But a ruling in early summer, even if it categorically rejected Mr. Trump’s position, would make it hard to complete his trial before the election. Should Mr. Trump win at the polls, there is every reason to think he would scuttle the prosecution.

In cases that directly affected elections — in which the mechanisms of voting were at issue — the court has sometimes acted with unusual speed.

In 2000, in Bush v. Gore, the court issued its decision handing the presidency to George W. Bush the day after the justices heard arguments.

In a recent case concerning Mr. Trump’s eligibility to appear on Colorado’s primary ballot, the justices moved more slowly, but still at a relatively brisk pace. The court granted Mr. Trump’s petition seeking review just two days after he filed it , scheduled arguments for about a month later and issued its decision in his favor about a month after that.

In United States v. Nixon, the 1974 decision that ordered President Richard M. Nixon to comply with a subpoena for audiotapes of conversations with aides in the White House, the court also moved quickly , granting the special prosecutor’s request to bypass the appeals court a week after it was filed.

The court heard arguments about five weeks later — compared with some eight weeks in Mr. Trump’s immunity case. It issued its decision 16 days after the argument , and the trial was not delayed.

Abbie VanSickle

The oral argument lasted nearly three hours, as the justices tangled with a lawyer for the former president and a Justice Department lawyer. A majority of the justices appeared skeptical of the idea of sweeping presidential immunity. However, several of them suggested an interest in drawing out what actions may be immune and what may not — a move that could delay the former president’s trial if the Supreme Court asks a lower court to revisit the issues.

Many of the justices seemed to be considering the idea that presidents should enjoy some form of protection against criminal prosecution. The devil, however, will be in the details: How should that protection extend?

And that question will have profound relevance not only for future presidents, but much more immediately for Donald Trump. The court could decide to draw those rules itself in a broad way for history. Or it could send this case back to a lower court to set the rules of what form immunity could take. If the case is sent back for further proceedings, it could have a dramatic effect on the timing of Trump’s trial, pushing it well past the election in November.

Looking back, one of the main points of discussion turned on the question of which situation would be worse: a world in which presidents, shorn of any legal protections against prosecution, were ceaselessly pursued in the courts by their rivals in a never-ending cycle of political retribution, or allowing presidents to be unbounded by criminal law and permitted to do whatever they wanted with impunity.

Charlie Savage

Sauer, Trump’s attorney, declines to offer a rebuttal. The argument is over.

If the court finds that there is some immunity for official actions, one of the most important questions will be whether prosecutors can still present evidence to the jury of Trump’s official actions (like pressuring the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence to do certain things) as evidence that helps illuminate Trump’s knowledge and intent for his private acts as a candidate. Dreeben says the jury needs to understand the whole “integrated conspiracy” but prosecutors would accept a jury instruction in which the judge would say they cannot impose liability for the official actions but may consider them as evidence of his knowledge and intent for the other actions. That’s how courts handle protected speech that is evidence to a larger conspiracy, he notes.

Justice Barrett picks up the question of timing again. She suggests that if prosecutors want to take Trump quickly to trial, they could simply drop those parts of the indictment that seem to be his official acts as president and proceed with only those parts of the indictment that reflect Trump’s private actions taken as a candidate for office. Dreeben is not wild about that idea.

Dreeben suggests that allegations in the “private acts bucket,” as Justice Jackson just called it, would include things like the scheme to create fake electors and the way in which Trump fomented a mob of his supporters to violently attack the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Justice Barrett seems to signal that she is less likely to find that presidents have blanket immunity for their official acts. When Dreeben says the system needs to balance the effective functioning of the presidency and accountability for a former president under the rule of law, and the existing system does that pretty well or maybe needs a few ancillary rules but that is different from the “radical proposal” put forward by Trump’s legal team, she says: “I agree.”

Dreeben, in a balancing act that seems to acknowledge that the court is looking for some form of criminal immunity for presidents, says he is trying to do two things at once, neither of them easy. He wants to design a system to find some rules that preserve the “effective functioning of the presidency” but that still allows for “accountability” if presidents violated the law.

