how to write black speech

As ascended to become the new during the , he found that the who served him were divided into scattered tribes speaking mutually unintelligible dialects. therefore devised a new language to be used by all his servants, a language that came to be known as the Black Speech.

The origins of the words used in the Black Speech are obscure, but at least some of them seem to have been adopted from existing dialects. The had no language of their own, but they freely adopted and twisted words from other languages, and there are apparent examples of these words within the Black Speech.

The (who were enslaved to will) naturally adopted the Black Speech. Indeed, the word itself came from the Black Speech, being the equivalent of ' ' in that language. The proved too unruly, however, to adopt a universal tongue. Instead they retained their own multitude of dialects, though they acquired words from the Black Speech as they did from other languages. When of different tribes met, they would at times use the Black Speech as a shared language, though they would often prefer the to use the instead.

After overthrow at the end of the , the Black Speech was all but forgotten, but with the return he brought it back into use. When was reoccupied, the Black Speech was the language used by himself, his and his captains. Even the spoke a version of the tongue, though in the nature of their kind this was a broken and debased form of the Black Speech as it had originally been devised by .

Samples of the Black Speech in actual use are extremely rare, and indeed we only have two sources that provide more than a word or two. The first of these is the , the string of words running around the inside and outside of the , which read: . The translation of the inscription runs as follows:

Certain patterns stand out here that we can associate with other known fragments of the language. , for example, means ' ', and the word , 'ring', is also used in , ' '. is 'darkness', and that connects with , the name in the Black Speech for ' ' of . It should perhaps be noted that the was said to be in an ancient form of the Black Speech, implying that the language evolved in some respects, but words like and seem to have remained constant across its history.

Our only other significant source of Black Speech is rather less elevated than the : a string of curses from the against his fellow , and the he was forced to accompany across . It is said to have been in a debased form of the Black Speech, and runs u bagronk sha pushdug -glob búbhosh skai!. This is not interpreted in the text of , but a translation does appear in volume XII of : ' to the cesspool, sha! The dungfilth; the great -fool, skai!'

A handful of other words are known, but these are from sources and so may be somewhat corrupted from the original Black Speech form. Among these are , 'fire' and , 'slave'. Another example is , ' ', from which the soldier- known as the took their name. , 'old man', was another example of the same kind, further corrupted to ' ' as a name given to by his underlings during his brief rule in the .

See also...

Great Tower , Lugbúrz , Nazgûl , Orkish , Ring-inscription , Snaga , Torog , Úlairi , Uruk-hai

• Alphabetical: B

About this entry:

• Updated 25 August 2019
• This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2001, 2019. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ .

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10 Inspiring Black History Speeches That Remain Culturally Relevant

Black History Month’s observance was founded on the need to acknowledge the turmoil Black Americans have had to face throughout history, but also the necessity to celebrate Black accomplishments . Learning about these famous Black history speeches is a great way to do both of these things.

These speeches show the range of what Black Americans have had to advocate for, from the abolition of slavery, to the Civil Rights Movement to modern conversations about race and injustice . The words of these speakers empowered the Black community and impacted it in ways that are still relevant today. Here are 10 Black history speeches that changed history to acknowledge and celebrate this Black History Month.

“The Ballot or the Bullet” (1964) – Malcolm X

“The Ballot or the Bullet” is a powerful and influential speech delivered by Malcolm X on April 12, 1964, in Detroit. In this address, Malcolm X emphasized the urgency for political empowerment and self-defense within the African American community. He argued that if the government failed to address the concerns of black citizens and provide them with their constitutional rights, they should use their voting power strategically or, if necessary, resort to more forceful means to secure their rights.

Malcolm X called for unity among African Americans and rejected the notion of relying solely on nonviolent resistance, advocating for a more assertive stance in the face of systemic racism and inequality. The speech highlighted Malcolm X’s evolving ideology, moving away from the teachings of the Nation of Islam towards a broader, more inclusive perspective on the struggle for civil rights and justice.

“Ain’t I a Woman?” (1851) – Sojourner Truth

“Ain’t I a Woman?” is a historic speech delivered by Sojourner Truth at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. Born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree, Truth emerged as a passionate abolitionist and women’s rights advocate. Truth challenged prevailing stereotypes and gender-based discrimination faced by African American women in her poignant address. She eloquently questioned the prevailing notions of femininity and argued for the equal rights of black women in the suffrage and abolitionist movements.

Though there are variations in the accounts of her exact words, the essence of Truth’s speech remains a powerful testament to her resilience, determination, and commitment to dismantling the intersecting barriers of racism and sexism. “Ain’t I a Woman?” continues to resonate as a pivotal moment in the history of both the abolitionist and women’s rights movements.

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” (1852) – Frederick Douglass

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” is one of the many  powerful and searing Black history speeches delivered by Frederick Douglass. It was delivered on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. Douglass was a former enslaved person turned prominent abolitionist and used this occasion to address the glaring hypocrisy of celebrating American independence while millions of African Americans remained enslaved.

In his speech, Douglass articulated the stark contrast between the ideals of freedom and equality espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the harsh reality of slavery. He questioned the moral integrity of a nation that denied basic rights to a significant portion of its population and highlighted the stark irony of celebrating freedom while denying it to others. Douglass’ speech remains a poignant critique of the contradictions embedded in American society during the era of slavery and stands as a timeless condemnation of systemic injustice.

“A More Perfect Union” (2008) – Barack Obama

“A More Perfect Union” is a landmark speech delivered by Barack Obama on March 18, 2008, during his presidential campaign. Obama sought to confront issues of race in America head-on while addressing the nation in the wake of controversy surrounding his association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. In the speech, Obama acknowledged the complexities of race relations, emphasizing the need for an honest and open dialogue about the nation’s racial history.

He spoke about his own biracial background and the evolving American identity, urging the country to move beyond racial divisions and work towards a more inclusive and united future. The speech is notable for its eloquence, thoughtfulness, and Obama’s commitment to fostering understanding and unity in a diverse and complex nation. It played a significant role in shaping the narrative of his campaign and addressing the broader issues of race in American society.

“Black Power” (1966) – Stokely Carmichael

“Black Power” is a pivotal speech delivered by Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture) during the March Against Fear in Mississippi on June 16, 1966. It is one of the Black history speeches that played such a pivotal role in mobilizing Black Americans, but many do not know much about it today. As a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Carmichael popularized the term “Black Power,” encapsulating a call for empowerment, self-determination, and pride within the African American community.

In his speech, Carmichael emphasized the need for black people to define and assert their political and social agenda, urging them to move away from reliance on white allies and institutions. “Black Power” marked a shift in the civil rights movement, emphasizing a more assertive and militant approach to address systemic racism. The term became a rallying cry for a generation of activists advocating for black identity, pride, and autonomy in the face of ongoing racial injustice and inequality.

“I Have a Dream” (1963) – Martin Luther King Jr.

“I Have a Dream” is one of the most iconic and influential speeches in American history, not just amongst Black history speeches. It was delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In this powerful address, King passionately articulated his dream of a nation where individuals are judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. He called for an end to racial segregation and discrimination, advocating for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

King’s eloquent and inspiring words resonated far beyond the crowds gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, contributing to the momentum that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The “I Have a Dream” speech remains a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice, embodying King’s vision of a more inclusive and harmonious society.

James Baldwin’s 1965 Debate With William F. Buckley Jr.

The debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. took place on February 18, 1965, at the Cambridge University Union in England. The discussion centered on the motion “The American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro.” Baldwin passionately argued that systemic racism in the United States fundamentally contradicted the ideals of the American Dream. He eloquently articulated the harsh realities faced by African Americans, emphasizing the deep-rooted racial inequalities that persisted despite the nation’s espoused principles of freedom and equality.

Baldwin’s argument challenged the audience to confront the pervasive racism ingrained in American society. On the other hand, Buckley defended the motion, contending that progress was being made and that individual responsibility played a significant role. The debate remains a powerful moment in the history of civil rights discourse, showcasing Baldwin’s insightful critique of racial injustice in America.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s Testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention

Fannie Lou Hamer delivered a historic and powerful testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.  Hamer, a sharecropper and civil rights activist from Mississippi, passionately recounted the brutal and unjust treatment she endured for attempting to register to vote. Speaking before the credentials committee, she vividly described the physical abuse she suffered in jail, including beatings that left her with permanent injuries.

Hamer’s testimony was a poignant and unfiltered indictment of the systemic racism and violence faced by African Americans seeking to exercise their right to vote in the deeply segregated South. Her fearless and compelling words, ending with her famous declaration, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” resonated deeply and brought national attention to the plight of Black voters in the face of disenfranchisement. Hamer’s courageous testimony, significantly contributed to the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark achievement in the fight for civil rights.

