speech writing nz

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Speech Writing

Course code.

Qualifications are made up of courses. Some universities call these papers. Each course is numbered using six digits.

The fourth number of the course code shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).

Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.

Course planning information

General progression requirements, learning outcomes.

What you will learn. Knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ll be able to show as a result of successfully finishing this course.

• 1 Evaluate the stylistic and structural features of 20th and 21st century speeches.
• 2 Classify examples of rhetorical devices, and create and refine original ones.
• 3 Harmonise the sounds of words into aurally appealing written sequences that exemplify the sound-driven nature of speech writing.
• 4 Analyse speech patterns, and use your analysis to adapt your writing to people for whom you are writing.
• 5 Develop a mastery of techniques to employ ethos, pathos and logos, and apply these in your writing.
• 6 Critically evaluate the influences of speech writers on politics and social movements, and as providers of models of rhetorical excellence.

Learning outcomes can change before the start of the semester you are studying the course in.

Assessments

Assessment weightings can change up to the start of the semester the course is delivered in.

You may need to take more assessments depending on where, how, and when you choose to take this course.

Explanation of assessment types

Textbooks needed.

There are no set texts for this course.

Course delivery details

No offerings available, get more information.

Ask an Academic Adviser for more information about this course.

Enrol in this course

You can enrol to study this course in the student portal if you have already been accepted to study at Massey. New students need to apply for admission to a qualification first.

If you want to study a course without completing a qualification, you can apply for a Certificate of Proficiency .

Useful planning information

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• Planning your study
• Application process overview
• Semester dates
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• International students’ information

Effective communications that deliver results

“Sue was fantastic to work with. Not only was she able to put together the prefect speech for my audience, she gave me a fantastic introduction to the art of speechwriting. She really is a true professional and offers a high-level personal service.”

Jason White, Financial Consultant & Director, Farrington & White Ltd (political speech)

"Working with Sue was fantastic. She managed to take all of my random thoughts and create a coherent and relevant speech. I would highly recommend her." Greg Page

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Give us a call

027 483 8800

Speech Writing and Speech Presentation Coaching

We can write one 5-10 min speech from scratch. It includes research, writing, reviewing plus a one hour practice run-through giving tips on delivering the speech perfectly.

Very quick turnaround.

For further information and pricing contact [email protected] or phone 0274 838 800.

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Literacy Boost - Structured Literacy Intervention

Evidence-based STRUCTURED LITERACY intervention supporting children and adults with reading, spelling, and writing.

We believe that ALL children and adults in New Zealand have the right to evidence-based literacy education. The most effective way to learn to read and spell is with a systematic and evidence-based structured teaching approach. Delivered by our team of expertly trained Speech-Language Therapists, we choose  Sounds~Write ™ - a gold standard, evidence based programme supporting reading, writing and spelling.

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What is Structured Literacy?

Structured Literacy is an approach to the teaching of reading, writing and spelling. It is backed by evidence-based research about the way the brain learns to read. Structured literacy approaches emphasise highly explicit and systematic teaching of all important components of literacy. These components include both foundational skills (e.g., decoding, spelling) and higher-level literacy skills (e.g., reading comprehension, written expression). Structured literacy also emphasises oral language abilities essential to literacy development, including phonemic awareness, sensitivity to speech sounds in oral language, and the ability to manipulate those sounds.

About Sounds-Write™

The Sounds-write programme is systematic and follows a carefully planned structure which introduces the 44 sounds of English and their corresponding letters in a clear logical sequence.

Progress is constantly monitored and assessed to adjust pacing, presentation, and amount of practice given before introducing new information.

Explicit teaching

Students are directly taught the information and skills to be learned, using clear language. The teaching scripts minimise the cognitive load for students, helping them to focus more attention on the new knowledge they are being taught

Literacy Boost® Structured Literacy intervention builds on students’ previous learning to ensure progress. The programme intentionally moves from teaching simple to more complex content. Phonological awareness is built into every session.

Sound to print

Literacy Boost® is well founded on the principle that we teach reading by starting with what all children learn naturally—the sounds of their own language. We are establishing the link between the sounds (phonemes) the child has learned already, and the visual signs (graphemes) that represent them.

