Introduction to Speech Writing

What is a Speech?

A speech is a spoken discourse or an expression of ideas delivered in front of an audience by a speaker.

Functions of a Speech:

• To convince the audience: “Reasons why I Believe Indians don’t have Civic Sense”
• To provoke the audience to take action: “Report Corruption to Kill Corruption”
• To inspire the audience: “Do One Good Deed A Day”
• To inform the audience: “Beauty Magazines Promote Low Self-esteem”

Format of a Speech

Like other forms of composition, a speech also comprises an introduction, supporting ideas, and a conclusion.

How to Write a Speech

• Ask yourself: What is the purpose of the speech? Who is the audience? How long will it last?
• Brainstorm and jot down all relevant points.
• Structure your speech into:
  1. Introduction (with greeting)
  2. Body (supporting points)
  3. Conclusion (final thoughts and thanks)
• Always state the purpose clearly.
• Write for your audience—use “you” and “we” to connect.
• Use first-person pronouns like “I” and “me.”
• Repeat key words and phrases for emphasis.
• Use transitions to link ideas smoothly.
• Include metaphors, similes, and analogies to be memorable.
• Show conviction and use tone appropriate to the topic.
• Use rhetorical questions to make the audience think.
• Conclude with a vision for the future or a quote, and thank the audience.

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Sample Speech

Reservation: Hindrance to Democracy

Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends,

Today I am going to speak whether the Reservation system should be abolished in India or not.

In India, reservation was introduced to uplift the lower strata of society. However, over the years, the reserved classes have been enjoying privileges offered by the government without really contributing to the country’s progress. The equality of opportunity has turned into a chance to misuse the relaxations offered to the lower classes.

The result: the lower classes glorify their so-called ‘low’ status and eat into the positions at various levels in the country.

In modern times, people receive education irrespective of their caste; they are informed and can fight for their rights. The current reservation system then becomes an obsolete method of evaluating who needs help. The government should amend the reservation system to be based on financial status instead of caste.

Positions in schools and government offices should be filled by evaluating a candidate’s education and financial background.

This is a huge change, but if brought about, will only produce better citizens who will make the nation proud at both national and global levels.

It is time that the present reservation system is abolished in India.

Thank you.

Sample 2: Terrorism Can Only Be Countered by War

Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends,

Today I am going to speak for the motion that terrorism can only be countered by war. The prime goal of the defence system of a country is the safety of the regions and the people. Terrorism has always been jeopardising lives. Therefore, if a country needs to fight against such groups, war is justified. Attack is the best form of defence.

Terrorist groups have a strong and sophisticated network, which can be counteracted only with an equally strong defence system. Therefore, military operation is crucial in breaking the network completely.

Terrorist groups have no regard for rules of international harmony and concord. Therefore, the use of force in the form of war is justified. The number of terrorists and terrorist groups present in the world today is mind-boggling. The world can be freed from their grip only if they are attacked and wiped out completely.

With this, I conclude my speech. I would like to thank you all for being a patient audience.

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Sample 3: Terror Cannot Be Curbed by War

Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends,

Today I am going to speak against the motion that terrorism can only be countered by war. Terrorist groups are neither confined nor limited to a single country. Therefore, engaging a country’s military to wage war against such groups is inappropriate.

When countries are engaged in wars, there is tremendous loss of life and property. War forces civilians to give up their social rights in exchange for their safety. However, once the war has stopped, terrorists will once again wreak havoc in the lives of people.

The additional power given in the hands of the ruling bodies during wartime is often misused. A great deal of time and money is wasted in the name of war. It takes years for a country to return to normal after a war.

Terrorist groups entice poor and helpless youngsters by convincing them that becoming a terrorist is a way of regaining freedom.

Violence begets more violence. If terrorists are attacked, they are likely to displace their wrath on innocent people. Therefore, war against terrorism is not justified.

With this, I conclude my speech. Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

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Sample 4: Television – An Entertainer or an Educator?

Respected Principal, learned teachers and my dear friends,

I am glad to have the opportunity to talk about the role of television as a mode of entertainment and education.

Ever since its invention in the early twentieth century, television has been used to both inform and entertain people. While initially a household entertainer, it has evolved into a powerful tool for edutainment.

Channels like DD Kisan benefit farmers with informative programming. DD Gyandarshan airs educational shows organized by NCERT, IGNOU, and NIOS. Channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, Animal Planet, and History Channel engage all age groups with educational content.

Children can learn about topics like the environment, climate change, and innovation. News channels also help form opinions early by exposing students to current events and social issues.

Television is no longer an “idiot box”. Its value depends entirely on how we use it. It is a unique medium with the potential to inform, educate, and entertain on a massive scale.

