Your Special Occasion Speech
The Final Speech
What is a special occasion speech?
• The term special occasion speech encompasses
many scenarios and situations.
• Because of this, you must carefully consider your
own personal situation when determining how
to craft the speech.
What types of speeches are sos?
•Eulogy: At a funeral or memorial service…
a speech given in memory of someone who has
passed away.
• Do not confuse a eulogy with an elegy, which is a
poetic form.
Cont.
•After Dinner Speech: a
lighthearted speech that gently ridicules the
listeners or comedically exaggerates and spoofs
situations familiar to the audience.
Cont.
• A Tribute Speech:
Delivered to
commemorate or instill admiration for a person
or event that the audience is familiar with.
• These speeches might be delivered at a
dedication ceremony, a birthday party, an
anniversary celebration, etc.
Cont.
•Inspirational Speeches:
special occasion speeches based on policy or
value claims.
• These speeches tend to uplift the morale of an
organization. What does the organization want
to accomplish? How can you persuade the
audience to believe, feel or think the same?
Cont.
•Stump Speech:
a political speech,
delivered on a campaign tour or a special
political occasion.
• The name stump dates from the early days when
politicians stood on tree stumps in the rural
country sides and address voters during a
campaign.
Cont.
•Commencement Speech:
An address delivered to a graduating class. This
speech should commemorate important events
of the year or provide inspirational advice.
• What do you think “commencement” means?
Questions to consider…
• What is the purpose of the special
occasion?
• What is the purpose of the meeting,
event, conference or ceremony?
• What are the demands and wishes
regarding your special occasion
speech topics?
• Are there special requirements
related to the singularity of the
event?
• What was the first thing that came into your
mind when you were invited?
• Were you invited because of your expertise or
professional abilities?
• What do you know about the character and the
ambiance of the event and attendees?
• Why did you accept the honor to be the public
speaker?
• What do you want your public to remember,
consider, support or believe in? That's the
special purpose of this public speaking
assignment, your specific topic statement.
Your time for this speech is 3:00-3:30
• You still need to organize your speech.
• It should still have an introduction, a clear body
and a conclusion.
• You must use connectives.
• You must use some parallel structure.
• You do NOT need a visual aid, but you are
welcome to use one.
• You must have your note cards and outline to
speak.
• You do not need any sources.
Basic Outline:
• THE INTRODUCTION
Wake up interest (use attention getters we learned)
State your specific statement.
Relate it to your audience.
List the main points of the body - your main
occasional speech topics.
• THE BODY
List the main special occasional speech topics and
construct the successes, pros and cons, values,
examples, funny remarks, narratives, anecdotes or
insight stories depending on your focus.
• THE CONCLUSION
An amusing general remark, or joke or a toast are in
general good public speaking topics and especially
last special occasion speech topics.
Hand Gestures and Voice
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Be sure to use appropriate hand gestures.
Write your movements into your note cards.
Practice and time your piece.
There are still deductions for going over and
under on time.
• There will be much more emphasis on how
sincere and natural you sound in this speak. It
should be fairly conversational, yet very scripted
and rehearsed.