how to make a oratorical speech

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How to Write an Original Oratory

Last Updated: May 23, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been viewed 123,690 times.

An original oratory is an informative or persuasive speech that can deal with almost any topic you choose. This flexibility can seem overwhelming at first, but try to see an oratory as the opportunity to dig deep into a topic that means a lot to you. With the guidelines in mind (e.g., scope, length, etc.), choose a topic that you're passionate about, research it, and find authoritative sources to support your claims. Organize your speech into an introduction, body, and conclusion. Write your speech, revise it, and have others give you feedback. Memorize your oratory and rehearse your timing before making your speech. When you deliver your speech, use eye contact, natural facial expressions, and gestures to engage your audience.

Choosing and Researching Your Topic

• Keep the parameters and guidelines in mind while choosing a topic, outlining, and writing the oratory.
• If you have any questions, ask your teacher or debate coach for clarity.

• Your topic should be culturally relevant and appeal to broad audiences, but shouldn't be cliche or overdone.
• If you're passionate about do it yourself (DIY) knowledge, for example, you could write an oratory about the value of widely available DIY education.

• For instance, you might decide that you want to persuade your audience that DIY education has personal, societal, and economical benefits.
• Or, perhaps you want to inform your audience about the destruction of the wetlands and extinction of plant and animal species in wetlands across the globe.

• You can begin with broad search terms (like “destruction of wetlands”) and narrow them down (such as “beaver population declined from 1980-2018”) as you hone your focus.
• Choose sources such as reputable periodicals, encyclopedias, authoritative books, and scientific journals. [4] X Research source

Composing Your Original Oratory

• Your thesis should convey to your audience the speech's purpose and stance. Be clear and direct instead of including words like "This speech is about" before your thesis.
• If your topic is DIY education, your thesis could be, “Making do it yourself knowledge widely available is essential to contemporary society.”

• For your speech about DIY education, your main points could deal with the personal, practical, and economic benefits of DIY education. You'd use one section in your body to expand on each benefit.

• When you organize the body of your speech, don't spend too much or too little time on 1 or 2 points. Try to balance your time equally between your points, and make sure you're familiar with your time limit or permitted word count.
• For example, you could spend 1-2 paragraphs discussing the personal pride that comes with completing a DIY project on your own. You could then spend a couple of paragraphs discussing practical benefits, like being able to handle a medical emergency. Finally, you can talk about the money and resources one saves by completing a DIY project on their own.

• When you choose your citations, don't twist or misrepresent a source to fit your agenda. [8] X Research source

• For example, cite a source by saying, "According to a 2012 study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, community education outside of the classroom provides medical students with more robust knowledge and better patient interaction skills." This quote does not contain unnecessary details that would disrupt the flow of the speech, but it does clearly display the source.

• You could include, for instance, a source that calls DIY a form of dilettantism or dabbling. Then you could refute this argument as dismissive and short-sighted by citing examples of individuals who have cultivated in-depth DIY knowledge on a variety of subjects.

• Once you've organized the body of your speech, you'll have a better idea of how to structure the introduction and conclusion. In general, follow this structure: tell your audience what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.
• Avoid clichés, such as, “According to Webster's dictionary, this is defined as…”

• It's also a good idea to practice giving your speech in front of a small audience so you can get feedback on your delivery.

Delivering Your Speech

• To memorize your speech, break it up into smaller sections. Work on memorizing a few sentences at a time, then a paragraph, then nail an entire section.
• Try rewriting 2 or 3 sentences and saying them out loud as you write. Writing, speaking, and reading at the same time will help your brain create more connections, helping you memorize your content.

• Give yourself plenty of time to deliver your speech clearly so you don't have to speak so quickly that your audience can't understand you.

• If you're nervous about making eye contact, look slightly above your audience to create the illusion that you're maintaining eye contact.

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• ↑ http://www.forensicscommunity.com/originaloratory/excelling-original-oratory-advanced-guide
• ↑ https://www.speechanddebate.org/competition-events/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/01/

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7 ORATORY SECRETS: HOW TO GIVE AN EFFECTIVE ORATORICAL SPEECH?

What is oratory and why most of the greatest speeches ever are oratorical in nature.

Oratory can be summarized as the art of informing and persuading people through the use of public speaking skills. It generally means speaking in front of an audience and using high level language skills to inform, educate and persuade the audience.

In this article, I will be doing my best to show you how to give an oratorical speech  that resonates with your audience and lives long into the future.

WHAT IS AN ORATORICAL SPEECH?

Part I. 8 Persuasive Speech Techniques & Topics

Part III. 5 Quick Tips on how to Give an Effective Motivational Speech

Part VII. Explanatory Speech: 7 Key Tips to Help You Deliver an Effective Speech

Part IX. 7 Oratory Secrets: How to Deliver Effective Oratorical Speeches

Part XI. 80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One

Part XIV. Eulogy Guide: How to Give a Heartfelt Funeral Speech (with 4 Eulogy examples)

7 ORATORY SECRETS THAT WILL HELP YOU ACE YOUR NEXT ORATORICAL SPEECH

Oratory tip 1: pick the right topic.

This in no small way determines whether your speech will be a success or not. The topic you choose must be something you are passionate about and has had an impact on your personal life. Picking a topic to which you have no personal connection won’t achieve the desired results. Although you will be able to research on any topic and come up with a good speech, a personal connection is the secret spice that will make all the difference. 

ORATORY TIP 2: RESEARCH EXTENSIVELY

Also, research on the opposing arguments, so you are better prepared to counter any opposing arguments should they arise.

ORATORY TIP 3: HOOK YOUR AUDIENCE

Oratory tip 4: back up your message.

Having a core message is good, but backing up your core message with supporting arguments is much better.  In delivering your oratorical speech, you should be armed with at least 3 supporting arguments that inject more credibility into your core message. Use examples and real-life scenarios to buttress your point. If you can relate your message to the immediate environment (location) and situation of your audience, Bravo! 

