Speak to Be Heard: The Art of the Non-Fiction Speech

Think about a time someone's words stopped you in your tracks — a teacher, a character in a film, or even a friend. What made those words powerful? Was it what they said, or how they said it? Now consider this: some speeches have changed the course of history. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963 helped shift public opinion during the American civil rights movement. Greta Thunberg's 'How Dare You' address to the United Nations in 2019 put climate action on front pages worldwide. Both speakers were addressing real audiences about real issues — that is what makes a speech a non-fiction text. Today you will learn exactly what these speakers did and how you can recognise and analyse those techniques yourself.