CBSE Class 12 English Speech Assignment

SPEECH

A speech is an effective way of conveying a message to a large audience. It is one of the ways of spreading awareness regarding social issues or giving information regarding other important issues.

Components of a Speech

A speech is composed of Introduction, Exposition of the topic, Summing up and Conclusion. Let us now understand each component of a speech in detail.

Introduction

• You should start by greeting the chief guest(s), fellow speakers and the audience.
• Specify the occasion of the speech.
• Announce the topic of your speech.
• Start with a striking pre-speech remark to interest your audience.
• You could also refer to some recent issue that affects the audience, an anecdote or a story. Even a historical reference could give you a good beginning.

Exposition of the Topic

• Build up a sequence of ideas.
• To support your ideas, look for most relevant example, evidence or data. Draw up arguments for and against the topic, advantages/disadvantages etc.
• Present your evidence in an interesting way. Paint verbal pictures, personalise it or dramatise it.

Summing up

Summarise the most important points in your speech but do not repeat them.

Conclusion

Depending on the purpose of your speech, conclude with a call for an action, an appeal, a warning, a request or just an expression of thanks.

Tips to Write an Effective Speech

• Read the question carefully.
• Interpret any data given.
• Do not use slang.
• Avoid repetition of any facts or figures.
• Focus on the issue that needs to be addressed.
• Use a conversational style of writing.
• Use polite, grammatically accurate language.
• Add variety to your vocabulary and expression.

Format of Speech

Question. To enforce strict discipline in schools and colleges is a great problem nowadays. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the school morning assembly on the problem of discipline. You are Mohini/ Mohit.
Answer:
Discipline
Respected Principal sir, teachers and dear friends.
I am Mohini of Class XII-B. Today I will speak on the value of discipline in life. It is rightly said by Swami Dayanand, "Discipline is necessary not only in schools and colleges, but in all walks of life. Absence of discipline will lead to chaos and confusion in life".
Discipline is the key to keeping things in order. It is absolutely essential for the growth and development of an individual and a healthy society. It is indispensable for everyone in all spheres of life, i.e. at home, school, playground, society, in service, public life and everywhere.
Discipline must be inculcated early in life. If the child is allowed unchecked freedom, it becomes wayward. Student life is the seed time of life. Hence, the value of discipline in academic life cannot be underestimated.
Proper counselling and guidance by parents and teachers can help the students to maintain discipline. Punishment, physical or financial, cannot be a corrective measure.
Thank you!

Examples

Question. You are Ram/Rajani. Write a speech in 150-200 words on 'Importance of Morning Walk'. 
Answer: Honourable Principal, respected teachers and my student friends,
I have been asked to speak to you on the topic, ‘Importance of Morning Walk'.
Early morning is the best time for rise from bed. It is the best part of the day to start all work. The benefits of morning walk are manifold. It makes the body and mind fresh. It also provides insight into various problems in a positive manner. It is essential for maintaining good health in the present day fast life.
In the early morning everything looks fresh and beautiful. The atmosphere remains pleasant and calm. A morning walker breathes pollution-free air. He enjoys lovely sights and sounds of nature. All this soothes his soul.
Regular morning walk keeps one fit. It helps form a sound health. Science says that morning walk controls blood pressure, lessens stress and strain and energises one to work zealously. Further, early morning exercise is good for your heart. Studies have shown that walking lowers the risk of a second heart attack after suffering from one. Additional benefits from walking include a lowering of blood pressure from the improved blood circulation that walking provides.
In the fast life of today, we hardly take out time to care for our health. If the habit of morning walk is formed right from our early days, we can be sure of a sound body and a sound mind forever. Besides the health benefits, it is an extremely delightful experience to take a walk early in the morning.
Thank you!

Question. You are Ram/ Rajani an academic counsellor. You have been invited to speak on the topic, 'Books are Our Best Friends'. Prepare a speech in 150-200 words, giving your views on books, how they can be our best friends and how they happen to be better than real human friends and how they can lead us to the great hobby of reading. 
Answer: Honourable Principal, respected teachers and my student friends,
I have been asked to speak to you on the topic, ‘Books are Our Best Friends’.
Man cannot live alone. He needs friends that he loves most. Therefore, he likes to live in the company of men or in the company of animals. There are some who love the company of nature. There are also those who love the company of books.
A book is the map of man's life and life in nature. Every page of a great book is a storehouse of man’s best and noblest thoughts. In a library, you meet all these mighty minds of the whole world.
If you are feeling alone or have been betrayed by human friends, get in a friendship with books; they’ll never leave you, they'll never betray you; instead, they will always add something to your knowledge and will make you a successful person. Books make you laugh, books make you cry and let you find the real meaning of life. Thus they are our best friends.
In addition, reading books regularly develops our reading hobby. This has many advantages. Books provide us good thoughts, fill our minds with knowledge and awaken our souls. The knowledge provided by the books is food for our minds. Reading good books daily is an excellent exercise for our minds as it refreshes our mind, provides us the solutions to our problems and makes us mentally strong.
So, develop the book reading habit and profit from such an interesting hobby.
Thank you.

