Speeches to Entertain
Part ONE
Speeches to Entertain
 Designed to be entertaining and ceremonial
 Entertaining doesn’t mean it’s humorous
 Make the audience feel an emotion or have an
emotional connection
 LIFE: club meetings, dinners, parties, graduations,
awards ceremonies, holiday, ribbon cuttings, etc.
 Most common: Introductory Speech, Master of
Ceremonies, Toasts
 Key element in public and personal life
Characteristics
 Usually much shorter than informative or persuasive
speeches
 More personal
 Creative use of language (figurative language)
 Must play to the audience
Audience, Occasion, Purpose
Develop a Clear Theme
 Main purpose is to entertain
 Optimistic
 Uncomplicated
 Anecdotes
 Have one serious idea
 Too much fluff
 Anchors the theme
Point and Proof Method
 Your speech is made up of a central idea supported by
a series of examples, anecdotes, or amusing stories
 Makes it easy for your audience to remember
Open with an anecdote
2. Explain the point of the anecdote
3. Illustrate your point with additional anecdotes
4. Close by restating your central point and a last story
1.
Gathering Material
Supporting material adds glitter to a solid frame!
 Anecdotes, details, examples, jokes, current events,
pop culture, etc.
Brainstorming
 What do you share with the audience or guest of
honor?
 Common events or experiences
 Your own experiences (wedding, awards, etc.)
You-Attitude
 “You Attitude” means look at events from the
audience’s perspective
 What would you like to hear?
 What would you not want to hear?
 Don’t make the speech about you!
 Focus on the theme
Emotional Appeal (Pathos!)
 Audiences identify with emotion
 Common emotion creates unity
 Make it short and sweet
Specific Entertaining Speeches
Part TWO
Introducing a Speaker
 2-3 minutes
DO:
 Title of the speech that the speaker will give
 Why the speaker is qualified to speak on the topic
 The speaker’s name (multiple times)
DON’T:
 Summarize the speaker’s presentation
 Improve – be prepared!
 Apologize for the room, audience, speaker, etc.
 Embarrass the speaker
Commencement -- Graduation Speech
 10-15 minutes
DO:
 Keep the good mood!
 Be memorable
 Thank the superintendent, principal, parents, etc.
DON’T:
 Go too long – Graduation is long enough!
 Get too specific with issues
 Inside jokes
Presenting an Award
 2-3 minutes
DO:
 Keep it factual and straightforward
 Explain the award
 Congratulate the honoree
 Shake hands to present award
DON’T:
 Pretend you know the honoree
 Get distracted while holding the award
Keynote Speech – entire
convention is based around speech
 15-20 minutes (or longer)
DO:
 Consider the mood of the convention
 Remember that people usually paid to listen
 Be original
DON’T:
 Be egotistical
Toast – drink in honor of someone
 1-2 minutes
DO:
 Make general statement about the theme of gathering
 Invite the guests to join in a toast
DON’T:
 Go too long – multiple toasts
 Inside jokes
Wedding Toasts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Thank the couple
Praise the couple
Have a theme or main idea (loyalty, friendship, etc.)
Illustrate the theme
Wish the couple well in their new life together
DON’T:
 Be offensive
 Poke fun at the new spouse
 Make it about you
Your Turn!
 Try writing your own Special Occasion Speech to
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entertain!
1-3 minutes in length
Identify:
1. Occasion (ex: Brother’s wedding)
2. Audience (ex: 200 people, mix of intimate friends
and family)
3. Topic(ex: best man speech)
If needed, pretend – Make up an event
Be ready to share this tomorrow. I will be drawing names.