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Q&A How do speech writers find the contents that make their speeches so impressive?

I disagree with what's comment. There are certain techniques used in these speeches that help convey meaning. I'm going to use Martin Luther King's I had a dream speech in my answer. What kinds of...

posted 7y ago by Daniel Cann‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T05:52:47Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/25841
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Daniel Cann‭ · 2019-12-08T05:52:47Z (over 4 years ago)
I disagree with what's comment. There are certain techniques used in these speeches that help convey meaning. I'm going to use Martin Luther King's _I had a dream_ speech in my answer.

## What kinds of techniques are used which make a speech powerful?

If you look at a few of these speeches you can see a few common [literary techniques or devices](http://literary-devices.com/) that are used. For example, in Martin Luther King's speech there was constant repetition of the idea of a _dream_. Furthermore, King uses **fact** , referring to places in his speech. For example, he mentions freedom ringing from the molehills in Mississippi. King also uses techniques of **hyperbole** ; he includes lots of 'all' and 'every' in his speech.

There are plenty more literary devices used in speeches that add effect. For example:

- Alliteration. Repetition of a certain sound at the start of a word

- Triadic Structure (Rule of Three). Human's love things in three, and triadic structure embodies this. It's where you have some fantastic, powerful and glorious adjectives or anything else in a group of three.

- Flattery and insult. This is great because it is a way to **include the audience** , something important in these types of speeches.

## There are certain traits which affect this.

Having good techniques in your work isn't the only thing that is going to make it strong. You can have as many statistics, tradic structures and alliterations as you want, but none of that will matter unless you have the gut to give it your all. Notice something about all of the people you mentioned:

- They are all charismatic.

- They are all trying to 'lead' something forth in some way.

- They are all **looking at their audience** , speaking **loudly and clearly** as well as **making their points clear.**

They made the content in their speeches absolutely wondrous by really going for what they believed in. They would look at their audiences, rather than at a piece of paper, addressing them directly. They would speak loudly, clearly and broadly so all could hear. They would utilise their natural leadership and charisma to inspire through language. They primarily really made themselves understood.

## Conclusion

Being able to orate like these people is more than being abler to write well, although that is a huge contributing factor. If you are able to write a speech with good structure and meaning, that's alright. However, the person who can perform that speech in a charismatic and bold way are leagues ahead of the people who can't.

- Speak boldly and clearly.

- Have leadership, a clear goal and passion.

- Write well and structure well.

Finally, I'll add this. Their speeches all have a common, shared idea: not trying, doing.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2017-01-04T15:45:29Z (over 7 years ago)
Original score: 6