ORATORY TIP 5: DISCUSS THE OPPOSING ARGUMENT

If your topic focuses on a popular subject, chances are that there are going to be individuals who see things very differently from the way you see them. As the speaker, you should be fully aware of opposing arguments to your claims. You should, in fact, bring them up during your speech and then proceed to give sound counter-arguments to refute the claims of the opposing arguments. Your counter-arguments should rely on facts and irrefutable evidence. This way, your audience has no choice but to agree with you. The ability to present both sides of the argument will work in your favour. Your audience will indeed know that you have indeed done your homework.

ORATORY TIP 6: THE DELIVERY

Oratory tip 7: conclude on a high.

For example, if your speech is on racial discrimination, at the end of your speech, urge your audience to be better, to do better, warn them of the consequences of a lackadaisical attitude towards racial matters. Encourage them to be a part of the solution and not just passive observers. 

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10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series,  Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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About the Author

North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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Oratory Speech Structure

Oratorical speech is different from regular speech. In regular speech, you just communicate your ideas to the audience. In oratory speech, the aim is to convince the audience of your ideas. The audience may be composed of people with different views on the topic. So oratory should be structured in such a way as to address a majority of the viewpoints associated with the topic.

The basic speech structure consists of three components – the introduction, the body and the conclusion. In the introduction, the topic is introduced to the audience and you put before the audience the main points of your speech. You inform them what areas related to the topic will be covered in the speech. In the body of the speech, each issue is discussed in detail. And in the conclusion, you summarize the main points of the speech and emphasize the take-home points again. Prepare a broad outline for each of the three components before writing the speech. Preparation of an outline helps you to stick to the point better and prevents rambling.

The Introduction

The introduction needs an attention-getting phrase or word to engage the audience. The attention-getter must then be linked to your topic. Next state the significance of the topic and the purpose of your speech. Inform the audience about the areas of the topic you intend to touch upon and how it will interest them. For instance, if you are talking about environmental issues, you may want to share an interesting case study. This creates common ground with the audience and gives them a reason to listen to you.

The body covers the main part of the speech. You need to put forth your key points with adequate backing and evidence. The oratory speech structure may follow either an informative format or a persuasive format. The difference between the two formats lies at this stage. In an informative format, the body of the speech essentially talks about the past, present and the future outlook for the topic under discussion. In a persuasive format, the focus is on the problem, cause and solution for a particular aspect of the topic. In general, the persuasive format is preferred over the informative format for making effective oratorical speeches.

The Conclusion

Present a well-thought-out conclusion to make a lasting impression on the audience. If the conclusion is lame, all the good work done in the body of the speech will be in vain. Summarize the main points of the speech. Offer justification of your viewpoint on the topic and restate the purpose of the speech. Invite the audience to be a part of the solution to tackle environmental issues, if that is your topic. Give the audience an action to pursue. Use an appropriate attention-getter to close the speech. This may be linked to the introduction attention-getter.

• Coachingspeech.com: Oratory Format

Hailing out of Pittsburgh, Pa., David Stewart has been writing articles since 2004, specializing in consumer-oriented pieces. He holds an associate degree in specialized technology from the Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

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oratory , the rationale and practice of persuasive public speaking. It is immediate in its audience relationships and reactions, but it may also have broad historical repercussions . The orator may become the voice of political or social history .

A vivid instance of the way a speech can focus the concerns of a nation was Martin Luther King ’s address to a massive civil rights demonstration in Washington, D.C., in 1963. Repeating the phrase “I have a dream,” King applied the oratorical skill he had mastered as a preacher to heighten his appeal for further rights for U.S. blacks to an intensity that galvanized millions.

An oration involves a speaker; an audience; a background of time, place, and other conditions; a message; transmission by voice, articulation , and bodily accompaniments; and may, or may not, have an immediate outcome.

Rhetoric , classically the theoretical basis for the art of oratory, is the art of using words effectively. Oratory is instrumental and practical, as distinguished from poetic or literary composition , which traditionally aims at beauty and pleasure. Oratory is of the marketplace and as such not always concerned with the universal and permanent. The orator in his purpose and technique is primarily persuasive rather than informational or entertaining. An attempt is made to change human behaviour or to strengthen convictions and attitudes. The orator would correct wrong positions of the audience and establish psychological patterns favourable to his own wishes and platform. Argument and rhetorical devices are used, as are evidence, lines of reasoning, and appeals that support the orator’s aims. Exposition is employed to clarify and enforce the orator’s propositions, and anecdotes and illustrations are used to heighten response.

The orator need not be a first-rate logician, though a capacity for good, clear thought helps to penetrate into the causes and results of tentative premises and conclusions and to use analogy , generalizations, assumptions, deductive–inductive reasoning, and other types of inference . Effective debaters , who depend more heavily on logic, however, are not always impressive orators because superior eloquence also requires strong appeals to the motives, sentiments , and habits of the audience. Oratorical greatness is invariably identified with strong emotional phrasing and delivery. When the intellectual qualities dominate with relative absence of the affective appeals, the oration fails just as it does when emotion sweeps aside reason.

The ideal orator is personal in his appeals and strong in ethical proofs, rather than objective or detached. He enforces his arguments by his personal commitment to his advocacy . William Pitt , later Lord Chatham, punctuated his dramatic appeals for justice to the American colonies with references to his own attitudes and beliefs. So were personal appeals used by the Irish orator Daniel O’Connell , the French orators Mirabeau and Robespierre, and the Americans Daniel Webster, Wendell Phillips , and Robert G. Ingersoll .

The orator, as illustrated by Edmund Burke , has a catholic attitude. Burke’s discussion of American taxation, conciliation, Irish freedoms, justice for India, and the French Revolution show analytical and intellectual maturity, the power of apt generalization, and comprehensiveness of treatment.

Oratory has traditionally been divided into legal, political, or ceremonial, or, according to Aristotle , forensic, deliberative, or epideictic.

Typically, forensic , or legal, oratory is at its best in the defense of individual freedom and resistance to prosecution. It was the most characteristic type of oratory in ancient Athens, where laws stipulated that litigants should defend their own causes. In the so-called Golden Age of Athens , the 4th century bc , great speakers in both the law courts and the assembly included Lycurgus , Demosthenes, Hyperides , Aeschines , and Dinarchus .

