Devices for Writing Speeches
Vivid words and picturesque language can bring a presentation alive. Incorporating some of the devices listed below will enhance any presentation. This is generally done as the final stage of the writing process.

Alliteration
Judicious use of alliteration heightens the effectiveness of any phrase. An alliterative phrase (where two or more words in a phrase start with the same letter or sound) gives the speaker something to really emphasise which makes that part of the presentation more memorable for the audience. For example: fast and furious, hip hop, swinging sixties, people power.

Catchphrases
A catchphrase is anything that ‘catches’ the attention and sticks in the memory. They are generally short, often humorous, and can significantly enhance the ‘memorability’ of a speech. They can come from anywhere - advertising slogans, bumper stickers, T-shirts. Catchphrases often use other devices such as alliteration, assonance and puns to enhance their ‘catchiness’.
Examples:
‘I have a dream’ (Martin Luther King)
‘Make my day’ (Clint Eastwood)
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Juxtaposition
The dictionary meaning is to place one thing beside another. In speaking terms, this involves placing two opposites together to create a more dramatic impact. It is based on the principle that many things become clearer in contrast - just as black looks more dramatic against a white background and white looks ‘whiter’ against a black one. Some classic examples of juxtaposition have been used by Presidents of the USA:
John F Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.’
Bill Clinton: - ‘There is nothing that’s wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with America.’

Metaphors & Similes
Metaphors are based on describing one thing as something different, yet similar in one key aspect. For example, when an aggressive player is said to be a tiger, or when a classroom is said to be a torture chamber. Similes work on the same principle, except one thing is said to be ‘like’ something else. For example: Like lambs to the slaughter, our team ran onto the field.
Metaphors and similes are extremely effective in speeches. This is because they are so picturesque. An imaginative phrase can paint a very vivid picture in the mind of the audience member. e.g The decision hung above him like an angry storm cloud. Public fraud is a cancer eating at the foundations of our society.
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Quotations
Any direct quotation should be attributed (ie. the person who made it needs to be mentioned.) The primary criterion of a good quote is its relevance to your subject. However the person who made the quote is also a significant factor. In order of preference select quotes from:-

1. One of the characters from your speech, particularly if they are well known or are seen as having some authority on the subject.
2. Any person well enough known to the audience not to require a description. This -includes well known public figures like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Churchill etc.
3. Any person well enough known to the audience who can be described adequately in one or two words, for example, the author Bryce Courtney, pioneering aviator Emilia Earhart, radio personality John Laws.
4. Any other person. The disadvantage of using these is that you can spend a lot of time explaining who it is you are quoting which could distract the audience from your point.

Signposts
It is very easy for an audience’s attention to wander. Having regular ‘signposts’ that point the way or signal a change in direction to the audience help them to keep up. Some good examples –
In the opening: What I’m going to do today is cover three aspects of this very important subject
During the presentation: So, let’s look at what we have covered so far.
In the conclusion: The most important point of all is…
 If you only remember one thing, make sure it is this.
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Triplets
In speaking, a certain amount of repetition adds impact and forcefulness to your presentation. Repetition is certainly used much more in writing a speech than it would be used in other writing.
A triplet is based on the principle that for some reason listeners find this repetition most effective in ‘bunches’ of three. If only two are used, a sufficient pattern of repetition is not established for it to have its effect. Somehow, four seems too many for most situations.
So, the idea of a triplet is to involve some degree of repetition. Triplets can come in a number of ways.

Firstly, they can be used to add more information. Each time you add a new point, with the final (third) point as the main one:-
‘I was tired. I was cold. I was prepared to do anything to get a room for the night.’
‘This practice is cruel, it’s wasteful and, most of all, it’s giving our children the wrong idea of what this world is about.’

Other ways of using triplets are:
- repeating a word/phrase - so much ... so much ... so much …
- using three verbs - it has been engineered for … designed for … and built for …
- using three nouns - every house, every building, every apartment. .’

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These hints and many more are contained in the book 'Speaking and Debating with Style' by Kevin Ryan & Adrian Pauley