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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain what a speech is and its purpose.

      Key learning points

      1. A speech is the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience.
      2. The purpose of a speech is always to impact the audience in some way.
      3. A common purpose of a speech is to persuade the audience to agree with the speaker about something.
      4. Points are used to justify the speaker’s opinion in a speech.

      Keywords

      • Speech - the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience

      • Purpose - function or job

      • Opinion - a personal view about something

      • Point - an idea or reason to support your opinion

      • Justify - to share reasons for something

      Common misconception

      Pupils may struggle to identify the points being used to justify an opinion in a speech.

      At the start of LC1, watch the speech together and pause to identify the following: 1. the main opinion or argument 2. the points being used to justify. Focus on how information is used to persuade.

      Teacher tip

      Model delivering a short speech ahead of Task B or replay the video from LC1. Encourage pupils to watch each other carefully during their speeches and provide peer feedback.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of the following are examples of public speaking?

      Correct answer: delivering an assembly
      Correct answer: an educational talk
      talking to a friend
      Correct answer: a speech
      talking to yourself in the mirror

      Q2.
      What are the main purposes of public speaking?

      Correct answer: to inform the audience about something
      Correct answer: to have an impact on the audience’s thoughts and actions
      to have a conversation with the audience
      to ask the audience lots of questions
      to make the audience laugh

      Q3.
      What is a skilled public speaker known as?

      Correct answer: an orator
      an audience
      an actor
      a dancer
      a singer

      Q4.
      Which of the following professions involve lots of public speaking?

      Correct answer: politicians
      Correct answer: presenters
      Correct answer: activists
      doctors
      dancers

      Q5.
      Which of the following will help a public speaker to better engage their audience?

      Correct answer: using charisma
      Correct answer: having a persuasive delivery
      speaking quietly
      staring at their notes while talking
      Correct answer: possessing a strong knowledge of the topic

      Q6.
      What is an opinion?

      a person who is good at public speaking
      a fact about the world
      Correct answer: a personal view about something

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is a speech?

      a written communication of thoughts
      Correct answer: the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience
      an idea or thought you keep to yourself

      Q2.
      Which of the following occasions are you likely to hear a speech at?

      Correct answer: a wedding
      Correct answer: a birthday party
      a doctor’s appointment
      Correct answer: a christening

      Q3.
      What do you call a person's thoughts and feelings?

      Correct answer: opinions
      facts
      Correct answer: views
      Correct answer: beliefs
      jokes

      Q4.
      What does it mean to justify something?

      to share an opinion
      Correct answer: to share the reasons for something
      to think about something

      Q5.
      How can opinions be justified in a speech?

      Correct answer: The speaker gives points to justify their opinions.
      The speaker shouts their opinions.
      The speaker says their opinion is a fact.

      Q6.
      Many famous speeches have been written around the theme of ...

      making sure the world stays the same way.
      Correct answer: making a positive change in the world.
      family.

      To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: What is a speech?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...