Kavanaugh asks Dreeben about Obama’s drone strike that killed an American citizen suspected of terrorism, Anwar al-Awlaki, which Trump’s lawyer invoked in his opening. Dreeben notes that the Office of Legal Counsel analyzed the question and found that the murder statute did not apply to presidents when they were acting under public authority, so authorizing the strike was lawful. This is the way the system can function, he said — the Justice Department analyzes laws carefully and with established principles.

Justice Kavanaugh signals that he is likely to find that presidents must have immunity for their official actions. He talks about how the threat of prosecution by independent counsels (under a law that lapsed in 1999) hampered Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton, and says a 1984 ruling upholding that structure as constitutional was one of the Supreme Court’s biggest mistakes. (Notably, Kavanaugh was a prosecutor on the staff of independent counsel Ken Starr during his investigation into President Bill Clinton, before becoming a White House lawyer under President George W. Bush.)

Dreeben tries to push back on Kavanaugh’s argument by saying that even after Watergate, even after all of the independent counsel investigations mentioned above, the legal system has survived without “having gone off on a runaway train” of actual criminal prosecutions against former presidents.

The Supreme Court rejected Bill Clinton’s claim of immunity.

In Clinton v. Jones in 1997, the Supreme Court unanimously allowed a sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton to proceed while he was in office, discounting concerns that it would distract him from his official responsibilities. Both of his appointees, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, voted against him.

“The president is subject to judicial process in appropriate circumstances,” Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court, adding, “We have never suggested that the president, or any other official, has an immunity that extends beyond the scope of any action taken in an official capacity.”

The case was in one sense harder than the one against Mr. Trump, as it involved a sitting president. In another sense, though, it was easier, as it concerned an episode said to have taken place before Mr. Clinton took office (Paula Jones, an Arkansas state employee, said Mr. Clinton had made lewd advances in a hotel room when he was governor of the state).

The case is best remembered for a prediction in Justice Stevens’s majority opinion that “it appears to us highly unlikely to occupy any substantial amount of petitioner’s time.” In fact, it led to Mr. Clinton’s impeachment.

In the same paragraph, Justice Stevens made a second prediction.

“In the more than 200-year history of the Republic, only three sitting presidents have been subjected to suits for their private actions,” he wrote. “If the past is any indicator, it seems unlikely that a deluge of such litigation will ever engulf the presidency.”

Suits against Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman were dismissed, and one against President John F. Kennedy involving a car accident during his 1960 campaign was settled. The case against Mr. Clinton added a fourth.

Justice Stevens, who died in 2019, failed to anticipate the enormous volume of civil and criminal litigation in which Mr. Trump and his businesses have been named as defendants.

We are now over the two-hour mark of the Supreme Court’s arguments in the Trump immunity case. The Justice Department lawyer has continued to face skeptical questions from many of the court’s conservatives, several of whom appear particularly focused on how to draw the line between a president’s core powers and non-core powers. In other words, what actions by a president might be shielded from prosecution and what would not. The questioning suggests that some of the justices may favor a ruling that could lead to more lower-court proceedings, perhaps delaying the trial.

The Supreme Court’s relatively new process (coming out of Covid) of letting each justice ask questions at the end in order of seniority has an interesting consequence, as seen here. Dreeben kept wanting to say these things about government legal memos and to go into the details about the actions Trump is accused of taking, but the Republican-appointed justices kept cutting him off. It’s the turn of Kagan, a Democratic appointee, to ask any final questions she wants, and she is letting him talk on and on.

Much of the discussion this morning has swirled around the question of whether, without immunity, presidents will be hounded by their rivals with malicious charges after leaving office. Alito and other conservatives on the court seem concerned that the Trump prosecutions will open the door to endless attacks against future presidents.

The other main topic of discussion has been whether presidents enjoy some form of immunity for carrying out their official duties and, if so, how those official actions are defined. That’s an important question for the Trump election case because Trump has claimed he was acting in his role as president when, by his own account, he sought to root out fraud in the 2020 vote count. It’s also important for a different reason: the justices could send the official acts question back to a lower court to sort out, and that process could take a long time, delaying the case's trial until after this year’s election.

