Impress that IB Examiner with your compelling SPEECH. ;)
What is it?
A speech is a (usually) formal text in which you communicate a SPOKEN message to wide audience.
Purpose
The purpose of a speech is to communicate your opinion to a wide audience. Since it is meant to be SPOKEN, remember to keep your audience interested.
Audience:
The audience is ample (not just one-two highly specific people.) If the audience is just one/two people, DO NOT pick a speech (just imagine how awkward that would be...)
Register
Formal, usually
Speak in the first person “YO”
Engage the audience (using “Ustedes” or “nosotros” to make them feel included in your speech)
Use rhetorical questions,
Conventions & structure:
Greeting “Estimado comité estudiantil...”
Introduction: Introduce the theme of your presentation + lay out a plan for it.
Body:
Address the audience (Voy a hablarles a ustedes… Nosotros estamos reunidos para…)
1st person (YOU are talking to the audience… or pretending to…)
Repetitions “Estoy aquí porque quiero… Estoy aquí para decirles…”)
Rhetorical questions (“¿Piensan ustedes que la situación puede permanecer así?)
Negative statements (“No creo en…. Sino en…)
Conclusion - Recap the main ideas, end on an impactful note.
Closing statement/farewell “Muchas gracias por su tiempo/por escucharme”
Ab initio | 70-150 |
SL | 250-400 |
HL | 450-600 |
Structure tips:
Use stylistic devices. They don’t have to be fancy – a few rhetorical questions or anaphoras can work. These show both your mastery of the language (or the one you want the examiner to believe you have) and showcase your writing style. Make the speech INTERESTING! If you are in HL, you can use this to include more complex grammar or subjunctives, but do not overdo it!
Use transition words to guide your speech. “En primer lugar… en segundo lugar. Para resumir.” These can help your “audience” (examiner) follow your train of thought and also improve the flow of your speech.
Give examples and explain your point of view. Always make sure that your ideas are developed. Aim for three ideas in SL and four if you are in HL (depending on the topic, of course…)
Have fun and interact with your audience. Feel free to use NOSOTROS, speak in the first person, play around with ustedes to talk to your listeners. You can also showcase your knowledge of verb conjugations here. ;)
¡Buena suerte!
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