Writing a speech might seem much easier than giving a speech out loud in front of an audience. When you are on stage, your hands get sweaty, your voice trembles, and you don’t know where you should look. Not every person is an inherent speaker who knows how to write a great speech, right? Still, if your acting skills are outstanding, you won’t be able to impress your audience without a good speech.

That is why our guide on how to write the best speech will be very helpful for you. Tips, mistakes, types, topics, samples ― you will find everything about writing speeches right here.

5 main types of speeches

Before writing a speech, you have to define the goal that you want to achieve. According to your purpose, you should choose one of the speech paper types described below.

Informative speech

We think that you won’t be surprised when you discover the main goal of this type of speech. It is to inform. So unexpected. If you want to provide your audience with some interesting facts or tell them about new technologies, fashion tendencies, or a famous musician, an informative speech is your best choice. You don’t have to prove anything or express your personal opinion while giving an informative speech. Make your presentation interesting to your targeted audience and your success is assured.

Demonstrative speech

This type is a little similar to the one we’ve described above. However, there is one difference between them. A demonstrative speech is aimed not only at informing your audience but also teaching it how to do stuff. And by “stuff” we mean all kinds of things that can be taught. You may teach your audience how to make a galaxy mirror cake, how to dye hair, or how to write a good speech. It would be rather hard to give a demonstrative speech and not demonstrate everything, so make sure that you have some visual materials to support your words.

Persuasive speech

A persuasive speech is an equivalent of the argumentative essay. You choose an issue, express your opinion about it, and try to make your audience to believe you. That can be a rather challenging task, especially if your viewpoint is diametrically opposed to the common beliefs. Moreover, you should be careful while talking about some acute problems. Nobody wants to be egged at a public speech.

Entertaining speech

Everybody likes to have fun from time to time. Some people even make a living thanks to public speaking. You all have heard about them: they are stand-up comedians. The names of Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., and Bill Burr are well-known in social media and famous on TV. They have millions of fans all around the world and know exactly how to impress to audience with speech. Remember that making people laugh is a real challenge, so take the preparation process seriously even if you want to give an entertaining speech. Sometimes it can be impromptu, and in that case, we can’t help you with our guide. Just be brave and may the Force be with you!

Speech on a special occasion

Do you remember the speech made by Dilios, a Spartan, who tells the story of King Leonidas and 300 hoplites? That was a really special occasion. It is not that easy to find the right wording when you have to fight the Persian army. Still, his speech is very motivating and encouraging. We don’t think that you are a leader of the Spartan army who needs some advice about giving speeches. However, all people have special occasions in their life: birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc. If you want to sound confident, you need thorough preparation before speaking in public. Still, it is a special occasion, so listen to your heart and speak sincerely.

The right choice of the speech paper type will make your preparations more effective. It is always better to define your goal before trying to achieve it, right? You can also make a synthesis of two types in order to create the most appropriate speech. For example, you can use jokes and irony in your persuasive speech to make your speaking more attractive for the audience. Don’t be afraid of experiments and create the best speeches!

Good topics to write a speech on

If the topic of your speech is not specified, you’ll have to choose it on your own. We, as many professional speech writing services, provide you with a list of categories that can help you to find an appropriate topic for your speech paper. Moreover, follow the links and you’ll find hundreds of extraordinary and impressive topics for your speech!

• Social issues

Poverty, homelessness, discrimination ― these problems always remain acute and painful thanks to the changelessness of human nature. Such topics are not appropriate for a funny speech but would be an excellent choice for giving an emotional persuasive speech. You can also provide an informative speech to attract your listeners’ attention to a certain issue.

• Terrorism

This topic can also be considered as a social issue but it has become so global that it should be mentioned separately. Keep in mind that terrorism is a very sensitive problem while writing your speech. Although it shouldn’t be neglected, you’d better restrain your emotions and stay objective.

• Environmental issues

Human activities are rather harmful for Mother Nature. Deforestation, poaching, and mountains of waste don’t represent humanity in a favorable light. Sure, it is better to do something to help our planet and not only talk about these issues. Anyway, the first step is better than nothing.

• Moral values

Philosophers have been discussing different moral concepts for hundreds of years and have not finished yet. Why don’t you add your ideas into a common pot? Just try not to be overly boring and talkative.