In the 1st century bc of ancient Rome , Cicero became the foremost forensic orator and exerted a lasting influence on later Western oratory and prose style. Cicero successfully prosecuted Gaius Verres , notorious for his mismanagement while governor of Sicily, and drove him into exile, and he dramatically presented arguments against Lucius Sergius Catiline that showed a command of analysis and logic and great skill in motivating his audience. Cicero also delivered 14 bitter indictments against Mark Antony, who was to him the embodiment of despotism.

Among the great forensic orators of later times was the 18th- and 19th-century English advocate Thomas Erskine , who contributed to the cause of English liberties and the humane application of the legal system.

Demosthenes, the Athenian lawyer, soldier, and statesman, was a great deliberative orator. In one of his greatest speeches, “On the Crown,” he defended himself against the charge by his political rival Aeschines that he had no right to the golden crown granted him for his services to Athens. So brilliant was Demosthenes ’ defense of his public actions and principles that Aeschines, who was also a powerful orator, left Athens for Rhodes in defeat.

The third division of persuasive speaking, epideictic , or ceremonial, oratory was panegyrical , declamatory, and demonstrative. Its aim was to eulogize an individual, a cause, occasion, movement, city, or state, or to condemn them. Prominent in ancient Greece were the funeral orations in honour of those killed in battle. The outstanding example of these is one by Pericles, perhaps the most finished orator of the 5th century bc , in honour of those killed in the first year of the Peloponnesian War .

The 19th-century American speaker Daniel Webster excelled in all three major divisions—forensic, deliberative, and epideictic oratory. He brought more than 150 pleas before the U.S. Supreme Court, including the Dartmouth College Case (1819) and the Gibbons v. Ogden case (1824); he debated in the U.S. Senate against Robert Young Hayne and John Calhoun on the issues of federal government versus states’ rights , slavery, and free trade; and he delivered major eulogies, including those on the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

Another major type of persuasive speaking that developed later than ancient Greek and Roman rhetoric was religious oratory . For more than 1,000 years after Cicero the important orators were churchmen rather than politicians, lawyers, or military spokesmen. This tradition derived from the Judaean prophets, such as Jeremiah and Isaiah, and in the Christian Era , from the Apostle Paul, his evangelistic colleagues, and such later fathers of the church as Tertullian, Chrysostom, and St. Augustine . Ecclesiastical speaking became vigorously polemical. The rhetorical principles of Aristotle and Cicero were adopted by ecclesiastical leaders who challenged rival doctrines and attacked the sins of the communities .

In the Middle Ages, Pope Urban II elicited a great response to his oratorical pleas for enlistment in the First Crusade. The Second Crusade was urged on with great eloquence by St. Bernard , abbot of Clairvaux. In the 15th and 16th centuries the revolt against the papacy and the Reformation movement stimulated the eloquence of Huldrych Zwingli , John Calvin , Hugh Latimer , and, most notably, Martin Luther . At the Diet of Worms , as elsewhere, Luther spoke with courage, sincerity, and well-buttressed logic. Religious controversies in the 17th century engaged such great oratorical skills as those of Richard Baxter , the English Puritan, and Catholic bishop J.B. Bossuet of France. In the 18th century the Methodist George Whitefield in England and North America , and the Congregationalist Jonathan Edwards in America, were notably persuasive speakers. Preachers of oratorical power in the 19th century included Henry Ward Beecher , famous for his antislavery speeches and his advocacy of women’s suffrage from his Congregational pulpit in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., and William Ellery Channing , American spokesman for Unitarianism.

Because the orator intuitively expresses the fears, hopes, and attitudes of his audience, a great oration is to a large extent a reflection of those to whom it is addressed. The audience of Pericles in ancient Greece, for example, was the 30,000 or 40,000 citizens out of the state’s total population of 200,000 or 300,000, including slaves and others. These citizens were sophisticated in the arts, politics, and philosophy. Directing their own affairs in their Assembly, they were at once deliberative, administrative, and judicial. Speaker and audience were identified in their loyalty to Athens. Similarly, the senatorial and forum audience of Cicero in ancient Rome was an even smaller elite among the hundreds of thousands of slaves and aliens who thronged the Roman world. In the Forum the citizens, long trained in law, and with military, literary, and political experience, debated and settled the problems. The speeches of Cato, Catiline, Cicero, Julius Caesar, Brutus, Antony, Augustus, and the others were oratory of and for the Roman citizen.

In the Christian Era, however, the religious orator often found himself addressing an alien audience that he hoped to convert. To communicate with them, the Christian often appealed to ancient Greek and Roman thought, which had achieved widespread authority, and to Judaean thought and method, which had the sanction of scripture. By the time of the Reformation, however, Christian dogma had become so codified that most of the disputation could be carried on in terms of doctrine that had become well known to all.

The history of the British Parliament reveals a continuing trend toward common speech and away from the allusions to ancient Greek and Roman thought that abounded when the members consisted largely of classically educated aristocrats.

In the golden age of British political oratory of the late 18th century, greater parliamentary freedom and the opportunity to defend and extend popular rights gave political oratory tremendous energy, personified by such brilliant orators as both the elder and the younger William Pitt, John Wilkes , Charles James Fox , Richard Sheridan, Edmund Burke, and William Wilberforce . Parliamentary reforms of the 19th century, initiated and promoted by Macaulay, Disraeli, Gladstone, and others of the century, led to more and more direct political speaking on the hustings with the rank and file outside Parliament. Burke and his contemporaries had spoken almost entirely in the Commons or Lords, or to limited electors in their borough homes, but later political leaders appealed directly to the population. With the rise of the Labour Party in the 20th century and the further adaptation of government to the people, delivery became less declamatory and studied. The dramatic stances of the 18th-century parliamentary debaters disappeared as a more direct, spontaneous style prevailed. As delivery habits changed, so did the oratorical language . Alliteration , antithesis , parallelism , and other rhetorical figures of thought and of language had sometimes been carried to extremes, in speeches addressed to those highly trained in Latin- and Greek-language traditions. These devices gave way, however, to a clearness of style and vividness consonant with the idiom of the common man and later with the vocabulary of radio and television.

