What are the Parts of a Narrative Speech?

A narrative speech is a form of public speaking that tells a story or shares a personal experience. It can be used to inspire, motivate, educate, or entertain an audience.

The key to a successful narrative speech is to understand its parts and how they contribute to the overall message and impact.

By understanding these parts, speakers can craft compelling and engaging narrative speeches that resonate with their audience and leave a lasting impression.

Narrative Speech Introduction

The opening of a narrative speech is where the speaker sets the tone and hooks the audience. Here are some key parts to include:

• Attention-grabber: The speaker needs to capture the audience’s attention from the outset. This could be a personal anecdote, a powerful quote, a startling fact, or a rhetorical question. The attention-grabber should be relevant to the overall message or lesson of the speech.
• Purpose: The speaker should make clear what they hope to accomplish with their narrative speech. What message or lesson do they want to convey? The purpose should be stated clearly and concisely.
• Thesis statement: The thesis statement is a clear and concise summary of the main point of the speech. It should be compelling and pique the audience’s interest. The thesis statement should be delivered after the attention-grabber and purpose and should serve as a roadmap for the rest of the speech.

Body Paragraphs

The body of the narrative speech is where the story is told. It’s the heart of the speech, and it’s where the speaker engages the audience with a compelling narrative. Here are some key parts to include:

• Plot: The plot is the story’s structure. It includes the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The plot should be well-structured and have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Characters: The characters are the people in the story. They should be well-developed and have distinct personalities, motivations, and goals. The characters should be relatable and resonate with the audience.
• Dialogue: Dialogue is an effective way to make the characters come alive and add authenticity to the story. The dialogue should be natural and reflect the personalities and motivations of the characters.
• Setting: The setting is where the story takes place. It should be described in vivid detail to transport the audience into the story. The setting should be relevant to the story and add depth and meaning to it.

Conclusion of the Narrative Speech

The conclusion of the narrative speech is where the speaker brings the story to a close and conveys its message or lesson. Here are some key parts to include:

• Summary: The speaker should summarize the key points of the story and how they relate to the thesis statement. The summary should be concise and reinforce the message or lesson of the speech.
• Message or lesson: The speaker should convey the message or lesson of the story. What did they hope to accomplish with the narrative speech? The message or lesson should be clear and relevant to the audience.
• Closing: The speaker should end the narrative speech on a strong note, leaving the audience with a lasting impression. The closing could be a call to action, a reflection on the story, or a memorable quote.

Delivery

The delivery of a narrative speech is just as important as its content. Here are some key parts to consider:

• Body language: The speaker’s body language can add emphasis and authenticity to the story. The speaker should use gestures and facial expressions to convey emotions and make the story more engaging.
• Tone of voice: The speaker’s tone of voice can convey emotions and make the story more engaging. The speaker should vary their tone and pace

Sample narrative speech

Good evening, everyone. Have you ever felt like giving up on something you love? I have. I’m here tonight to share a story about a challenge I faced and how it taught me an important lesson about perseverance and passion.

It all started a few years ago when I decided to learn how to play the guitar. I had always admired musicians and wanted to express myself through music. At first, it was tough. My fingers hurt, the chords didn’t sound right, and I felt like I wasn’t making any progress. But I kept practicing. I watched tutorials, asked friends for advice, and played along with songs I liked. Eventually, I started to improve. I learned new chords, songs, and techniques. I felt proud of myself and enjoyed playing the guitar.

But then, one day, I hit a wall. I couldn’t seem to master a certain chord progression. It frustrated me. I spent hours trying to get it right, but it just didn’t click. I started to doubt myself. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for playing the guitar. Maybe I should just give up and do something else. I felt like a failure.

But then, I remembered why I started playing the guitar in the first place. It wasn’t to impress anyone or become famous. It was because I loved music and wanted to express myself. I realized that giving up would mean betraying my passion. So, I decided to keep trying. I practiced that chord progression every day, and little by little, I improved. It took me weeks, but I finally nailed it. I felt a sense of accomplishment and joy that I can’t describe. It wasn’t just about the chord progression. It was about proving to myself that I could overcome a challenge and stay true to my passion.

The lesson I learned from this experience is that passion and perseverance go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. If you truly love something, you’ll face challenges and obstacles. But that’s when your passion should shine the brightest. That’s when you should dig deep and keep going. You never know what you can achieve if you give up too soon. So, my advice to you is to find your passion and pursue it with all your heart. Don’t be afraid of challenges. Embrace them. They’ll make you stronger and wiser.

Thank you for listening to my story. I hope it inspires you to never give up on your dreams. Keep playing. Keep striving. Keep living. Good night.

Author: Brawnywriter

My goal is to help students achieve their full potential by crafting well-written, well-researched, and original papers that will set them apart from their peers.