Published on: June 30, 2026
Writing a good speech has a lot in common with serving a great meal. Get the structure right, and every element works together. Rush it or skip a course, and the whole thing falls flat. These speech writing tips break the process down into five satisfying courses — so your child knows exactly what to prepare, and in what order.
Whether your child is preparing for a school assignment or a public speaking competition, these speech writing tips give them a reliable framework they can return to every time
Course 1: The Appetiser — A Strong Introduction
Every great meal begins with an appetiser that makes the guest lean in and want more. A speech introduction works exactly the same way.
The job of the introduction is not to deliver the main argument — it is to make the audience want to hear it. Encourage your child to open with one of the following:
- A surprising or interesting fact related to their topic
- A thought-provoking question that the audience will want answered
- A short, vivid story that connects emotionally to the subject
A strong vocabulary helps enormously here. The more words your child has at their disposal, the more precisely they can craft an opening that lands. If your child tends to use the same words repeatedly, spending time building vocabulary before writing the speech will pay off in the introduction more than anywhere else.
Course 2, 3 and 4: The Main Courses, The Body
The body of a speech is where the real substance lives, and like the main courses of a meal, it needs to be filling, well-seasoned, and satisfying.
Each main point should be supported by evidence. Encourage your child to use:
- Facts or statistics that are relevant to their topic
- Concrete examples that make abstract ideas easier to understand
- Clear, simple language. Impressive speeches are clear, not complicated
One of the most common mistakes students make in speech writing is trying to cover too many ideas. Three well-developed points are far more persuasive than six underdeveloped ones. Help your child identify their three strongest arguments and build each one out properly before moving on.
It is also worth practising delivery alongside writing. A well-written speech that is mumbled or rushed loses its impact. Encourage your child to read their draft aloud as they write. It is the fastest way to identify sentences that are too long or awkward to say naturally.
These speech writing tips work best when your child treats each section as its own task: write the introduction, then the body, then the conclusion, rather than trying to write the whole thing at once.
Course 5: The Dessert, A Memorable Conclusion
A great dessert leaves a lasting impression. The conclusion of a speech should do exactly the same.
The conclusion is not the place for new information. It is the place to bring everything together. A strong conclusion does three things:
- Briefly restates the main points in a fresh way
- Reinforces the central message of the speech
- Ends on a line that the audience will remember
Encourage your child to think about the last sentence of their speech the way a chef thinks about the final bite of a dessert. It should be the best one. A powerful closing question, a call to action, or a return to the opening story all work well.
The Secret Ingredient: Practise Your Speech Writing
Even the most beautifully written speech needs rehearsal. Research from the University of Queensland confirms that repeated practice reduces anxiety and significantly improves delivery in public speaking situations. Encourage your child to practise in front of a mirror, a family member, or even a pet, anything that simulates having an audience.
Time the speech during practice runs too. Most school speeches have a required length, and running over or under can affect marks.
Helping Your Child Find Their Voice
Strong communication skills are among the most valuable a child can develop. The ability to organise thoughts clearly, speak with confidence, and connect with an audience will serve your child well beyond the classroom. If you
Eye Level’s English programme Eye Level’s English programme builds the vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills that underpin these speech writing tips and everything that goes into confident communication. If your child is bilingual, you might also find our guide on Bilingual Kids and Reading: What You Need to Know a useful read. Find a centre near you to learn how we can support your child’s communication skills from the ground up.
