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      What makes a successful speech?

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can understand what makes a successful speech.

      Key learning points

      1. A speech is written for a specific audience in order to achieve its purpose.
      2. Speeches can inform an audience about something they may not already know about.
      3. The purpose of a speech is always to impact the audience in some way.
      4. A speech will often try to persuade an audience to agree with its main themes.

      Keywords

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

      • Persuade - to convince or to make someone agree with you

      Common misconception

      Pupils may try to include every one of these features in their speech.

      Teach pupils that a speech does not need to contain all of these features. Encourage pupils to choose three features to include.

      Teacher tip

      In the second learning cycle, you will watch Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech, given in August 1963. Prepare this ahead of the lesson so that you are ready to show your class.

      Equipment

      You will need access to a video clip of Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech, given in August 1963, for this lesson.

      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.
      True or false? A speech is usually made in front of an audience.

      Correct Answer: true, True

      Q2.
      Which of these features of a successful speech did Martin Luther King Jr. use in his speech 'I have a Dream'?

      adding humour
      Correct answer: repetition
      using facts and statistics

      Q3.
      How can a speaker connect to the audience when making a speech?

      by looking at the floor
      Correct answer: by looking at the audience
      by look at the sky

      Q4.
      True or false? It is not important to speak loudly when making a speech.

      Correct Answer: false, False

      Q5.
      Which of these people may make speeches as part of their jobs?

      postal workers
      Correct answer: teachers
      bus drivers

      Q6.
      A speech is usually given ...

      sitting down.
      Correct answer: standing up.
      lying down.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      True or false? A speech is the informal communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience.

      Correct Answer: false, False

      Q2.
      True or false? A sports coach may deliver speeches to their team.

      Correct Answer: true, True

      Q3.
      True or false? The purpose of a speech is to have an impact on the audience in some way.

      Correct Answer: true, True

      Q4.
      Which of the following are features of a successful speech?

      Correct answer: provoking an emotional response
      Correct answer: using rhetorical questions
      having an unclear purpose
      presenting no proof
      Correct answer: using facts and statistics

      Q5.
      Persuading means __________ someone to believe or do something by presenting arguments and reasons.

      Correct answer: convincing
      telling
      asking

      Q6.
      Select the top tips for being a successful speaker.

      Correct answer: Stand up to speak.
      Speak quietly.
      Correct answer: Engage your audience by showing confidence and charisma.
      Read directly from your notes.
      Correct answer: Make eye contact with the audience.

      To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: What makes a successful speech?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...