Justice Alito suggests that there is a risk to our stable democracy if presidents who lose close elections would not be allowed to retire in peace but could face prosecution. He has essentially flipped the situation under consideration upside down: that Trump is being prosecuted for having used fraud to remain in power after losing a close election.

A part of this exchange between Justice Alito and the Justice Department's lawyer, Dreeben, gets at a pressure point in American-style democracy and the rule of law. One of the safeguards against illegitimate prosecutions of ex-presidents, Dreeben says, is that if the Justice Department has advised the president that doing something would be lawful, the department could not later turn around and prosecute the now-former president for relying on that advice and doing that thing.

Alito points out that this creates an incentive for presidents to appoint attorneys general who will just tell them that anything they want to do would be legal. Indeed — that is a critique of the Office of Legal Counsel system, in which politically appointed lawyers decide what the law means for the executive branch.

An example: During the George W. Bush administration, memos about post-9/11 surveillance and torture were written by a politically appointed lawyer with idiosyncratically broad views of a president’s supposed power, as commander in chief, to authorize violations of surveillance and torture laws. The Justice Department later withdrew those memos as espousing a false view of the law, but held that officials who had taken action based on those memos could not be charged with crimes.

Justice Alito suggests there are not enough legal safeguards in place to protect presidents against malicious prosecution if they don’t have some form of immunity. He tells Dreeben that the grand jury process isn’t much of a protection because prosecutors, as the saying goes, can indict a ham sandwich. When Dreeben tries to argue that prosecutors sometimes don’t indict people who don’t deserve it, Alito dismissively says, “Every once in a while there’s an eclipse too.”

If you are just joining in, the justices are questioning the Justice Department lawyer, Michael Dreeben, about the government’s argument that former President Trump is not absolutely immune from prosecution on charges that he plotted to subvert the 2020 election. Dreeben has faced skeptical questions from several of the conservative justices, including both Justices Alito and Kavanaugh, who have suggested that the fraud conspiracy statute being used against the former president is vague. That statute is central to the government’s case against Trump.

Justice Alito now joins Justice Kavanaugh in suggesting that the fraud conspiracy statute is very vague and broadly drawn. That is bad news for the indictment brought against Trump by Jack Smith, the special counsel.

The scope and viability of this fraud statute, which is absolutely central to the Trump indictment, wasn’t on the menu of issues seemingly at play in this hearing. Kavanaugh and Alito appear to have gone out of their way to question its use in the Trump case.

Justice Sotomayor points out that under the Trump team’s theory that a criminal statute has to clearly state that it applies to the presidency for it to cover a president’s official actions, there would essentially be no accountability at all. Because only a tiny handful of laws mention the president, that means a president could act contrary to them without violating them. As a result, the Senate could not even impeach a president for violating criminal statutes, she says — because he would not be violating those laws if they don’t apply to the president.

Dreeben is under heavy fire from the court’s conservatives.

The precedent most helpful to Trump: Nixon v. Fitzgerald.

In 1982, in Nixon v. Fitzgerald , the Supreme Court ruled that former President Richard M. Nixon had absolute immunity from civil lawsuits — ones brought by private litigants seeking money — for conduct “within the ‘outer perimeter’ of his official responsibility.”

The ruling is helpful to former President Donald J. Trump, establishing as it does that immunity can be expansive, lives on after a president leaves office and extends to the very limits of what may be said to be official conduct.

But the decision also falls well short of dictating the outcome in the case that is being argued on Thursday, which concerns a criminal prosecution, not a civil suit.

The 1982 case arose from a lawsuit brought by an Air Force analyst, A. Ernest Fitzgerald, who said he was fired in 1970 in retaliation for his criticism of cost overruns. By the time the Supreme Court acted, Nixon had been out of office for several years.

“In view of the special nature of the president’s constitutional office and functions,” Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. wrote for the majority 5-to-4 decision, “we think it appropriate to recognize absolute presidential immunity from damages liability” for Nixon’s official conduct, broadly defined.

But the decision drew a sharp line between civil suits, which it said can be abusive and harassing, and criminal prosecutions like the one Mr. Trump is facing.