W.E.B. Dubois’ 1905 Niagara Movement Speech

W.E.B. Du Bois delivered a pivotal speech at the founding meeting of the Niagara Movement on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in 1905. The Niagara Movement was a civil rights group that sought to address racial inequality and advocate for civil rights for African Americans. In his speech, Du Bois emphasized the urgency of addressing systemic racism, discrimination, and disenfranchisement faced by African Americans.

He called for an end to racial segregation, the protection of civil rights, and the promotion of higher education for African Americans. Du Bois’s Niagara Movement speech laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to civil rights activism and marked a significant moment in the early 20th-century struggle for racial equality in the United States.

“Making the Struggle Everyday” (1974) – Ella Baker

In her influential speech at the 1974n Puerto Rico solidarity rally, civil rights icon Ella Baker outlined her philosophy that the struggle for racial justice and liberation had to be an ongoing, grassroots effort embedded in daily life, not just periodic moments of activism. Baker called on listeners to make the fight against oppression and inequality a consistent part of their communities through civic engagement, leadership development, cooperative economics, and sustained political participation.

She argued real change comes from the bottom up through ordinary people taking an active role, not just relying on leaders or national movements. The speech reflected her pragmatic vision centered on community empowerment and self-determination beyond just legislative change. Baker emphasized building a “group-centered” movement through organizing, education and mobilization at the neighborhood level to make the struggle an everyday practice, not just a periodic campaign. Her speech provided a powerful blueprint for institutionalizing the fight for justice and freedom through consistent local action.

10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong

Lights, camera, action! 💡🎥🎬

The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing and the worship team is ready to unleash their heavenly melodies. It’s showtime, baby!

But you need more than just a run-of-the-mill church welcome speech and you can’t just make it up on the spot…

No, no, no! You need a great church welcome speech that’s going to welcome first-time visitors and set the right expectations.

Well, look no further because you’ve stumbled upon a goldmine of 10 dynamic church welcome speeches guaranteed to kickstart your service with a bang 💥

So let’s make your next service a service to remember , where hearts are touched, souls are stirred and lives are forever changed.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Is A Church Welcome Speech?

5 key elements of a church welcome speech, 10 church welcome speeches you can use, 4 great church welcome speech examples.

A church welcome speech is a brief address delivered at the beginning of a church service, usually by a church MC or worship leader..

More than a mere greeting, a church welcome speech is an opportunity to connect with both new and old faces, create a warm and inviting atmosphere, give valuable information and set the stage for a great worship experience.

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Whether your church is big or small, black or white, Baptist or Pentecostal, in the US or the Philippines, a great church welcome speech has 5 key elements.

Let’s walk through each one 👇

1. A Simple Introduction

The key here is to keep it short and sweet, yet warm and friendly.

As they say: less is more.

Especially when it comes to opening your church service. Say what needs to be said and move on.

A good church welcome officially starts the service and gets everyone focused, so give a quick introduction of yourself and the church.

This can be as simple as “Good morning and welcome to Grace Church. I’m Abi and it’s great to see you all here.”

2. Set Expectations

When done right, the person opening the service can help raise the faith level of your church right before entering into worship.

Help set the tone by giving everyone a general idea of what’s going to happen. You don’t need to give a minute-by-minute breakdown of the service, just a quick overview is good enough.

This is a good place to mention your current sermon series  or special guest speaker if you have one.

3. Give Useful Information

Give everyone the practical information they need to relax and feel comfortable.

Gently remind people to put phones on silent, tell them they’ll be coffee afterwards and point out where the Kid’s Church and bathrooms are.

4. Welcome Visitors

It’s good to take a moment to specifically welcome first-time guests and let them know you’re glad they’re here.

Launching your service this way is not only a great way to make church visitors feel at home :

It also helps outward-focused culture and sends a clear message to members that this is a safe place they can invite their family and friends to.

If your church has visitor connect cards (so you can do follow-up later) ask them to fill them out and drop them in the offering basket as it passes by.

5. End With What’s Next

Now you’ve officially opened up the meeting, it’s time to transition into the next part of the service.

If you’re going into worship, have everyone stand. Lead everyone in a faith-filled prayer welcoming the Holy Spirit to move in hearts and minds.

If it’s the sermon next, thank God for His Word, pray that their hearts and minds be ready to receive what God has to say to his people, then have everyone clap their hands to welcome the preacher.

I’m going to share with you 10 church welcome speech outlines you can use at your next Sunday morning service or church event.

Use these to inspire you and spark new ideas and feel free to adapt them to your local church setting to make them your own.

Church Welcome Speech #1

Good morning and welcome to [CHURCH NAME]. My name’s [YOUR NAME] and if you’re visiting us for the first time here, thank you for coming! It’s great to have you with us.

You’ll find a connect card in [LOCATION], it would be great if you could fill that out – we’d love to get to know you better.

In the next [NUMBER OF MINUTES] we’re going to enjoy a time of worship before [PREACHER NAME] talks to us about [SERMON TOPIC]. It’s going to be good!

Please remember [to collect your children from/turn your phones on silent or any other useful info here].

Please join with me in prayer. [PRAYER].  As the worship team starts playing, let us stand together in singing [SONG TITLE].

Church Welcome Speech #2

Hi! I’m [YOUR NAME] and a very warm welcome to you. It’s so good to see so many smiling faces this morning!

If this is your first time at [CHURCH NAME] I want to extend a special warm welcome to you, it’s great to have you with us.

Please take a moment and fill out the connect card that can be found [LOCATION]. That’ll really help us get to know you a little bit better and know how we can serve or pray for you.

This week we start a brand 4-week series called [SERMON SERIES NAME] where we’re going to be talking about [TOPIC]. I know that God is going to speak to us, amen?

Before I go, let me just remind you that [USEFUL INFO HERE].

That being said, let’s get ready to [NEXT STEP HERE].

OK, let’s pray together. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #3

Good morning! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME], the place where miracles happen and lives are changed. My name is [YOUR NAME] and whether you’re a longtime member or a first-time visitor, we’re excited to have you with us.

At [CHURCH NAME], we believe that each person who walks through these doors is here for a divine purpose and today, we have a powerful service planned just for you.

We’re gonna dive into worship and lift our voices and hearts in praise to our amazing God. We’ll also have a thought-provoking message that will challenge and inspire you to grow in your faith.

For our first-time visitors, we have a special gift prepared just for you. Be sure to stop by our welcome table after the service to receive your gift and connect with our friendly team members.

Before we proceed, let’s take a moment to greet those around us and extend a warm welcome to everyone in our church family. Go ahead and share a smile, a handshake or even a high-five.

Now let’s prepare our hearts and minds as we enter into a time of worship together and let’s get ready to encounter God in a powerful way.

Church Welcome Speech #4

Before we kick off the service we’d just like to take a moment to welcome everybody to [CHURCH NAME].

We’re thrilled to have you with us today as we worship and seek God’s face and get wisdom from God’s Word.

Before we do that though, just a few important announcements:

This Friday, we have a special prayer night where we will intercede for the needs of our church and community. We invite you to join us. here at [CHURCH NAME] we believe in the power of prayer!

We also have Connect Groups available for all ages where you connect with God and each other.

If you’re interested in joining a connect group or volunteering in one of our service teams, please visit the Connect Corner after the service.

Other than that, all that’s left for me to say is let’s lean in today. Let’s lean with expectant hearts ready to receive what God has for us.

Let’s stand and pray together [PRAYER].

Church Welcome Speech #5

Hello, hello, hello! Is everyone ready to have an amazing time in the presence of God today? I know I am!

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I have the privilege of serving as [YOUR ROLE] here at [CHURCH NAME]. I want to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you and we ‘re excited to have you here today .

Whether you’re a familiar face or a first-time visitor, [CHURCH NAME] is a place where we come together as a family to celebrate, grow, and encounter the life-transforming power of God.

Today, we have an incredible service planned just for you. Get ready to experience passionate worship and hear a message that I know will speak directly to your heart.

So, once again, welcome to [CHURCH NAME]. Open your hearts, open your minds and expect God to move in a powerful way today.

Now let’s enter into worship together, knowing that we serve a great big God who is faithful and who desires to meet us right where we are.

Let’s pray. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #6

Good morning everyone and welcome to [CHURCH NAME], a place where normal people encounter an extraordinary God.

Today, we invite you to join us in a worship experience that will stir your soul and draw you closer to God’s presence.

After the service, we encourage you to visit our Connect Corner, where you can learn more about our various connect groups, ministries and service opportunities.

We believe that each person has a unique role to play in building God’s kingdom, and we’d love to help you find your place of service and connection within our church family.

Let’s pray as we have a time of worship and hear God’s Word together. [PRAYER]

Church Welcome Speech #7

Well, well, well! Look who decided to grace us with their presence today. It’s none other than the incredible congregation of [CHURCH NAME]!

Give yourselves a round of applause for making it here on this beautiful day.

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m thrilled you could join us for Sunday service.

