Speech on environmental issues /9F 2025

The different steps of the assignment

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1) Learning about how to construct a speech: examples and tips
2) Doing background research, finding the topic you want to focus on, writing down facts, statistics etc. and creating a mind map of the main points you are going to deal with
3) Writing the actual speech

4) The written speech will be assessed and marked by the teacher as a written assignment

5) Once you get the marked speech back (with any possible corrections) you then rehearse reading it out loud (= "speaking it") in front of the class - here the focus should be on your tone of voice, intonation, speed of speech, body language etc. but you don't have to learn the speech by heart.

Background for the task

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Imagine you are an active and passionate member of the Unesco Youth Climate Action Network.

https://www.unesco.org/en/youth/climate-action-network

You have been given the opportunity to address an audience of the world's leading politicians and businesspeople at an important climate conference.

Write an ardent speech to express your concerns about environmental issues (you can focus on just one particular problem or bring up several different (maybe interconnected) concerns - BUT DON'T MAKE IT TOO EXTENSIVE!), where you try to convince your audience of the seriousness of the current situation and the urgency to take action to change it.

How to structure a speech - Key elements of a good speech

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Example of a very emotionally intense speech

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The main elements of a good speech

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How to greet the audience: "Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. Thank you for having me./I'm grateful for having been invited to speak to you here. My name is ______ _______, and I am going to be speaking to you today about _______. To begin, _______ is important because…

Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.

*Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.

*Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.

Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.

Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.

Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.

Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.

Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.

Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.

We will discuss this stage later on in more detail:

Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact, voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

Schedule

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1) Tuesday, October 28: At school Assignment instructions; how to structure your speech

2) Homework + At school: Fri, October 31: Doing background research: reading articles, taking notes/creating a mind map, planning the structure of the speech.

You may write down useful facts that you might need BUT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WRITE FULL SENTENCES or THE ACTUAL SPEECH AT HOME!

3) Mon + Tue, November 3 and Nov. 4: AT SCHOOL: Writing the actual speech

NB! All the necessary notes, plans, facts etc. needed must be written ON THE SAME PAPER as your final speech.
You are not allowed to use the Internet anymore when writing the actual speech, so make sure you have prepared well enough in advance!

Transitional words and phrases – Hyödyllisiä sidossanoja ilmauksia

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Transitional words and phrases – Hyödyllisiä sidossanoja ilmauksia

Asioita lueteltaessa:

ensiksi = first; firstly

aluksi = to begin with; to start with

toiseksi = second; secondly

lopuksi = finally; lastly

Lisätietoja annettaessa:

lisäksi = in addition; moreover; what is more; besides (sitä paitsi)

Esimerkkejä annettaessa:

esimerkiksi = for example; for instance

kuten = such as

hyvä esimerkki = a case in point

erityisesti = in particular

Syytä ja seurausta ilmaistaessa

siksi, sen takia = therefore

siispä = so

koska = since

(sen) seurauksena = as a result

siitä syystä = for this reason; for that reason

Vastakkaista näkökulmaa ilmaistaessa:

kun taas = while; whereas

silti, kuitenkin = however; still; all the same

vaikka = although; though

toisaalta = on the other hand

huolimatta siitä, että = in spite of; despite the fact that ; regardless of the fact that

sen sijaan, että = instead of

Vertailtaessa

samalla tavoin = in the same way; similarly

Korostettaessa jotain:

itse asiassa = in fact

toisin sanoen = in other words

Tiivistettäessä (esim. lopetuskappaleessa)

Kaiken kaikkiaan; lyhyesti sanottuna = all in all; to sum up

lopuksi = to conclude; in conclusion

yleensä, yleisesti ottaen = on the whole ; generally speaking

How long text? How long speech?

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Your speech should take max. 4 minutes, so try to keep the written text below 400 words. This calls for meticulous planning: focus on the essentials, edit and eliminate anything unnecessary!

How many words per minute?

In the English language, people speak about 140 words per minute. A fast speaker will get to 170 words per minute, a slow speaker will use around 110 words.