“In view of the visibility of his office and the effect of his actions on countless people, the president would be an easily identifiable target for suits for civil damages,” Justice Powell wrote, adding, “The court has recognized before that there is a lesser public interest in actions for civil damages than, for example, in criminal prosecutions.”

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger underscored the point in a concurring opinion. “The immunity is limited to civil damages claims,” he wrote.

Even in the context of civil suits, Nixon v. Fitzgerald conferred immunity only on conduct within the “outer perimeter” of a president’s official duties. Jack Smith, the special counsel, has said that Mr. Trump’s efforts to subvert democracy are well outside that line.

The Justice Department has already granted sitting presidents immunity while they are in office.

Former President Donald J. Trump’s claim that former presidents must enjoy “complete immunity” from prosecution for any crimes they committed in office would significantly expand the temporary immunity that sitting presidents already have.

Nothing in the Constitution or federal statutes says that presidents are shielded from being prosecuted while in office, and no court has ever ruled that way. But political appointees in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, whose interpretations are binding on the executive branch, have declared that the Constitution implicitly establishes such immunity.

This argument boils down to practicalities of governance: The stigma of being indicted and the burden of a trial would unduly interfere with a president’s ability to carry out his duties, Robert G. Dixon Jr. , then the head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, wrote in a memo in September 1973 . This would prevent the executive branch “from accomplishing its constitutional functions” in a way that cannot “be justified by an overriding need,” he added.

Mr. Dixon, an appointee of President Richard M. Nixon, wrote his memo against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal, when Mr. Nixon faced a criminal investigation by a special counsel, Archibald Cox. The next month, Nixon’s solicitor general, Robert H. Bork , in a court brief , similarly argued for an “inference” that the Constitution makes sitting presidents immune from indictment and trial.

(That same month, Mr. Nixon had Mr. Cox fired in the so-called Saturday Night Massacre. Mr. Nixon’s attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than carry out his orders to oust the prosecutor; Mr. Nixon then turned to Mr. Bork, the department’s No. 3, who proved willing to do it. Amid a political backlash, Mr. Nixon was forced to allow a new special counsel, Leon Jaworski , to resume the investigation.)

The question arose again a generation later, when President Bill Clinton faced an investigation by Kenneth Starr, an independent counsel, into the Whitewater land deal that morphed into an inquiry into his affair with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. Randolph D. Moss , Mr. Clinton’s appointee to lead the Office of Legal Counsel, reviewed the Justice Department’s 1973 opinions and reaffirmed their conclusions .

Legal scholars, as well as staff for prosecutors investigating presidents, have disputed the legitimacy of that constitutional theory. In 1974, Mr. Jaworski received a memo from his staff saying he could, in fact, indict Mr. Nixon while he was in office, and he later made that case in a court brief .

And in a 56-page memo in 1998, Ronald Rotunda, a prominent conservative constitutional scholar whom Mr. Starr hired as a consultant on his legal team, rejected the view that presidents are immune from prosecution while in office. Mr. Starr later said that he had concluded that he could indict Mr. Clinton.

“It is proper, constitutional, and legal for a federal grand jury to indict a sitting president for serious criminal acts that are not part of, and are contrary to, the president’s official duties,” Mr. Rotunda wrote. “In this country, no one, even President Clinton, is above the law.”

Mr. Starr commissioned the Rotunda memo as he was drafting a potential indictment of Mr. Clinton, and Mr. Starr decided that he could charge the president while in office. In the end, however, both Mr. Jaworski and Mr. Starr decided to let congressional impeachment proceedings play out and did not try to bring indictments while Mr. Nixon and Mr. Clinton remained in office.

The question may never be definitively tested in the courts. In 1999, Congress allowed a law that created independent counsels like Mr. Starr — prosecutors who do not report to the attorney general — to expire, and the Justice Department issued regulations to allow for the appointment of semiautonomous special counsels for inquiries into potential high-level wrongdoing in the executive branch.

Special counsels are, however, bound by Justice Departments policies and practices — including the Office of Legal Counsel’s proclamation that sitting presidents are temporarily immune from criminal indictment or trial.

Alan Feuer and Charlie Savage

Is there such a thing as executive immunity?

