{"id":44487,"date":"2025-04-01T11:46:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T09:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manjgura.hr\/?p=44487"},"modified":"2025-05-04T01:27:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T23:27:20","slug":"how-to-write-a-political-speech-for-beginners-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manjgura.hr\/en\/politics-and-elections\/how-to-write-a-political-speech-for-beginners-2","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Political Speech for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posljednja izmjena May 4th, 2025 u 01:27 <\/p>

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“How to Write a Political Speech for Beginners” is one of the most-read articles on the Manjgura blog. Since you continue to regularly consult it for your projects, we bring you a new, updated edition, in collaboration with Ana \u0160imunovi\u0107, an expert in public and media speaking<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are several ways to approach preparing a political speech. One way is to write it, although in that case, experts would unanimously agree on one piece of advice: do not read your speech from the paper. To interact more effectively with your audience, it is better to prepare notes to help you deliver your key points in the desired order. This way, it is easier to capture and maintain the audience\u2019s attention and to create dynamics through gestures, changes in intonation, or humor. Of course, none of these should be overused, as that could give the wrong impression, but when used moderately, they can help gain the audience\u2019s approval. More experienced speakers can achieve the same effect even without preparation, but if your rhetorical skills are not on the level of Martin Luther King<\/a> or Winston Churchill<\/a>, we would definitely recommend structuring your speech. Here\u2019s how to do it, according to Ana \u0160imunovi\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The goal of every political speech is to inspire citizens to take a specific action. Whether it\u2019s motivating voters to go to the polls on election day and choose a certain option, or gathering support for a particular political initiative, idea, or activity, a political speech is a crucial tool for inspiring engagement. <\/em><\/p>\n

The power of a political speech lies in its ability to evoke the same need, desire, or vision in people who seemingly have nothing in common, thus bringing them together as a community. To achieve this, it is necessary to clearly define what you want to accomplish with your political speech. But without a clear message and a strong delivery, a speech will just be a noise that fades into the background. How do you avoid that trap and write a speech that leaves a lasting impact?<\/em><\/p>\n

Follow these three steps to successfully write and deliver a political speech:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Profile Your Audience<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you don\u2019t know who you are addressing, you won\u2019t know if what you are saying is relevant to them. Therefore, the first step in preparing a good political speech is profiling your audience, i.e., identifying the ones you want and need to address.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

    As a <\/em>communication advisor<\/em><\/a> to many public figures and through analyzing speeches, I\u2019ve noticed that politicians often make the mistake of focusing too much on those who lie on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. Don\u2019t waste your energy on those you will never win over due to their ideological stance, nor focus solely on those who are already on your side. Instead, identify the silent majority\u2014the \u201cundecided\u201d and \u201cneutral\u201d who have yet to form their opinion. This is no easy task and an art in itself, but once you recognize whom you truly need to persuade with your speech, you can direct most of your message towards them.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Through audience profiling, research their needs, concerns, worries, desires, expectations, beliefs, and values. Imagine you are a tailor, and your political speech is the suit you need to craft. A good tailor will first take the client\u2019s measurements, understand the occasion, preferred color, fabric, length, and cut, learn what they client dislike and what they want to feel like in the suit. Only then can they start making a suit that fits just right. The same goes for speeches\u2014first take the “measurements” of your audience, and only then start writing and structuring your political speech to \u201ctailor\u201d the perfect message just for them.<\/em><\/p>\n

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    1. Set the Cornerstones of Persuasion \u2013 Logos, Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      To inspire change, it is crucial to select and use arguments that are relevant to your political idea and that resonate with your audience, to give credibility to what you are saying through your experience, to create an emotional connection through your delivery, and to emphasize the urgency and necessity of the desired action. In other words, build your speech using Aristotle’s persuasion triangle\u2014logos, ethos, and pathos\u2014plus the additional ancient Greek principle of kairos. These elements will determine whether your audience trusts you, sees themselves in your message, and ultimately takes action.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Logos<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u201cCogito ergo sum\u201d (\u201cI think, therefore I am\u201d)\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

      Logos refers to the logic, rationality, and relevance of your arguments. In your speech, present sensible, factual, clearly structured, and key information that leads the audience to the conclusion you want. However, be cautious\u2014too much data, statistics, and dry details can cause you to lose the audience’s attention and reduce the impact of your arguments.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Ethos<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWalk the Talk\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