Before we kick things off, why don’t you spread some joyful vibes and warm welcomes by high-fiving, fist-bumping or jazz-handing the person next to you.

Today is going to be good!

After worship, we’re going to hear a special message from Pastor [NAME] that I know is going to stretch our faith and help us to believe God for more.

So remember to put your phone on silent and of course, feel free to join us for coffee and treats after the service in the [LOCATION]. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet and connect.

And to our first-time visitors, welcome! Grab a welcome pack after the service—it’s filled with goodies and surprises just for you.

Right now we’re going to enter into a time of worship so feel free to stand, sit or dance in the aisles. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, Amen?

So let’s make a joyful noise!

Church Welcome Speech #8

Hello and a massive welcome to [CHURCH NAME] on this beautiful [CHRISTMAS/EASTER] morning!

My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am so excited to be worshipping with you today. If you’re a visitor with us, thank you so much for coming and celebrating [CHRISTMAS/EASTER] with us.

For those with us for the first time, I’d love it if you could fill out the connect card that’s [LOCATION] and kindly drop it on the offering plate as it comes by. Thank you, this will just help us get to know you better.

I know we’ve got a lot coming up for you today. We’re going to kick things off here with a time of worship before we hear a special [CHRISTMAS/EASTER} message from [PREACHER NAME]. After that [INCLUDE ANY OTHER SPECIAL ELEMENTS].

Please note that [USEFUL INFO HERE].

Right, are we ready? Let’s pray. [PRAYER] [NEXT STEP]

Church Welcome Speech #9

Good morning, friends! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME] and I’m thrilled to be here with you today as we start this incredible worship experience.

Let’s just take a moment to connect with one another. Find someone nearby, give them a warm smile, and let them know how glad you are to see them.

Now, get ready for a time of worship in the presence of God. Then, after worship, we will have a powerful message which will challenge and inspire us in our faith.

If you’re new here, we’re delighted to have you join us. We have visitor connect cards available, where you can share your contact information and any prayer requests you may have.

Feel free to fill out the cards and drop them in the designated box. We would love to connect with you and support you in any way we can.

For families with children aged 3 to 12, we have an exciting Kids Church program available.

And after the service, we invite everyone to join us for a time of fellowship and refreshments in the [LOCATION]. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new people.

To our first-time visitors, we extend a special welcome. We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to worship with us today.

Please feel free to approach our friendly volunteers at the welcome desk, who will be more than happy to assist you, answer any questions you may have, and provide you with a small gift as a token of our appreciation.

Now, let’s enter into a time of worship. Let’s lift our voices, open our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit to fill this place.

Church Welcome Speech #10

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to [CHURCH NAME]! It’s wonderful to see so many beautiful faces here this morning!

Now, if you’re joining us for the first time today, we want to extend a special welcome to you. Would you please stand?

Let’s give them a warm round of applause, everyone! It’s great to have you!

Our ushers will be coming around with a special welcome pack designed just for you. It contains helpful information about our church, upcoming events, and ways to get connected.

We want you to feel at home and supported as you explore what our church has to offer. Don’t hesitate to ask our ushers any questions you may have or let them know how we can serve you better.

Before we dive into a time of worship and listen to a great word from Pastor [NAME] I have just a couple of announcements.

Firstly, I want to invite you all to join us this coming Friday for our special prayer night. It’s a powerful time of seeking God’s presence and interceding for our church, community, and the world. Mark your calendars and be part of this transformative experience.

Also, if you’re not already part of a connect group, we have an incredible network of connect groups across the city that meet every Wednesday where you can grow in your relationship with God and one another.

We have a Connect Table at the back where you can find out more so be sure to visit after the service.

Once again, thank you to each and every one of you for being with us and we know where 2 or more are gathered in His name, He is here with us, amen?

Let’s stand together and pray as we enter into worship. [PRAYER]

I wanted to end things here with some real-life examples and give you my thoughts on what I think works well. 

It’s good to keep your speeches becoming predictable by mixing them up a little.

Here are 4 different styles and approaches you could take in your church:

1. The Comedic Approach

What a clever and funny way to open the service! Almost rapping, he does a great job of welcoming visitors, having them stand while the church applauds.

I also like how he sets expectations, saying “Today is Youth Sunday” .

2. The Evangelistic Approach

This wonderful woman has a really warm but powerful way of welcoming people to the church.

She starts off by getting people ready to worship and hear the Word. This can be a powerful way to set the tone for the rest of the service.

She introduces the church pastors and even points them out individually. This might work well depending on your style of church.

I was surprised to hear her nearly do an alter call saying “Don’t leave here today without knowing Jesus.”

She’s passionate and friendly, everything you want in someone giving the welcome at your church.

3. The Helpful Approach

This welcome takes less than a minute but works really well and is a great example of how we can make our church services more welcoming for guests.

He leads by introducing himself saying he’s part of the hospitality team and makes himself available if he can help them in any way, right before asking first-time visitors to stand up and thank them for coming.

4. The Faith-Fuelled Approach

This next one is short and sweet, but it’s a masterclass on how to use your church welcome speech to raise the faith level through the roof!

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Over To You

There you go – you now have 10 church welcome speeches to choose from for next Sunday!

If you really want to mix it up then take a look at these 36 church welcome poems .

And if you found this post useful, be sure to check out our step-by-step guides:

• How To Make Church Visitors Feel Welcome
• How To Make A Church Welcome Pack
• 5 Common-Sense Church Greeting Tips
• 10 Ways To Get More First-Time People Into Your Church
• How To Be A Church MC: Tips & Scripts For Seamless Services

Now it’s time to hand it over to you:

What do you say in your church welcome speech?

And do you have any tips for giving a better welcome speech at the start of the service?

Let us know in the comments below! 🙏

18 thoughts on “10 Church Welcome Speeches You Can Use To Start Strong”

this is awesome, thanks for the ideas

Very helpful, thanks for sharing

These guide lines are very good and they are very brief

God bless you

Thanks you for that Spiritual Food,God Bless you Always.

Right back at ya Lynn! You got this! 🙂

These guidelines are super. God richly bless you.. I

This was very helpful

thank you so much it is very helpful

very helpful and we’ll articulated

You made a good point that having a strong welcome speech that has emphasis on evangelization can help a lot in making the people ready for worship. I’m planning to get church worship services for my neighborhood association that will be celebrating its foundation day on December. If the quarantine has been lifted by then, I think having a thanksgiving Mass would be ideal for that gathering.

Very helpful, glad I found your site.

Thanks so much for this write up. I found it when looking for welcome Speech. It’s very detailed. Thanks

Great examples/ very usecul

I feel so bless coming across your site. I was assigned to do a welcome remark and I was about to refuse but thought of like saying “no” to Jesus. I prayed for guidance and Holy Spirit led me to it. Thank you for the wonderful ideas. Bless you Bishop!

I’m the one welcoming new members to church next Sunday… God bless you for this.. I really need it

Bishop T. Randolph January 4, 2019 I love it!!! This is what I was used to growing up; This has been forsaken in many churches, even in my own. I shall re-enter this in our church services. To God be the glory and I thank God for you and His leading me to your site! We pray you be forever blessed in your purpose for God,The Father!

This is awesome God bless you

Bless you too, I’m glad you found these welcome speeches helpful!

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Black History Month Speech

I'd like to begin by saying how pleased I am to have been invited to speak here today. It's truly an honor to join all of you in recognizing Black History Month.

A wise person once said that a good speech should be like a comet: Dazzling, eye-opening and over before you know it. I don't know how well I can do on the first two, so I'll try to achieve the third! Black History Month started in 1926 as a way to recognize the achievements of people of African descent. When it first began, the celebration lasted just a week. Maybe they realized there were just too many good things to talk about in that short amount of time. Historian Carter G. Woodsen selected the second week of February because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

It's a wonderful time to step back and recognize the many great gifts African Americans have brought to our nation. Just reflect on some names with me for a moment - Frederick Douglass; Sojourner Truth; Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King Jr; Malcom X; Nikki Giovanni; W.E.B. Dubois; Rosa Parks. How different would our country be without these leaders and the myriad of others who fought for Civil Rights? These people have helped us learn what strength is, what perseverance is. They broke down barriers, they stood against injustice, they helped us pull together as a nation and overcome our darkest days. These people and so many others helped us build toward a greater nation where people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

And its not just Civil Rights where African Americans have made their mark. Think about music - what would music be without Louis Armstrong; Aretha Franklin; Michael Jackson; Whitney Houston; Tupac Shakur; Beyonce. Without African American contributions to music we'd be without jazz, blues, rap, hip hop, R and B, and arguably, even rock and roll.

Or how about these. Literature - Maya Angelou and Ralph Ellison. Science - George Washington Carver and Neil Degrasse Tyson. Entrepreneurship, Madame C.J. Walker and Dr Dre. Sports - Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Politics - Condoleeza Rice and Barack Obama. The list could go on and on. African Americans have made enormous impacts in every single area of American life.