There are no direct precedents on the broad question of whether presidents have criminal immunity for their official actions.

The Supreme Court has held that presidents are absolutely immune from civil lawsuits related to their official acts , in part to protect them against ceaseless harassment and judicial scrutiny of their day-to-day decisions. The court has also held that presidents can be sued over their personal actions .

The Supreme Court has further found that while presidents are sometimes immune from judicial subpoenas requesting internal executive branch information, that privilege is not absolute. Even presidents, the court has decided, can be forced to obey a subpoena in a criminal case if the need for information is great enough.

But until Mr. Trump wound up in court, the Supreme Court has never had a reason to decide whether former presidents are protected from being prosecuted for official actions. The Justice Department has long maintained that sitting presidents are temporarily immune from prosecution because criminal charges would distract them from their constitutional functions. But since Mr. Trump is not in office, that is not an issue.

The closest the country has come to the prosecution of a former president over official actions came in 1974, when Richard M. Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached over the Watergate scandal. But a pardon by his successor, President Gerald R. Ford, protected Nixon from indictment by the Watergate special prosecutor.

Mr. Smith’s team has argued that Ford’s pardon — and Nixon’s acceptance of it — demonstrates that both men understood that Nixon was not already immune. Mr. Trump’s team has sought to counter that point by arguing — inaccurately — that Nixon faced potential criminal charges only over private actions, like tax fraud. But the special prosecutor weighed charging Nixon with abusing his office to obstruct justice.

Mr. Trump’s team has argued that denying his claims risks unleashing a routine practice of prosecuting former presidents for partisan reasons. But Mr. Smith’s team has argued that if courts endorse Mr. Trump’s theory, then future presidents who are confident of surviving impeachment could, with impunity, commit any number of crimes in connection with their official actions.

“Such a result would severely undermine the compelling public interest in the rule of law and criminal accountability,” prosecutors wrote.

Hypothetical questions test the limits of Trump’s immunity claim.

An exchange during an appeals court argument in January about a hypothetical political assassination tested former President Donald J. Trump’s claim that he is absolutely immune from prosecution for his official conduct.

His lawyer, D. John Sauer, has urged the justices to consider only what he is actually accused of: plotting to subvert the 2020 election. But hypothetical questions are routine at the Supreme Court, and they have a way of illuminating the contours and implications of legal theories.

That is what happened in January, when Judge Florence Y. Pan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia had to press Mr. Sauer to get an answer to a hypothetical question: Are former presidents absolutely immune from prosecution, even for murders they ordered while in office?

“I asked you a yes-or-no question,” Judge Pan said. “Could a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, who was not impeached, would he be subject to criminal prosecution?”

Mr. Sauer said his answer was a “qualified yes,” by which he meant no. He explained that prosecution would be permitted only if the president were first impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate.

Impeachments of presidents are rare: There have been four in the history of the Republic, two of them of Mr. Trump. The number of convictions, which require a two-thirds majority of the Senate: zero.

Mr. Sauer’s statement called to mind a 2019 federal appeals court argument over whether Mr. Trump could block state prosecutors from obtaining his tax and business records. He maintained that he was immune not only from prosecution but also from criminal investigation so long as he was president.

At that time, Judge Denny Chin of the Second Circuit pressed William S. Consovoy, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, asking about his client’s famous statement that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without losing political support.

“Local authorities couldn’t investigate?” Judge Chin asked, adding: “Nothing could be done? That’s your position?”

“That is correct,” said Mr. Consovoy. “That is correct.”

This headline followed: “If Trump Shoots Someone on 5th Ave., Does He Have Immunity? His Lawyer Says Yes.”

For his part, Mr. Sauer does not seem eager to revisit the question about assassinations. Indeed, in asking the Supreme Court to hear Mr. Trump’s appeal, Mr. Sauer urged the justices not to be distracted by “lurid hypotheticals” that “almost certainly never will occur.”

What counts as an official act as president?

Another issue that has come up in lower courts in this case was what counted as an official act for a president, as opposed to a private action that was not connected to his constitutional responsibilities.

