5.1.1

Speeches

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Speeches

Speeches are formal talks that can be used to entertain, persuade, inspire, and motivate people to take action.

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Historical significance

  • Speeches have been used for thousands of years to express people’s opinions and perspectives on different topics.
  • For example:
    • A historical speech by Winston Churchill in 1940 in the Houses of Parliament.
    • A historical speech by Martin Luther King ‘I have a dream’.
    • Modern speeches of Emma Watson and Greta Thunberg.
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Winston Churchill's speech

  • Churchill's 1940 speech was given to motivate members of Parliament and the public to not give up hope during World War Two.
    • A well-known phrase from the speech was: "We shall fight on the beaches".
    • This phrase inspired listeners to believe in Britain’s ability to defend themselves from any invasion.
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‘I have a dream’ speech

  • A historical speech was Martin Luther King’s 'I have a dream’ speech delivered in 1963.
  • M. L. King repeated "I have a dream" eight times, detailing his hopes for a united America without racial segregation.
    • The speech was delivered to over 250,000 people.
    • The speech is the best-known civil rights movement speech of its time.
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Modern speeches

  • Speeches are still used often today to inspire change.
  • For example: Emma Watson’s ‘HeForShe’ speech was given in 2014 to the United Nations.
    • In her speech, Watson emphasised the need for both men and women to unite against sexism and gender inequality.
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Greta Thunberg’s speech

  • Greta Thunberg’s speech at the 2019 United Nations climate change summit is also well known.
    • Greta Thunberg angrily blamed politicians for the current climate emergency.
    • Thunberg repeatedly stated ‘How dare you!’ to accuse politicians of ignoring climate issues.

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1Spelling

2Punctuation

3Grammar

4Decoding Words

5Reading & Writing

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