• Keep it clear, concise and simple.
• Structure it so that it’s easy to follow your argument.
• Use real life examples to keep it relevant and engaging, and to bring your argument to life.
• Research the facts so that you can make a well-informed speech – you might want to include a statistic or quote in your speech but remember that too many might make people switch off.
• Stick in the time limit – not only do long speeches risk losing the attention of the audience, you will be cut off by the chair if you overrun your time.
• Act naturally – remember your speech will be read out loud so keep it conversational.
• People won’t remember everything in your speech, so focus on one message or argument, with one theme and a story to illustrate it.

1. Very briefly, introduce yourself – what’s your name and where are you from? Keep this really short, you don’t want to waste time on flowery introductions and then either lose people’s attention or run out of time to make your argument.
2. Audiences need two things from a speaker: a path and a destination. They want to know where you are going and why they should listen to you. So, it can be a good idea to tell them at the beginning of your speech what you will be covering and why they should be interested. This introduction doesn’t need to long either – get straight to the story.
3. The middle part of your speech is where you can make your argument fully. You might like to structure this by explaining the problem first, then offering a solution. Here, you might want to include some of the facts you’ve researched, but remember that too much information might make it harder to focus on the main argument you’re trying to make. A personal story or real-life example might help to illustrate the problem or could help to show where your idea has worked in practice elsewhere.
4. To finish your speech, you want to show the audience that you have achieved what you set out to do in your introduction. A short recap of your main point should do the job – and if you want you could add a call to action or a thanks to the audience for listening to end on a positive note.

Remember that you’re writing a speech, not an essay. People will hear your points not read them so trying to make it sound more conversational will make your speech come across more naturally and will be more engaging.

This doesn’t mean you need to be informal if that isn’t your style, or that you shouldn’t structure your arguments properly, but there are some handy techniques that will help you write like you talk:

• Stick to short sentences. It’s better (and will sound more natural) to use two simple sentences than one long, complicated one.
• Do use contractions – “I’m” will usually sound more natural than “I am”, for example.
• If there’s a simpler word, use that instead of a long complicated one. You reduce the risk of tripping over your words when you present the speech, and will anyway sound more natural when using everyday language.
• Grammar isn’t the be all and end all in an engaging speech – people don’t always talk in full sentences. It’s fine to use phrases you’d use in everyday speech such as “Like this. See? Got it? Hope so”.
• Avoid jargon and acronyms!
• And the most important tip of all: practice your speech out loud! You will hear straight away if it sounds like a normal person talking or a book and you’ll be able to spot and rephrase bits that might trip you up on the day.

Concrete details keep people interested – and your argument is more persuasive if you can ground it in lived experience or a real-life example.

For example:

Instead of –

“We need more community land trusts because there is a housing crisis and not enough young people can find an affordable home. A community land trust helps make sure that homes remain affordable in perpetuity”

How about –

“My daughter spends half her income every month on rent, and her landlord keeps putting it up regardless of whether she can afford it. She’s had to move three times in the last four years. We need more community land trusts because they ensure homes remain affordable in perpetuity – and my daughter and others like her would have a secure home they can afford”