Multi-sensory

Literacy Boost® is well founded on the ideology that children learn best when exposure to new material is multi-sensory Learners are highly engaged in hearing the sounds, seeing the symbols, saying the sounds, and writing the symbols in every lesson. This is a core component of the multimodal approach to optimise learning.

"If a child memorizes ten words, the child can read only ten words, but if a child learns the sounds of ten letters, the child will be able to read 350 three sound words, 4320 four sound words and 21,650 five sound words" (Dr Martin Kozloff, 2002) 

Who can benifit from structured literacy.

All young readers benefit from a Structured Literacy approach to learning to read and write. However, it is especially relevant to those who may have diagnosed (or undiagnosed) learning difficulties, or are falling behind in their learning at school. Structured Literacy interventions are ideally begun in the early years of primary school, though the approaches remain relevant throughout a child’s learning journey.

Your child may benefit from personalised tutoring based in Structured Literacy if:

• - they dislike reading and writing because they believe they can not do it!
• - they try their hardest, and are diligent students who are not making progress in their literacy development
• - they are already giving up on learning in the early years of schooling and are becoming disengaged
• - they are acting out in frustration or boredom in the classroom and around homework tasks
• - they are unsure of the sounds that letters make, even once this has been taught at home and/or school. Similarly, they are not able to ‘sound out’ or ‘chunk’ words to read and/or write
• - they commonly switch letters around in words, including transposing letters in their own and family members’ names, or other day-to-day words you may expect them to have learnt already
• - they seem to be falling behind their peers, or are acquiring reading and writing skills more slowly in comparison to their siblings despite the same or similar supports at home
• - you just feel like there’s something missing in their literacy development, but are unsure what this is

Further evidence based reading

Delivering on the promise of education starts with the mastery of the most fundamental foundational skill—the ability to read. Not only is reading critical to the success of further education but it is an expected accomplishment in order to thrive in contemporary society. Of equal importance, leading a literate life can bring immense joy and beauty to a human being’s life.  Yet many children today are not learning to read.

Students who struggle to decode the words quickly enough begin to avoid reading, and the lack of practice contributes to a lack of vocabulary, academic language, and content knowledge. This all results in lower comprehension and a lack of motivation to continue to expend the effort necessary for learning to read.  The foundational reading skills are those that enable students to read words, relate those words to their oral language, and read connected text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to unde rstand what they read. 

Research based reading programs that emphasise phonological awareness, phonics, the rules of spelling and writing, as well as comprehension have not only been shown to be critical for all early readers, but have even been found to “normalise” brain function for struggling readers.

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Contact us - Giant Leaps HQ

Freephone: 0800 4 SPEECH

Mobile: 027 661 4441

Email: [email protected]

www.giantleaps.nz

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GIANT LEAPS Speech Company

Dunedin I Wanaka I Oamaru I Waitaki Valley I Waimate I Timaru I Ashburton I Christchurch I NZ wide via zoom

Giant leaps speech co. limited. all rights reserved 2020.  , freephone 0800 4 speech.

+64221637875 – [email protected]

Difficulties Attending & Following Instructions?

Kōkako Speech Therapy can help you!

Struggles With Literacy & Writing?

Unclear Speech? Late Talker?

Our philosophy.

Our name stems from kōkako who gave Māui water as he fought the sun by filling its plump wattles with water and offering it to Māui to quench his thirst. Māui rewarded kōkako for its kindness by stretching its legs until they were lean, long and robust. So that kōkako could easily leap through the forest to find food. At kōkako, we believe in kindness and growing each individual to their full potential and reaching greater heights.

Who’s Mandana

Mandana is a Senior Speech & Language Therapist with over 24 years of experience in different countries. She has worked in Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand, with a wide range of speech, language, voice, fluency, articulation delays and disorders. As a Speech Therapist in a Special Needs School, She has a lot of experience working with school-age and young people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurological Disorders as well as complex needs. She believes in working collaboratively with the individual, their whānau and other agencies to ensure the therapy is fun, functional, and achievable across all settings. She is a Communication Assisted Technology (CAT L1) accredited and Lego Therapist too. She lives with her adventurous husband and talented 6-year-old son in Rotorua. Mandana began her private practice “Kōkako Speech Therapy” to ensure that the local Rotoruaian citizens have access to a private and evidenced-based Speech & Language Therapy Service. She is a fully registered member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists Association.