What makes this so amazing is that it has simply not been that long since black Americans were legally excluded from so many aspects of American life. For the young people here, I know it seems like ancient history, but for those of us with a few years on us, many of us have seen how much life has changed for African Americans even in the past few decades.

(SPEAKER CAN ADD PERSONAL ANECDOTE HERE ABOUT PROGRESS SEEN IN LIFETIME IF DESIRED)

It hasn't been an easy struggle. We don't have to go all the way back in history to slavery to see the effects of institutional racism in our country. You can go back to events that happened in the lifetimes of many people here. The court case Brown versus Board of Education should have ended school segregation in 1954 and started us down the road to integration. Yet just a few years later, we see the Civil Rights Act of 1957. And then the Civil Rights Act of 1960, then the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and on and on.

The laws kept coming to try to combat racism, but people kept on finding new ways to try to keep the status qou going. Fortunately, other people kept on fighting to beat back the injustice, to beat back the segregation and discrimination perpetrated on the black community. That struggle continues today.

That's part of why we gather here today to celebrate black history. We honor those who came before. We celebrate how far we've come as a society, but we also honor those who continue the struggle today - for the struggle is far from over.

We look at the past and applaud those who came before for doing great things. It's easy to look back to the past and see who was on the right side of history, separated as we are by years and years. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, as the saying goes. It is easy to stand here today and say, school segregation was wrong. Slavery was wrong. Denying people the right to vote was wrong.

We mustn't forget that part of the struggle in that time was that good people stood by and watched as the bad happened. Good people remained neutral and looked the other way so they wouldn't have to do the hard thing and stand up for what was right.

In the words of Desmond Tutu, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."

I want to challenge you today to take this black history month and think of our place in history today. Which side of history will you stand on? We all know we still have a lot of problems, and that many of those problems can be traced to racism. You only have to read the news to see how injustice still affects the black community today. Don't be neutral. Make a commitment that you won't look the other way when the elephant stands on the mouse's tail. Make a promise to yourself to speak up when you see injustice.

I also want to ask you to listen. Engage people with views different than your own and share your perspective, but also listen. Listen with kindness in your heart, not anger. If we listen to each other, if we treat each other with respect, we can find ways to overcome our modern day problems together.

Thank you again for the honor speaking with you today. It has truly been a pleasure.

I'd like to leave you with a quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." Let us all work to be the light that drives out darkness. If we work together, we can continue to make great strides to a better future.

More information : We hope this page was helpful and provided you with the Black History Month Speech . Check out more anecdotes or our main page for more articles here Can U Write .

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If You Want to Write a Great Speech, Here’s How to Do It

Writing a speech isn’t all that different than writing for other mediums. You need to know your audience, the required length, and the purpose or topic. This is true whether your speech is for a business conference, a wedding, a school project, or any other scenario.

But there’s something about speech writing that’s especially nerve-wracking .

If you write and deliver a speech that doesn’t go over well, you’ll get feedback in real time. The people sitting in front of you could lose interest, start talking, doze off, or even wander out of the room. (Don’t worry, only audiences in movies throw tomatoes).

Of course, a poor speech is not the end of the world. You can give plenty of crummy speeches and live to tell the tale.

But we also know that a great speech is capable of changing the world. Or at least sparking an audience’s imagination, catapulting your business into success, earning an A+ on your assignment, or ensuring that the bride and groom are still friends with you after the wedding.

So if you’re feeling stressed over your impending speech writing duties, fret no more! Today we’re breaking down for you the step-by-step process of exactly how to write a great speech.

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.

Your writing, at its best Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

1 Tips to write (and live) by

Let’s start with the 30,000 foot, big-picture view. These are the tenets that will guide you in your speech writing process (and pretty much anything else you want to write).

• Know the purpose: What are you trying to accomplish with your speech? Educate, inspire, entertain, argue a point? Your goals will dictate the tone and structure, and result in dramatically different speeches.
• Know your audience: Your speech should be tailored for your audience, both in terms of ideas and language. If you’re speaking at a sound healer convention, you won’t need to explain the concept of energetic blocks. And if you’re speaking to an octogenarians-only quilting circle, you probably shouldn’t drop as many F-bombs as you would with your local biker gang.
• Know the length: You don’t want to underwhelm or overwhelm your audience.Ten minutes may be too short for your keynote address, but it’s probably too long for your best man speech. Don’t leave things up to chance. Your writing process will be much easier if you keep your eye on your target length.
• Write, revise, practice, revise, practice…: MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech wasn’t written in a day. Give yourself the time you need to practice your material and work through multiple drafts. Don’t expect to nail everything on the first try.

2 The step-by-step process

Still feeling stressed over how to get started? Here’s how to write your speech from concept to completion.

Step 1: Outline your speech’s structure. What are the main ideas for each section?

Step 2: Flesh out the main ideas in your outline. Don’t worry about finding the perfect words. Just let your creativity flow and get it all out!

Step 3: Edit and polish what you’ve written until you have a cohesive first draft of your speech

Step 4: Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice your speech the more you’ll discover which sections need reworked, which transitions should be improved, and which sentences are hard to say. You’ll also find out how you’re doing on length.

Step 5: Update, practice, and revise your speech until it has a great flow and you feel it’s ready to accomplish its purpose.

3 The universal structure

Getting hung up on Step 1? Here’s a structure you can follow for any type of speech.

Introduction

Who are you, why are are you giving this speech, what is your main thesis?

The “who” and “why” can be longer or shorter depending on the context. For example, if you’re speaking at a wedding, you’ll want to explain your relationship to the bride and groom and why they mean so much to you. But if you’re presenting to your class at school, you may be able to head straight into your thesis.

If you’re presenting in a business or motivational setting, this is a crucial time to hook your audience’s attention and pique their curiosity. Typically someone else will have already introduced you and your accolades, so use this to your advantage and dive straight in.

“Hi everyone, it’s great to be here! As Kevin just said, I’ve been an urban beet farmer for 30 years, and a couple years back I got this absolutely crazy idea. What if…”

Main message

Idea 1, Idea 2, Idea 3…

The majority of your speech should be spent presenting your thesis and supporting material in a simple, organized way.

Whether you’re giving an inspirational talk or a business presentation, rambling is a sure-fire way to lose your audience’s attention. Don’t try to share absolutely everything you know on your topic, instead pick a few (two to five) key points to present to your audience.

Stick to one point at a time and finish the thought before you move on to the next. Build in clear, logical transitions from idea to idea.

Want to make your speech memorable? Studies have shown our brains are great at remember stories! As much as is appropriate, make your speech personal and include your own anecdotes and thoughts.

We’re also better at remembering big ideas if they’re condensed into a few memorable words, so do your best to sum up your thesis.

“I have a dream.”

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

“Make good art.”

What do you want your audience to walk out of the room remembering?

Wrap everything up and drive home your main idea, whether that’s through providing a few (one to three) key takeaways, or telling one last story that perfectly illustrates your point.

Here are some examples of how your outline might look

As a researcher presenting your findings…

Introduction: Explain the key problem or question of your research.

Main message: Describe the research process, then describe your three key findings.

Takeaway: Present your conclusions and their implications, then your next steps for moving forward.

As the maid of honor giving a speech at your best friend’s wedding…

Introduction: Explain who you are and how you met the bride.

Main message: Recount three funny and heartwarming stories about your decades-long friendship with her, plus your first impressions of the groom.

Takeaway: Wrap things up by expounding on how amazing the bride and groom’s love for each other is, how they’re meant to be together, and how you know their love will last a lifetime. …L’chaim!

What are your favorite tips for writing a great speech?

Here’s a tip: Grammarly’s  Citation Generator  ensures your essays have flawless citations and no plagiarism. Try it for citing speeches in Chicago , MLA , and APA styles.

More From Forbes

Honoring black history starts with knowing black history; here’s how to begin.

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February has been set aside as Black History month, a practice that began officially in 1976 when President Gerald Ford declared February as Black History month, “urging the public to ‘seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.’” But its origins date much further back to 1926 when noted historian Carter G. Woodsen, the Harvard-trained historian, and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other people of African descent, set aside a week in February to honor Black history.

As two white men actively involved in racial justice work and trying to learn what it means to be antiracist, we wanted to see how tainted our current understanding of Black history was, and what we needed to learn to be better informed.