Similarly, American speech inherited and then gradually discarded British oratorical techniques for its own speaking vernacular . John Calhoun , in his addresses to Congress on behalf of the South, absorbed much of the Greek political philosophy and methods of oral composition and presentation, and his principal opponent in debate , Daniel Webster, too, had the marks of British communicative tradition. This inheritance was absorbed into the speaking adjustments indigenous to those later peoples of New England , the West, and the South. The orator whose speech preceded Lincoln’s at Gettysburg—Edward Everett , statesman and former professor of Greek literature at Harvard—was a classical scholar. Lincoln, on the same platform, had address born of his native Middle West yet expressed with authentic eloquence.

The 20th century saw the development of two leaders of World War II who applied oratorical techniques in vastly different ways with equal effect. It was primarily through his oratory that Adolf Hitler whipped the defeated and divided Germans into a frenzy of conquest , while Winston Churchill used his no less remarkable powers to summon up in the English people their deepest historical reserves of strength against the onslaught. Subsequently, though the importance of persuasive speech in no way diminished, radio and television so reshaped the method of delivery that much of the theory of traditional oratory often seemed no longer to apply. The radio fireside chats of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt were the most successful of his persuasions. In the televised debates of John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon during the U.S. presidential campaign in 1960, the candidates might be said to have been most persuasive when they were least oratorical, in the traditional sense of the term. Nonetheless, even conventional oratory persisted as peoples in newly developing nations were swept up into national and international political struggles.

A good general collection is H. Peterson (ed.), A Treasury of the World’s Great Speeches, rev. ed. (1965).

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

10 Oratory Speech Topics + Template

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

I think these ideas are also suitable for the regional and local American National Forensic League (NFL) and National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) competitions.

What happen to be a good O.O. in the ears, eyes and minds of judges? There are some general guidelines you must follow. Let’s discuss them first, before we move on to the examples of speech topics below:

a. In short, original oratory speech topics are mostly factual, policy based and conviction reinforcing.

b. The public speaker motivates and inspires the audience to take a standВ on current problems in the world .

c. At most competitions original ideas are delivered withoutВ note or index cards, and without using visual aids or whatsoever. So, master the material you are talking about 🙂

d. Often there is a maximum limit of 150 quoted words. Do not forget to mention the source of the quotation properly!

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e. It must be between 7 and 10 minutes in length. That is, in general, the span of the concentration of the listeners.

Remember, every organization has its own rules and requirements. Study them and in doubt, ask the judges or governing body to make a judgement on your format ideas on beforehand.

Here are some interesting persuasive oratory speech topics to consider:

• A Cellular Phone Causes Highly Electromagnetic Radiation Risks.
• Violent Video Games Do Promote Violence.
• Mercy Killing Should Be Made Illegal.
• There Is No Need For Any Special Children’s Rights.
• Obesity Is Only Between The Ears.
• A Multi Party System Will Not Benefit Our Democracy.
• Jail Drug Impaired Physicians.
• Dumping Your Granny in a Nursing Home Benefits Her.
• The Police Is Using Deadly Force More Often.
• Safety Precautions Must Also Regard Speech Privacy Issues.

No need to say that these thesis claims and statements are absolutely not representing my personal opinions and views in any way. Certainly not number 8 on old grannies… 🙂

Oratory Template

I have developed a simple but effective format template for your convenience to sort out oratory speech topics easily. Try to add at least two factual and powerful supporting points per major point.

It will enhance your credibility, authority and reliance on the subject. Sharing your relevant personal experiences will do too:

Read all instructions and try to find examples of previous winning oratory speech topics that are adjustable too. And my last golden tips for O.O. speakers: always check out the precise requirements of your Toastmaster International public speaking instructor or the organization who hosts the competition or tournament event.

147 Unique Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

212 Speech Topics For College Students [Persuasive, Informative, Impromptu]

2 thoughts on “10 Oratory Speech Topics + Template”

Speech topic: awkward handshakes

I believe that preventing driving under the influence should be in the top ten because in recent years, we have a lot of young people drunk while driving. That can cause major problems, like crashing multiple cars crashing into each other, and eventually jail. My cousin was 23 years old and he was going to a party. When he walked out of our front door, I never saw his face in person again. While he was at this party, he got severely drunk and decided to drive, but other people weren’t drunk and they could’ve stopped him, but they decided not to. If they actually cared for him, he wouldn’t have died 20 minutes later while his car to roll over 8 times causing the roof of the car to be gone and he flew out of the car. My best friend died to fatal injuries. It’s sad to see one of your closest family members pass away on a decision that could have been different. We need to put an end to driving under the influence for once and for all.

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Great Speeches: Oratory

• Great Orators
• Murphy Library Resources

Oratory Websites

• 10 Keys to Writing a Speech from Forbes.com
• 10 Steps for Delivering a Great Speech
• 12 Steps to Becoming a Charismatic Speaker
• 5 Tips to Great Public Speaking
• 10 Things You Can Do To Be a Brilliant Orator
• Oral Presentations: Tips on How to Deliver a Speech for School or Work
• Toastmasters International

Nelson Mandela

Online Speeches

• The 35 Greatest Speeches in History from The Art of Manliness
• 55 Speeches by Influential People of the 21st Century from TrendHunter.com
• Famous Speeches in History from History.com
• Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World A non-profit project, sponsored by Sweet Briar College
• Great Speeches Collection from The History Place
• Great Speeches of the 20th Century from The Guardian newspaper
• History & Politics Out Loud Audio of politically significant speeches, mainly 20th century
• List of Speeches Includes those that have gained notability in English or in English translation
• Top 10 Greatest Speeches from Time Magazine
• Top 10 Most Powerful Orators Of The 20th Century from TechnoCrazed.com
• Top 100 Speeches of the Twentieth Century from American Rhetoric
• Vital Speeches International Available online.
• Vital Speeches of the Day Available online.
• << Previous: Murphy Library Resources
• Last Updated: May 31, 2024 3:30 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uwlax.edu/speeches

The Art of Oratory

Since the oldest times in Greece, oratory is the greatest art known to man and, literally, embraces a number of great arts. You can find enough proofs to validate the power of spoken words. In the great book of history, humankind has witnessed a significant number of speeches that swayed the audiences , changed the outcomes and became the culprit of creating new history.