      Ethos represents your credibility and trustworthiness. To strengthen ethos and gain the audience\u2019s trust, you need to position yourself as a reliable person who can deliver on what you promise. In other words, through action and examples, you must demonstrate that you have the knowledge, experience, and integrity to speak on the topic. For example, when Greta Thunberg talks about climate change, her ethos stems from her consistency \u2013 she walks the talk when it comes to the climate crisis.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Pathos<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u201cThe heart chooses, reason justifies\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

      Pathos highlights the power of emotions in your speech. Famous political speakers like Martin Luther King did not just present facts; through emotion and passion, they touched the hearts of their listeners. To create an emotional connection and evoke certain feelings in your audience, your delivery must bring your words to life. As St. Augustine said: \u201cYou must burn within if you wish to ignite the same fire in others.\u201d Your body language, facial expressions, gestures, voice, and movements should all reflect the same engagement, desire, and emotions you wish to evoke. From my experience, preparing for pathos is one of the most effective ways to achieve a strong motivational impact and establish a deeper connection with the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Kairos<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u201cNow or never\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

      Kairos refers to the sense of urgency and necessity you need to create. Successful speakers know how to create a \u201cnow or never\u201d moment for their audience, whether it\u2019s presidential candidates convincing voters that this election is crucial for the future or activists insisting there\u2019s no more time to wait. Kairos sparks motivation for immediate action and involvement in a major change, movement, or vision.<\/em><\/p>\n

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      1. Strengthen Your Speech with the Right Rhetorical Techniques <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        To make a strong impression and achieve your speech\u2019s goal, highlight key parts by selecting rhetorical techniques or figures that best suit what you want to accomplish. These will help you strengthen the entire speech and amplify your core message. The message should be short, simple, and memorable so that people can easily repeat it and use it in their own conversations.<\/em><\/p>\n

        Consider using one of these powerful rhetorical techniques:\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

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        • Emphasize your speech with examples, metaphors, and comparisons<\/strong> your audience can relate to. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          This will make your message more understandable, memorable, and impactful. In political speeches, you often hear movement metaphors; for example, during the 2012 presidential campaign, Barack Obama compared the elections to a sprint, mentioning runner Usain Bolt: \u201cThis is not going to be a race like Usain Bolt, where we\u2019re like 40 yards ahead and we can just kind of start jogging 10 feet before the finish line\u2026 We\u2019re going to have to run through the tape.\u201d Here, Obama uses metaphor and comparison to motivate voter turnout and stress the need to push hard through the finish line.<\/em><\/p>\n

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          • \u00a0<\/em>Pauses<\/em><\/strong> in speech add power to your message <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Pauses are one of the most powerful but often overlooked rhetorical tools. They enhance persuasiveness, drive, and drama in a speech, creating suspense and helping the audience process and remember the message.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

            In my work with local and foreign politicians, I\u2019ve seen how crucial it is to use pauses consciously to emphasize key points and maintain the speech\u2019s rhythm. Well-timed pauses make a speech clearer, calmer, and more convincing, showing the speaker\u2019s confidence. In political speeches, they can add gravity to the message and increase its impact.<\/em><\/p>\n

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            • \u00a0<\/em>We all know that repetition<\/strong> is the mother of learning\u2014and so do the best speakers <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Anaphora<\/em><\/strong> (repetition of the same word at the beginning of a sentence) and epiphora<\/strong> (repetition at the end) are loyal allies that will help imprint your message into the minds and hearts of your audience. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill often used them during World War II. In his speech \u201cWe Shall Fight on the Beaches,\u201d he uses anaphora to emphasize key phrases: \u201cwe shall fight on the beaches,\u201d \u201cwe shall fight on the landing grounds,\u201d \u201cwe shall fight in the fields and in the streets,\u201d to boost national morale in the face of invasion.<\/em><\/p>\n

              Examples of Political Speeches\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

              One example that perfectly embodies these three steps is Martin Luther King\u2019s historic \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech<\/strong>, in which he describes a vision of a future calling for the end of racial discrimination and equal rights for all.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n