With this, I would like to reiterate that television plays a significant role in society. It is unmatched in its ability to reach a wide audience. Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

Sample 5: Pollution – Bane of the Machine Age

Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends,

Today, I wish to speak about a rather uncomfortable topic. Deep inside, we are guilty of partaking in it. Our dependence on machines has made us live in denial that fears about pollution are unfounded. I am here to dispel that comfortable lie we have told ourselves.

Progress and development come at the cost of the environment—a maxim that we have reluctantly come to agree upon. Man exhibited resourcefulness by using his intellect to tap the resources of the planet for his own purposes. But he lacked the foresight to envision the day when his own endeavours may leave him at the precipice of destruction.

We hailed industrialisation as a force that changed society. But human greed has caused environmental decline. A world without technology is unimaginable today. But it comes at a price. Pollution is slowly killing our environment every passing minute. Substances such as gases, chemicals and aerosols contaminate the air, water and land.

Instead of being in denial, we should make conscious efforts to reduce our dependence on technology. Green choices can heal the damage we’ve already done. Let’s awaken to this urgent truth.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

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Sample 6: The Role of Youth in Realising the Dreams of Dr Kalam

Respected Principal, learned teachers and my dear friends,

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s speech on “Youth Dynamics and the Nation” underscored the role of the youth in shaping the destiny of a country. He envisioned an empowered, self-reliant India, and the path to that future lies in our hands — the youth.

Dr Kalam said, “Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place, that is, a UNIQUE YOU!” According to him, knowledge, creativity, righteousness, and courage are the tools we need to build a better nation.

We must unlock our minds with knowledge and creativity. But the path must be honest. We should take a solemn oath to uphold righteousness and be courageous in our choices.

Many may feel that the responsibility is too heavy for our shoulders. But our parents created a better today for us. It’s now our turn to build a better tomorrow — and that starts by living Dr Kalam’s words.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

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Sample 7: Are Smartphones Status Symbols?

Dear friends,

What exactly is a status symbol? It’s an object used to raise one’s social value. That very idea reflects the values of our generation. We often flaunt material possessions to define ourselves—and the smartphone is one of them.

Once a marvel, the phone is now everywhere. School kids own them. But we’ve gone beyond functionality. Today, smartphones reflect spending power and social standing. The iPhone, for example, creates a visible divide between users.

People chase the illusion of being “elite” through gadgets. The iPhone 5 is no longer cool when the iPhone 6 arrives. It’s a never-ending pursuit that doesn’t truly elevate us.

True success comes from hard work, not high-end phones. Let’s break the illusion, shun shallow validation, and build our identity on real achievements.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

Sample 8: India, a Land of Tolerance

Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends,

I, Maya Gupta from Vidyamandir High School, am here to talk about the factors that are affecting our national unity. Ours is a country that prides itself on its diversity, a nation that houses many religions, philosophies, ethnicities, languages and cultures. India is a shining example of modern pluralism.

It is here that the world’s oldest religion Hinduism took shape; it is here that ancient Persians sought refuge from invaders; it is here where theism and monotheism live in perfect harmony. Ours is the only nation in the world where the Jewish people lived without the fear of persecution. In such a glorious land like ours, why do we see instances of intolerance?

I was fortunate to represent my state in the national youth exchange programme Yuvajans. I interacted closely with many Indian ethnic communities and discovered that we are very alike despite our differences. Problems such as parochialism and communalism become obstacles in India’s course to become a truly integral nation. The nation’s harmony is thus imperilled by such nefarious forces.

We must set an example to the world by recognising the ties that bind us instead of the fault lines that divide us. Tolerance and brotherhood should become our guiding lights to harmony. In the words of Nehru, “There is only one India of which all of us are inheritors; it belongs to all of us.”

On this note, I conclude my speech. Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

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Sample 9: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends,

I wish to talk today about the slack justice dispensing system of our nation. More than being a machinery to maintain peace in society, the justice system of the country should be able to instil a sense of security among its citizens. It is a watchdog that makes examples out of offenders and discourages the instances of crime. It does so by punishing criminals, thereby giving closure to the victims and imparting a sense of justice being done. The Salman Khan case, the Jessica Lal case and the Nitish Katara case are examples of justice being twisted to serve the people in power! I wish to use a phrase today, ‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’ to prove my point.

The above idea means that a delay in dispensing justice is akin to justice not being done at all. Being social animals, man has created a legal system to maintain harmony in society. But this legal system often lags in the delivery of justice, thus becoming a cause of agony for the common man.

In India, there are about three crore cases that are pending. The sword of Damocles hangs perpetually over the heads of those awaiting justice. The perpetrators of the crime exploit this delay to find ways to circumvent the laws, thus bolstering the resolve of anti-social elements.

In addition, the victims run out of money to pay for the legal representation if their case is protracted. People will be mistrustful of the judiciary and lose faith in the government. Frenzied mobs may take the law in their own hands when they find the judiciary failing and may resort to rudimentary forms of dispensing justice. In conclusion, I wish to say that in the absence of a good legal system, anarchy and chaos will become the order of the day.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.