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Adult speech & language links and resources

Adult speech and language terminology :

Aphasia (ay-faze-yuh): a language disorder which can affect speaking, writing, understanding spoken language or reading. (Also known as dysphasia in some parts of the world. In New Zealand the umbrella term aphasia is used most widely).

Apraxia (a-prax-see-ya): a motor speech disorder causing difficulties controlling and coordinating the muscles used for speech.

Dysarthria (dis-ar-three-ya): a motor speech disorder causing slurred, slowed or unclear speech caused by muscle weakness.

Dysphagia (dis-fay-ja): a medical term for swallowing difficulties causing choking, coughing, regurgitation or malnutrition.

Links to New Zealand organisations for adults:

Aphasia New Zealand - Giving a voice to people with aphasia, support services, information, advocacy and advice for anyone affected by aphasia in NZ

Stroke Foundation Midlands - Support and assistance for you and your family following stroke

Parkinson's NZ - Support, education and information for NZers living with Parkinson's, their families and carers

Motor Neurone Disease NZ - Help and support for people with MND and their carers

Hopeworks Foundation - Changing the way the public, private and medical sectors view disabliity and the ways they communicate

Carers NZ  - Information, advice, learning and support for carers in NZ

Independent Learning Services  - makes daily living easier for people with impairments, assistive products and information

Alzheimers New Zealand  - Information, support and education for those affected by dementia and their loved ones across NZ

Links to information and advice:

Dysphagia - Having difficulty swallowing pills? Read this (click on blue text below to follow link): 

Tips for swallowing pills

Stroke therapy - Wondering when is the best time for stroke rehab? Read this (click on blue text below):

Timely therapy can increase your chance for a better recovery

Aphasia - Watch this video about Australian woman, Rachel's experience of aphasia and recovery (click on blue text below):

Rachel's story

Child speech & language resources and links

Terminology for child speech & language:

Articulation - how speech sounds are produced by the coordination of the articulators (teeth, lips, tongue, palate). E.g. to produce a "f' sound we use the the teeth and lips together.

Phonology - how speech sounds are used in language. E.g. how sounds are put together to make words

Phonological processes - how children simplify sound patterns while they are young and developing their speech sound system. E.g. a young child may say "goggie" instead of "doggie", or "ta" for "car", until they have mastered the correct sounds. These processes are a natural part of speech development. 

Phonological delay - when a child continues to use the simplified version of a sound beyond the typical ages of use

Phonological awareness - the ability to recognise and manipulate sounds in a language. It is a fundamental building block of literacy/learning to read. E.g. recognising when words rhyme, being able to count syllables in a word, recognising when words start with the same sound.

​Links to resources and websites for child speech & language (click the blue text to go website):

Ministry of Education - Communication Service fact sheet

Does your child need speech therapy? - Kidspot information regarding warning signs and guidance for parents

New Zealand Speech Language Therapy Association (NZSTA) - New Zealand's Speech Langauge Therapy professional body. This website provides information regarding speech, language and hearing development and other resources (e.g to find a therapist) for parents, carers and whanau. 

Communciation milestones - A wealth of resources regarding milestones and speech langauge  therapy for your child from Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).

Speech Central - Top 4 Tips for encouraging toddler speech and language  click and download for free

Links to articles and videos:

Wondering how to maximise your child's language learning? Click the link to find out

        Your toddler learns 8 new words a day - here's how to maximise that

        Feeding your baby's brain (Brainwave Trust)

        Conversation feeds the brain (research shows benefits 10 years later!)

Reading is not only vital for great language learning but is also linked to relationship building and family happiness! Find out more by clicking the blue links below for all the reasons reading is so important:

        ​ Reading is fundamental for family happiness

        Why reading the same story over and over is important

Bored of reading Llama llama? try rapping it next time. Watch the video below for some inspo:

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Aotearoa New Zealand Writing Courses – in-person and online

See nzsa’s learning hub for details of nzsa’s web workshop programme, writer toolkit modules and nzsa roadshows..

