(NB If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you’ll find it here. The numbering continues on from that post, in case you’re wondering why I’ve started with 6!)
Part 2: Researching, Structuring and Delivering Your Speech
Once you’ve chosen a topic, identified your audience and purpose, and started exploring your ideas out loud, it’s time to shape your speech into something powerful, well-informed and memorable. This post will show you how.
6. Research: Be an Expert
If you want your audience to trust you, you need to know your subject well. Researching a topic means collected lots of information – more than you will actually need to use in your speech. The idea is that you need to become an EXPERT in your chosen topic. There are marks awarded for showing your in-depth subject knowledge, so research is really important!
There are lots of different places you can find the information you need.
*The most obvious is THE INTERNET! But not all websites are accurate, so you need to think about which websites are the most trustworthy sources of information. For example, how does Yahoo Answers compare to Encyclopaedia Brittanica? Some websites are trying to sell products, or are affiliated with political groups or societies, and might not give well-balanced views.
Other places you can find information:
*BOOKS! Visit your local library!
*Radio, TV, podcasts, newspapers and magazines – these are all valuable sources of information.
*Interviewing people to find out their views would also count as research. If your talk is about young people spending too much time on screens every day, then talk to your classmates and find out what they think about it. How much screen time are they allowed? Are they allowed to have their phone in their bedroom? Do they think it has a negative effect?
*Your own experiences count as research. If you are talking about a holiday you’ve been on, then part of your research was actually going on the holiday! But you would want to back this up with further research e.g. facts about the country that you’ve visited, a look at photographs to refresh your memory, discussions with family members about their most enjoyable aspect of the holiday.
In summary, use a range of sources:
• Google is a good starting point, but always check reliability
• Wikipedia is a springboard, not a destination
• Encyclopaedia Britannica and reputable news websites are far more reliable than Reddit or TikTok
• Read books, listen to podcasts, talk to people, or visit relevant places like exhibitions or museums where possible
In LAMDA exams from Grade 3 to Grade 5, candidates are asked about their research. That means:
• Taking notes
• Remembering where information came from
• Being able to talk confidently about what you discovered
Good research doesn’t just strengthen your speech – it boosts confidence.
7. Structure: Choose a Framework That Works
Different types of speech suit different structures. Choosing the right framework early will save you time — and prevent endless rewrites later.
Here are four tried-and-tested options:
A. Point-by-Point
Ideal for persuasive speeches such as “Why tennis is better than football.”
Choose three or four clear points and explore each in turn.
Example:
1. You’re more in control — no substitutes
2. All-round fitness: tennis builds strength and agility
3. Mental toughness — it’s just you and your opponent
This structure works well when you want to convince your audience of something.
B. For and Against (Balanced Argument)
Perfect for questions such as:
“Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?”
“Should people climb Mount Everest?”
You explore both sides fairly before reaching a reasoned conclusion. This shows maturity and critical thinking.
C. Timeline
Great for biographical or personal journey speeches, for example:
“The Life of Mozart”
“My Football Journey: From Reception to Year 10 Trials”
You might divide your speech into:
• The beginning
• The middle
• The present (or future)
This structure helps your audience follow a clear narrative.
D. Cause and Effect
Ideal for issue-based speeches such as “The Grenfell Tower Disaster.”
You explain:
• What happened
• What led up to it (the causes)
• What changed afterwards (the effects)
This approach is powerful when dealing with real-world issues and consequences.
EXERCISE:
A useful exercise is to try structuring your speech in two (or more) different ways and notice which one feels more natural when spoken aloud.
For example, you’ve chosen the title “Why you should join my football club”. But you’re not sure how to structure it. You could try out all of the approaches suggested above and see which one you prefer.
1. Themes/Topics
a. Why I love football
b. The skills I’ve developed
c. The highlights of my time at the club
2. Time Sequence
a. Before I joined the club e.g. unfit / lacked confidence
b. Now that I’m a member my life has improved
c. My hopes for the future
3. Compare/Contrast: Football vs other sports – which one is right for you?
4. Cause/Effect:
a. EFFECT: In July 2020 I was held aloft on the shoulders of my teammates. We had won the cup! How was this possible when just six months earlier we couldn’t even get a team together and had to forfeit matches…
b. CAUSE: New coach/new strategy
8. The Top and Tail: How to Start and End Well
Start strong. You want to grab your audience’s attention immediately.
Some effective openings include:
• A rhetorical question
• A short anecdote
• A striking statistic or fact
• A quotation
EXERCISE:
For your speech, try and come up with four different Attention-Grabbing Openings. For example, if your speech is about the responsbilities of dog ownership:
• “Have you ever trodden in dog poo? Horrible, isn’t it?” (Rhetorical question)
• “The other day, I was walking down the road in my brand new trainers when I felt that horrible squish underfoot…” (Anecdote)
• “Did you know that 78% of dog owners admit they don’t always pick up after their pet?” (A statistic)
• “Mark Twain once said, ‘The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.’” (A quotation)
Once you’ve hooked your audience, briefly introduce yourself and your purpose and then continue with your chosen structure until you get to the… ENDING!
End with impact. Don’t fizzle out, and don’t just stop. Finish the job. I suggest you plan your ending in this order:
• Summarise your key message: “That’s why I’m convinced that sleep is the most important pillar of health.”
• Offer a call to action: Encourage your audience to sign a petition, visit a website, join a club, read a book, or think differently about an issue.
• Say thank you!
8. Practise Out Loud — Again and Again
Yes, this was in Part 1. And yes, it’s here again — because it’s probably the most important thing you can do to prepare for your presentation.
Remember: practising silently or “looking over” a speech is not the same as rehearsing it.
Real practice means:
• Standing up and speaking to an imaginary audience
• Recording yourself and listening back
• Performing it to a friend or family member
• Timing yourself to make sure you’re within the limit
A Final Thought for Parents
Public speaking isn’t just about passing an exam. It’s about helping young people develop the confidence to be heard. Whether your child is preparing for LAMDA or speaking in assembly, encourage them to:
• Practise regularly
• Speak from the heart
• Think carefully about their listener
• Enjoy the process
Support, encouragement and a listening ear go a long way. And if they need help, get in touch! We offer Speaking in Public classes in person at our Studio in North London, in schools and on Zoom.