Essays that Speak: Writing for Public Presentation

Some essays are not written to be read silently. They are crafted to be spoken aloud to a live audience and to leave a lasting impact. An essay which is written to be read carefully, can be detailed and complex. Readers can take their time, reread, and think about the ideas. But when you give a presentation, your audience listens in real time, so your message needs to be clear and engaging. To turn your essay into a great presentation, you have to adjust it for speaking and make it straightforward, interesting, and easy to follow. Let’s uncover some helpful tips!

A guide on writing an essay for a live audience

When you present your essay to listeners you have just one chance to captivate them. Experts from WriteMyPaper say that your essay will be successful if you can “make your audience see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt.” How to achieve it with words? Here are some tips you may experiment with:

Know your audience

Before you start, take a moment to think about who will be listening to your presentation. Are these teachers who will evaluate your writing proficiency, business professionals, or a general audience? This helps you shape your message. You should know what kind of language will keep them engaged. Imagine yourself in their position. If you were in their seat, what would catch your attention? What would make the topic easier to understand? The responses to these questions are your starting point.

Craft a compelling thesis

Your thesis statement is the main idea of your presentation - it holds everything together. It should be clear, short, and interesting. When speaking in public, your thesis needs to catch people’s attention right away and make them want to listen. Instead of saying something basic like, “Social media affects students' mental health,” invent something more powerful – “What if the apps you love the most are also the biggest reason for your stress?” It grabs attention and makes listeners curious.

Structure your essay

Here, you should remember this important rule:

• Set a connection
  When you start, you must connect with your audience right away. How? Share a personal story, a surprising fact, or ask a question that gets them thinking. This hooks people more than anything.
• Plan strategic pauses
  Pauses are very powerful when you speak. They give your listeners a moment to absorb important points.  
• End with elevation
  The end of your speech should leave people thinking or motivated. Don’t make a usual essay conclusion. Finish with a strong message that inspires your audience.

Be persuasive

A successful presentation essay is persuasive. You need to do these three rhetorical appeals:

• Appeal to emotions (pathos). Make them feel something. Share stories or examples that create an emotional connection.
• Build credibility (ethos). Show that you know what you're talking about. Share your experience or use trusted sources.
• Present logical arguments (logos). Provide clear, logical reasons to support your message.

Remember about key principles of storytelling – balance emotions and facts to create a story that sticks with your listeners. 

Language and style

You should keep your language simple and clear. Don’t use difficult words or technical terms that could confuse your audience. The more straightforward your language is, the easier it will be for people to understand and stay interested.

The tone of your speech should also match your audience and the setting. For example, if you’re speaking at a professional conference, you might use a formal tone. But if you’re at a community event, a casual and friendly tone would work better.

The main goal is to communicate your message clearly. You don’t need to impress people with big words – you must get them interested.  

Train and improve

Writing for a public presentation doesn't end with the final draft. Reading your essay aloud is an important part of the process. It helps you identify awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, and areas where the flow should be improved. Practice your essay to ensure that your speed, intonation, and body language support your message. Rehearsing builds confidence and ensures that your presentation is smooth and engaging.

Wrapping up

Essays that work well for speaking need a special approach. They should still have the thoughtful and detailed writing as traditional essays, but also hook the audience. When you write for speaking, you have to think about how listeners will perceive your content, why they may like it and present your ideas in the way they are easy to understand. The most powerful spoken essays can establish that special connection between the speaker and the audience. These essays are successful when the author pays equal attention to both the message and the way it’s delivered. Use this guide to experiment and improve your writing!