NZSA Writer Toolkit – The NZSA Writer Toolkit is our professional development offering, with multiple modules released. Our Writer Toolkit is an online learning platform that offers writers a wide range of low-cost or free modules on writing and the writing life by our leading authors and industry professionals. All sessions comprise of static content you can work through alone, or with your writing group or regional hub meeting. Each module contains notes, exercises, and suggestions for further reading on the topics. New Writer Toolkits are produced each year. Some modules are free to all, and members receive a free Writer Toolkit voucher with annual membership renewals.

NZSA Web Workshops –  – a series of webinars to enable ongoing professional development. Online Two-hour interactive masterclasses. See the link for the latest workshops on offer. they fwriters and industry professionals offering virtual workshops on topics such as self-publishing, romance writing, poetry, structure, short stories, pitching, contract advice, dystopian writing and the business of writing. All NZSA Webworkshops are hosted on Zoom.

NZSA Roadshows – Regional Roadshows brings professional development to the regions. Each one-day conference offers local writers access to professional development, masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions taught by experienced writers from across Aotearoa. These events are organised in partnership with local NZSA branches to build collegiality, connection and new opportunities for professional development in local settings. The events are lively, inclusive, stimulating, and practical and offer something for writers across the spectrum. Sessions cover craft, publishing, marketing, and much more!

NZSA annual Mentorship and Assessment Programmes – Each year Creative NZ supports NZSA to run four mentorship and assessment programmes: The NZSA Mentor Programme , Complete MS Assessment programme, the NZSA Youth Mentorship programme and Startwrite quick assessment programme.

Te Papa Tupu – Māori Literature Trust   – Te Papa Tupu is a highly contested writers incubator designed specifically for emerging Māori writers. Every two years, six writers are given the opportunity to be mentored by acclaimed authors and editors. Throughout the course of the programme, writers work with their mentors to develop their manuscripts for publication.

IPED – The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) is the professional association for Australian and New Zealand editors. It exists to advance the profession of editing and to support and promote Australian and New Zealand editors.

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. Following this, the Masters in Creative Writing is available online with tutorage from established authors. It allows writers to focus on their own work, while improving their craft skills.

NZ Writers’ College   – offers a variety of online writing courses with one-on-one tutoring from established writers. Courses cover journalism, creative writing, business and specialist areas such as editing and blogs.

NorthTec – offers three diploma levels online. Level 5 covers every genre of fiction or non-fiction writing you can think of, including writing for children in both Te Reo Maori and English, and also an editing paper for writers. Level 6 takes the student’s choice of genre to the next level, be it poetry, short stories, romance writing, science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir or scripts, and includes business skills, epublishing and professional editing. Level 7 allows students to focus on their own work, improving their craft skills with mentorship from established authors. Previous students have completed graphic novels, novels, memoirs, family histories, Maori legends, historical fiction, short stories, travel pieces, and an interactive game.

The Creative Hub – Taught by some of New Zealand’s leading writers, most of the courses are venue only, but the two-month Introduction to Creative Writing has an online option.

The School for Young Writers  – offers a wide range of correspondence courses and mentor programmes for writers 8-19 yrs.

Waiariki Institute of Technology – offers a range of courses from one semester to one year including business, Maori, scriptwriting, travel and a diverse selection of fiction options. There are also courses covering marketing, publishing and writing for the web.

Whitireia – offers courses in creative writing, journalism, publishing, and editing from diploma to bachelor level. Some can be completed part time. In 2023 they have added Micro-credentials in editing.

Write   – Short, introductory level courses in grammar and general clarity for business situations

NorthTec – offers three diploma levels online. Level 5 covers every genre of fiction or non-fiction writing you can think of, including writing for children in both Te Reo Maori and English, and also an editing paper for writers. Level 6 takes the student’s choice of genre to the next level, be it poetry, short stories, romance writing, science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir or scripts, and includes business skills, epublishing and professional editing. Level 7 allows students to focus on their own work, improving their craft skill with mentorship from established authors. Previous students have completed graphic novels, novels, memoirs, family histories, Maori legends, historical fiction, short stories, travel pieces and an interactive game.

