Article & Speech Writing

WRITING A SPEECH

 A SPEECH is a formal talk that a person delivers to an audience. -

 Please Note:

* a speech begins with a formal address to the chief guest, fellow speakers and
   Audience

* More conversational in tone. Pause questions, use interactive expressions like  

   I think you will agree with me, Don’t you think that , I am sure that you will  
   have the same notion etc.

* Begins with brief, catchy introduction- supported by an anecdote, quotation,  

   striking statistical data or a thought provoking question. It decides the fate of  
   the speech.

* Introduce your topic to the audience clearly.

* Include adequate supporting data to make it credible and interesting

* Have clear idea about the purpose of the speech and the target audience.

* Originality of ideas powerful language, humour and repetitions are allowed,   

    only to emphasize or focus the listener’s attention.

* Similar to introduction, conclusion should be brief , catchy and striking

*  the written speech should consist of short sentences having not more than 10    

   to 12 words in a sentence.

*  No title to be given for the speech.

* Avoid abstract phrases. Use simple and familiar language.

  The effects, such as raising one’s voice, giving stress to certain words, pausing   
  for a short time etc. can be represented in a written speech by using such  
  techniques as increasing the size of the letters of the sentence to be stressed, or  
  using all capitals for a particular word to be emphasized, leaving a few dots  
  (….) after a question to indicate a pause.

*  Marking scheme is the same as for the article.

*  Say/Write ‘Thank you’ at the end of your speech.

A  SAMPLE SPEECH

You are a student volunteer of National Literacy Mission (NLM) wing of your school involved in the Adult Literacy Campaign: “Each one, Teach One”. Write out the speech you would be delivering at each place of your visit. Do not exceed 200 words.

Dear Friends

Good morning to you all

We all have assembled here for a noble cause—a mission to eradicate illiteracy. It is the dream of the National Literacy Mission to educate all the Indians. We would work together for an India where EACH PERSON IS LITERATE. Most of the learners are adults who have a rich experience of life. Therefore, the learning strategies that will be adopted in our programme will be exploratory and interactive. We have to teach as well as learn. We must keep in mind certain important factors……… their experience, wisdom and maturity while discussing any topic. We should encourage them to talk and express their views in a frank and fair manner.

We should always keep in mind the OBJECTIVES set for the adult illiterates. We have to make them literates. Inculcate in them a love for reading, writing and arithmetic. Let them do simple calculations and exult at the right calculations. Health awareness and job related problems are the next in order. IT IS ONLY AFTER A STRONG BRIDGE OF CONFIDENCE IS BUILT that we would be able to create in them awareness about civil rights, duties, privileges and obligations. When they become confident of their powers, we must create in them social awareness. Issues like environmental pollution, population control and employment generation can then be discussed…..In short let’s all resolve to make sincere efforts to achieve these goals.

Thank you.

 Questions for practice:

 Q.1.-Water is very precious. Some scientists even go to the extent of saying that the Third World War may be fought on the issue of water. Write a speech in 150-200 words expressing your views to be delivered in the morning assembly in your school.

Q.2.-“To use the latest technology the right way, is in the hands of the youth today.” Write a speech 150-200 words discouraging the misuse of technological products like cell phones, computers etc and highlighting the need to use them to promote harmony and goodwill in the society.
 Q.3.-“Our Good Earth”, an environmental awareness magazine has launched a marathon 'Clean Your City’ campaign. As an active participant write a speech to be read out in the morning assembly urging students to participate in the campaign in 150-200 words.
Q.4.-As a concerned citizen, you are worried about the harmful effects of the insanitary conditions in your town. Write a short speech on the necessity of sanitation, to be given at the morning assembly in your school.

ARTICLE WRITING

Writing an article is an art. The dictionary defines an article as a piece of writing about a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine. An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently written in meaningful paragraphs.

 POINTS TO REMEMBER

 Give a title that catches the attention of the reader.

 Begin with a striking opening sentence which addresses the readers and gets

them interested in the topic. Present a strong argument for your ideas supporting it with evidences or elaboration.

 Use linking devices (however, therefore, although, even though, in order to…) to make the composition appear a whole.

 Introduce a new point at the beginning of an each paragraph that follows, to

strengthen your ideas.

 Develop your ideas as much as you can to make them interesting and

substantial.

 Conclude with your strongest point.

 Use passive voice, humor, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect.

FORMAT OF AN ARTICLE

TITLE/HEADING :      Eye-catching , illustrating the Central Themes

 BYLINE :                     Writer’s Name under the title towards the right from  

                                        the centre.