• Lifestyle

Healthy or not, lifestyle is a subject of numerous articles, blogs, and websites. This topic is so multilateral that you can use it for any kind of speech. Try not to copy someone else’s ideas! We are sure that you have your personal opinion about every lifestyle topic. However, check with reliable sources in order not to spread fallacies and myths.

• Science

The world of technology is constantly changing and updating. You can provide your audience with an interesting informative speech about new inventions or offer your solutions of moral issues related to scientific progress in your persuasive speech.

• Sports

Sports are a significant part of our everyday life. Although not all of us do exercises regularly, we hear news about massive sporting events, look at shop windows of sporting goods stores, and eat high-protein yogurts. We hope our list of 80 sports persuasive speech topics will help you with writing a good speech.

• Humor

These topics are irreplaceable when it comes to giving an entertaining speech. An inherent sense of humor is something indispensable. For those who suffer from the lack of fun, we offer 80 funny persuasive speech topics. If you choose one of these topics, make sure that it is suitable for the occasion. The scientific conference is not the best place to have fun after all.

• Traveling

Like it or not, traveling is a popular and exciting tendency. The amount of travel blogs, magazines about traveling, and travel photos in Instagram is beyond comprehension. There are many good topics to write a speech on traveling: informative speeches about cities and sightseeing, persuasive speeches about advantages and disadvantages of traveling alone, and entertaining speeches about funny situations that might happen during journeys.

• Relationship

Family, friendship, and, of course, love… How many songs and novels have been written about personal interrelationships? Thousands, millions? And we still have something to say. We live through incredible emotions every day when we meet new people or communicate with friends and loved ones. You can share your personal experience or discover a new paradigm of the perfect marriage. These topics are great material for an excellent speech paper.

Below, we have three more links that can lead you to a treasure trove filled with amazing topics. You will find there all kinds of topics: animals, space, immigration, adoption, and many others. Welcome!

1. Good Topics for Persuasive Speeches
2. List of Persuasive Speech Topics for High School Students
3. 120 Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students

What topics for speeches are the most demanding?

Here’s some more helpful information for those who wish to learn how to write a speech essay. This picture will help you realize what topics for speeches are the most popular:

How to write a speech – 7 steps

Learn how to write a perfect speech by completing these significant steps:

1. Select a topic. Research similar cases and generate a unique formulation for the subject.
2. Collect details. Source for the information related to your subject. Source some inspiration in other successful speeches.
3. Outline a speech. Create a structure that will let you fasten your writing and arrange your thought.
4. Structure your core ideas. You should arrange your points in a specific sequence to make the speech powerful and logical.
5. Take care of an introduction. When one starts a speech, a lot depends on the first words. Make them meaningful and catching.
6. Finalize with passion. Let your speech be inspiring and strong. Add some motivational quotes or a call to action at the end.
7. Read your speech. Make edits, revisions, or essential changes to polish it.

Tips for writing a speech and speaking in public

The excellence comes with practice. Still, you can provide an amazing speech if you have good instructions. Below, we have a few tips that will be very useful for writing a speech and speaking in public.

Use verbs and active voice

The text overfilled with nouns sounds passive and lame. Add dynamics and confidence by using verbs and active voice!

Put the complex word at the end of the sentence

If you put the complex word at the beginning of the sentence, the listeners will lose the whole point of the phrase while trying to understand the first word. They will have more time if you put it at the end, before the period.

Imagine your targeted audience

There is an interesting marketing tactic that you can use to write a speech. It is called “buyer persona.” You have to imagine a fictional person that would be a portrait of your typical listener: student, colleague, investor, etc. It will help you to focus on your targeted audience and make your speech more attractive to them.

Choose concrete phrases

Don’t speak in a roundabout way! Lots of politicians use this method to hide the truth or misrepresent the facts. You don’t want to have the reputation of being a manipulator, right?

Provide shorter expressions

Complex words and long sentences are difficult for understanding even in a written form. While a speaker is giving his or her speech, you can’t rewind and listen to a long phrase one more time. Short expressions are the best variant for those who want to write a good speech.

Avoid abstraction

Concepts about concepts and theories about theories are not the best topic to speak in public. Please, save your philosophical thoughts for the face-to-face meetings with people who would like to listen to them. Don’t make the listeners miserable because of your speech!

