EGL 221: COMPOSITION

Topic: Speech Writing

1. Introduction: What is Speech Writing?

Speech writing is the art and craft of composing a structured,

purposeful, and audience-oriented message intended for oral
delivery. Unlike general writing, speech writing is not merely meant
to be read—it is meant to be heard, felt, and remembered.

At its core, speech writing blends language, rhetoric, psychology,

and performance. A good speech is not just informative; it
persuades, inspires, entertains, or provokes reflection.

Historically, speech writing is rooted in classical rhetoric, particularly

in the works of Aristotle, who identified three key persuasive
appeals:

 Ethos (credibility)

 Pathos (emotional appeal)

 Logos (logical reasoning)

These remain foundational to effective speech writing today.

2. Nature and Characteristics of a Good Speech

A well-written speech possesses distinct qualities that differentiate it

from other forms of writing:
a. Audience-Centeredness

A speech must be tailored to the audience’s:

 Age

 Educational level

 Cultural background

 Expectations

b. Clarity and Simplicity

Since speeches are processed in real-time, ideas must be:

 Clear

 Concise

 Easy to follow

c. Oral Style

Speech writing mimics natural speech patterns:

 Short sentences

 Conversational tone

 Repetition for emphasis

d. Purposefulness

Every speech must have a clear objective:

 To inform

 To persuade
  To entertain

 To commemorate

e. Emotional and Logical Balance

Effective speeches appeal to both reason and emotion.

3. Types of Speeches

Speech writing varies depending on purpose. Major types include:

a. Informative Speeches

Aim to educate or explain.

 Example: A lecture on climate change

b. Persuasive Speeches

Aim to influence beliefs or actions.

 Example: A campaign speech

c. Entertaining Speeches

Aim to amuse or engage.

 Example: After-dinner speeches

d. Ceremonial (Occasional) Speeches

Delivered at special events:

 Welcome addresses

 Valedictory speeches

 Eulogies
e. Demonstrative Speeches

Show how something is done.

 Example: A presentation on how to use a tool

4. The Speech Writing Process

Speech writing is systematic. It typically follows these stages:

a. Determining Purpose and Topic

Ask:

 Why am I speaking?

 What do I want the audience to gain?

b. Audience Analysis

Consider:

 What do they already know?

 What are their attitudes toward the topic?

c. Research and Content Development

Gather:

 Facts

 Statistics

 Anecdotes

 Examples
d. Organizing Ideas

Arrange ideas logically into a coherent structure.

e. Drafting the Speech

Write in a conversational and engaging manner.

f. Revising and Editing

Ensure:

 Clarity

 Flow

 Accuracy

g. Practicing Delivery

A speech is incomplete without rehearsal.

5. Structure of a Standard Speech

A well-structured speech has three major parts:

A. Introduction

The introduction sets the tone and captures attention.

Functions:

 Gain audience attention

 Introduce the topic

 Establish credibility
  Preview main points

Techniques for Opening:

 A rhetorical question
“Have you ever wondered why…”

 A startling statistic
“Every minute, millions of…”

 A quotation

 A short story or anecdote

B. Body

The body contains the main ideas.

Characteristics:

 Divided into clear points (usually 2–5)

 Supported with evidence

 Logically arranged

Organizational Patterns:

 Chronological (time order)

 Spatial (arrangement in space)

 Cause and effect

 Problem and solution

 Topical (by themes)

Example (Problem-Solution):
  Problem: Poor reading culture among students

 Solution: Institutional reading programs

C. Conclusion

The conclusion reinforces the message.

Functions:

 Summarize key points

 Reinforce purpose

 Provide closure

 Leave lasting impression

Techniques:

 Call to action

 Thought-provoking statement

 Return to opening idea

6. Language and Style in Speech Writing

a. Use of Simple Language

Avoid overly complex vocabulary.

b. Repetition

Reinforces key ideas:

 “We will rise. We will act. We will succeed.”

c. Rhetorical Devices

 Metaphor

 Simile

 Alliteration

 Parallelism

d. Inclusive Language

Use “we,” “us,” “our” to connect with the audience.

e. Personalization

Stories and real-life examples enhance relatability.

7. Elements of Effective Speech Writing

a. Ethos (Credibility)

Establish trustworthiness.

b. Pathos (Emotion)

Appeal to feelings.

c. Logos (Logic)

Use facts and reasoning.

d. Tone

Should match the occasion:

 Formal

 Informal
  Serious

 Humorous

8. Common Challenges in Speech Writing

Students often struggle with:

 Lack of audience awareness

 Overloading speech with information

 Poor organization

 Use of complex language

 Weak openings and conclusions

9. Practical Illustration (Sample Speech Extract)

Topic: The Importance of Education

“Ladies and gentlemen, imagine a world where ignorance dictates

decisions and knowledge is treated as a luxury. That world is not far
from reality for millions today. Education is not just a pathway to
success—it is the foundation of freedom. When we educate one
person, we empower a generation…”

This example demonstrates:

 Engaging opening

 Emotional appeal

 Clear theme
10. Tips for Effective Speech Writing

 Know your audience deeply

 Keep sentences short and clear

 Use vivid examples

 Repeat key ideas strategically

 Practice aloud while writing

 Always revise

11. Conclusion

Speech writing is both an art and a science. It requires the logical

organization of ideas and the creative use of language to engage an
audience. A well-written speech does more than communicate—it
influences, inspires, and endures.

