Speaking Exam Prepapration: How to write a successful monologue :)

Monologues are very much like a spoken essay

Features and success criteria:

·         Use a lot of CONNECTIVES

·         Stated sense of purpose / aim : an effective and clear introduction to the issue or question

·         Introduction + conclusion : these should show clearly the 'sense of purpose'

·         Clear organisation: both in terms of the individual steps of the argument, and in terms of the overall pattern of the argument.

·         Formal language

·         Range of aspects considered - There should be a sense that different arguments are explored – if only to disagree with some of them.

·         Touches of rhetorical devices but not as much as in a speech

Introductory phrases

•Nowadays/ Recently, there is widespread concern about …

•Not only do I think (one idea) but I also think (a different idea)

•Throughout history, there has been …

•History has been littered with examples of …

•In the past there has been many examples of …

•In the (near) future, maybe there will be

•Despite (+noun OR + gerund)

e.g.   Despite the protests …

  Despite hating protests …

•It is a vital/ critical/ crucial/ fundamental/ essential/ key  problem or issue in society

•The relevance of/the awareness of this issue is crucial because

•Clearly, it is inevitable/unavoidable/inescapable to be concerned about this issue

•As an engaged/ informed/ educated/ thoughtful/ critical citizen, it is …

Connectives

1) To add: and, furthermore, in addition, what is more, to add, moreover

2) To contrast: but, although, though, despite, in spite of, however, nevertheless, yet, whereas, while

3) To give reason: because, since, due to, as, owing to, because of

4) To give a result: therefore, consequently, so, as a result

5)To show sequence: firstly, secondly, finally, lastly, last but not least

6) To summarise/ conclude: to sum up, in conclusion, in brief, in summary, in short, to conclude

Powerful verbs

•To impact upon/ to affect

•To give rise to …

•To raise awareness  of …

•To give weight to …

•To urge/to encourage

•To retaliate

•To initiate

•To trigger/to spark (something)

•To cost lives

•To take steps towards

•To reach an agreement

•To be declared independent

•To seek/strive for independence

•To solve/ resolve

•To take into account

Linking phrases

•… culminated in… (ended in …)

•…resulted in…

•… led to ….

•… was caused by …

•…was said to be …

•…is still thought to be…

Summarising

- Taking all this into account, it is clear that ...

- All in all, ...

- To sum, this crucial issue needs to be dealt with by implementing ...

- In conclusion, the facts suggest that ...