AUT – Auckland University of Technology – provides a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing which explores a variety of genres, and also a Masters in either Creative Writing or Screenwriting. Tutors and mentors include James George and Siobhan Harvey.

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. The courses vary from campus to campus, but are all available online. This includes the Master in Creative Writing, which allows writers to focus on their own work, blending literature studies and craft skills with tutorage from established authors.

The Creative Hub  – offers a range of writing related courses, from half day through to a thirty week course involving master classes from established writers. Courses include creative writing, self-publishing and fiction/memoirs.

University of Auckland  – offers a range of English, drama, screen and creative writing courses. The Masters of Creative Writing, taught by Paula Morris, runs for a full university year during which writers work intensively on their own project. Limited to twelve participants, the MCW includes craft skills and exercises, weekly critique workshops, masterclasses with visiting established writers (previously including Eleanor Catton and Ben Okri), and seminars with representatives from the writing industry.

University of Waikato  – has a range of writing major papers which include academic and creative writing with additional screen, media and theatre studies also available.

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)  – offers a range of writing papers at degree and postgraduate level. Level 6 and 7 papers can be taken as part of a Communications degree, or as a separate Certificate of Proficiency. These include: Creative Writing Workshop, Writing Project (both taught in evening), Screenwriting, Advanced Screenwriting, Feature Writing and Professional and Technical Communication (online). Wintec also offers the Level 5 National Diploma in Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Communication (with a major in Professional Writing), and post-graduate Honours and Masters qualifications with an emphasis on research and generation of a major piece of work. Post-graduate publications have included edited creative anthologies, plays, memoir and family histories.

Central Districts

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. The courses vary from campus to campus, but are all available online. This includes the Master in Creative Writing, which allows writers to focus on their own specific project, whilst blending literature studies and craft skills with tutorage from established authors.

Western Institute of Technology  – is situated in Taranaki and offers a National Diploma in Journalism.

Victoria University Wellington – this university has an established creative writing programme (Institute of Modern Letters) with a diverse selection of writing courses, from undergraduate level to PhD. Courses include poetry, short fiction, writing for children and Iowa workshops in poetry and prose. Tutors include Emily Perkins, Hinemoana Baker, David Armstrong and Ashleigh Young, among others.

Whitireia Community Polytechnic   – has a range of full and part time courses in creative writing, also English skills and its National Diploma in Journalism. Writing for radio is included the Radio Journalism diploma. Write  – has a variety of one-off writing workshops designed to help with writing for business, blogs and websites.

The School for Young Writers  – offers a wide range of courses and programmes for writers 8-19 yrs. The school holds weekend, after school, and in school classes.

University of Canterbury  – in addition to a range of courses in journalism, and a selection of creative writing papers (not available every year), this university has the Master in Fine Arts – Creative Writing. Here, writers undertake a single larger project as well as a substantial essay and oral exam.

Hagley Writers’ Institute  – based in Christchurch, this offers a part-time year-long course for writers, working in both prose and poetry, with a portfolio submitted at the end of the year. Working in groups of ten, the classes meet on Saturdays for support, advice and critiquing with their tutor.

The Poetry Class – regular and bespoke short poetry classes in Christchurch and greater Canterbury, taught by Joanna Preston.

Otago/Southland

Otago University – A number of semester-long classes at undergraduate level are offered in Creative Writing.

Creative Writing Dunedin  – a range of courses taught in small classes in Dunedin, from one-day Saturday courses to 8 to 10 week courses in Memoir, Fiction, Poetry and completing a Manuscript.

The Wanaka Autumn Art School – a 5-day annual writing course for beginner to more advanced fiction writers, currently tutored by Jillian Sullivan.

Online Courses (Australia)

OpenColleges – Providing specialised writing, editing and media-related training to aspiring authors, editors and journalists for more than a quarter of a century, the Australian College of Journalism can deliver the expert tuition required to polish your skills and acquire the commercial savvy you need to succeed.

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General Resources

Developing programmes, critical evaluation, perfect pitch, some teaching method/strategies, spoken and written language, teaching methods/strategies, pitch to become a speech and drama teacher, what makes great talks 'great'.