Look for current news

An effective way to find some good topics to write a speech on is to check the websites of well-known newspapers. There, you may find exciting and interesting news that can become an appropriate topic for your informative speech.

Rehearse all the time

No pain, no gain. No rehearsals, no success. Even the most famous speakers, like Demosthenes, fight their weaknesses and try to bring their skills to perfection. We are not talking only about one concrete public presentation. You should constantly improve your skills if you want to know for sure how to impress the audience with speech.

Remember eye contact

What feeling do you have when someone is talking to you without eye contact? This person sounds like a liar. You can’t trust this person. The same applies to public speaking. Of course, it would be strange to stare at one listener. That is why you should use the method of the “eye dart.” Maintain eye contact for 3-4 seconds per person. That will give the impression you are a reliable and trustworthy speaker.

Mistakes to avoid while writing a good speech

Above, we’ve explained to you how to impress the audience with speech. Now, we will tell more about the mistakes that can spoil even the best speech. Let’s figure out what qualities you should avoid to make your speech better.

Not interesting

Do you remember the lectures when not only students but even the professor looked bored? That is what happens when a speaker doesn’t like the topic he or she is talking on. If you are not sincerely excited about your speech, how are you going to impress your audience?

Not acute

The Earth is round and travels around the Sun. Surprised? We hope not. Although the Church agreed with these statements only in 1992, the discovery was made like a gazillion years ago. Don’t try to say what has been already said by hundreds of speakers!

Not emotional

We know that acting is not for everybody. Still, you shouldn’t restrain your emotions while giving a speech. You are not a robot, so let your audience see a personality behind the flood of words. The connection between speaker and audience is crucial for successful public speaking.

Not trustworthy

If you include scientific and historical facts in your speech, don’t be lazy ― check their reliability. Better yet, check twice. When your listeners notice that your statements are false, you will lose their trust and attention forever.

Not structured

Although a speech is not an essay, the structure remains the same: introduction ― main body ― conclusion. You can make some changes but don’t try to imitate the style of James Joyce because a confused audience is an inattentive audience.

Not logical

Frequent switching from one topic to another with no reason annoys the audience. Moreover, this method of presentation won’t let you prove your viewpoint because the absence of logic causes the absence of trust. Stay away from logical fallacies and praise Aristotle!

Not coherent

Firstly, you say that you like cats. Then, you say that you like dogs. Finally, you say that you are allergic. Don’t do this. We are sure that you will easily avoid obvious inconsistencies, but make sure that you haven’t made any small logical mistakes while writing your speech paper.

Not prepared

Don’t even try to google “how to write the best speech” just a few hours before your public speech. You have to spend more than a few hours to write an impressive speech. Moreover, you should rehearse your presentation a few times to bring it to perfection. Even the laziest listeners may notice when the speaker is half-cocked.

Not proofread

When you create any piece of writing, you need feedback. Ask your peers, colleagues, or relatives to read your speech and tell you if there will be any problems with comprehension or the topic. Even if you are one hundred percent confident about your skills, a fresh perspective never hurts.

Not finished

Leave open endings to the Hollywood films. You are writing a speech, not a plot for a thriller! Don’t make your audience ask “so what?” after your public speech. Give them a clear and understandable conclusion before leaving the stage.

How you can use our speech paper samples

If you are a newbie in writing speeches, the best way to learn how to compose a speech is reading our samples. The more you read, the more you improve your writing skills. There are few things that you should pay attention to:

Word choice

It is said that words hurt more than fire. They are a powerful weapon, which is why great speakers can win the heart of a beauty, start a revolution, or end a war. However, excellent wording requires developed skills and constant training. You may have great ideas but it still will be difficult to choose the right word for every situation without practice. In order to teach you how to write an effective speech, we have placed great speech samples on our website. You can read them and borrow interesting phrases, nice wording, and even quote them if necessary.

Argumentation strategies

You need effective methods to prove your point of view in your persuasive speeches. There are many ways to make people take your side, but it is even more difficult when you have nothing but words and poor acting skills. In that case, a good argumentation strategy has to replace money, power, guns, and other methods of persuasion. You can employ a wide range of different strategies: argument from absurdity, real-life examples, analogies, deductive and inductive arguments, etc. In our samples, you may notice various ways of defending the viewpoint. Don’t hesitate to use them in your own speech paper.