To be sure, there is no shortage of conflicting narratives available to misinform perspectives on this topic. Everything from disinformation about Critical Race Theory – what it is, what it means, and what it’s not, to those attempting to hijack the month’s focus for political or economic gain. For example, you have leaders like Virginia’s governor Glenn Youngkin issuing an executive order to ban Critical Race Theory from places it never existed while simultaneously declaring, “We must equip our teachers to teach our students the entirety of our history – both good and bad. From the horrors of American slavery and segregation, and our country’s treatment of Native Americans…” with no tangible plans to measure whether or not such education is actually happening. Then there’s numerous examples of organizations who promised to stand for racial equity in the tragic wake of George Floyd’s murder, but whose actions since haven’t yielded much. Many organizations are hosting lunches, lectures, and events this month to celebrate some version of Black history, and honor the experience of Black people in America. But those events sometimes prove little more than tokenistic when you view them against the backdrop of the volume of information kept from mainstream conversations about actual Black history. Journalist Nathalie Baptiste offers a proactive suggestion: Cancel Black history month. She suggests ,

“Black History month is increasingly being co-opted by the people who have yet to trade in their whistles for bullhorns. It has been commercialized, whitewashed and hijacked — so let’s put an end to this version of it. If, as Dr. Cornel West coined it, Martin Luther King Jr. has been ‘Santa Claus-ified ,’ then Black History Month has become Christmas… Actual Black history is more important than ever, but the way it’s been commodified has turned it into a veil…to pontificate about Blackness in a way that does more harm than good. Every February, they can regurgitate the same whitewashed stories of Black people, and in turn, it’s easier to spend the other 11 months being racist and excusing it with the fact that they “honor” Rosa Parks once a year.”

While her observations aren’t wrong, we worry about throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. Since we’ve set aside the month for a noble purpose, let’s actually elevate what we do, individually and collectively, to live up to that purpose.

We spoke with Dr. Zoe Spencer , an Emmy award winning writer, author, activist professor of sociology at Virginia State University and CEO of Diverse Relations Group LLC. Most importantly, she is a Black mother, grandmother, and freedom fighter. Given her depth of expertise in this area, we wanted to hear her views on how to reclaim Black History month to live up to its true intended purpose. She says,

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“The biggest challenge with Black History month is that it perpetuates the myth that Black history began with enslavement in the United States. That's Black American history. But that is an erasure of Black history. It allows Europeans and Americans to recreate the narrative of what Africa was before colonialism and imperialism. It erases the contributions of great African civilizations, universities like Timbuktu, the existence of great African leaders like Mansa Musa, Hatshepsut, and others. We need to keep reminding people that slave traders didn’t steal slaves from Africa. They stole doctors, teachers, scientists, writers, artists, kings, queens, philosophers, parents, and children. Their brilliance was hidden behind distorted images and narratives that Africans were savages and subhuman. And those narratives continue today.”

Map of Africa shows vast array of talented, accomplished contributors to world civilization that ... [+] originate from Africa, including those enslaved

If you want to participate in Black History month in a way that enriches your knowledge, widens your perspective, and advances the cause for which Black history month was established in the first place, here are some things you can do.

Test Your Assumptions About Black History

Dr. Spencer encourages people to be curious, brave, and test their assumptions about Black history. You can start by asking yourself:

1. What biases do I carry about Black history? Does my version of Black history begin with enslavement? What did my upbringing and education teach me?

2. Do I believe that African slaves couldn’t read or write?

3. Was I led to believe that racism ended after Martin Luther King gave his “I have dream Speech”?

Take time to examine what you learned and how it may have shaped the assumptions you have today.

Here’s an experiment: Take out a piece of paper and make two columns. In Column A, write down the names of all the key Black figures you learned about in school. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, etc. What were you taught about their role in history? In Column B, write down the names of the white people you learned about in school. Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and what they were known for. Now reflect on a few questions about the two lists.

Reflection Questions:

1. If you were to put dates next to the people you learned about in history, what assumptions might you develop about when Black history and white history began? (e.g. Martin Luther King 1960s, Christopher Columbus 1492)

2. If you look at the roles people played in history, what assumptions might you develop about white people and people of color? (White people discovered, founded, freed, and protected your country, Black people fought for rights and equality.)

3. Imagine for a second that everyone in column B was Black and everyone in Column A was white. How do you think that would shape your identity? How would that alter your education and upbringing?

Be Brave Enough to Challenge Your Version of History

Dr. Zoe Spencer, Virginia State University

The history that is taught in schools and presented in the media is a small part of the story. And if you want to be informed, you must be willing to hear the part of the story that may be hard to digest. As Dr. Spencer shares, “If you are living in ignorance, it may make you feel better to believe the fallacies of white supremacy, but you're still ignorant, nonetheless. To be able to learn the real history and situate yourself within that truth gives power. Don’t be afraid to unlearn.”

It can be challenging to learn a version of history that contradicts the one you were taught. Cognitive dissonance is the psychological stress one feels when two ideas are not psychologically consistent with each other. As you start learning, notice if your mind wants to scroll away, change the channel, or turn off the podcast when you hear something that makes you uncomfortable. Dr. Spencer shares, “Learning the truth about Black history isn't designed to make white people feel guilty. Because what value is there in guilt? If you read or hear something that makes you uncomfortable, you have two choices. You can engage it with guilt, which allows you to shut down, or you can choose bravery, which allows you to understand it and realize, “Yes, that was hard, but now I know more than I knew before, and that makes me a better person.” Challenge the privilege of being able to ignore something when it makes you uncomfortable and, instead, be brave and say, “How fascinating, I didn’t know this,” and keep expanding your awareness.

Of the many things we learned, one of the most surprising was the extent to which brilliant Black innovators were denied credit and patents for their inventions, and even more astonishing was the degree to which Black innovators had credit stolen for everyday breakthroughs that today make our lives easier. Everything from home security systems, to refrigerated trucks to elevator doors were created by, but not credited to, Black inventors. Even Eli Whitney’s 1794 patent for the cotton gin had its origins in slave workers who created a comb-like device to separate cotton seeds, from which Whitney was said to have “borrowed” the idea.

Honor Black History month by learning more. There is a treasure trove of resources available to begin your journey. The podcast Seeing White is a profoundly rich series of conversations that certainly opened up both of our eyes, as is the podcast series from The New York Times, 1619 . Further, a newly released documentary, Who We Are , now in theaters, is a powerful call to action for all of us. Ibram Kendi’s bestselling “ How to be an Antiracist ” provides insightful guidance for those wanting to learn how to effectively advocate for people of color

Examine How the Media Shapes Your Narrative

When you turn on the TV, watch a movie, or passively scroll through social media, pay attention to how what you see shapes your narrative about race. Dr. Spencer offers a challenge. “Turn on the TV or scroll through the news and see at any given time how many Black faces you see in mainstream media. Imagine the psychological impact that has on both people of color and white people. What message does that send about the relevance of your being? Think about the subtle ways that white supremacy is reinforced through representation of what is or isn’t normative.”

Take five minutes right now and scroll through a couple of your go-to news sources and social platforms. How many people of color do you see? How many white people do you see? What stories or products are they associated with? Think for a minute how what you see each day shapes your narrative.

Challenge Unfounded Narratives when you Hear Them

As you learn more about history, you may start to notice more of the unfounded narratives appearing in conversations and social media posts of those around you. Respectfully challenge them. This doesn’t mean getting into a debate or harshly criticizing others, but by simply asking “ What is that based on? ” “ What do you think you were taught that makes you believe this? ”, you can interrupt that narrative with new information. If the person is receptive, share what you have been learning and help them expand their perspective.

Black History month doesn’t need to remain tokenistic while continuing to mask truths, sometimes hard truths, about actual Black history. It can be a meaningful, honorable, and transformative experience for all of us if we are courageous, humble, and honest enough to double-click on the superficial, stereotypical puffery and discover the wealth of knowledge lying beneath them. Racism is steeped in ignorance. One antidote to ignorance is knowledge and the accompanying humility to concede we might have been misinformed. As Dr. Spencer challenged us, “If our shared histories were interwoven into our daily lived experiences through education, media, politics, and economics, we wouldn't need a Black History month. So, what if Black History month, instead of benefitting the power structure and reinforcing the dominant narratives of Black inferiority, expanded our knowledge of and respect for Black contributions to world civilization? What if we saw it as one story of the human race, instead of a separate story we have to call out once a year?”

That would indeed be a true Black History month. And it’s up to us White folks to go first.

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How to write a good speech in 7 steps

By:  Susan Dugdale  

- an easily followed format for writing a great speech

Did you know writing a speech doesn't have be an anxious, nail biting experience?

Unsure? Don't be.

You may have lived with the idea you were never good with words for a long time. Or perhaps giving speeches at school brought you out in cold sweats.

However learning how to write a speech is relatively straight forward when you learn to write out loud.

And that's the journey I am offering to take you on: step by step.

To learn quickly, go slow

Take all the time you need. This speech format has 7 steps, each building on the next.

Walk, rather than run, your way through all of them. Don't be tempted to rush. Familiarize yourself with the ideas. Try them out.

I know there are well-advertised short cuts and promises of 'write a speech in 5 minutes'. However in reality they only truly work for somebody who already has the basic foundations of speech writing in place.

