Writing A School Election Speech
If you are writing a school election speech, chances are that you are running for a student government position. You want to build a great speech with strong, persuasive arguments that influence others – and influence their vote, too. Keep reading for some advice on writing a school election speech that people will like – and remember.
Brainstorming: Topics to Cover
Remember that when it comes to speech writing, you want to keep in mind that you only have a limited amount of time to prove to everyone that you are the right candidate to be selected. Therefore, you want to only cover a few key points well – not lots of random points in a sloppy way.
At the same time, you want to allow yourself to cover all of the great things about you – things that might not come to the forefront of your mind when you are first starting to work on your speech.
Allow yourself a lot of time to brainstorm topics and put together a well-formulated argument. Start building up a profile of yourself and thinking about the messages you want to send your peers.
Think about all of your involvement at school:
- What clubs have you been a part of?
- Do you have any experience with government or leadership positions?
- Do you follow class politics and are you active in helping others make decisions?
Then, think about your involvement in the community:
- Are you a leader outside of school?
- Some people may not know just how experienced you are because your leadership skills are showcased off of school grounds.
- Do you have a strong network of friends who will support you?
- Are you eager to help influence your school and the community for the better?
Tips for a Great School Election Speech
Think about the specific issues you want to cover during your speech. You should:
- Know the critical issues that the student body is divided over in your school.
- Be aware of any opportunities you might have to change things for the better.
The best way to frame yourself as a potential student government official is that you have the ability to make change happen, but that you will need the student body’s help, and that their votes and actions are important.
You do not want to broadcast too much self-pride, but you want to be confident: Make sure that you balance your humility and modesty with your leadership potential and confidence.
Avoid Insults: Why Attacking Other Candidates Makes You Lose
It might seem like a good idea to point out the flaws in the arguments that other candidates have in order to make yourself look better. But be warned: When writing a school election speech, it is much more efficient and effective to use your time to focus on the positive. You want to be able to let people see your good qualities – not focus on the flaws of others.
If you take the route of undercutting your opponents, you might find your image to be portrayed as the stubborn or judgmental candidate instead of the wise, logical one.
Keep It Simple – And Short!
You might want to demonstrate how incredible of a writer you are to the student body. The fact of the matter is, you only want to speak for a few minutes. Nobody likes to listen to a long, drawn out speech. Aim to keep people interested in what you have to say, making a few jokes, and keeping on the simple and short side of the fence.
A good rule is to pick two main points that your peers should walk away from the speech remembering, and to highlight those two ideas throughout the speech. At the end of the speech:
- Remind your peers of your main points.
- Encourage them to vote for you.
- Thank them at the end of your speech for their time.
- Tell them that their vote for you is critical.
Keep all these ideas in mind when writing a school election speech.