EXAM PRACTICE

Question. You are Ali/Alia, Head girl/Head boy of your school. You are deeply disturbed by the rising cases of aggressive behaviour of students in your school. You decide to speak during the morning assembly about it. Write a speech on 'Indiscipline in Schools'. (150-200 words) 
Answer: Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends
I am Ali of class XII. Today, I will speak on “Indiscipline in schools”. It is rightly said by Swami Dayanand that “Discipline is necessary not only in schools and colleges but also in every walks of life. Absence of discipline will lead to chaos and confusion in life".
We have observed that these days there are a number of indiscipline complaints with the volunteer group and also with teachers. Indiscipline among the students comes when they don't listen to teachers/volunteers and take schools rules and regulation in hand.
Student life is the phase when we build our character. This is the time when we all should try to build up a sound body and sound mind. The sole aim of student life is to gain knowledge as we are the future of our nation. This aim can only be achieved when we respect our teachers and concentrate on studies.
We should not indulge into the acts of indiscipline which will spoil our life and the consequences are to be faced by both the students and their parents. In the end, I would request each one of you to kindly cooperate and abide the rules of the school as we are one family and always be together to help each other in good and bad times.

Question. You are Ram/ Rajani, a nutritionist. You have been invited to speak on 'Healthy Food'. Prepare a speech in 150-200 words pointing out how healthy food contributes to physical and mental well-being. 
Answer: Honourable Principal, teachers and my student friends,
I have been asked to speak to you on the topic, ‘Healthy Foods'.
Good health and physical fitness keeps our body and mind healthy and peaceful. It brings the feeling of well being physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. The criteria of health and fitness all over the world are expanding day by day. Men want to have a heavy muscle bound body whereas women want a slim and trim looking body. Everybody is more conscious about their health and want to remain fit throughout life.
It is a tough task, however, though not impossible for anybody to achieve a perfect body. Being healthy and fit requires some diet tips to be followed daily with full dedication. Being healthy and fit involves maintaining a strict discipline regarding your diet. Follow the steps I am telling you now to maintain good health.
First, eat breakfast on time. Next, dinner should be light and two to three hours before sleeping. Also remember, be a nibbler and not a foodie. Always eat fresh salad items with your meals. Don’t keep yourself starved for long and then overeat subsequently. Avoid fast foods and canned foods. Eat heart-friendly foods like yellow, orange and green vegetables and fruits. Also, reduce the intake of food and exercise more as the age increases.
Thus, eating healthy food at the proper time will contribute to your physical and mental well-being.
Thank you

Question. Write a speech in 150-200 words on the topic, 'Discipline shapes the future of a student.' It is to be delivered in the morning assembly. You are Karuna/Karan. 
Answer: Respected Principal Sir, honourable teachers and my dear friends.
I, Karan, Class XII A, am going to speak on the topic how ‘Discipline Shapes the Future of a Student'.
Discipline is the most under-rated and least understood aspect of student life. Discipline is seen as the opposite of freedom. It is not seen as a synonym for organised, goal-driven effort. It is absolutely necessary in moulding the future of a student.
Discipline introduces direction and orients the lifestyle. Without it there will be no success. It is discipline that shapes your life, that makes us a gentleman, that makes us speak up against wrong that defines our character. Discipline brings a sense of responsibility, realisation, determination to strive hard each time after failure and stay grounded after achieving success. Discipline is the key to having a strong foundation in life.
Discipline is what shapes a student in the formative years, it shows the kind of attitude a person has or will have. Discipline is used to bring out those traits and characteristics that are helpful for a better outcome, making success effortless, and becomes a natural part of us.
Thank you!