The foundation of good speech writing 

These steps are the backbone of sound speech preparation. Learn and follow them well at the outset and yes, given more experience and practice you could probably flick something together quickly. Like any skill, the more it's used, the easier it gets.

In the meantime...

Step 1: Begin with a speech overview or outline

Are you in a hurry? Without time to read a whole page? Grab ... The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist And come back to get the details later.

• WHO you are writing your speech for (your target audience)
• WHY you are preparing this speech. What's the main purpose of your speech? Is it to inform or tell your audience about something? To teach them a new skill or demonstrate something? To persuade or to entertain? (See 4 types of speeches: informative, demonstrative, persuasive and special occasion or entertaining for more.) What do you want them to think, feel or do as a result of listening the speech?
• WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic) - You'll want to have thought through your main points and have ranked them in order of importance. And have sorted the supporting research you need to make those points effectively.
• HOW much time you have for your speech eg. 3 minutes, 5 minutes... The amount of time you've been allocated dictates how much content you need. If you're unsure check this page: how many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide . You'll find estimates of the number of words required for 1 - 10 minute speeches by slow, medium and fast talkers.

Use an outline

The best way to make sure you deliver a perfect speech is to start by carefully completing a speech outline covering the essentials: WHO, WHY, WHAT and HOW.

Beginning to write without thinking your speech through is a bit like heading off on a journey not knowing why you're traveling or where you're going to end up. You can find yourself lost in a deep, dark, murky muddle of ideas very quickly!

Pulling together a speech overview or outline is a much safer option. It's the map you'll follow to get where you want to go.

Get a blank speech outline template to complete

Click the link to find out a whole lot more about preparing a speech outline . ☺ You'll also find a free printable blank speech outline template.  I recommend using it!

Understanding speech construction

Before you begin to write, using your completed outline as a guide, let's briefly look at what you're aiming to prepare.

• an opening or introduction
• the body where the bulk of the information is given
• and an ending (or summary).

Imagine your speech as a sandwich

If you think of a speech as a sandwich you'll get the idea.

The opening and ending are the slices of bread holding the filling (the major points or the body of your speech) together.

You can build yourself a simple sandwich with one filling (one big idea) or you could go gourmet and add up to three or, even five. The choice is yours.

But whatever you choose to serve, as a good cook, you need to consider who is going to eat it! And that's your audience.

So let's find out who they are before we do anything else. 

Step 2: Know who you are talking to

Understanding your audience.

Did you know a  good speech is never written from the speaker's point of view?  ( If you need to know more about why check out this page on  building rapport .)

Begin with the most important idea/point on your outline.

Consider HOW you can explain (show, tell) that to your audience in the most effective way for them to easily understand it.   

Writing from the audience's point of view

To help you write from an audience point of view, it's a good idea to identify either a real person or the type of person who is most likely to be listening to you.

Make sure you select someone who represents the "majority" of the people who will be in your audience. That is they are neither struggling to comprehend you at the bottom of your scale or light-years ahead at the top.

Now imagine they are sitting next to you eagerly waiting to hear what you're going to say. Give them a name, for example, Joe, to help make them real.

Ask yourself

• How do I need to tailor my information to meet Joe's needs? For example, do you tell personal stories to illustrate your main points? Absolutely! Yes. This is a very powerful technique. (Click storytelling in speeches to find out more.)
• What type or level of language is right for Joe as well as my topic? For example if I use jargon (activity, industry or profession specific vocabulary) will it be understood?

Step 3: Writing as you speak

Writing oral language.

Write down what you want to say about your first main point as if you were talking directly to Joe.

If it helps, say it all out loud before you write it down and/or record it.

Use the information below as a guide

(Click to download The Characteristics of Spoken Language  as a pdf.) 

You do not have to write absolutely everything you're going to say down * but you do need to write down, or outline, the sequence of ideas to ensure they are logical and easily followed.

Remember too, to explain or illustrate your point with examples from your research. 

( * Tip: If this is your first speech the safety net of having everything written down could be just what you need. It's easier to recover from a patch of jitters when you have a word by word manuscript than if you have either none, or a bare outline. Your call!)

Step 4: Checking tone and language

The focus of this step is re-working what you've done in Step 2 and 3.

You identified who you were talking to (Step 2) and in Step 3, wrote up your first main point.  Is it right? Have you made yourself clear?  Check it.

How well you complete this step depends on how well you understand the needs of the people who are going to listen to your speech.

Please do not assume because you know what you're talking about the person (Joe) you've chosen to represent your audience will too. Joe is not a mind-reader!

How to check what you've prepared

• Check the "tone" of your language . Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
• Check the length of your sentences. You need short sentences. If they're too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.

Check for jargon too. These are industry, activity or group exclusive words.

For instance take the phrase: authentic learning . This comes from teaching and refers to connecting lessons to the daily life of students. Authentic learning is learning that is relevant and meaningful for students. If you're not a teacher you may not understand the phrase.

The use of any vocabulary requiring insider knowledge needs to be thought through from the audience perspective. Jargon can close people out.

• Read what you've written out loud. If it flows naturally, in a logical manner, continue the process with your next main idea. If it doesn't, rework.

We use whole sentences and part ones, and we mix them up with asides or appeals e.g. "Did you get that? Of course you did. Right...Let's move it along. I was saying ..."

Click for more about the differences between spoken and written language .

And now repeat the process

Repeat this process for the remainder of your main ideas.

Because you've done the first one carefully, the rest should follow fairly easily.

Step 5: Use transitions

Providing links or transitions between main ideas.

Between each of your main ideas you need to provide a bridge or pathway for your audience. The clearer the pathway or bridge, the easier it is for them to make the transition from one idea to the next.

If your speech contains more than three main ideas and each is building on the last, then consider using a "catch-up" or summary as part of your transitions.

Is your speech being evaluated? Find out exactly what aspects you're being assessed on using this standard speech evaluation form

Link/transition examples

A link can be as simple as:

"We've explored one scenario for the ending of Block Buster 111, but let's consider another. This time..."

What follows this transition is the introduction of Main Idea Two.

Here's a summarizing link/transition example:

"We've ended Blockbuster 111 four ways so far. In the first, everybody died. In the second, everybody died BUT their ghosts remained to haunt the area. In the third, one villain died. His partner reformed and after a fight-out with the hero, they both strode off into the sunset, friends forever. In the fourth, the hero dies in a major battle but is reborn sometime in the future.

And now what about one more? What if nobody died? The fifth possibility..."

Go back through your main ideas checking the links. Remember Joe as you go. Try each transition or link out loud and really listen to yourself. Is it obvious? Easily followed?

Keep them if they are clear and concise.

For more about transitions (with examples) see Andrew Dlugan's excellent article, Speech Transitions: Magical words and Phrases .

Step 6: The end of your speech

The ideal ending is highly memorable . You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners long after your speech is finished. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Example speech endings

Example 1: The desired outcome of a speech persuading people to vote for you in an upcoming election is that they get out there on voting day and do so. You can help that outcome along by calling them to register their support by signing a prepared pledge statement as they leave.

"We're agreed we want change. You can help us give it to you by signing this pledge statement as you leave. Be part of the change you want to see!

Example 2: The desired outcome is increased sales figures. The call to action is made urgent with the introduction of time specific incentives.

"You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!"

How to figure out the right call to action

A clue for working out what the most appropriate call to action might be, is to go back to your original purpose for giving the speech.

• Was it to motivate or inspire?
• Was it to persuade to a particular point of view?
• Was it to share specialist information?
• Was it to celebrate a person, a place, time or event?

Ask yourself what you want people to do as a result of having listened to your speech.

For more about ending speeches

Visit this page for more about how to end a speech effectively . You'll find two additional types of speech endings with examples.

Write and test

Write your ending and test it out loud. Try it out on a friend, or two. Is it good? Does it work?

Step 7: The introduction

Once you've got the filling (main ideas) the linking and the ending in place, it's time to focus on the introduction.

The introduction comes last as it's the most important part of your speech. This is the bit that either has people sitting up alert or slumped and waiting for you to end. It's the tone setter!

What makes a great speech opening?

Ideally you want an opening that makes listening to you the only thing the 'Joes' in the audience want to do.

You want them to forget they're hungry or that their chair is hard or that their bills need paying.

The way to do that is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a "hook".

Hooks to catch your audience's attention

Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what specific hook is needed to catch your audience.

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech?

Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do, and, or take away, as a result of listening to you?

Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

Choosing the best hook

• Is it humor?
• Would shock tactics work?
• Is it a rhetorical question?
• Is it formality or informality?
• Is it an outline or overview of what you're going to cover, including the call to action?
• Or is it a mix of all these elements?

A hook example

Here's an example from a fictional political speech. The speaker is lobbying for votes. His audience are predominately workers whose future's are not secure.