Writing style

Read one of our samples and see how you’ll feel after. If you feel convinced and inspired, the author knows how to write a speech example and has achieved his or her goal. His or her writing style is good enough to persuade you. So, why won’t you use the same wording or structure of the speech? Feel free to borrow some ideas but don’t commit plagiarism! Use paraphrasing to avoid copying someone else’s words. Reading samples also helps to develop your own writing style and enlarge your vocabulary.
Inspiration

Why do we read books or poetry? We want to learn more, feel more, and find inspiration. All of our samples are a great source of new thoughts that can awaken amazing ideas in your own mind. Read our samples to get inspiration and fight the fear of writing the first word!

Below, we have placed eight links that will lead you to some great speech paper samples provided by our authors. The instructions above have shown you how to use them properly. Please, don’t copy our texts! They may only serve as an example or template for your own work.

1. Persuasive Speech Sample on Space Exploration
2. Speech on Moral Values in Life
3. Why Dreaming Big Is Not Always Good

TOP 5 speeches ever delivered to gain inspiration

We recommend you read about the TOP 5 most meaningful and remarkable speeches ever known. Consider not only the approach to the text but also the person that stands behind the powerful words. By thinking over the experience of famous public speakers and adjusting their approaches to your cases, you will create an exciting speech. Do not forget to read the full text of the speeches below to realize how the words people say can impact others and change the history of the world.

George Washington

Resignation Speech (1783)
The speech by George Washington had the aim of resigning his commission and showed the best qualities of his remarkable personality. His words in this text must be read between the lines with consideration of the context and historical moment. George Washington was accepting his resignation with honor. This speech precedes his following refusal of taking the third term as the US president. Each word in this remarkable speech reflects the best qualities of a leader’s personality showing his willingness to give all his power and abilities to his country:

“I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interests of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.”

Abraham Lincoln

Gettysburg Address (1863)

Many historic researchers consider this speech to be the best in US history. The short and laconic text delivered by President Lincoln aimed to remind the nation that there is no chance to lose the fight you are taking for your home country. This amazing speech become one of the most cited in the world and was never forgotten by the nation and all the posteriors of Lincoln:

“We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.”

Lou Gehrig

“Luckiest Man” Speech (1939)

Top honors being awarded to baseball legend Lou Gehrig’s career was very promising until he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This disease led to his death at the age of 37 and was named after him. The speech he delivered in 1939 is considered one of the most outstanding speeches of the 20th century. Going through the acceptance of his upcoming death because of his disease, Gehrig reminded people that the purpose of life is being happy no matter what. The speech presented the list of the most exciting things in Lou’s life and showed us that there is always light even in seemingly complete darkness:

“When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body—it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed—that’s the finest I know.”

Winston Churchill

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” Speech (1940)

Winston Churchill was well-known for his outstanding talent for public speaking. The speeches he delivered altered world history not just once. Churchill’s speeches were more than just appealing to the nation, but bold and deep performances full of sense and wisdom. The remarkable “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech was made by Churchill to praise the heroic impact of the British forces. The words of this outstanding speech reflect the attitude of the leader to the allies and enemies promising to the nation that any attack Britain would face fiercely:

“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Barack Obama

Democratic National Convention Keynote Address (2004)

This historical speech was delivered by the then-future President of the US in Illinois on 27th July 2004. The main idea of the speech was the impeccable faith of the leader in his beloved nation and to remind everybody what was the purpose of being a thoughtful citizen of your country. This 17-minute speech made Obama a national figure and was a big step forward for him in becoming the first POTUS of color. The entire text of the speech was written by Obama himself without any assistance:

“There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America.”

3 practical exercises to deliver better speeches

Want to boost your performance as a speaker? We recommend you read about several tips from Boston public speaking coach Kit Pang. Practicing these exercises will help you to grow as a public speaker and improve your presentation skills. Try using these tips daily and implement them into your studying routine:

1. Count up to twenty
You need to count from one to twenty. But not just like you do it regularly. Try using a different timbre of your voice. Speed up your count and then make it slower. Use various hand gestures when you count. For example, you can point to objects in your house during counting. This exercise will help you to improve your delivery. It perfectly works on the betterment of your body language, and hand gestures boost your energy and improve your voice.

