To follow in the footsteps of Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, and Martin Luther King, Jr., start with this checklist:

1. Know Your Audience and What They Want To Hear: Research who will be listening to you, as well as their interests and preferences.
2. Make a File: Use index cards and record noteworthy facts, including phrases and ideas you want to incorporate into your speech.
3. Organize Your Speech into Three Sections
1. The Introduction: Be dramatic. Tell a joke. Tell a story. Pose a question.
2. The Body: Use a formal outline. Use an informal outline.
3. The Closing: Vary your word choice - a thesaurus (a book of synonyms and antonyms) can help you here. Incorporate words you use when speaking. Refer to an event. Describe a situation in detail. Use humor.
4. Rewrite Your Speech: Read and re-read your speech, rewriting phrases and sections that better express your thoughts.

Happy Speech Writing!