"How's your imagination this morning? Good? (Pause for response from audience) Great, I'm glad. Because we're going to put it to work starting right now.

I want you to see your future. What does it look like? Are you happy? Is everything as you want it to be? No? Let's change that. We could do it. And we could do it today.

At the end of this speech you're going to be given the opportunity to change your world, for a better one ...

No, I'm not a magician. Or a simpleton with big ideas and precious little commonsense. I'm an ordinary man, just like you. And I have a plan to share!"

And then our speaker is off into his main points supported by examples. The end, which he has already foreshadowed in his opening, is the call to vote for him.

Prepare several hooks

Experiment with several openings until you've found the one that serves your audience, your subject matter and your purpose best.

For many more examples of speech openings go to: how to write a speech introduction . You'll find 12 of the very best ways to start a speech.

That completes the initial seven steps towards writing your speech. If you've followed them all the way through, congratulations, you now have the text of your speech!

Although you might have the words, you're still a couple of steps away from being ready to deliver them. Both of them are essential if you want the very best outcome possible. They are below. Please take them.

Step 8: Checking content and timing

This step pulls everything together.

Check once, check twice, check three times & then once more!

Go through your speech really carefully.

On the first read through check you've got your main points in their correct order with supporting material, plus an effective introduction and ending.

On the second read through check the linking passages or transitions making sure they are clear and easily followed.

On the third reading check your sentence structure, language use and tone.

Double, triple check the timing

Now go though once more.

This time read it aloud slowly and time yourself.

If it's too long for the time allowance you've been given make the necessary cuts.

Start by looking at your examples rather than the main ideas themselves. If you've used several examples to illustrate one principal idea, cut the least important out.

Also look to see if you've repeated yourself unnecessarily or, gone off track. If it's not relevant, cut it.

Repeat the process, condensing until your speech fits the required length, preferably coming in just under your time limit.

You can also find out how approximately long it will take you to say the words you have by using this very handy words to minutes converter . It's an excellent tool, one I frequently use. While it can't give you a precise time, it does provide a reasonable estimate.

Step 9: Rehearsing your speech

And NOW you are finished with writing the speech, and are ready for REHEARSAL .

Please don't be tempted to skip this step. It is not an extra thrown in for good measure. It's essential.

The "not-so-secret" secret of successful speeches combines good writing with practice, practice and then, practicing some more.

Go to how to practice public speaking and you'll find rehearsal techniques and suggestions to boost your speech delivery from ordinary to extraordinary.

The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist

Before you begin writing you need:.

• Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them. (If you haven't done one complete this 4 step sample speech outline . It will make the writing process much easier.)
• Your RESEARCH
• You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long you're speaking for

The basic format

• the body where you present your main ideas

Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending.

How to write the speech

• Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research
• Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression
• Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action
• Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your audience listening
• An often quoted saying to explain the process is: Tell them what you're going to tell them (Introduction) Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending)

TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

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What Is African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a variety of American English spoken by many African Americans. It has been called by many other names that are sometimes offensive, including African American English, Black English, Black English vernacular , ebonics, negro dialect , nonstandard negro English , Black talk , Blaccent , or Blackcent.

AAVE originated in the plantations of the American South, where African people were enslaved to work, and it shares a number of phonological and grammatical features with southern dialects of American English.

Many African Americans are bi-dialectal in AAVE and Standard American English. Several concepts are related to this complex topic, including:

• African American Rhetoric
• Be  Deletion
• Code Switching
• Dialect Prejudice
• Double Copula
• Dummy  It
• Ethnic Dialect
• Invariant  Be
• Negative Concord
• Serial Verbs
• Subject-Auxiliary Inversion (SAI)
• West African Pidgin English
• Zero Copula and Zero Possessive

Examples and Observations

"In line with evolving trends within the larger community, linguists use 'African American English' instead of 'Black English' (or even older terms like 'Non-Standard Negro English') for the English of African Americans, a continuum of varieties ranging from the most mainstream or standard speech (like Bryant Gumbel's, virtually indistinguishable from the formal speech of white and other Americans), to the most vernacular or non-mainstream variety. It was to focus on this latter variety that Labov (1972) first started referring to it as 'Black English vernacular .' African American Vernacular English is simply the most recent variety of that term, the one most widely used among linguists..." "The term 'Ebonics,' which was first coined in 1973 by a 'group of Black scholars...from ebony (black) and phonics (sound, the study of sound) (R. Williams, 1975)...is regarded by many if not most linguists as very similar if not identical to AAVE in terms of the features and varieties it designates."

(Rickford, "African American Vernacular English")

"[C]ontributing to the evolution of American English was the migration of Blacks from the South after the Civil War to urban areas of the north. They took their southern speech patterns with them, including all of the linguistic forms that had been incorporated into the grammatical structure of speech among slaves. Unlike most white immigrants to urban centers, who eventually adopted local dialects , Blacks generally remained isolated in impoverished ghettos and as a result, retained their dialect. This physical isolation contributed to linguistic isolation and the maintenance of African American vernacular English (AAVE). The retention of unique linguistic forms, racism, and educational apartheid have since led to numerous misconceptions of this dialect."

(Baugh, "Out of the Mouths of Slaves: African American Language and Educational Malpractice")

The Two Components of AAVE

"It is proposed that AAVE consists of two distinct components: the General English [GE] component, which is similar to the grammar of OAD [Other American Dialects], and the African American [AA] component. These two components are not tightly integrated with each other, but follow internal patterns of strict co-occurrence... The AA component is not a complete grammar, but a subset of grammatical and lexical forms that are used in combination with much but not all of the grammatical inventory of GE."

(Labov, "Coexistent Systems in African-American English")

Origin of AAVE

"On one level, the origin of African American English in the USA will always be a matter of speculation. Written records are sporadic and incomplete, and open to interpretation; demographic information about language use is also selective and largely anecdotal. Furthermore, great variation was exhibited in the speech of Africans when they were first brought to the 'New World' and to colonial America, as indicated in references to Black speech in slave advertisements and court records (Brasch, 1981). It is also indisputable that English-lexifier Creole languages developed and continue to flourish in the African diaspora—from coastal West Africa to coastal North America—and that the middle passage for some Africans brought to colonial America included exposure to these creoles (Kay and Cary, 1995; Rickford, 1997, 1999; Winford, 1997). Beyond these acknowledgments, however, the origin and status of early African American speech has been and continues to be vigorously disputed."

(Wolfram, "The Development of African American English" )

• Baugh, John. " Out of the Mouths of Slaves: African American Language and Educational Malpractice" . University of Texas, 1999.
• Labov, William. “Coexistent Systems in African-American English.” " The Structure of African-American English" , edited by Salikoko S. Mufwene, et al., Routledge, 1998, pp. 110–153.
• Rickford, John Russell. " African American Vernacular English: Features, Evolution, Educational Implications" . Blackwell, 2011.
• Wolfram, Walt, and Erik R. Thomas. " The Development of African American English" . 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2002.
• Ethnic Dialects
• Zero Copula (Grammar)
• Learn the Function of Code Switching as a Linguistic Term
• Embedded Questions in Grammar
• serial verbs
• Diglossia in Sociolinguistics
• What Is Dialect Prejudice?
• "It" as a Dummy Subject in Grammar
• What Signifying Means in African American Discourse
• Standard American English (SAE)
• Chicano English (CE)
• Vernacular (Language)
• the dozens (game of insults)
• Social Dialect or Sociolect Definition and Examples
• Definition and Examples of Rhotic and Non-Rhotic Speech
• English Language: History, Definition, and Examples

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• Presentations
• Public Speaking

The Best Source for PowerPoint Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Before we dive into how to make a speech, let's look at a powerful tool that can help you design your presentation.

Envato Elements is a great place to find PowerPoint templates to use with your speech. These presentation templates are professionally designed to impress.

Envato Elements is an excellent value because you get unlimited access to digital elements once you become a subscriber. Envato Elements has more than just presentation templates . You get:

• stock images
• and much more

To become a subscriber, just sign up and pay a low monthly fee.

Sample Public Speaking Scenario

Here's a possible public speaking scenario:

You've just opened a small web design business in your town, and you join the town Chamber of Commerce. As a result, you're invited to give a short, five-minute presentation at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Coming up with a public speaking speech for the scenario described above could be a challenge if you've never written or given a public speech before. Fortunately, there are some speech-writing steps that you can use that'll make speech writing easier.

Let's use this example and walk through the steps for writing a speech.

7 Steps for Writing a Speech

The steps for writing a speech for public speaking are like the steps for writing a presentation in general. But at each stage of the writing process, you need to keep your audience in mind:

1. Research Your Audience

Whenever you do any type of writing you need to consider who you're trying to reach with your writing. Speech writing is no different. The more you know about your target audience, the more effective your writing will be.

In the example above, you know that your audience is going to be the other members of the Chamber of Commerce. They're likely to be small business owners just like you are.