Unlock Your Inner Speaker: Master the Art of Oratory Today!

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Mastering The Art of Eloquence   

But mind you, oratory is not merely uttering words, rather it’s beyond speaking. The ‘art of eloquence’ is one where the orator furnishes the ideas, clothes them in words, give these a rhythmic arrangement, and deliver them with all the care with which a singer sings a song. The essence of oratory lies in being beyond ordinary. The words are weaved to impress the listeners, persuade them to become part of the discourse itself and pick up the chisel to carve a milestone of change. However, of course, the enormous power of oratory attained can be misused and put to manipulation.

Oratory through the Ages – Greeks and  Romans

Even one of the great Greek philosopher and orator Aristotle debated with his teacher Plato, who believed that the character of oratory is as of ‘mere rhetoric’ and that is used only to mend the truth. However, for Aristotle, oratory is one that can be crafted into an art form – both persuasive and ethical. In his quest of interpreting oratory as the highest art, he became the first philosopher to document the role of rhetoric and introduced to us three rhetorical proofs: ethos, logos and pathos.

While speaking of Greek orators , the above would not do the justice without referring to master orator of the ‘golden age of eloquence’, Pericles and his funeral speech, perhaps the first great speech in the history of humanity. Demosthenes, another Greek orator, has to be mentioned here, who is remembered as the greatest among all the orators of history.

For which the Greek and Egypt described as the celestial origin and ascribed to the invention of god, the art of eloquence changed its face, and the speeches became less meaty but studded with more style, metaphors and stories in the Roman empire. Though it was a vibrant art form in Roman times as was in the un-fallen Greece; it was Cicero whose name stands, along with Demosthenes, ‘unrivalled in fame and it would be absurd to pretend to place any modern whatever in the same or even nearly equal rank.’ (History of Oratory and Orators by H. Hardwicke)  

Public Speaking in Today’s Age

From the old days to our times, oratory may have changed in its authenticity; it still stands as the noblest virtue. Public speaking, as for how we refer to oratory , in today’s times is something has transmuted into a way to define your personality in the big external world. It has to be made clear that all public speaking is not oratory and it’s, definitely, not only about speaking in front of an audience. One needs to take up that simple speech to the status of oratory, with passion, with creativity, and with awareness of the message.

Though, like the old times, we don’t get together in large assemblies and appreciate, criticise or get inspired by great words of orators. However, we can find the nuances of oratory in speeches of great politicians, prominent entrepreneurs talking about their brand in a big event, in conference rooms during a presentation, or in a students’ debate in an ordinary classroom; it’s very much there.

Nevertheless, to sum up, I would like to leave you people with the words of Henry Hardwicke who said, “Oratory is immortal. In some form or the other,  oratory will live, and have its influence upon mankind, as in past ages, and in different countries, as long as the human heart is inhabited by the passions which are inherent to our nature and which have taken up their residence there, and as long as it is necessary to discuss important questions in the pulpit, the Senate, and the bar.”

Vineeta Khanna

Vineeta Khanna is one of the most well known and successful public speaking coaches In New York and New Jersey. As the founder of Orator Academy, she has helped hundreds of young students and working professionals to become confident speakers.

Vineeta has worked with hundreds of students of all ages: elementary school students, college students, interns, job seekers, Wall Street professionals, home makers, IT professionals, teachers and more.

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7 Ways to Improve Your Oratory Skills

November 11, 2016 - Dom Barnard

Great public speakers are not born that way; most have to practice and perfect their oratory skills. The most well-known orators are Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Adolf Hitler. Their speeches delivered their message in a powerful, articulate way that resonated with their audiences.

Below is a list of oratory skills that you can train yourself in, so that your speeches are more clear, confident and successful.

Grow your confidence

The most fundamental oratory skill is confidence. It can be difficult to  build confidence  but practicing the other 6 techniques below, you will have greater faith in your ability to present.

Some people find it useful to adopt an ‘on-stage persona’ of someone who is confident and influential, as then they can separate their speech from their natural self. They are then able to view their speech as more of a performance, and therefore act more confident.

• Expect to be nervous
• Prepare your speech
• Practice in a realistic environment
• Breathe deeply to expand vocal range
• Rehearse out loud
• Focus on your audience
• Visualize success
• Connect with your audience

Read about these tips in more detail –  How to Develop Confidence Speaking  and how to  look confident while speaking .

• Presenting with Confidence: Online Course with Practice

The most fundamental oratory skill is confidence.

Use suitable content

The content of your speech is also important. When  preparing your speech , make sure your message is suitable for your audience and stay away from acronyms and jargon words if your audience is not familiar with the topic.

Using metaphors and quotations can help bring your speech to life and keep the audience engaged. You should make sure that your speech starts and ends on the most  powerful statements  or the points you most want your audience to take away with them.

Know your audience

One of the most difficult but essential oratory skills is the ability to connect with your audience. This can be done through what you’re saying and your  body language . Remember that your audience are just people and people connect over shared experiences or values.

You could begin your speech with an anecdote that shows your personality, which will create a positive energy in the audience and will instantly make you feel more relaxed too.

Eye contact  is also essential to form a connection with the audience. Try looking at one person for 2 sentences, then another person for 2 sentences, and so on. That way, you’re making a solid connection with many members of the audience, and they’ll perceive you as confident, trustworthy and knowledgeable.

Eye contact  is essential to form a connection with the audience.

Make use of your vocal range

Your speech will come across as boring if you speak in a monotonous tone and your audience will lose interest very quickly. The human voice is technically capable of  24 notes on a musical scale , yet most people only use 3 in their everyday conversations.

