New
New
Spoken language: choosing a topic and developing ideas for a speech
I can pick an appropriate speech topic and develop effective topic sentences.
Lesson 10 of 14
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Spoken language: choosing a topic and developing ideas for a speech
I can pick an appropriate speech topic and develop effective topic sentences.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Speeches should be impressive, which means presenting complex ideas clearly and using sophisticated vocabulary.
- You need to consider the purpose, audience and form of your speech.
- Speech topics should be appropriate and enable you to present a speech with layers of complexity and interest.
- Topic sentences should include a range of sentence structures and rhetorical devices.
- It is useful to consider the order of your topic sentences to make sure they are impactful.
Keywords
Impressive - causing admiration or awe- it means something is really good and makes you go 'wow!'
Elaborate - to add more detail or information to something
Appropriate - suitable for a particular purpose or situation
Sophisticated - to be complex, advanced or refined
Common misconception
Talking about why you like something is a good topic for a speech.
Although it is important to choose something that interests you, you need to ensure the topic that you choose will enable you to present some complex ideas and use sophisticated vocabulary.
Share any examples of successful speech topics you may have. This is also an effective way to inspire students.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What information should you pick out from a task before beginning it?
What information should you pick out from a task before beginning it?
Figurative language
Q2.What is the purpose of considering the "audience" of a piece of writing?
What is the purpose of considering the "audience" of a piece of writing?
to impress readers with elaborate language
to create a unique, unconventional writing style
to express the writer's personality and emotions
Q3.Which of these uses a declarative followed by a simile?
Which of these uses a declarative followed by a simile?
Society is about to erupt. We need to act now.
Like a volcano, society is about to erupt.
Society is about to erupt and we need to consider how to make it better.
Q4.What is the purpose, form and audience of this task: “Society needs to change.” Write a speech for your class in which you persuade your listeners to be a force for change.
What is the purpose, form and audience of this task: “Society needs to change.” Write a speech for your class in which you persuade your listeners to be a force for change.
entertain, email and friends
inform, speech and general public
advise, article and newspaper
Q5.Which devices has this engaging sentence used: "Society's challenges continue to rumble. You may think you are safe from the debate, but you are wrong. When will you act?"
Which devices has this engaging sentence used: "Society's challenges continue to rumble. You may think you are safe from the debate, but you are wrong. When will you act?"
simile
statistic
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word beginning with 'I' can describe something as creating admiration or awe. It also means something is really good and makes you go wow!
Which word beginning with 'I' can describe something as creating admiration or awe. It also means something is really good and makes you go wow!
Q2.If you elaborate you are:
If you elaborate you are:
being complex or refined
ensuring your language is suitable for audience and purpose
Q3.What is the purpose, audience, form and subject of this task: 'Write a speech for a group of world leaders in which you argue for urgent action on climate emissions.'?
What is the purpose, audience, form and subject of this task: 'Write a speech for a group of world leaders in which you argue for urgent action on climate emissions.'?
persuade, letter, world leaders, urgent action
explain, world leaders, speech, climate change
entertain, world leaders, speech, climate emissions
Q4.Which of these are the most effective persuasive speech titles:
Which of these are the most effective persuasive speech titles:
Music helps me concentrate.
Why basketball is the greatest sport.
Q5.Which one of these topic sentences uses first person pronouns and a rule of three?
Which one of these topic sentences uses first person pronouns and a rule of three?
We must act now if we want to see a better future.
The current situation is violent, aggressive and unjust.
When will you decide to put a stop to these terrible actions?
Q6.Which one of these topic sentences is an imperative sentence?
Which one of these topic sentences is an imperative sentence?
Like a dumper truck, the millions of pounds just keep pouring off.
Where do the millions of pounds, dollars and yen go?
Millions of pounds, dollars and yen are put into weapons of destruction.
