Individuals are frequently called upon to give commemorative speeches to honor or celebrate people, events, objects, or ideas. Examples of commemorative speeches include wedding and anniversary toasts, eulogies, tributes, nominations, award presentations, holiday memorials, and graduation speeches.

Purpose

The purpose of this speech is for you to:

• Gain practical experience constructing a common type of speech most people have to give at some point in their personal life;
• Learn the importance of language in public speaking, including the use of literary devices and manuscripts;
• Develop verbal and nonverbal speech delivery skills; and
• Continue becoming more comfortable speaking in front of others.

Length: 2–3 minutes

Preparation

Creativity is highly encouraged in this speech. While you are free to make a traditional commemorative speech (like a best man toast), you can also think outside of the box (like a eulogy for summer). As you prepare your speech, consider the following:

• What kind of speech do you want to give? A wedding or anniversary toast, an award acceptance, a eulogy, or some other type of commemorative speech?
• Who or what is being honored in your speech? What do you need to know about the person, idea, object, occasion, or accomplishment being celebrated?
• What is the situation or context in which the speech is being given? How can you adapt your speech to fit the expectations of the context? What are the emotions that are expected in this situation?
• Who is in your (imagined) audience? How can you adapt your speech to fit your audience’s expectations?
• What do you need to do to let your audience know what the situation/event is without explicitly telling them?

Speech Content

Since commemorative speeches have a much more fluid structure and organization than informative or persuasive speeches, your speech does not need to have obvious transitions and main points. However, there are still certain expectations for your speech. For this speech, you will need to include the following:

1. Introduction. Gain the attention of the audience, identify who/what is being celebrated, and briefly introduce yourself and your connection with the honoree or event.
2. Body. Share appropriate information about the honoree and why they are worthy of being honored in such a way that enhances the emotional tone of the occasion. Be sure to include:
   a. Humorous or touching anecdote. This is a brief story that highlights a positive quality about the person or occasion. The story should help the audience better understand the honoree or share a memory of an event for which other audience members might have been present. This anecdote should not be embarrassing, and it should be about the person being honored, not you.
   b. Literary Devices. Commemorative speeches rely heavily on the use of literary devices (also called language structures) to help heighten the importance and emotion of the situation. You need to use at least five (5) different literary devices (e.g., metaphor, simile, alliteration, anaphora, antithesis, hyperbole, personification, etc.) in your speech.
3.  Conclusion. Close with memorable words that sum up the primary message of the speech (congratulations, appreciation, well wishes, memorialization, etc.). End the speech on an appropriate emotional note. You might choose to end with a quotation, a proverb, or words of your own.

Written Manuscript

For this speech, you will develop a complete manuscript, which is a word-for-word written copy of the speech you intend to deliver. As part of your manuscript, you are asked to highlight each of the five (5) literary devices that you have written as part of your speech, using the Add Comments feature to label each. This manuscript should be submitted in Blackboard prior to delivering your speech. When you deliver your speech, you may have a copy of your manuscript with you. However, you should not rely too heavily on your manuscript while giving your speech; you should practice your speech enough times in advance that you are familiar with what you plan to say so that you can use effective delivery skills while giving your speech.