Guidelines for developing Diploma programmes in Speech and Drama by Pam Logan

Useful terms for Critical Evaluation of a Speech. For students of ASB Public Speaking Module One

For candidates preparing for Professional Speaking, this article describes strategies for making an effective business proposal, by Chris Keall from the magazine ‘Bright’ (Dec. 08/ Jan. 09)

A random list acquired from many sources to refresh your teaching

Differences between Spoken and Written Language. The chart clearly outlines the differences between the two forms of language

This pitch will help you in your approach to teaching Speech and Drama in schools

by Chris Anderson

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Writing the Groom’s Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Toast

• Wedding Planning

Unless you’re a fan of public speaking, you’ve probably found your way here wondering how on earth you’re meant to begin writing the speech for your wedding day…

Well, as a groom, you’re in luck, the Groom’s Wedding Speech is actually a very simple, straightforward one to write, and with a couple of read-throughs, you’ll nail it (even if you are reading this the night before.

In what order should the Groom’s speech be?

A Groom’s Wedding Speech is one of the four traditional wedding speeches. Typically, the Groom’s wedding speech follows the speeches of the Father of the Bride and the Best Man, and is followed by the Maid of Honour (historically, a Bride would not make a speech). Of course, it will be completely up to you as a couple to decide who will be speaking, and what order that should be in (though someone may just surprise you and wish to speak on the day!), and of course, if this is a same-sex wedding, there may be two Grooms making speeches.  See all the different ways  same-sex couples can reinvent the speech section of their wedding.

Why the Groom’s Speech is the Easiest Wedding Speech to Write

It’s often said that the groom’s speech is the easiest speech to write because it has a simple structure and purpose. Here are some reasons why:

• Shorter length: The groom’s speech is usually shorter than other speeches, such as the Father of the Bride or Best Man’s toast. This means that there is less pressure to come up with a lot of content, be particularly funny or entertaining, or even share personal stories – leave that up to the others if you wish.
• Simple structure: The Groom’s speech typically follows a very simple structure, starting with an opening thank you and acknowledgment of the Bride, followed by a brief anecdote or two, possibly about wedding planning (and how much or little you’ve had to do with it), and ending with a toast to the future. This structure makes it easy to plan and write the speech.
• Personal experience: The Groom’s speech is often based on personal experience, making it easier to write from the heart. The Groom can share stories about how he met his Bride, how he fell in love, or when he knew he wanted to marry her, which can easily make for a heartfelt and meaningful speech. Trust us, all anybody really wants to hear is how stunning you think your new wife is, and what a phenomenal job she has done planning the day (even if you think you took on a fair share of it!)

How to Write the Groom’s Wedding Speech

• Start with a plan

Before you begin writing your speech, it’s important to have a plan in place. Think about the key points you want to make and how you can weave them together into a cohesive message, possibly incorporating a point into both the introduction and conclusion.

• Begin with a strong opening

To captivate your audience from the start, consider beginning with a strong opening. This could be a heartfelt quote or a humorous story that sets the tone for the rest of your speech. The goal is to grab the attention of your audience and set the tone for the rest of your speech.

• Speak from the heart

The best wedding speeches are those that come from the heart. While it can be tempting to focus on jokes or generic sentiments, take the time to speak honestly about your feelings. Share what you love about your new spouse and what makes your relationship special. Speak from the heart, and your words will be sure to resonate with your audience.

• Keep it concise

While you may have a lot to say, it’s important to keep your speech concise. Aim for a speech that lasts around five minutes, as anything longer can cause your audience to lose interest. Stick to the key points you want to make and be mindful of your audience’s attention span.

• Include humor

Wedding speeches don’t have to be serious all the time. In fact, including humor can be a great way to engage your audience and lighten the mood. Consider adding a funny story or anecdote to your speech to break up the more serious moments., practice, practice.

• Practice Reading Your Speech

Once you’ve written your speech, it’s time to practice. Read it out loud several times to get a feel for how it sounds and to make sure it flows well. Consider practicing in front of a mirror or in front of a friend to get feedback. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel delivering your speech on the big day.

