Writing a Speech - Year 9

For me, one of heroes behind the Obama campaign is a man who has risen to fame for his ability to co-write some of the most influential and beguiling speeches in recent history. I am referring to Obama's Head of Speechwriting, Jon Favreau.

Obama himself is a highly talented writer, speaker and all-round political personality. What we learn from Favreau however, is that no matter how talented and popular we are, we are never so good that we don't need the advice of experts from time to time. At just 28 years of age, it is astounding that Favreau has already managed to make his mark on the eternal history of oratory by knowing exactly how to play to the emotions of his audience and how to use a shrewd blend of facts and opinions to create moving and empowering public addresses. Yes we can.

As you write your speeches in groups for the 'Numizen' project, I want you to consider the example of Obama and Favreau. Whilst the 'Proposer' and 'Seconder' may be speaking separately, there is clearly much you can do to help each other prepare your debates - the same goes for the opposition. Similarly, 'The Chair' may well wish to assist both sides of the argument with possible ideas whilst preparing their own notes and informing their opinion on whatever topic they are debating on next week.

Remember... now you have covered the idea of 'Delivery', your foci are 'Writing' and 'Research'.

For writing, you may wish to consider:

1. Have you considered how to play to the audience's emotions?

2. Have you used any rhetorical questions?

3. Have you included a good amount of evidence and used statistics?

4. Have you used any anaphora?

5. Have you introduced the topic and any key terms and technical vocabulary that may give you the appearance of being an expert?

These are just some suggestions.

On the topic of 'Research', here are some helpful websites to get you started, of course make sure any sources you use are reliable.

· Amnesty International website www.amnesty.org.uk and student@amnesty.org.uk
· Racism: www.srtrc.org
· Globalisation: www.globaldimension.org.uk
· RSPCA (www.rspca.org.uk
· Countryside Alliance www.countryside-alliance.org
· www.communitypartners.org.uk
· The 16 basic rights of the Human Rights Act are available at www.crights.org.uk/law/uncrc.html
· First-hand accounts of refugee life are available on the Refugee Council’s website www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
· Website of the Human Rights Unit www.humanrights.gov.uk
· Crime: statistics published by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence, www.tsa.uk.com
· Crime: Organisations such as the Howard League and the Prison Reform Trust
· Groups campaigning on youth justice, eg http://web.ukonline.co.uk/howard.league; www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
· UN Convention on the Rights of the Child www.unicef.org/crc
· International Red Cross: www.ifrc.org
· Family Rights Group: http://www.frg.org.uk/index.asp
· Youth Parliament: http://www.ukyp.org.uk/

Good luck!