Practice your speech while going up in pitch, and then back down again. This will sound strange and, of course, you should not present in such a comical way, but it will give you an idea of how much of your vocal range you could be using.

Exercise – Extend your vocal range

• Warm up . Always warm up for a while before starting the actual exercise, you can do this by vocalising in the middle of your vocal range.
• Scales, Thirds and Fourths . All types of scales that go through your entire vocal range. Practice them as often as you can. This will gradually strengthen both your current vocal range and its boundaries.
• Hum . While practicing the scales mentioned before, try to hum them. This has proven to be the most effective exercise for me, especially for higher pitched notes.
• Push the boundaries  once in a while, but not too much. You don’t want to end up with a raspy voice at the end of your practice.
• Try to sing . Breathe with the diaphragm and use your breath to support your singing.

Read more about improving your vocal range –  How can I safely extend my vocal range?

Consider length

Ensure your speech is within a time constraint, if you are given one. If you’re not given a timeframe then it’s always better to be thorough but brief. If your speech is interrupted in some way, shorten or skip one of your messages in the middle.

If you’re talking for a long period of time, it’s important to factor in relief breaks – it’s difficult to maintain an audience’s  concentration levels  beyond 15 minutes anyway, let alone if they are hungry or need the bathroom.

Memorise key points

Another difficult oratory skill is the ability to remember what you’re saying and still deliver a powerful speech. Great orators do not use scripts, nor do they memorise them word for word and simply recite the speech.

Your speech will be much more effective if you  memorise the key message  points that you want to deliver, and then speak from your heart about them, and not your head.

You should be talking about something you are passionate about, so this shouldn’t be as difficult as it sounds. The problem with memorising a script is that if you lose your place, you will stumble and panic – something the best orators don’t do.

Practice in realistic environments

Like any other skill, the best way to improve your oratory skills is to  practice . You wouldn’t expect to become good at a sport without practicing it, and it’s the same with public speaking. One way of doing this, is to record yourself and listen for how you sound and watch your body language is saying.

Obama and his team spent hours just perfecting the opening of this speech.

You want to be open, use hand movements, and make use of the stage when possible. You can also use  virtual reality applications  to analyse your hesitation words, pitch, pace and levels of eye contact.

How To Be A Good Orator

An orator, by definition, is a public speaker who is known for his or her eloquence and speaking skills. You…

An orator, by definition, is a public speaker who is known for his or her eloquence and speaking skills. You might wonder in this day and age of texting and emails if oratory skills even matter. But whether it is in Zoom meetings, college presentations, or Instagram videos, oratory skills remain extremely relevant to professional and personal success.

Being a good orator is one of the hallmarks of a good leader. An oratorical speech has the power to improve your standing among your peers and bosses and can help rank you higher in academic projects and presentations.

The different types of oratory skills

While there is no single answer to how to become a good orator, you can master several techniques and habits to improve your oratorical speech. These techniques and habits are also called oratorical skills.

All great public speakers such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Steve Jobs delivered their message using all or a combination of these oratorical skills.

The foremost among them is confidence. Confidence increases your credibility and people are more inclined to believe that your message is true. A good orator knows how to make an entrance, appears aspirational, and has a commanding presence.

A good orator also has the right body language. He won’t slouch, stammer, or keep his hands in the pockets while speaking. Such details may seem trivial, but they matter. The right body language enhances your oratorical skills. Using the appropriate hand gestures, walking around, and talking to the entire audience can help deliver an impactful oratorical speech.

Apart from having oratorical skills, you also need to engage with the audience. You need to invite the audience to participate, reach out to them, or maybe even ask them a few questions. This will keep the audience invested in your speech and help you connect with them.

Qualities of a good orator

A good orator is one who knows his audience. You must tailor your content to their expectations and your language to their comfort level. For instance, being verbose with children may not get your message across, or speaking too simplistically may not work when you need to impress clients. Different audiences function and react differently. A good orator is always able to anticipate what his audience wants and how it will respond.

The audience deserves the speaker’s undivided attention. A great way to show this is to maintain eye contact. Look around the room, try and reach as many people as possible. All your oratory skills are useless if your audience feels you’re too indifferent or too scared to look them in the eye.

Great orators memorize their speeches. It is not easy to do so, but it makes all the difference. Using a script or referring to notes reduces the impact of a speech. Speaking from memory also shows the audience that you care. If you add the right emotional tone to it, they will think you’re speaking straight from the heart, which will be more appealing.

Perfecting your oratory skills

These skills will go a long way in helping you speak effectively. But like a muscle, they require constant exercise or practice. One way to do so is to record your speech. Identify the weaker sections and fix them through practice. Another way is to rehearse in front of your friends and ask for their feedback. While you speak, notice their body language and expressions. Make a note of the sections in which you lose their attention.

Learning to speak effectively can be a daunting task. Reading articles and watching videos can only take you so far. But the right tools and knowledge of certain nuances can help you. Harappa Education’s Speaking Effectively course has several frameworks including Aristotle’s Appeals, the PAM Framework, and the Idea Funnel for this purpose. The course also includes specific sections on the elevator pitch and building empathy. Sign up now and claim your stage.

Explore blogs on skills and topics such as speaking skills , elevator pitch examples , and Ethos, Pathos & Logos in our Harappa Diaries section and learn how to communicate information effectively.

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Finding Your Voice: How to Choose a Topic for Original Oratory

Unleash your inner orator and captivate your audience with these expert tips on choosing a compelling topic for your Original Oratory speech.

Understanding the Purpose of Original Oratory

Understanding the purpose of original oratory is crucial in selecting a topic that will resonate with your audience. Original Oratory is a speech that allows you to express your thoughts, opinions, and ideas on a specific subject. It is an opportunity to persuade, inform, and inspire your listeners. Before choosing a topic, consider the purpose of original oratory and how you want to impact your audience.

When crafting your speech, think about the message you want to convey. Do you want to raise awareness about a social issue? Do you want to share a personal experience that has shaped your perspective? Understanding the purpose of original oratory will help you choose a topic that aligns with your goals and engages your audience.