Making the Groom’s Speech Funny

If humour comes naturally to you, your speech is likely to be funny too, and your guests are the ones who know and love you best (so they’ll definitely laugh along with you). If you struggle to tell personal anecdotes, consider including some funny quotes or sweet sayings:

• “The secret to a good marriage is to be a little deaf.”  —  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
• “If at first you don’t succeed…try doing it the way your wife told you.”  —  Unknown
• “The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret.”  —  Henny Youngman
• “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times—always with the same person.”  —  Mignon McLaughlin (this one’s in our ‘ I still do ‘ anniversary journal)
• “To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.”  —  Ogden Nash

What should the Groom actually say in his wedding speech?

Of course, the groom’s wedding speech is also an opportunity to express his love and appreciation for his partner in front of friends and family. It’s a chance to share heartfelt words that capture the essence of their relationship and the depth of his feelings. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a groom’s speech, the following tips can help create a personal and loving tribute:

• Start with gratitude: Begin by thanking everyone for being there to celebrate this special day. Express your gratitude for their love and support, and how much it means to have them all there with you.
• Acknowledge your partner: Take a moment to acknowledge your partner and how much they mean to you. Share a personal story about how you met or something that has strengthened your relationship over time. Speak from the heart and let your emotions guide you. Thank them, if they have worked really hard to plan the wedding , as it has probably been a huge emotional undertaking for them too.
• Speak to their qualities: Talk about the qualities you admire in your partner, such as their kindness, compassion, sense of humor, or intelligence. Share specific examples that demonstrate these traits and how they have impacted your life.
• Express your love: This is the perfect opportunity to express your love and affection for your partner. Use language that is personal and meaningful to you, whether it’s through poetry, song lyrics, or your own heartfelt words.
• Make promises: A wedding is a celebration of a lifelong commitment, so take this opportunity to make promises to your partner about the future you will build together. Reinforce the vows you wrote to each other . You might promise to support them through thick and thin, to always be their partner in life, or to continue growing and learning together.
• Thank the families: Thank both families for their love and support, and for coming together to celebrate this special day. Acknowledge any special people in your partner’s life, such as parents or grandparents, and express your gratitude for their presence.
• End with a toast: Raise a glass to your partner, your families, and your future together. Invite everyone to join you in celebrating this joyous occasion and toast to the happiness and love that lies ahead.

Is there anything the Groom shouldn’t say in his speech?

Ah, yes, we’re so glad you asked, there are a few things never to include in a wedding speech .

• No matter how funny the anecdote sounds to you on paper, ex-girlfriends or past relationships for either party are off the table . It’s best to avoid this topic entirely.
• Controversial or sensitive topics: Weddings are a time to celebrate love and happiness, so it’s best to avoid controversial or sensitive topics that could potentially upset or offend guests. This could include politics, religion, or other divisive issues.
• Inside jokes or stories that are inappropriate: While inside jokes and stories can be entertaining, it’s important to consider whether they are appropriate for a wider audience. If a story or joke could potentially embarrass or offend someone, it’s best to avoid it.
• Negative comments about anyone (ANYONE): A wedding is a time to celebrate and show love, so it’s important to avoid negative comments or criticism of anyone. This includes family members, friends, vendors, or even the bride or groom themselves. Don’t resort to self-deprecating humour, this just isn’t the time. See etiquette guide to wedding speeches .

Remember, the most important thing is to speak from the heart and be true to yourself. While it can be tempting to focus on jokes or generic sentiments, take the time to speak honestly about your feelings. Share what you love about your new spouse and what makes your relationship special. Speak from the heart, and your words will be sure to resonate with your audience. Don’t worry too much about getting the words perfect – the emotion behind them is what really counts. With these tips in mind, you can create a personal and loving tribute to yo.ur partner that will be remembered for years to come.

Finally, the best, most entertaining and engaging speeches are ones which are to the point and concise. Aim for a speech that lasts around five minutes, as anything longer can cause your audience to lose interest. Stick to the key points you want to make and be mindful of your audience’s attention span.

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David Seidler, Oscar-Winning Writer of ‘The King’s Speech,’ Dies at 86

He drew on his own painful experiences with a stutter in depicting King George VI’s struggles to overcome his impediment and rally Britain in World War II.