If the justices want to dispose of the dispute without definitively ruling on whether presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts, they could do so by finding that the specific steps former President Donald J. Trump took to remain in office that are cited in the federal indictment were not official actions. If so, the broader immunity question would not matter, and the prosecution could proceed.

The acts by Mr. Trump cited in the indictment include using deceit to organize fake slates of electors and to try to get state officials to subvert legitimate election results; trying to get the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence to help fraudulently alter the results; directing his supporters to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; and exploiting the violence and chaos of their ensuing riot.

In its court filings, Mr. Trump’s team has sought to reframe those accusations not only as official actions, but innocuous or even admirable ones.

“All five types of conduct alleged in the indictment constitute official acts,” they wrote. “They all reflect President Trump’s efforts and duties, squarely as chief executive of the United States, to advocate for and defend the integrity of the federal election, in accord with his view that it was tainted by fraud and irregularity.”

Mr. Smith’s team has argued that they should be seen as the efforts of a person seeking office, not of an officeholder carrying out government responsibilities.

“Those alleged acts were carried out by and on behalf of the defendant in his capacity as a candidate, and the extensive involvement of private attorneys and campaign staff in procuring the fraudulent slates as alleged in the indictment underscores that those activities were not within the outer perimeter of the office of the presidency,” they wrote.

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is overseeing Mr. Trump’s case in Federal District Court in Washington, issued her ruling rejecting Mr. Trump’s immunity claim without including any detailed analysis of whether his acts were “official.”

If the Supreme Court were to send the matter back to her to take a stab at answering that question before restarting the appeals process, Mr. Trump will, at a minimum, have used up additional valuable time that could help push any trial past the election.

Noah Weiland and Alan Feuer

Here are the lawyers arguing before the Supreme Court.

The two lawyers arguing before the Supreme Court on Thursday have each played a role in some of the defining legal battles stemming from Mr. Trump’s term in office.

Arguing the case for the special counsel Jack Smith will be Michael Dreeben, who worked for a different special counsel’s office that scrutinized Mr. Trump’s presidency: Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation into links between Russia and associates of Mr. Trump. Mr. Dreeben, one of the nation’s leading criminal law experts, has made more than 100 oral arguments before the Supreme Court, including when he served as deputy solicitor general.

On Mr. Mueller’s team, he handled pretrial litigation, defending the scope of the investigation and preventing the office from losing cases on appeal. He also helped with a second part of Mr. Mueller’s investigation, examining whether Mr. Trump had tried to obstruct the inquiry in his dealings with associates involved in the case.

Mr. Dreeben, who was heavily involved in the writing of Mr. Mueller’s final report on his investigation, supported an interpretation of presidential power that emphasized limits on what a president could do while exercising his or her powers, according to “Where Law Ends,” a book written by Andrew Weissmann, another prosecutor on Mr. Mueller’s team.

After Mr. Mueller’s investigation concluded, Mr. Dreeben took a teaching position at Georgetown University’s law school and returned to private practice at O’Melveny, arguing in front of the Supreme Court on behalf of the city of Austin over a First Amendment dispute about the placement of digital billboards.

Opposing Mr. Dreeben in front of the Supreme Court will be D. John Sauer, a lawyer based in St. Louis who once served as the solicitor general of Missouri. Mr. Sauer joined Mr. Trump’s legal team late last year to handle appellate matters, including his challenge to a gag order imposed on him in the election case in Washington.

As Missouri’s solicitor general, Mr. Sauer took part in a last-ditch effort to keep Mr. Trump in power after his defeat in the 2020 election, filing a motion on behalf of his state and five others in support of an attempt by Texas to have the Supreme Court toss out the results of the vote count in several key swing states.

He also joined in an unsuccessful bid with Texas in asking the Supreme Court to stop the Biden administration from rescinding a Trump-era immigration program that forces certain asylum seekers arriving at the southwestern border to await approval in Mexico.

When he left the solicitor general’s office last January, Mr. Sauer, who once clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, returned to his private firm, the James Otis Law Group. The firm is named after a prominent Revolutionary War-era lawyer who built a career out of challenging abuses by British colonial forces.

To justify his defense in the immunity case, Trump turns to a familiar tactic.

