Hey Reader,
Not all speeches are created equal—and not every moment calls for a policy dump. Today, we're testing out three types of speeches you can use to take control of the room in your next moderated Caucus.
🎯 1. The Framer Speech
When to use it: Early in the debate or at the start of a new moderated caucus.
Goal: Set the direction of the conversation and shape what gets discussed next.
Think of this as laying the foundation. You're not diving into specifics just yet—you’re giving the room a lens to see the topic through, and hopefully gives you a chance to control the flow of debate.
✅ What to include:
- Key issues that need to be prioritized
- A proposed structure for how to approach the topic
- Broad solutions or a point of consensus
🎤 Example:
“Before we get lost in technicalities, this committee should first focus on establishing sustainable funding sources. Once that’s clear, we can better evaluate which initiatives are realistically implementable across different regions.”
💡 Pro tip: Use transition language like:
- “I suggest we begin by…”
- “A helpful way to organize this discussion is…”
🤝 2. The Bridge Builder Speech
When to use it: Midway through the debate when ideas are being thrown around but things are coming apart.
Goal: Connect and refocus.
Are people repeating themselves? This is your cue. The Bridge Builder identifies common ground and helps consolidate blocs and move the debate forward.
✅ What to include:
- Summary of what's been said
- Acknowledgment of different perspectives
- A suggestion for integration or compromise
- Understanding that some points can be handled once resolutions come to a vote.
🎤 Example:
“While Delegates France and Nigeria emphasize different timelines, both approaches focus on public health access. Perhaps a staggered plan that starts in urban centers and scales outward could combine the strengths of both proposals.”
🔐 3. The Closer Speech
When to use it: Toward the end of a caucus or when pushing a working paper.
Goal: Wrap things up, build momentum, and assert leadership.
This is where you turn discussion into action. You’re not just recapping—you’re giving the room a reason to support your solution and tying it back to committee priorities. Time to show vision and polish.
✅ What to include:
- Summary of your bloc’s key contributions
- Emphasis on feasibility and alignment with goals
- A light call to action or endorsement
🎤 Example:
“This draft resolution not only builds on the calls for transparency mentioned earlier but offers a funding structure already used successfully in ASEAN. We encourage all delegates who value implementation and impact to support this initiative.”
💡 Pro tip: Close with confidence, not desperation. Avoid phrases like “we hope you’ll consider”—go with “we invite delegates to join us.”
🎙️ Speech Timing Cheat Sheet:
Here are the amount of points that you can consider depending on the speaking time you have.
- 30 seconds: Nail one point, end strong. Perfect for clarifying or countering.
- 60 seconds: Two connected points, or one point + a solution.
- 90 seconds: Go full arc: frame > develop > conclude (consider jotting down some notes before starting)
🔥 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a first-time delegate or have been around the block, mastering these speech types will make you stand out for all the right reasons.
Want to learn more? Check out Harvard's public speaking guide here.
Best of Luck!