2. Hi, my name is
For a speaker, it is crucial to stay present and confident during a speech. When you are saying your name before the audience, you must stay calm and cool. Try taking a deep breath before you say the words and take a deep breath after you say your name. This approach will not let you lose eye contact after you pronounce your name and give you the required power of silence. You can practice this when looking at an object, when you are on the phone, etc.

3. Box breathing
This exercise will let you stay calm even if you are worried. The US navy regularly uses this exercise to stay concentrated and relaxed. All you need to do is breathe in for four seconds, then hold for four seconds, afterward breathing out for four seconds and holding for four seconds again. The exercise is very effective and easy to perform anytime you need to relax.

Find out more tips from Kit Pang in this video:

Frequently asked questions about speech writing

How do you start writing a speech?

To write a professional introduction, you need to have a slight idea of the topics you will include in the speech. You need to include the most critical issues and make sure you have a clear purpose for your address. You should provide background information on the topic you’re writing about, but don’t go too much into detail.

If you aren’t familiar with the topic you are writing about, it is best to pick out quotes from other people who know more about it. It is also good to include your personal experiences in the speech, but balance that with your message. When you’ve completed the outline, you can write it down in the form of a draft. From there, you can re-read it over and make any corrections and changes.

What is the format of speech writing?

Speaking on how to write a speech essay, you need to understand the structure of the speech writing and format it correctly. A speech aims to convey information, narrate an event, or relate the experience to the audience. You will have to emphasize a particular point or idea and support it with a convincing example. This means that you should have a plan before writing the speech. The plan should include the speech’s theme, its purpose, your message, and its intended impact on your audience.

What are the primary principles of speech writing?

A speechwriter must:

1. Understand the purpose of the speech. The speech should accomplish the goal. This can be a straightforward goal or a complex one that requires multiple tasks to be done in the speech.
2. Choose the best design for the speech. When you understand the purpose of your speech, choosing the best strategy to accomplish that purpose becomes easier.
3. Make a thesis statement. The thesis statement is a one-sentence summary of the main idea of your speech.
4. Choose an appropriate structure for your speech. Different events call for different types of speeches. There is no single correct answer; however, you should choose an appropriate structure for your purpose and audience.
5. Present compelling arguments to support the thesis statement. To communicate effectively to your audience, you must present evidence to support your thesis statement.
6. Support with details and examples. Good arguments are supported by evidence with examples and details that make them accurate and relevant to your audience. These examples and details should be relevant to your arguments and tied into your thesis statement.
7. Choose an appropriate conclusion.

What are the types of speeches?

Different speeches serve different purposes, and they have other goals while they may seem to be very similar at first sight. Some of the goals of the speeches are: to state an opinion, to inform your audience about some facts, to make an idea understandable, to stimulate an interest in some topic, to persuade, and to entertain.
We can determine the main types of speeches:

– persuasive speech
– informative speech
– descriptive speech
– demonstrative speech
– impromptu speech

Why do I need a professional speech?

A professional speech is a strong, clear, and confident thesis that wins your points. It is a speech that allows you to gain attention and start the conversation you want. A professional speech is one of the essential components of a presentation. It is a written testimony of a speaker as an orator, which sounds as if it was spoken. A professional speech is addressed to the public or specific target audience and discusses the planned or actual situation. This kind of speech is usually organized logically. It contains logical transitions, outlines main characters, and describes their actions.

What are the critical features of an effective speech?

An effective speech is like a good piece of literature. It has a clear thesis statement and strong supporting arguments. It can take an unbiased, reasonable position on an issue. It can inspire its audience to action, debate, and discussion. An effective speech can have many features, but it must have at least one. Every speaker must have a purpose. Deliver a speech to persuade your audience, entertain them, or move them to action. Each of these is a different purpose – one that requires you as a speaker to accomplish another goal, using unique features of effective speeches.

They say nothing is impossible for a willing heart. Sure, writing a speech might be a challenge. However, the difficulties shouldn’t frighten you! We are sure that you’ll succeed. You just have to be patient, attentive, and focused.

Now, you know for sure how to write a speech. We hope our guide has given you enough inspiration and confidence to provide a perfect public speech. Improve your skills every day, and take your listeners’ breath away!