7 Secrets of Writing a Persuasive Speech from Abraham Lincoln
Speechwriters work isn’t easy. They have to be able to grab the audience’s attention, to hold it during the whole speech, to deliver their point of view effectively – and to achieve all these goals quickly. This could be challenging even for more experienced writers, not even mentioning the ones who have to write their first or second speech.
However,
even if you have little experience
in speech writing,
it is still possible for you to quickly learn how to make your speech
better. Today I encourage you to learn from the best, sharing 7 tips
on great
speech writing from
Abraham Lincoln.
1.
KEEP
IT SHORT
Some
people think that powerful speeches have to be long, filled with
arguments, and quotes. However, it’s the impact that matters, not
the size. Lincoln’s speeches usually didn’t last long (it took
him nearly two minutes to deliver them) but were well-remembered.
Probably not only because they were great but because shorter
speeches are usually easier to memorize.
2.
DELIVER A MESSAGE
Any
written paper has its purpose. When you define the
type of research paper
or
a speech, you have to think about this purpose first. Do you write it
to inform? To persuade? To encourage the audience to act?
Whatever
message you choose, just be sure to deliver it instead of simply
sounding good.
3.
USE QUOTES
You
might not have solid
speech writing skills
yet, but even in this case, you are able to make the most of someone
else’s writing skills. That’s what the quotes are for – when
they are famous and powerful enough, they not only show that you did
your research well but also encourage the audience even more. Just
make sure that the audience does actually recognize this quote.
4.
DON'T BE TOO FORMAL
Lincoln
abandoned all the formalities of acknowledging a number of people
during his speeches. Due to that, he was able to keep these speeches
short and to hold the audience’s attention effectively as he was
moving to the point right from the start.
Abandoning
formalities is a good idea not only because of that but because it’s
important to build a connection with your audience. You have to speak
from your heart in order to get a reaction from them, which could be
hard if you’re using language that is too formal.
5.
THINK BIG
Knowing
your audience is important, but being able to speak to even larger
one is even more important. Speeches written by Abraham Lincoln
addressed not only people sitting right in front of him but also the
rest of the nation. Such speeches are indeed hard to write but they
are the most powerful ones.
6.
REVIEW A LOT
A
good way to write a
speech from scratch
is to start writing down simply everything that comes to your mind.
However, you won’t have a speech ready after you finish this –
you’ll have to edit, cut, rewrite, and proofread a lot before
you’ll make it actually strong and powerful.
That’s
why you should start writing early: this way you’ll have more time
for editing and proofreading
online your speech.
And even if you are in a hurry and don’t have much time to polish
your speech, consider turning to available
editing service
for help.
7.
CREATE A STRONG ENDING
Structuring
a speech is similar to the structuring
of research paper:
it also has an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion. While
each part is equally important, you have to pay special attention to
the ending.
Some
writers feel too tired to come up with a proper ending once they’ve
finished the main part of the speech. However, it’s the ending that
audience remembers the most and if it’s written right it could
become historic – just like Lincoln’s ending of the Gettysburg
Address.
That’s
all you need to make the most of your speech. Remember these tips,
practice using them, and never stop learning to make the most of your
speechwriting. After all, these days you can find all the necessary
resources and learning materials online, starting from speechwriting
tips and ending with detailed
proofreading guide.
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