ENGLISH 100

RESEARCH WORK NO. 4

DATE: 9 AUGUST 2019

CLASS SCHEDULE: MWF 2:30 – 3:30 PM
 IBAÑEZ, BEN ALDRIAN
 CABARDO, RAMILEE
 ESCOSIO, RAINIEL
 JADRAQUE, JOSEPH
 ENJAMBRE, PRINCE JOHN

Elements of a Speech

1. GRABBER
A grabber is used to open your remarks, connect with your audience and capture their attention. There
are many techniques you can use to draw listeners in, including:
 Stories
 Literary references
 Quotations
 Jokes (use with caution!)
 Commentary about a news story or current event
 Relevant personal experiences*
 Feelings or insights the speaker has about the audience*
 Traits, feelings or experiences the speaker has in common with audience*
*These are my personal favourites.

2. SUBJECT
Explicitly state the subject of your remarks.
Doing so can be as simple as this example: “I’m here today to talk about the role of mentors in our work.”

Stating your subject might feel like stating the obvious, but it expresses a commitment to your
audience. A stated subject shows that you have a plan and have prepared for your talk; that you value the
time they spend listening to you and that you’re going to stay on topic.

3. MESSAGE
Related to the subject but more specific, the message is a single sentence that encapsulates what it
is you will communicate through your speech. Your message includes the thesis or point you intend to
illustrate for your audience.

Following on the example above, a message might be, “Introducing mentors has allowed us to
double the effectiveness of our programs.”

State your message within your speech introduction, and restate it in your conclusion to summarize your
remarks.
4. THEME
A theme can be an image, a metaphor or a powerful word that adds interest to your remarks. A
theme offers language that unifies the points in your speech, pulling your words together.

For example, a relevant theme in a speech about mentors might be ‘navigation’. The incorporation
of language that reflects the theme of navigation (e.g. direction, compass, pathways, journey) can add
interest, imagery and power to your speech. It can also support idea generation for other speech elements.

5. STRUCTURE
There are a number of ways you can structure your remarks. It’s best to think of your message as
your thesis or position and then structure your remarks in terms of making the case.

A number of different structural approaches can be used depending on the message and subject matter. For
example, a speech can be structured by:

 A chronological comparison such as ‘past’ vs ‘present’ or ‘present’ vs ‘future’

 The ‘ways’ or ‘reasons’ your main idea or message is true
 The ‘steps’ that have been taken or are underway for achieving a goal or vision mentioned in your
message
 The ‘challenge’ you are facing and your ‘response’ to it
Once a structure is established it forms your speech outline; state it in your introduction to offer a
roadmap of your remarks and to provide listeners with a feeling of anticipation.
For example, “Today I’m going to tell you what the mentorship program has done for our organization.
First it has attracted new volunteers from our priority communities. Second, it has allowed for a more
meaningful connection between participants and our organization. And third, it has created an opportunity
for that connection to be ongoing.”

Having introduced your speech structure in the introduction, restate each argument or section as
you proceed, to make your speech easy to follow.

6. CALL TO ACTION
Every speech should have a call to action that is related to your message. It might be a big bold
rallying cry or a simple step audience can take with them and implement. Close your remarks with a call to
action to help your audience feel part of your message.

Reference: https://nonprofitmarcommunity.com/write-better-speeches-including-six-elements/
REFLECTION
As a future mariner, we can apply speech in every circumstance on-board, by the moment we
communicate with our associates, we are already having speech, but informally. Each mariner must
practice communication in which speech is involved to avoid misunderstanding and errors on-board.
Also, as mariners, we can apply formal speech on a special occasion, like a gathering of seafarers which
one should prepare a good speech for the activity. In general, when a mariner opens his mouth and makes
his statements, that is already a speech, this exemplifies that a mariner can make his speech whenever it is
necessary.