The Political Speechwriter's Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers / Edition 2

by Robert A. Lehrman, Eric L. Schnure

Overview

The Political Speechwriter's Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers guides students through a systematic “LAWS” approach (language, anecdote, wit, and support) that politicians can use to persuade their audiences into taking action. In the highly anticipated Second Edition, esteemed speechwriter and author Robert A. Lehrman has teamed up with one of the "go-to-guys" for political humor, Eric Schnure, to offer students an entertaining yet practical introduction to political speechwriting. This how-to guide explains how speakers can deliver: language the audience will understand and remember; anecdotes that make listeners laugh and cry; wit that pokes fun at opponents but also shows their own lighter side; and support in the way of statistics, examples, and testimony. Packed with annotated speeches from the most recent elections, technology tips, and interviews from speechwriting luminaries, this edition offers the most practical advice and strategies for a career in political communication.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506387741
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/23/2019
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	536
Sales rank:	969,589
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Robert A. Lehrman served as Chief Speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore and, in 2004, as Chief Speechwriter for the Democratic National Committee during his more than three decades of experience writing speeches. He has written for political figures, celebrities, heads of nonprofits, and corporate CEOs, most recently as speechwriter to the Chairman and CEO of Pfizer. He created and co-teaches the political speechwriting course at American University, where he was awarded the 2010 University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Appointment. He speaks often at other campuses, conferences, and associations, on the topic of political speechwriting. Author of a number of award-winning novels and coauthor of a highly acclaimed non-fiction book for young adults, Lehrman has a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop, where he studied with Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Yates

Table of Contents

Preface
Foreword
Introduction: Why Speechwriting Matters
Does Speechwriting Matter?
Why This Book?
Why Focus Only on Political Life?
PART I: LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Chapter 1. The Political Speech
Politicians Must Speak More
Politicians Must Persuade
Politicians Must Be Liked
Politicians Must Stay Upbeat
Politicians Must Speak to Average Folks
Politicians Must Get Quoted
Final Words
Chapter 2. Persuasion
Persuasion: The Questions
Persuasion: The Modes
Appealing to Reason
Appealing to Emotion
Appealing through Characterization
Final Words
Chapter 3. Audiences
Who Are Your Audiences?
What Makes Each Audience Unique?
What Do Audiences Feel about the Speaker?
Final Words
Chapter 4. Research
Researching the Event
Researching the Ideas
Researching the Poetry
Final Words
PART II: HOW TO DO IT
Chapter 5. Structure
Why Monroe Works Well in Politics
Other Structures
Monroe Plus
Monroe in Practice: Four Tips
Final Words
Chapter 6. Language People Understand
Writing for Clarity
Reading versus Hearing
Final Words
Chapter 7. Language People Remember
Making Language Vivid
Making Language Rhythmic
Final Words
Chapter 8. Anecdote
Relevant, Remembered, Ready to Act
Types and Tips
Final Words
Chapter 9. Wit
Writing to Make Them Laugh
How to Do It
Formulas
Types and Tips
Final Words
Chapter 10. Support
Using Evidence
Types of Evidence
Making Evidence Memorable
Arguing Responsibly
Fallacies
Final Words
PART III: APPLICATIONS
Chapter 11. Beginnings
Attention
Praise, Thanks, Acknowledgments
Getting Serious and Stating the Purpose
Final Words
Chapter 12. Problems
Structure
Language
Anecdote
Wit
Support
Final Words
Chapter 13. Solutions
Inspire Solutions with Language
Inspire Solutions through Ethos
The Three Ps: Proposal, Persuasion, Punch Line
Final Words
Chapter 14. Writing Conclusions
Four-Part Close: The Steps
Four-Part Close: Strategy
Final Words
Chapter 15. Delivery
Elements of Delivery
Delivery’s Best Practice: Practice
Expanding Your Horizons
Final Words
Chapter 16. Ethics
Plagiarism
Misleading Listeners
Lying
Speechwriting: Unethical by Definition?
Final Words
Chapter 17. The Uneasy Partnership: Advice for Speakers and Writers
For Speakers: What Speechwriters Need from You
For Speechwriters: What Speakers Need from You
Final Words
Chapter 18. Final, Final Words
Appendix. A Speech for Almost Every Occasion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Index of Speakers
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

All of us who write and speak and try to help others do so should be grateful. "

Lamar Alexander

"This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work. "

Susan Page

"A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it."

Al Hunt

"The Political Speechwriter's Companion is the first book on speechwriting I ever read, and it's the first one I recommend to anyone seriously interested in speechwriting as a craft. If you work in political communications (or really any type of communications) this belongs in your office."

David Litt

"By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read:"

Dan Pink