Question. Write a speech in 150-200 words on 'Benefits of early rising' to be delivered by you in the morning assembly of your school. You are Karuna/Karan, Head Girl/Head Boy. 
Answer: Respected Principal Sir, honourable teachers and my dear friends,
I, Karuna, Head Girl, will enlighten you today on the benefits of early rising. Several studies have correlated early waking with success. Some benefits reaped by early risers are:
First, sleep experts say that if you go to bed earlier and wake up earlier, your body will be more in tune with the earth’s circadian rhythms, which offer more restorative sleep.
Next, various studies have shown that 'morning people', i.e. early risers, exhibit character traits like optimism, being agreeable, satisfaction and conscientiousness. In contrast, 'night owls’, i.e. late sleepers and late risers, are more likely to exhibit traits like depression, pessimism and being neurotic.
Many early risers use their morning quiet time for organising, goal-setting and planning their day as well as subsequent days and weeks ahead. Most successful business people get up early to exercise (before the family is awake and their official workday starts). Regular exercise boosts your mood and fitness, provides energy on the job and helps create deeper sleep cycles.
Something to cheer up the early risers was brought out in a 2008 Texas University study. College students who identified themselves as ‘morning people' scored one full point (out of 5, meaning 20%) higher on their GPAs (Grade Point Averages) than those who were 'night owls’. Of course, good grades help students secure better career opportunities.
Thank you!

Question. Holi is a festival of colours. It expresses pure and simple joy. Sometimes we start throwing coloured water and that too on strangers. As the Head Boy / Girl of your school, write a speech in 150 - 200 words that you will deliver in the morning assembly of your school, describing why Holi is played and how it should be played. 
Answer: Respected Principal Sir, honourable teachers and my dear friends,
Today, I will speak about Holi, the festival of colours, which will be celebrated next week. It brings lots of joy and feelings of friendship in us. The story of how this festival started is interesting.
Prahlad was asked by his father Hiranyakashyap (a demon king) to worship Lord Vishnu instead of worshipping God. But Prahlad continued worshipping God. His father asked Holika, Hiranyakashyap’s sister, to sit in the fire while keeping Prahlad in her lap so that he could be killed. However, Holika was burnt in that fire and Prahlad was saved by the grace of God. Since then people celebrate Holi with colours to celebrate the victory of good over evil, as Holika was the incarnation of evil.
Initially people used herbal gulal and tesu flower's nectar to soak each other in colours. But, today there are a number of chemical colours available in the market which harm our skin. Children should be careful not to throw colours on strangers. They should use only natural colours or herbal gulal when playing among friends.
I hope we all enjoy Holi as a festival of sheer joy. Happy Holi!
Thank you!

Question. After the rainy season is over, mosquitoes start breeding. They cause malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc. These diseases can sometimes prove to be fatal. As Principal of your school you have decided to deliver a speech on protection from mosquitoes. Write that speech in 150 - 200 words. 
Answer: Dear staff members and students.
Today I will speak about 'Protection from mosquitoes.’ After every rainy season, there is a menace of mosquitoes as their numbers swell very fast. Many diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya result from mosquito bites. We can take a number of steps to protect ourselves and others from mosquito bites and resultant diseases. Always remember 'Prevention is better than cure’.
The first step is by applying any insect repellent cream on uncovered skin during daytime. The next step is to wear full sleeved tops or shirts and pants to cover as much skin as possible. Try to sleep under a mosquito net during the night to prevent mosquito bite. Do not allow stagnant water around your homes, as mosquitoes live and breed in such water. Water should not be allowed to accumulate in pools, discarded tyres, coolers, empty pots etc. One should also make sure that window and door screens do not have any holes to allow entry of mosquitoes.
Also keep yourself and your families safe by learning about the symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of mosquito borne diseases.
Thank you!

Question. Your PGT English Ms Geetha is a short story writer also.'Sky is not Far' is a collection of her latest short stories. This book has won a national award. Write a speech in 150-200 words you will deliver in her honour in the morning assembly.
Answer: Respected Principal Sir, dear staff members and students.
Today I am going to enlighten you about the talented Ms Geetha, PGT English staff member in our school. All of you will feel thrilled to know that Ms Geetha’s short story collection titled ‘Sky is not Far' has won her a national award recently.
Both her parents were in the Civil Services and she spent her childhood in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, attending as many as six schools along the way! She wrote proficiently at intervals while studying English Literature at Hindu College, Delhi, and completed her post graduation from University of Delhi. Marriage brought a break in her writing career and she preferred to pursue a teaching career which gave her time to write.
Her recent short story collection ‘Sky is not Far' deals with achievements of Indian women excelling in various fields. She has depicted these women in a manner of which we all feel proud of and her stories remind us of the great potential Indian women have. We all are very proud of Ms Geetha and feel greatly honoured of her association with all of us in this school. May her writing journey continue to flourish and win her more awards in future.
Thank you!

