From hook to conclusion: building a three-minute speech

A three-minute speech is about 300 to 400 words. That's not many, so every paragraph needs a job. Here is a structure that works for almost any topic.

1. Hook and angle

Start with something specific: a question, a bold statement, a surprising fact, a tiny story. 'A small brooch. Tarnished silver, shaped like a fern frond.' Then say what your speech is really about. Your topic might be 'objects'; your angle might be 'the things we barely notice often hold the biggest stories'. Find your angle by asking 'So what?' until you reach an idea worth arguing.

2. Ethos: why trust me?

Show the audience you know what you're talking about, from your own experience or someone you have watched closely. Use certainty words ('I know this because…') and real details: a place, a person, an object.

3. Pathos: why should you care?

Make the audience feel it. 'Imagine…' and 'Picture…' put listeners inside a moment. Talk to them directly ('you', 'your'). After a long sentence, a short one lands hard. That's the punch.

4. Logos: does it make sense?

Bring in a fact, a statistic or a research finding, then explain what it shows. A fact on its own just sits there. 'That means…' and 'Because of this…' turn it into an argument.

5. Conclusion: return, connect, twist, leave

The Thread Test

Read your finished speech and check that every paragraph links back to your angle. If a paragraph could belong in a different speech, strengthen the link.