For students, mastering speech writing is not just an academic

requirement; it is a life skill that enhances leadership,
communication, and persuasion in every sphere of life.
Topic: Mechanics of Writing

1. Introduction to the Mechanics of Writing

 The mechanics of writing refers to the set of conventions,

rules, and practices that govern how written language is
presented.

 While grammar deals with sentence structure and

correctness, mechanics ensures that writing is clear,
professional, and readable.

 Key elements of mechanics include:

o Capitalisation

o Proper nouns

o Punctuation marks

o (and others like spelling, paragraphing, etc. — but we

will focus on the first three today).

👉 Think of mechanics as the “traffic rules” of writing: they

prevent confusion, help readers navigate meaning, and give writing
polish.
2. Capitalisation

Capitalisation is the use of uppercase (capital) letters at the

beginning of certain words. It signals importance, specificity, or
the start of something new.

2.1 Rules of Capitalisation

1. First word in a sentence

o Example:

 ✅ The boy is reading a book.

 ❌ the boy is reading a book.

2. The pronoun “I”

o Always capitalised, no matter its position.

o Example: She said that I was late.

3. Proper nouns (names of people, places, specific institutions,

titles).

o Examples:

 Chinua Achebe, Nigeria, University of Lagos,

Professor Johnson.

4. Days of the week, months, holidays

o Examples: Monday, August, Christmas, Eid-el-Fitr.

o ❌ Not seasons → summer, winter (unless part of a title:

Winter Olympics).
 5. Titles when used with names

o Example: President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Okafor, Governor

Adeleke.

o But: The president gave a speech (no name attached →

lowercase).

6. The first word of direct quotations

o Example: She said, “Today is a great day.”

7. Important words in titles of books, articles, or movies

o Capitalise major words, not articles (a, an, the),

conjunctions, or prepositions (unless they start the title).

o Example: Things Fall Apart, Gone with the Wind.

3. Proper Nouns

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

 Common nouns → general names (e.g., girl, city, book).

 Proper nouns → specific names, and they must always be

capitalised.

3.1 Examples of Proper Nouns

1. People’s names

o Nelson Mandela, Chimamanda Adichie, Wole Soyinka

2. Geographical locations

o Africa, Abuja, River Niger, Mount Kilimanjaro

 3. Institutions/Organizations

o Obafemi Awolowo University, United Nations, Microsoft

4. Brand names

o Toyota, Coca-Cola, MTN

5. Historical events/documents

o World War II, Magna Carta, Nigerian Constitution

3.2 Common Errors with Proper Nouns

 ❌ i met professor ade in lagos.

 ✅ I met Professor Ade in Lagos.

👉 Rule: Always check if the noun refers to something unique or

specific. If yes → Capitalise.

4. Punctuation Marks

Punctuation marks are symbols that help organise writing and clarify
meaning. They indicate pauses, stops, emphasis, or
relationships between ideas.

4.1 Common Punctuation Marks and Their Uses

1. Full Stop (.)

o Ends a sentence.

o Example: The lecture ended at 4 p.m.

2. Comma (,)

o Indicates a pause, separates items, or sets off additional

information.

o Examples:

 I bought rice, beans, and fish.

 Lagos, Nigeria, is a busy city.

3. Question Mark (?)

o Ends a direct question.

o Example: Have you done your assignment?

4. Exclamation Mark (!)

o Shows strong emotion or emphasis.

o Example: What a wonderful performance!

5. Colon (:)

o Introduces lists, explanations, or quotations.

o Examples:

 She bought the following: pencils, erasers, and

pens.

 The rule is clear: always capitalise proper nouns.

6. Semicolon (;)

o Joins two closely related independent clauses; separates

complex list items.

o Examples:
  I have a meeting tomorrow; however, I will attend
your party.

 We travelled to Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

7. Quotation Marks (“ ”)

o Show direct speech or quoted material.

o Example: She said, “I will be there soon.”

8. Apostrophe (’)

o Shows possession or contraction.

o Examples:

 The boy’s book (possession).

 It’s raining (= It is raining).

9. Hyphen (-) and Dash (—)

o Hyphen joins words (mother-in-law, twenty-one).

o Dash indicates a break in thought (He was going to—

wait, is that your phone?).

10. Parentheses ( )

 Enclose extra information.

 Example: The exam will be held in June (probably the second

week).
5. Classroom Practice (Quick Exercises)

1. Correct the errors in capitalisation:

o i visited lagos in june and met professor kola.

o ✅ I visited Lagos in June and met Professor Kola.

2. Identify the proper nouns:

o Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart in Nigeria.

o Proper nouns: Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Nigeria

3. Add correct punctuation:

o What are you doing said Mary

o ✅ “What are you doing?” said Mary.

6. Conclusion

 Capitalisation highlights beginnings and importance.

 Proper nouns always require capitals because they name

specific people, places, or things.

 Punctuation marks guide readers, showing where to pause,

stop, or emphasise.

👉 Mastering the mechanics of writing is like learning to dress your

words properly: it makes your writing professional, clear, and
credible.