Question. Write a speech in 150-200 words on the topic 'Each One Teach One' in the morning assembly as you plan to volunteer for the National Literary Mission.
Answer: Respected Principal, Honourable teachers and my dear friends.
Today I want to express my views on the topic, ‘Each One Teach One’ because I plan to volunteer for the National Literary Mission.
We all are here to work together for a noble mission to realise the dream of the National Literacy Mission. We envisage and dream about a country where each and every person is literate and our learners are not only students but adults also. If all adults are literate, they can give the benefits of their experience, wisdom and maturity in a better way, thus benefiting society as a whole.
The learning strategies that we will adopt in our programme will be exploratory and interactive. We seek their commitment and involvement so that they benefit from our hard work in teaching them. Some of our objectives are to bring about basic learning of reading, writing and counting. In this programme, we wish to also promote better health and awareness about healthy habits. Further, we want to create an awareness in them about the democratic processes, rights, duties and obligations that are required and practised according to the law in our country. We also plan to focus on the status of women and the girl child, so that they are enabled to fight against exploitation and injustice, thus building their own self- confidence and respect.
As a volunteer of the National Literacy Mission, I pledge myself towards achieving these goals.
Thank you!

A SPEECH is a formal talk that a person delivers to an audience. It must have the capacity to keep the audience spellbound with proper choice of words, expressions and examples. At the same time care should be taken not to deviate from the main subject. You must keep in mind that it is a speech and you need to begin the draft with addressing your audience. The conclusion should be with a sentence thanking your audience for their patient listening.

Before you go further you need to know‐

WHO you are writing your speech for (the composition / kind of audience)

WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic)—the main points in order of importance with supporting research.

Follow the system of CODER for writing your speech

C‐ Collect the ideas.

O‐Organize them in a logical manner

D‐Develop the points into paragraphs

E‐Edit the speech

R‐Revise and rewrite it

Brainstorm before you begin writing your speech.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• Greet your audience and introduce the topic you are speaking on.

• The introduction part of the speech is the most important part.

• The introduction should not be very lengthy. The main topic should be taken up as quickly as possible. Use concrete terms and tangible examples. Avoid abstract phrases which are quite vague. 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.

• The conclusion plays a very important role in the success of a speech.

• Here we should remember Shakespeare’s advice that brevity is the soul of wit. Give your own conclusion on the topic in a telling manner.

• A powerful quotation or lines from a beautiful poem. 

SAMPLE 1: Women’s Magazine Femina ids organizing a speech contest in your school on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Your teacher has selected you to participate in the competition and asked you to prepare a speech on the topic:” Empowerment of Women”. Draft a speech in about 200 words that: Highlights what women’s empowerment is, Discusses why women do not feel empowered, and Suggests how this empowerment can happen.

Honourable Members of the Jury, Respected Teachers and My Dear Friends, My name is Madhu Menon and in today’s speech contest I would like to express my views on the topic’ Empowerment of Women’.

These days much is being said and made out of the buzzword ’women’s empowerment’. Women Organisations cry for it, politicians vouch for it, editors write about it and TV panels debate it. What IS women’s empowerment?

I strongly believe women’s empowerment means each and every woman has the right to a dignified life wherein she can pursue what pleases her for a wholesome and fulfilled education, career, economic independence, equality, birth body rights. If empowerment means all these, I am sorry to say, Indian Women are far from being empowered?

What kind of empowerment can we ensure for our women, if they are routinely subjected to assault, domestic violence, physical and mental exploitation, cruelty and what not? How can they ever feel empowered as long they are treated as mere objects of gratification?

It is one thing to talk about women’s empowerment in seminars and editorials or on TV shows, but it is quite a different thing to experience its absence in every walk of life.

Are only men to blame for this mess? Sadly, women equally are to blame. They must first address the divides that exist among their tribe – the so-called urban-rural divide, the educated- illiterate divide, the working-woman-home-homemaker divide.

In my opinion real empowerment of women will not come from women’s commission or police or politicians or men. It will come when women start believing in themselves, their strengths and their potential.

Remember, empowered women mean an empowered nation. Women are not weak, our mind-set is. Let’s remove the stereo-type not only from the society but also from the minds of all who have it.
Thank you!