• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

How many words in a 5 min speech? (1 Viewer)

kyokaku92

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Messages
419
Location
somewhere musical
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
I have a Belonging speech due tomorrow and I realise I may have written too much for a 5 min speech (approx 1400 words). I have incorporated a lot of techniques and quotes in my speech and my teacher has said my information is brilliant, I don't know which parts of my speech I should take out and I'm stuck. Does anyone know the word amount for a 5 min speech and how I should restructure my speech (bearing in mind I have to relate romulus my father and two others into my speech (belonging))?

If you want to help edit my speech, I can PM you, but I'll need a reply quickly by tonight or this arvo.

Thanks
 

rigellian

New Member
Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
23
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
A 5 min speech in my experience is about 750 - 800 words in my experience. Then again, that's the pace of how I speak. If you spoke fast, you might be able to cram in 900 words. Definitely don't go for over 1000 words. I've got pretty reasonable marks for 5 min speeches too. ( 17/20, 13/15)
 

Arceupins

Banned
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
398
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Why don't you just fuckin' time how long it takes to read it out then divide words by minutes...
 

kyokaku92

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Messages
419
Location
somewhere musical
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
A 5 min speech in my experience is about 750 - 800 words in my experience. Then again, that's the pace of how I speak. If you spoke fast, you might be able to cram in 900 words. Definitely don't go for over 1000 words. I've got pretty reasonable marks for 5 min speeches too. ( 17/20, 13/15)

Yea, I talked to my teacher and she says about 800-900 words is enough, the only thing that worries is me is that I have incorporated a lot of quotes and techniques ( I am using toy story and holes) as supplementary texts and that already uses a lot of words. Since Romulus my father is the main text I have to talk about, I was thinking 2/3 should be on Romulus and 1/3 on the other texts. Would that suffice?
 

rigellian

New Member
Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
23
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Yea, I talked to my teacher and she says about 800-900 words is enough, the only thing that worries is me is that I have incorporated a lot of quotes and techniques ( I am using toy story and holes) as supplementary texts and that already uses a lot of words. Since Romulus my father is the main text I have to talk about, I was thinking 2/3 should be on Romulus and 1/3 on the other texts. Would that suffice?

Yeah, sure. Do what floats your boat. You have 1400 words though, so i would really be slashing and culling that speech. Look through it and keep your strongest points and just lose the others. Or otherwise, try and keep it as concise as possible. The focus is on Romulus and your criticism of Romulus will be be marked alongside everyone else's. Although, I reckon that equal screentime for each text would be good.
 

Absolutezero

real human bean
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
15,077
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
The average speaker delivers between 120-180 words a minute. Therefore, you would want no more than 900 words. I can do a five minute speech with only 600 words, though I slow down and gesture more when I speak.

Basically you need to remove at least 500 words. Firstly remove anything you've doubled up on. Then remove unnecessary proof (or extra evidence). Finally, it worst comes to worst, choose your most important ideas, and cut the rest.

A 5 minute sppech is all about how you can best utilise your time. This does not mean speaking really fast to get over 1000 words in...
 

duckcowhybrid

Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
959
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
I'd say 850 max. I used ~650 tops for my 4 minute speeches, and I got 20/20 for both.
 

suling

Member
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
342
Location
Armidale
Gender
Female
HSC
2010
Am I the only one that doesn't use a word count for my speeches? I just time them, if they don't fit into the time limit, I gradually just cut out or rearrange bits until it does.
..works for me
 

Absolutezero

real human bean
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
15,077
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
IMO, you can't deliver 1400 words in 5 minutes without seriously compromising presentation.
 

jet

Banned
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
3,148
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Approximately 800 as others have said. Maybe do even less - ensure that you are able to gesture and pause etc etc and make it appear comfortable. With 1400 words you'll be rushing and severely affecting your mark.
 

richman92

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
58
Location
Sydney,NSW
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
i did a speech on ESL few days ago and found out 600 words is best
Make sure you make a speech but not read the it
 

h3ll h0und

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2008
Messages
341
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
same situation as u ... i had to cut down from so much...rite now iv got 855 words for my Module C speech >.>
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top