What to Do After You Research Your Audience:

Once you've defined your audience, you can gear your speech towards them. To do this, ask yourself questions like:

• What does this audience need?
• What problem can I solve for them?
• Is there anything else I need to consider about my listeners?

In the example we're using for this tutorial, most small businesses in your town fit one of the following three situations:

• They've got a website that works well.
• They've got a website, but the design is outdated or doesn't work well.
• They don't have a website.

2. Select a Topic

In this example your topic is already given. You've been invited to introduce your business. But you also know that the speech is going to be fairly short--only five minutes long.

While it's always a good idea to keep a speech focused, this is especially important for a short speech.

If I were writing the public speaking speech for the scenario we're working with, I'd narrow the topic down like this:

• Create a list of the strengths of my business.
• Compare the list of business strengths to the problems I observed with the other members' websites in the previous step.
• Focus my presentation on the areas where my business strengths meet weaknesses (needs) of other Chamber of Commerce members.

Let's say that I noticed that quite a few members of the chamber have websites that use outdated fonts, and the sites aren't mobile-friendly. Instead of listing everything my web design business could possibly do, I'd focus my short speech on those areas where I observed a need.

You can use a similar process to narrow the topic down any time you need to write a speech.

Avoid the temptation of trying to cover too much information. Most people are so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new data they receive each day that they can't keep up with it all. Your listeners are more likely to remember your public speaking speech if it's tightly focused on one or two points.

3. Research Your Topic

In the example we've been going over, you probably don't need to do a lot of research. And you've already narrowed your topic down.

But some public speaking situations may require that that you cover a topic that you're less familiar with. For more detailed speech writing tips on how to study your subject (and other public speaking tips), review the tutorial:

4. Write Your Speech

Once you've completed the steps above, you're ready to write your speech. Here are some basic speech writing tips:

• Begin with an outline . To create a speech your audience will remember, you've got to be organized. An outline is one of the best ways to organize your thoughts.
• Use a conversational tone . Write your speech the way you would normally talk. Work in some small talk or humor, if appropriate.
• Use the speaker notes . Typically, speaker notes aren't seen by the audience. So, this is a good place to put reminders to yourself.
• Be specific . It's better to give examples or statistics to support a point than it is to make a vague statement.
• Use short sentences . It's likely you're not going to give your speech word for word anyway. Shorter sentences are easier to remember.

In this example scenario for the short speech we're preparing for the Chamber of Commerce, your outline could look something like this:

• Introduction . Give your name and the name of your business. (Show title slide of website home page with URL)
• Type of Business . Describe what you do in a sentence or two. (Show slide with bulleted list)
• Give example of a recent web design project . Emphasize areas that you know the other businesses need. (Show slides with examples)
• Conclusion.  Let the audience know that you'd be happy to help with their web design needs. Offer to talk to anyone who's interested after the meeting. (Show closing slide that includes contact information)
• Give out handouts . Many presentation software packages allow you to print out your speech as a handout. For a networking-type presentation like the one in our example, this can be a good idea since it gives your listeners something to take with them that's got your contact information on it.

That simple speech format should be enough for the short speech in our example. If you find it's too short when you practice, you can always add more slides with examples.

If you've been asked to give a short speech, you can change the speech format above to fit your needs. If you're giving a longer speech, be sure to plan for audience breaks and question and answer sessions as you write.

5. Select a Presentation Tool

For most presentations, you'll want to use a professional presentation tool such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, or a similar package. A presentation tool allows you to add visual interest to your public speaking speech. Many of them allow you to add video or audio to further engage your audience.

If you don't already have a presentation tool, these tutorials can help you find the right one for your needs:

Once you've chosen a presentation tool, you're ready to choose a template for your presentation.

6. Select a Template and Finish

A presentation template controls the look and feel of your presentation. A good template design can make the difference between a memorable public speech with eye-catching graphics and a dull, forgettable talk.

You could design your own presentation template from scratch. But, if you've never designed a presentation template before, the result might look less than professional. And it could take a long time to get a good template. Plus, hiring a designer to create an original presentation template can be pricey.

A smart shortcut for most small business owners is to invest in a professional presentation template. They can customize it to fit with their branding and marketing materials. If you choose this option, you'll save time and money. Plus, with a professional presentation template you get a proven result.

You can find some great-looking presentation templates at  Envato Elements  or  GraphicRiver . To browse through some example templates, look at these articles:

Even a short speech like the one we've been using as an example in this tutorial could benefit from a good tutorial. If you've never used a template before, these PowerPoint tutorials can help:

7. How to Make a Public Speech

Now that you've completed all the steps above, you're ready to give your speech. Before you give your speech publicly, though, there are a few things you should remember:

• Don't read your speech . If you can, memorize your speech. If you can't, it's okay to use note cards or even your outline--but don't read those either. Just refer to them if you get stuck.
• Practice . Practice helps you get more comfortable with your speech. It'll also help you determine how your speech fits into the time slot you've been allotted.
• Do use visual aids . Of course, your presentation template adds a visual element to your public speech. But if other visual aids work with your presentation, they can be helpful as well.
• Dress comfortably, but professionally . The key is to fit in. If you're not sure how others at your meeting will be dressed, contact the organizer and ask.
• Speak and stand naturally . It's normal to be a little nervous but try to act as naturally as you can. Even if you make a mistake, keep going. Your audience probably won't even notice.
• Be enthusiastic . Excitement is contagious. If you're excited about your topic, your audience will likely be excited too.

In the example we're using in this tutorial (and with many public speaking opportunities), it's important not to disappear at the end of the meeting. Stick around and be prepared to interact individually with members of the audience. Have answers to questions anyone might have about your speech. And be sure to bring a stack of business cards to pass out.

5 Quick Tips to Make a Good Speech Great (& More Memorable)

After reading about the basics, here are some more tips on how to write a great speech really stand out:

1. Have a Strong Opening

Start your speech with a strong opening by presenting surprising facts or statistics. You could even start with a funny story or grand idea.

Another way to start your speech is to open with a question to spark your audience’s curiosity. If you engage your audience early in your speech, they're more likely to pay attention throughout your speech.

2. Connect With Your Audience

You want a speech that'll be memorable. One way to make your speech memorable is to connect with your audience. Using metaphors and analogies help your audience to connect and remember. For example, people use one writing tool to put the speech's theme in a 15-20 word short poem or memorable paragraph, then build your speech around it.

3. Have a Clear Structure

When writing your speech, have a clear path and a destination. Otherwise, you could have a disorganized speech. Messy speeches are unprofessional and forgettable. While writing your speech, leave out unnecessary information. Too many unnecessary details can cause people to lose focus.

4. Repeat Important Information

A key to writing memorable speeches is to repeat key phrases, words, and themes. When writing your speech, always bring your points back to your main point or theme. Repetition helps people remember your speech and drives home the topic of your speech.

5. Have a Strong Closing

Since the last thing that your audience listened to what your closing, they'll remember your closing the most. So, if your closing is forgettable, it can make your speech forgettable. So, recap your speech and repeat essential facts that you want the audience to remember in your closing.

Five PowerPoint Presentation Templates (From Envato Elements - For 2022)

If you’re writing a speech for a presentation, save time by using a premium presentation template:

1. Toetiec PowerPoint Presentation

Toetic PowerPoint Presentation has 90 unique slides and 1800 total slides that you can easily add your information onto. There are ten light and dark versions that come with this template. Also included in this template are vector icons, elements, and maps.

2. Suflen Multipurpose Presentation

Suflen Multipurpose Presentation template has a professional design that can work for any presentation topic. This template comes with over 450 total slides. With this template, you've got five color themes to choose from. Also, this template comes with illustrations, graphics, and picture placeholders.

3. Virtually PowerPoint

Virtually PowerPoint template is a modern and minimal style presentation template. This template comes with over 50 slides. You can use this template for any presentation theme.

4. Amarish PowerPoint Template

Amarish PowerPoint Template comes with five color themes that allow you to choose the color you want. This template is another multipurpose template that can work for any purpose. Also, this template comes with over 150 total slides and infographics, illustrations, and graphics.

5. Qubica PowerPoint Template

Qubica PowerPoint Template comes with over 150 total slides and five premade color themes. Easily add images into your presentation template by dragging the image of your choice into the picture placeholder. Everything in this template is entirely editable.

Learn More About How to Write a Great Speech

Here are some other tutorials that provide more information on giving a speech:

Learn More About Making Great Presentations

Download The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations eBook now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that'll move your audience!

Make Your Next Speech Your Best Ever!

You've just learned how to write a good public speaking speech. You've been given a sample speech format and plenty of other speech writing tips and resources on how to write a good speech. You've seen some templates that'll really make a PowerPoint stand out.

Now, it's up to you to write the best speech for your needs. Good luck!

Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Sarah Joy . Sarah is a freelance instructor for Envato Tuts+.