Analysing Different Text Types: Speeches
Speeches are persuasive texts, and so there’s a different approach to analysing them versus analysing non-persuasive texts like novels or poems.
 
Other than techniques, for speeches, you should gain an understanding of rhetoric. This is the art of speaking and writing effectively as a means of persuasion or communication. This leads us to consider the modes of persuasion, that is, ethos, pathos and logos. These three are important concepts for constructing an effective speech that is persuasive and engaging. Let’s go through each of these in turn.
 
Pathos
This is the emotional pillar of your speech. It helps the audience understand and empathise with the argument you are purporting in your speech (hence, making your speech more effective).
 
This is typically embedded in the speech through the use of:
  • Analogies
  • Metaphors
  • Emotive language and strong diction
  • Emotional points
 
Ethos
Ethos is the credibility of the speaker (and thereby the speech). It is built by developing the character of the speaker to enable effective persuasion. The rationale is quite simple – if a speaker does not sound credible or lacks good character, then the audience will not take their points and arguments seriously.
 
It is built through:
  • A good introduction (which could include the expertise or history of the speaker/topic)
  • Respectful and inclusive diction and language
  • Storytelling (anecdotes)
 
Logos
This is the rationality of the speech’s argument. Again, an audience will not be swayed by your argument if it what you’re saying is not logical. This involves offering evidence to support your claims and opinions.
 
It is built through:
  • Stating evidence (such as facts or statistics etc.)
  • Drawing on examples
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Being specific, comprehensive and straightforward where necessary
 
 
Having understood the 3 pillars, you should consider composing your speech with the use of rhetoric devices and techniques. Here are some common ones:
  • Anecdotes
  • Hyperphora
  • Epizeuxis
  • Anaphora
  • Epistrophe
  • Analogy
  • Alliteration
  • Rhetorical questions
  • Anadiplosis
  • Antiphrasis
  • Synecdoche
  • Aporia
  • Meiosis