Exploring Your Personal Interests and Passions

One of the best ways to choose a topic for original oratory is to explore your personal interests and passions. What topics do you find yourself naturally drawn to? What issues or ideas ignite a fire within you? By selecting a topic that you are genuinely interested in, you will be more motivated to research, develop, and deliver a compelling speech.

Consider your hobbies, extracurricular activities, and areas of expertise. Is there a particular subject that you have spent significant time exploring? Are there any personal experiences that have had a profound impact on your life? Exploring your personal interests and passions will lead you to a topic that you are passionate about, making it easier to connect with your audience.

Identifying Social Issues and Current Events

Another approach to choosing a topic for original oratory is to identify social issues and current events that are relevant and impactful. Look around you and pay attention to the issues that are affecting your community, country, or even the world. Social issues such as climate change, mental health, gender equality, and racial justice are just a few examples of topics that can spark meaningful discussions.

Research and stay updated on current events to find inspiration for your speech. Newspapers, magazines, and online news sources are great places to start. By addressing a social issue or current event, you can raise awareness, offer your perspective, and motivate others to take action.

Considering Unique Perspectives and Experiences

One way to make your original oratory speech stand out is by considering unique perspectives and experiences. Think about your background, upbringing, and life experiences. Is there a perspective that is often overlooked or misunderstood? Are there personal stories that can shed light on a particular topic?

By sharing your unique perspective or experiences, you can offer a fresh take on a familiar subject or introduce your audience to a new and thought-provoking idea. Embrace your individuality and use it to create a memorable and impactful speech.

Evaluating the Emotional Impact and Audience Relevance

The emotional impact and audience relevance of your chosen topic are crucial factors to consider. Your goal is to engage and move your audience, so it is important to select a topic that resonates with them on an emotional level. Think about the emotions you want to evoke - do you want to inspire, educate, or challenge your audience?

Additionally, consider the relevance of your topic to your audience. Will they be able to relate to it? Does it address their concerns or interests? Evaluating the emotional impact and audience relevance of your topic will help you create a speech that captivates and leaves a lasting impression.

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15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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Oratorical Speech about Political Corruption

Ai generator.

Good [morning/afternoon/evening] everyone,

Today, I stand before you to address a critical issue that undermines the foundations of our societies and erodes public trust: political corruption. Political corruption occurs when public officials abuse their power for personal gain, compromising the integrity of institutions and the well-being of citizens. As we explore the significance of this issue, let us consider its impact, the factors that contribute to it, and the steps we can take to combat it.

The Impact of Political Corruption

Political corruption has far-reaching consequences that affect all aspects of society. Here are some key impacts:

• Erosion of Trust: Corruption erodes public trust in government institutions and officials. When citizens perceive that their leaders are dishonest and self-serving, it diminishes faith in the democratic process and discourages civic engagement.
• Economic Inequality: Corruption exacerbates economic inequality by diverting public resources away from essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. This misallocation of resources widens the gap between the rich and the poor, hindering social and economic development.
• Weakening of Institutions: Corruption undermines the effectiveness of public institutions, leading to inefficiency and mismanagement. It weakens the rule of law, allowing criminal activities to flourish and reducing the ability of governments to enforce regulations and protect citizens.
• Stifling of Economic Growth: Corruption creates an unpredictable business environment, deterring investment and innovation. It increases the cost of doing business and can lead to monopolistic practices that stifle competition and economic growth.

Factors Contributing to Political Corruption

Several factors contribute to the prevalence of political corruption. Understanding these factors is essential for developing effective solutions:

• Lack of Accountability: When there are inadequate mechanisms for holding public officials accountable, corruption can thrive. Weak oversight, lack of transparency, and limited enforcement of anti-corruption laws create an environment conducive to corrupt practices.
• Concentration of Power: Excessive concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals or groups can lead to corruption. When power is not distributed or checked, it increases the opportunities for abuse and reduces the likelihood of detection.
• Economic Incentives: The pursuit of wealth and personal gain can drive individuals to engage in corrupt practices. High levels of poverty and economic disparity can also make public officials more susceptible to corruption as they seek financial security.
• Cultural Norms: In some societies, corruption is normalized and accepted as a way of doing business. Cultural attitudes that tolerate or even encourage corruption make it challenging to eradicate.

Steps to Combat Political Corruption

Addressing political corruption requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. Here are some steps we can take to combat this pervasive issue:

• Strengthen Accountability Mechanisms: Implementing robust mechanisms for accountability is crucial. This includes independent anti-corruption agencies, transparent and fair judicial systems, and effective auditing and monitoring processes.
• Promote Transparency: Transparency is essential for preventing corruption. Governments should make information about public spending, decision-making processes, and the actions of public officials readily available to the public. Open data initiatives and freedom of information laws can support this effort.
• Enhance Political Participation: Encouraging active political participation and civic engagement can help hold public officials accountable. This includes promoting voter education, supporting free and fair elections, and ensuring that citizens have a voice in decision-making processes.
• Support Whistleblower Protections: Protecting whistleblowers who expose corruption is critical. Whistleblowers often face significant risks, including retaliation and legal consequences. Providing legal protections and support for whistleblowers can help uncover and address corruption.
• Implement Anti-Corruption Education: Education plays a vital role in changing cultural attitudes towards corruption. Incorporating anti-corruption education into school curricula and public awareness campaigns can help foster a culture of integrity and accountability.
• Reduce Economic Disparities: Addressing economic disparities can reduce the incentives for corruption. Policies that promote economic equality, social safety nets, and fair wages can help mitigate the economic drivers of corrupt behavior.

The Role of Individuals and Civil Society

While government actions are crucial, individuals and civil society organizations also play a vital role in combating political corruption. Here are some ways we can contribute:

• Demand Accountability: Citizens must demand accountability from their leaders. This includes participating in elections, supporting transparency initiatives, and advocating for stronger anti-corruption measures.
• Support Ethical Leaders: Vote for and support leaders who demonstrate integrity and a commitment to fighting corruption. Hold elected officials accountable for their actions and support those who work to promote transparency and accountability.
• Raise Awareness: Raise awareness about the impact of corruption and the importance of integrity in public office. Use social media, community events, and public forums to educate others and encourage collective action against corruption.
• Engage in Civic Activities: Participate in civic activities and join organizations that work to combat corruption. Collective action and community engagement can create pressure for change and promote ethical governance.
• Lead by Example: Set an example of integrity in your own actions. Whether in your professional or personal life, demonstrate honesty, transparency, and a commitment to ethical behavior.

