Your First 3-Minute Speech: A Fill-In Template

This is the exact structure to use for a first prepared speech. Fill in each blank, read it out loud a few times, and you have a complete 3-minute speech.

The template

Opening (20-30 seconds): "Today I want to talk about ___[topic]___. This matters because ___[one reason it affects real people]___."

Claim (15-20 seconds): "I believe that ___[your one-sentence position]___."

Reason one (30-40 seconds): "The first reason is ___[reason]___. For example, ___[a specific example or piece of evidence]___."

Reason two (30-40 seconds): "The second reason is ___[a different reason]___. For example, ___[a specific example or piece of evidence]___."

Addressing the other side (20-30 seconds): "Someone might say ___[the strongest objection you can think of]___. But ___[why that objection does not outweigh your position]___."

Closing (15-20 seconds): "For these reasons, ___[restate your claim in different words than your opening]___. Thank you."

Why this structure works

Every strong debate speech, no matter how advanced, is built from these same pieces: a claim, reasons, evidence, and an answer to the other side. This template is not a simplified version you will outgrow, it is the skeleton every case you ever write will share. Level 2's Value & Criterion Builder is the next step: the same skeleton, with the "reasons" section built around a formal ethical framework instead of general reasons.

How to practice it

Fill in the blanks for three different topics from our 40 Practice Resolutions resource. Read each one out loud, timing yourself, before you touch a script or notes again. Speaking it before you polish it is what makes the words feel like yours instead of a memorized paragraph.