How to Write a Speech for Class Secretary

Running for student council is a productive way to get involved at your school. To be elected, you'll need to deliver a speech convincing classmates you're highly motivated and qualified to represent them. Writing a speech for any student council position is similar, but if you want to be the class secretary, you need to highlight specific skills. Here are guidelines for writing an effective speech for class secretary.

Determine how much time you have to make your speech. Most election speeches are no longer than a few minutes, but ask a school election advisor for guidelines.

Write down the list of duties for class secretary and how your experience and skills match that position. For example, if being class secretary means you attend events and take pictures, state your camera and photo editing knowledge. If you'll be required to take accurate notes and submit reports to teachers, highlight your good grades in English class.

Write an outline for your speech to include an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Start your speech with an attention-getter in the introduction. This can be a statistic, anecdote, or rhetorical question. State your name, grade level and the position you are campaigning for. Tell the audience what you plan to say in your speech. For example, you might say, "I'm John Doe, a 10th grader, and I'm going to tell you why I'm right for the position of class secretary."

Write three to seven main ideas in the body of your speech. The main ideas should include reasons why you should be class secretary and your goals for the school. Use the list you made previously to explain the duties of class secretary and how your skills match. You can explain why you are better suited than other candidates, but do not criticize your classmates. Keep the tone positive and polite. Do not make campaign promises you can't keep.

Summarize your main points in the conclusion. State clearly why you want the position of class secretary. Leave the audience with a lasting memory. This can be a call to action or short anecdote. Do not introduce any new information. Conclude by thanking your audience.