 Congratulations! You have been elected President of the United States. Now the whole
country is waiting to hear your vision for the future inaugural address. It's an incredible
opportunity. What should you say?
As
you prepare for your inauguration, you need a speech that will uplift the country and provide hope for a bright future. How do you begin? Let's
start by thinking about the overall structure of your speech. Here
are some ideas that can help.
Get
Their Attention
Nobody likes to be bored. So put yourself in your audience's shoes.
Find an interesting way to start your speech. For instance, Abraham
Lincoln's most famous speech was the "Gettysburg Address." It began:
"Four score and seven years ago, our Fathers brought forth
on this continent a new nation…."
He could have just said "Eighty-seven years ago…."
But "Four score and seven" has a nice poetic ring to it
and gets your attention better.
Tell
Them What You're Going to Tell Them
Speeches are different from written communication. People hear the
words instead of reading the words. When people read and don't understand
something, they can go back and read it again. But with a speech,
listeners have to get your points the first time. They can't "re-listen."
So it's a good idea to explain quickly what your main point is going
to be. That helps the audience know what to listen for. For instance:
"Today I want to talk to you about America and how we can continue to shine as a great country."
End
With a Bang!
After you've laid out your plan for the future,
it's a good idea to end your speech with a rousing conclusion. Leave
people feeling excited and that's what they'll remember about you.
For instance:
"Together we can make this nation truly great. And
together we can build a better world for our children!"
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