CBSE Class 9 English Speech Assignment

SPEECH

A speech is made to pass on orally a wide range of information, or to express a point of view to a large gathering of people. Writing a speech involves a lot of creativity, imagination, verbosity, knowledge of the subject and an appropriate style.

Steps in Planning a Speech

• Decide on a central message — What is the focus of your speech or the organising element of your ideas?
•  Plan beforehand what is your purpose — to inform, to educate, to entertain, convince or persuade, so keep it simple by developing a central message.
•  Decide upon 4 or 5 key-points
•  Develop supporting evidence for each point — with stories, statistics, examples, etc.
•  Think of a strong introduction and a powerful conclusion.

Steps in Writing a Speech

•  Begin with appropriate title and salutation according to the target audience in front — whether it is students, teachers or a political gathering.
•  Use sentences that make an immediate connection with the audience.
•  Arrange your points according to priority.
•  Use conversational language, as if you are speaking to a friend.
Create mental stickers by using phrases from TV commercials, comics, and personal experiences.
•  Emphasise your main points by using quotes, comparisons, etc.
•  Develop an effective close, using a relevant poem, a message or a quote, to leave a long-lasting impact on the audience.

Format

Title and by line
Introduction : Explain the topic, contemporary evidence, give the present scenario, state facts.
Body : Advantages, disadvantages, results, effects, etc.
Conclusion : Solutions /steps taken by the Government / other agencies.
Close : a quote, an appeal, etc.

SAMPLE

Mihir is an avid reader of the newspapers and other print media. He is impressed by the enormous power the press wields in present times. So he gives a speech in the morning assembly on the topic “The Role of the Press”. Write the speech in 150 words.

The Fourth Estate-Press
by Mihir

Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends,

We all agree that our morning begins with a hot cup of tea, along with the daily newspaper—it is our daily dose to carry on with confidence. A newspaper means the entire world at our doorstep and it caters to every taste. Some gorge the headlines, others glean the sports page, some wish to tickle their grey cells with crossword, ‘Bulls’ & ‘Bears’ scrutinise the share prices, business wives go through the gold prices and party-gossip, fathers of prospective brides scan the matrimonials, job-hopefuls note the schedule of walk-in-interviews, adolescents look for TV programmes, editorials are savoured by the intellectuals — the list is endless.

Newspapers and other print media, besides giving information, also have a significant role to play in the life of a nation. Its low cost makes it very affordable; its availability in many regional languages makes it a favourite among masses. Its influence on public cannot be underestimated, especially in a democratic country, and no government can resist public opinion. So its power should be used effectively, in guiding the country and not in lending sensational colour to scandals, gossips and make even murderers look like heroes. So print media should not act like organs of political parties and present biased reports.

It can be safely concluded that press wields enormous power and the proprietors and editors should realize the responsibility in guiding a nation. A clean, truthful, unbiased newspaper can work wonders, if it enlightens the society against social evils and inspires the youth of today, towards a promising future.

Thank you

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. You are Ankit/Ankita, the Head Boy/Girl of Modern Public School, Aligarh. After your Board Exam, you will be leaving school where you spent 12 years of your life. You are supposed to deliver a farewell speech mentioning the love, affection and guidance of your teachers, friends, authorities etc. Write the speech in about 120 words. 

2. Vibha Wahi has been disturbed to note the miserable condition of poor children who have been made to work hard from their tender age. She has seen small children being beaten, maltreated, starved and exploited in every manner. But she was very happy to read the following poster, issued by the government to save the poor children from further degradation. So she prepares a speech to safeguard the rights of these children and cause awareness regarding child labour. (120 words)

I. Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

A. COMMANDS AND REQUESTS

Question. I said to him, “Leave this place at once.”
Answer. I told him to leave that place at once.

Question. The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.”
Answer. The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively.

Question. The principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.”
Answer. The principal ordered the peon to ring the bell.

Question. The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.”
Answer. The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water.

Question. I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.”
Answer. I requested him to bring me a glass of water.

Question. I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.”
Answer. I requested my friend to lend me his book.

B. STATEMENTS

Question. He said, “I can do this work.”
Answer. He said that he could do that work.

Question. Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.”
Answer. Renu told me that she had been washing the clothes.

