EnglishFreePrintable

Great Australians Speech Planner

A free english worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Great Australians Speech Planner

Plan a persuasive 2–3 minute speech arguing that Cathy Freeman deserves recognition as a Great Australian. Use the fact file and your own reasoning. You may choose a different Australian, but check your facts using reliable sources. Aim to inform, persuade and engage your audience.

Fact file: Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman is an Aboriginal Australian athlete, a proud member of the Kuku Yalanji people. At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she won the women’s 400-metre final and became the first Aboriginal Australian to win an individual Olympic gold medal. After the race, she carried both the Australian and Aboriginal flags on her victory lap. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, aged 16, Freeman won gold as part of Australia’s 4 × 100-metre relay team. Her achievements made her a prominent role model and brought attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in Australian sport.

Build your argument

Plan a clear claim, select evidence from the fact file, and explain why that evidence matters. Your audience should hear more than a list of achievements: connect each fact to your judgement.

1.Who will your speech focus on? Choose Cathy Freeman or name another Great Australian you can research. Give one reason for your choice.

2.Complete a persuasive claim that clearly says why Cathy Freeman deserves recognition as a Great Australian.

3.Which fact from the fact file is the strongest evidence for your claim? Choose one and explain why it is more convincing than a general compliment such as “she was amazing”.

4.Complete the reasoning: “This achievement mattered because…” Explain a possible effect on audiences, representation or Australian sport. Avoid claiming that one person changed everything.

5.Match each speaking technique to its purpose.

Rhetorical question
Specific evidence
Repetition

Makes a claim more credible
Invites the audience to consider an idea
Emphasises a key message

6.Write a two-sentence opening. Include a hook (such as a question or striking contrast) and introduce your claim. Keep the wording respectful and suitable for a school audience.

7.True or false: “Cathy Freeman won every Olympic 400-metre race she entered” is supported by the fact file. Explain how you can tell.

8.Some people might argue that an athlete should be recognised mainly for sporting results, not for broader influence. Write a fair response that acknowledges this view and then explains your position.

9.Write a final sentence that restates your claim in fresh words and leaves the audience with a memorable idea or call to reflect.

10.Choose two delivery techniques you will practise, then explain how each one will help your audience follow or feel your message.