Speeches that work

Cabinet speechwriter lectures at UCLan

Dr Susan Jones, author of Speechmaking and expert adviser for the BBC2 series The Speaker, was at UCLan recently to pass on her expertise to students studying on UCLan’s MA in Rhetoric - the only such course in the country. 

The programme includes a bi-weekly series of rhetoric research seminars. Dr Jones, who has worked at Cabinet level with government ministers of three political parties, delivered the first seminar which focused on the theory and practice of rhetoric in modern speechwriting, examining speeches as essential tools of public policy.

Speaking before the seminar Dr Jones said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here especially as there’s a tradition of great rhetoricians from the North.  However I didn’t realise that courses in rhetoric were so rare so it’s great news that the subject is now back on the academic agenda.”

And according to Dr Jones there are a number of key elements which make a good speech. “It’s vital to consider the purpose of a speech and you’ve also got to get into the mind of your speaker. Think like they think and write the speech like they’re going to say it.

“Always learn from your mistakes. In my view an expert is simply somebody who’s learnt from making every mistake possible.”

Dr Johan Siebers, Course Leader on the  MA in Rhetoric, said: “The subject has a long history. Although it’s sometimes become synonymous with empty phrase-making, rhetoric, – the art of using language persuasively - played a central role in the Western educational system for centuries, but lost favour in Britain at the end of the Victorian era. The basic principles of giving a good speech – or really any communication - haven’t changed since they were formulated by Aristotle and Quintilian two thousand years ago.”

The full version of the video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/user/uclanvideo#p/u/1/LLqQuXaX_xw

18 November 2009