By Trip Gabriel

David Seidler, a screenwriter whose Oscar-winning script for “The King’s Speech” — about King George VI conquering a stutter to rally Britain at the outset of World War II — drew on his own painful experience with a childhood stammer, died on Saturday on a fly-fishing trip in New Zealand. He was 86 and lived in Santa Fe, N.M.

His manager, Jeff Aghassi, disclosed the death in a statement but did not cite a cause. “David was in the place he loved most in the world — New Zealand — doing what gave him the greatest peace, which was fly-fishing,” Mr. Aghassi said. “If given the chance, it is exactly as he would have scripted it.”

On winning the Academy Award for best original screenplay for “The King’s Speech” (2010), Mr. Seidler said from the Hollywood stage that he was accepting on behalf of all stutterers. “We have a voice; we have been heard,” he said.

The movie, a historical drama in the form of a buddy picture about an afflicted future monarch (Colin Firth) and his talented but unlicensed speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush), was a commercial and critical success. It also won Oscars for best picture, best director (Tom Hooper) and best actor (Mr. Firth).

Mr. Seidler, who was born in England but emigrated with his family to the United States as a child during World War II, spent much of his career writing little-noticed television projects, including soap operas, a biopic of the Partridge Family singers and the TV movie “Onassis: The Richest Man in the World” (1988), written with a longtime co-writer, Jacqueline Feather. That same year, he broke onto the big screen as a co-writer (with Arnold Schulman) of “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” about the automobile inventor Preston Tucker, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

But Hollywood’s doors did not swing open widely for him before “The King’s Speech,” or in the years that followed. A stage version of the film that he wrote toured England in 2012. After transferring to London’s West End, it closed earlier than expected because of poor ticket sales.

Mr. Seidler’s stammer, he told Patrick Healy in an interview for The New York Times in 2011, developed when he was a toddler, shortly after his family had moved to the United States — it might have been set off by the trauma of wartime relocation — and persisted through his high school years on Long Island.

He tried to conquer the impediment using some of the same therapies that Lionel Logue, played by Mr. Rush, imposes on the future George VI in the movie: placing marbles in his mouth as he speaks and taking up smoking. None of them worked.

Mr. Seidler told the site filmcritic.com that his parents, aiming to inspire him, tuned the family radio to George VI’s speeches during the war as object lessons of mastering a stutter.

“They would say to me, ‘David, he was a much worse stutterer than you, and listen to him now. He’s not perfect. But he can give these magnificent, stirring addresses that rallied the free world,’” Mr. Seidler said.

At 16, he recalled, he had a “profanity-laden, F-bomb-filled emotional catharsis” like one that King George, who was known as “Bertie,” his childhood nickname, experiences in the film. “I thought that if I’m stuck with stuttering, you’re all stuck with listening with me,” he told The Times, inserting an expletive.

Soon after, his stutter faded away in conversations.

David Seidler was born on Aug. 4, 1937, in London, to Doris (Falkoff) Seidler, a painter and printmaker, and Bernard Seidler, a fur broker. He graduated from Cornell University in 1959. He is survived by two adult children, Marc and Maya Seidler.

The screenplay of “The King’s Speech” gestated with Mr. Seidler for decades. In interviews , he said he had set the project aside for years until after the death in 2002 of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, widow of George VI, who had asked him not to pursue it in her lifetime.

In a 2011 interview with The Times, he compared the process of drawing on his experiences as a stutterer to remembering from afar a bad toothache.

“While you’ve got the toothache it’s all you think about, but as soon as you go to the dentist, and he or she takes away the pain, the last thing you want to think about was how that tooth ached,” he said. “You put it away from your mind and forget about it. The same with stuttering. So it was only by waiting until I had reached the stage of … let me use the euphemism maturity … when by nature you start to look back on your life anyway, that it allowed me to revisit that pain, that sense of isolation and loneliness, which I think helped the script immensely.”

Trip Gabriel is a national correspondent. He covered the past two presidential campaigns and has served as the Mid-Atlantic bureau chief and a national education reporter. He formerly edited the Styles sections. He joined The Times in 1994. More about Trip Gabriel