In conclusion, political corruption is a pervasive issue that undermines trust, exacerbates economic inequality, weakens institutions, and stifles economic growth. Combating corruption requires a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening accountability mechanisms, promoting transparency, enhancing political participation, supporting whistleblower protections, implementing anti-corruption education, and reducing economic disparities.

As individuals and members of civil society, we have a critical role to play in demanding accountability, supporting ethical leaders, raising awareness, engaging in civic activities, and leading by example. By working together, we can create a culture of integrity and build a society where transparency, fairness, and justice prevail.

Let us commit to taking action against political corruption and promoting ethical leadership. Together, we can create a brighter future where public trust is restored, and the common good is prioritized.

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10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

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America’s Best Made-Up Person

Garry wills on the transformation of mary harris into mother jones., garry wills.

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A portrait of Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, namesake of this magazine. Bettmann/Getty

Once upon a time there was a person with the unnoticeable name of Mary Harris, born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1837, who lived a private life of suffering and failure. Her parents, fleeing Ireland’s Great Hunger, brought her as a teenager to Canada, where she briefly attended a Toronto teachers’ school, before she went to Monroe, Michigan, where she briefly taught school in a convent. A skilled seamstress from a girl, she left Monroe for Chicago, where she opened a dress shop. But she moved on yet again, to Memphis, where in 1861 she married George Jones, an organizer of his fellow iron foundry workers, to whom she quickly bore four children. Then her worst tragedy hit, the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1867, which wiped out all five members of her family. Back in Chicago, she reopened her dress shop, to have it destroyed by the Chicago Fire of 1871. Disaster had crowded on disaster throughout her entire blighted life, leaving no record of having done a single thing memorable.

Then, mysteriously, in the last decade of the nineteenth century, an entirely new person appeared. The previous one had been private and passive. The new one would be public and expansive. This woman would have a remarkable (but made-up) age and name and garb and task. She would be exactly (and by plan) the opposite of what went before—the most amazing work of self-reinvention on record. Mary Harris was erased, replaced by Mother Jones. Just consider the thoroughness of the changes this involved: 

Made-Up Age

Women, according to a stereotype, especially actresses or public figures, try to pretend they are younger than their real age. The made-up Mother Jones claimed to be older. Safely in her middle-aged (for that time) forties, she claimed to be in her fifties. And she kept on adding ten or more years to her age all the way up to her eighties, which she made out to be her nineties. Despite what should have been a cumulating decrepitude, she displayed a prodigious energy in the union organizing of her late husband. This allowed her to have beers with “my boys“ (as she called the workers), and curse the “goddamned” strike breakers, without being confused with the prostitutes around the coal mines and oil fields where she labored. Other women lied about their age to stay young enough to remain sexually interesting. She lied to escape that. It freed her to mix with all kinds of people without sexual tension or questioning.

Made-Up Name

The new person adopted a name that is not personal. It is a title. And a female title at that. If it had been male, the community in and around the mines would have had a touch of the military. Since it is a maternal title, the community was a family, made up of her children and grandchildren. Her appeal was to the women as well as the male workers.

She was photographed crouching in a tumble of her black clothing as she helped cook the children’s meal at a campfire. With her sense of theater, she sent into a mine, emptied by the striking workers, a crew of women with mops and brooms to sweep out any scabs who showed up (and who would be ashamed to hit women, or wrestle with them). One of her most famous exploits was a March of the Mill Children in 1903, from Philadelphia to New York, stopping at night for speeches and mimes, enacting the tortuous labors performed by the children in their slave caves. To cap off the demonstration, she took her kids to Coney Island, where they cowered in a cage while Frank Bostock’s famous trained lions roared at them. Having brought the children this far, Jones took a few of them farther to President Theodore Roosevelt’s Oyster Bay home, “to dine with with Teddy.” Roosevelt was not there, so they were turned away; but Jones delivered a letter accusing the President of robbing boys and girls of their childhood to make more money for capitalists.

Made-Up Garb

There was one thing that bound her to her past—the black mourning garb that stood for her lost family. Not that she meant to recall her personal prehistory. The new garb stood for a new responsibility, to others. In the Gilded Age, this set her signally apart from the beautiful uselessness of women’s fashions as described by Thorstein Veblen. All those hoops and bustles, long nails and high heels, proclaimed that these were ladies not fit for any gainful labor. Mother Jones’s clothes were nothing but useful, readying her for any task—whether at the mines, or at the mills, or at or at negotiations in the owners’ offices. Her chosen uniform could never go out of fashion because it had never been in it. She was not clothed to be tempting or menacing. She was dressed for serving. It was an overwhelmingly maternal garb, nothing else. Perfectly chosen, never abandoned.

Made-Up Task

Her age and name and garb could be unvarying because her single task was always the same. That task was described by a West Virginia District Attorney, Rees Blizzard, when she was put on trial in 1902 for inciting a riot. He described her as “the most dangerous woman in America,” because all she had to do was open her mouth and crook her finger to make thousands of men go out on strike. She often faced guns, and trials, and prisons—but was always unarmed herself. It is true that when operators and owners brought in weaponed strike breakers to fire on “her boys,” she advised them to acquire guns themselves, but just for defensive use—as leverage for her constant goal, bringing the capitalists to negotiation. She kept calming her side with the message, “Mother is with you.” And the only arms she used herself were her tart tongue and that beckoning finger. Supplied with social class doctrines by friends like Eugene Debs and Clarence Darrow, she spun out her mesmerizing oratory with a lilting Irish brogue. That made her dangerous, and the danger made her useful. The made-up persona was—in its age and name and garb and task—an entirely successful reinvention.

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