When the Supreme Court considers Donald J. Trump’s sweeping claims of executive immunity on Thursday, it will break new legal ground, mulling for the first time the question of whether a former president can avoid being prosecuted for things he did in office.

But in coming up with the argument, Mr. Trump used a tactic on which he has often leaned in his life as a businessman and politician: He flipped the facts on their head in an effort to create a different reality.

At the core of his immunity defense is a claim that seeks to upend the story told by federal prosecutors in an indictment charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. In that indictment, prosecutors described a criminal conspiracy by Mr. Trump to subvert the election results and stay in power.

In Mr. Trump’s telling, however, those same events are official acts that he undertook as president to safeguard the integrity of the race and cannot be subject to prosecution.

In many ways, Mr. Trump’s immunity claim is breathtaking. In one instance, his lawyers went so far as to say that a president could not be prosecuted even for using the military to assassinate a rival unless he was first impeached.

But the wholesale rewriting of the government’s accusations — which first appeared six months ago in Mr. Trump’s motion to dismiss the election interference case — may be the most audacious part of his defense. It was certainly a requisite step his lawyers had to take to advance the immunity argument.

Other courts have ruled that presidents enjoy limited immunity from civil lawsuits for things they did as part of the formal responsibilities of their job. To extend that legal concept to criminal charges, Mr. Trump’s lawyers needed to reframe all of the allegations lodged against him in the election interference case as official acts of his presidency rather than as the actions of a candidate misusing his power.

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UP: Students write 'Jai Shri Ram' on answer sheets, clear exams

Two professors of a state-run university in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur have been suspended after an RTI response revealed that four students allegedly cleared exams with 56 per cent after writing 'Jai Shri Ram' and names of Indian team cricketers as part of several answers.

Dr Vandana Singh, Vice-chancellor of Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, said the varsity's examination committee convened a meeting over the matter on Wednesday and found two teachers -- Dr Ashutosh Gupta and Dr Vinay Verma -- guilty of wrong evaluation.

A decision has been taken to take disciplinary action relieving them of their duties and it will be presented before the Executive Council for a final decision, the VC said.

An investigation into the allegation over the professors extorting money from the four first-year students is underway, she added.

The matter come to light when Divyanshu Singh, a former student of the university, sought information under the Right to Information Act after coming to know about some students of first and second semester of the D Pharma course were passed in a test despite writing wrong answers.

Singh said he had filed the RTI on August 3, 2023 and also demanded re-evaluation of the answer sheets of the particular students.

According to the RTI response, the students had written '?Jai Shri Ram' and names of several Indian cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya in the middle of their answers, Singh said.

The students scored 42 marks out of 75, which is 56 per cent, he added.

With these facts emerging in the RTI response, the former student wrote a letter to Raj Bhavan, alleging that a professor had passed the students by taking money.

Singh had also sent the complaints along with affidavits to the Raj Bhavan, taking cognisance of which the LG's office had ordered investigation and action on December 21, 2023, he said.

On this, the university had set up an inquiry committee to probe the matter. A re-evaluation by two external examiners was conducted in which the four students scored zero.

The inquiry committee in its report to the varsity's vice-chancellor held the two teachers guilty, he said. A meeting was held on Wednesday and the two professors were suspended.

India Votes 2024

More like this, class x student stabbed for not showing answers in exam, bihar: nearly 300 caught cheating in class 10 exams.

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Did a gas lobbyist write an Ohio Senator’s speech about a pipeline resolution?

• Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 11:14 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 2:46 p.m.

Michael A. Rulli, District 33, looks on during the recent Senate session in Columbus on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

• Jake Zuckerman, [email protected]

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli took the podium to address his colleagues about a resolution declaring natural gas as “vital” to Ohio’s economy, his rhetoric matched nearly word-for-word what an oil and gas lobbyist sent him privately as a “sample script.”

Rulli stood before the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee and, absent some minor changes and reshuffling of some paragraphs, made statements identical to what was sent to him by Mitch Given, an industry lobbyist.

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• Lawmakers send bill to DeWine to ‘finally’ close spousal rape loophole
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