INTRODUCTION :        A comprehensive introduction touching upon on the

                                        plus and minus of the topic.Establish the context Put  

                                        the  topic in perspective. Draw readers’ attention.  

                                        Specify and delimit your topic. 

                                        Put a  rhetoric question or give some startling facts,  

                                        statistics or quotation

 Content:                          Spell out the various aspects to the topic-merits,

 EXPOSITION OF THE TOPIC : demerits , causes, consequences, effects,  advantages, disadvantages

WINDING UP : Give your opinion, comments, criticism, recommendations, call for CONCLUSION : Conclude with a hope, a warning, an appeal or a call for the action.

 

Split up of marks:                                                             Total marks: 10

Format   (title + writer’s name) :                                                         1mark

Content : (logical organization, relevance):                                       4 marks                                                              (Credit should be given for the candidate’s creativity in presenting her/her own ideas)

Expression:                                                                                          (5)

Accuracy: Grammatical, appropriate words & spelling :                    2½

Fluency : Coherence and relevance of ideas and style :                      2 ½

 SAMPLE ARTICLE

You are Vikranth / Vinitha, a freelance writer much concerned about the discriminatory treatment of women in the Indian society. Write an article in 150 – 200 words throwing light on this problem and giving suggestions for putting an end to it. (10 marks)

 DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN

 By Vikrant

It is a pity that in a country where women are said to be worshipped, there is a widespread discrimination of them even before they are born and injustice meted out to them in such a male chauvinistic world in very many degrees.

 Certain brutal practices like the female feticide throw light on our attitude. The girl child is considered to be a liability and doesn’t enjoy the privileges of a boy. She is denied the advantage of proper education. The dowry system haunts parents and the harassment she is subjected to at the in-laws often force her to commit suicide. Even in enlightened homes, woman has to live her life under surveillance, if not in strict ‘purdah’. Working women are physically and verbally abused, denied opportunities of growth and subjected to discrimination.

 The social evils like dowry system, honour killing, human trafficking , societal dogmas etc. take great toll on women, be it daughter, mother, sister , wife, grandmother….

Education and economic independence only can empower women to fight for their rights. It is also the responsibility of the educated society to work for the cause of women. Proper law making and execution, spreading awareness , exemplary punishment for the predators etc. surely will bring positive changes.

Let she not be worshipped but let her live a  wholesome life. Let us live,  let her live and let us help her live for a better developed society.

 

Questions for practice

1. Write an article in about 200 words for your school magazine on ‘Films and their influence on school-going children’. You are Manpreeth / Manjula, a student of class XII.

2. You are Rohit / Kamal. You attended a seminar on Yoga, a way of life. Write an article in about 150 – 200 words on the contribution of yoga in leading a healthy and peaceful life.

 3. In today’s world, letter-writing has lost its charm. People and the youth in particular rely more on mobiles and computers to communicate. Write an article on the present trend in about 150 to 200 words. You are Kiran / Karthik.

4. Recently you visited your ancestral home in a village in Gujarat. You were elated and strongly felt the necessity to hold on to the roots of our modern life, which lie in our villages. Write an article for your school magazine. You are Chetna / Chirag, Cultural Secretary of your school.

 5. With rising number of people in almost all the big cities of the country, the rate of crime has also increased proportionately. The police needs to be trained in new methodology of combating the crime besides changing the mindset. Write an article in 150 – 200 words on the role of police in maintaining law and order in the metropolitan cities. You are Ravi/ Ravina.

6. The invention of mobile phone h it can be a blessing but if misused it can prove to be a curse. Write an article in about 150 – 200 words on this invention. You are Karthik / Karishma.

 7. Presently the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing causing much hardship to the common man. Write an article in 150 -200 words expressing your views and suggesting measures to curb this problem.

 8. It is really a Do or Die struggle when we talk about environmental concerns. As an active member of the Green Club of your school write an article in about 150 – 200 words on your concerns and the need for change in our attitude and practices.

 9. Computer and video games have become popular with children today. Outdoor games seem to have no place in their life anymore. You are Sakthi/ Sathish. You enjoyed playing hiden- seek with your cousins in a small town. You found it so refreshing that you decide to write an article on the joys of playing outdoor games for the school magazine. Write it in about 200 words.

 10. Children between 13 and 19 years of age are neither too young nor too mature. Today these children feel that the pressures of the competitive world they live in have made their lives less exciting.

 11. India is standing at the threshold of joining the developed nations but that is not possible till we achieve complete literacy in the country. The contribution of students may be very significant in achieving our goals. Write in 150-200 words on ‘The Role of the Students in Removing Illiteracy.’ Write an article in 150-200 words expressing your views. You are Manish /Manisha.

 

 

 

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