Ready, Set, Speak! Writing a Persuasive Speech

About This Resource

A complete Grade 8 ESL writing pack on planning and writing a short persuasive speech. Students study a model speech arguing for a school garden, identify its structure (hook, position, reasons with evidence, counterargument, call to action) and rhetorical devices (direct address, rhetorical questions, the rule of three, repetition), then plan and draft their own speech. Includes slides, a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, homework, A5 flashcards, a rubric, Word files and answer keys.

Overview

A speech is written to be heard, so it uses features that help listeners follow and remember the message. A strong speech opens with a hook, states a clear position, gives reasons with evidence, answers an opposing view and ends with a call to action. Speakers speak directly to the audience (you, we), ask rhetorical questions, group ideas in threes and repeat key phrases. Students read a model speech, label its parts, sort devices, improve weak sentences and plan a two-minute speech on a school issue they care about.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Writing a Speech
Category: Writing
File Type: PDF
File Size: 335.3 KB
Published: 14 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

Members Only

Create a free account to download this resource with one of your 3 Free Pro Previews, or upgrade to Teacher Pro (from ฿199/month) for the whole library.

Create Free Account Upgrade to Pro Login

Looking for something different? Request a Resource.

Grade 8 ESL (ages 13–14), B1 60 minutes Writing speaking persuasive language organization

Learning Objectives

Identify the structure of a persuasive speech.
Recognize and use rhetorical devices such as rhetorical questions and the rule of three.
Plan and draft a short persuasive speech for a real audience.

How to Use This Resource

Ask: "What makes a speaker worth listening to?" Collect ideas.
Read the model speech aloud, then teach the structure and devices with the slides.
Students complete activities 3 to 6 and plan their speech. Use the quiz and send the homework page home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Speech corner: students deliver their speech to a small group, who give one star and one wish.
Device hunt: students listen to a short speech read by the teacher and tick each device they hear.
Hook challenge: pairs write three different hooks for the same topic and vote for the best.

Differentiation

Support: provide a speech frame with sentence starters for each part. Challenge: students add statistics from a class survey and respond to two counterarguments.

Assessment

Use the worksheet and quiz to check knowledge of structure and devices. Use the rubric to assess the speech draft and delivery.

Teacher Tips

Encourage short sentences and clear signposts (Firstly, Another reason, Finally), because listeners cannot reread. Rehearsal matters as much as writing: have students read aloud and mark pauses. Choose topics where students have real experience, such as school rules or facilities.

What's Included

11-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 6 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

Grade 8 ESL Teacher Resources: Past Simple Stories — Games, Activities and Exit Tickets

Telling Stories in the Past Simple

A 2-page teacher pack: Irregular Verb Memory, Story Chain, Find Someone Who…, plus 4 exit ...

View Resource