Writing and Delivering a Speech

Teaching Ideas

Learning Objective: To identify and understand how to use a range of persuasive techniques suitable for a speech.

Success Criteria: • To be able to name and match to an example a range of language techniques used in
persuasive speeches.

• To read extracts from different speeches, highlighting relevant examples of persuasive devices.

• To explain the purpose and effect of a selection of persuasive devices.

Context: This lesson focuses on several examples of political speeches, recent and historical. Pupils analyse
the use of devices in these speeches before creating their own. This lesson can be taught immediately
after using the Political Speeches Lesson Pack.

Starter
The Persuasive Language Matching Activity Sheet contains the devices, a description/definition of what they are and an
example in three different columns. These are mixed up for the Students to match/sort correctly.

Please note that your department may use a different acronym for these features; AFORREST is not an exhaustive list and you
may wish to discuss additional devices during the lesson.

Main Activities
‘Famous Speeches’
The Famous Speeches Activity Sheet has a selection of extracts from political speeches, recent and historical. In pairs,
students should identify which AFORREST techniques are being used in each one. Encourage students to explain the effect of
each of the devices they recognise (again, you may wish to point out devices not covered by the AFORREST acronym).
Solutions to this task are provided on the PowerPoint.

‘Election Talk’
The Election Talk Activity Sheet contains an extended extract from a recent speech given by Theresa May. You may choose to
source a speech from a different politician if you prefer. Pupils should work in pairs to read through this and create a colour code
for each device in AFORREST. An example key is provided on the PowerPoint and the opening paragraphs have been modelled.

‘If I were Standing for Prime Minister...'

students are to consider what they would say if they were to stand for prime minister. What is their vision for the future of Britain
and for the young people of today? They should write their ideas using some of the persuasive techniques they have discovered
in the lesson. Ideas could be to outline their vision for education, for tackling poverty and homelessness or for improving services
for young people.

Plenary
Pupils should discuss which three AFORREST devices they believe to be most effective, explaining their reasoning.