Question. My friend said to me, “ I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.”
Answer. My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day.

Question. He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.”
Answer. He told Sita that he had passed the test.

Question. She said, “I am not well.”
Answer. She said that she was not well.

Question. Ramesh said to me, “My book is better than yours.”
Answer. Ramesh told me that his book was better than mine.

Question.  He says, “Honesty is the best policy.”
Answer. He says that honesty is the best policy.

C. QUESTIONS

Question. He said to me, “Will you listen to me?”
Answer. He asked me if I would listen to him.

Question. He said to her, “Do you like apples?”
Answer. He asked her if she liked apples.

Question. The peon said to the officer, “May I go out, sir?”
Answer. The peon asked the officer respectfully if he might go out.

Question. “Which way did the thief go?” asked the policeman.
Answer. The policeman asked which way the thief went.

Question. He shouted, “Will you keep quiet?”
Answer. He ordered me to keep quiet.

Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

Question. She said to me, “Please lend me your book.”
Answer. She requested me to lend her my book.

Question. He said to her, “What is the matter?”
Answer. He asked her what the matter was.

Question. I said to him, “Do you want my help?”
Answer. I asked him whether he wanted my help.

Question. She said to me, “I have written a letter.”
Answer. She told me that she had written a letter.

Question. I said to Anil, “Girls were singing a song.”
Answer. I told Anil that girls had been singing a song.

Question. He said to me, “You are honest.”
Answer. He told me that I was honest.

Question. The teacher said to the students, “Don’t waste you time.”
Answer. The teacher advised the students not to waste their time.

Question. He said to her, “Why do you read this book?”
Answer. He asked her why she read that book.

Question. He said to me, “Don’t do it.”
Answer. He asked me not to do it.

Question. ‘‘Where have you spent your money?” She asked him.
Answer. She asked him where he had spend his money.

II. Choose the correct options from the ones given below.

Question. I said to him, “Leave this place at once.”
(a) I told him to leave this place at once.
(b) I said to him to leave the place at once.
(c) I told him to leave that place at once.
(d) None of the above
Answer. C

Question. The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.”
(a) The teacher asked the students to listen to me attentively.
(b) The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively.
(c) The teacher said, listen to me attentively.
(d) None of the above
Answer. B

Question. My friend said to me, “ I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.”
(a) My friend was going to Delhi tomorrow.
(b) My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day.
(c) My friend said he was going to Delhi.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. B

Question. He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.”
(a) He told Sita he has passed the test.
(b) He told Sita, I have passed the test.
(c) He told Sita that he had passed the test.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. C

Question. She said, “I am not well.”
(a) She said that she was not well.
(b) She was not well, she said.
(c) She was not feeling well.
(d) None of these.
Answer. A

Question. He said to me, “Will you listen to me?”
(a) He said, please listen to me.
(b) He wondered whether I will listen to him.
(c) He asked me if I wouldlisten to him.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. C

Question. He said to her, “Do you like apples?”
(a) He asked her if she liked apples.
(b) He said that she likes apples.
(c) He wondered whether she liked apples.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. A

Question. The principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.”
(a) The principal ordered the peon to ring the bell.
(b) The principal said, ring the bell.
(c) The peon was asked to ring the bell.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. A

Question. The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.”
(a) The master wanted a glass of water.
(b) The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water.
(c) The master told the servant, fetch me a glass of water.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. B

Question. Ramesh said to me, “My book is better than yours.”
(a) Ramesh said my book is better than his.
(b) Ramesh told me that his book was better than mine.
(c) Ramesh said his book was better.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. B

Question. He says, “Honesty is the best policy.”
(a) He said honesty was the best policy.
(b) He says that honesty is the best policy.
(c) He said honesty is the best policy.
(d) None of these.
Answer. B

Question. The peon said to the officer, “May I go out, sir?”
(a) The peon asked permission to go out.
(b) The peon asked the officer respectfully if he might go out.
(c) The peon wondered whether he should go out.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. B

Question. “Which way did the thief go?” asked the policeman.
(a) The policeman asked the way of the thief.
(b) The policeman wanted to know the way the thief took.
(c) The policeman asked which way the thief went.
(d) None of the above.
Answer. C