Epideictic Speech Assignment
Epideictic (ep-eh-dike-tic) means “fit for display”: The task for the composer of
epideictic speech is to display a vision of right conduct and proper living for a
community. She or he does so by delivering a performance that praises the virtues or
shames the vices of some person, event, idea, or institution.
Assignment:
This assignment will require you to compose and perform a speech that pays tribute to
the virtues of person, group of people, institution or idea. You may, alternatively, shame
the vices of a person, group, institution, or idea. Your speech will employ artful language
and dramatic delivery to rouse emotions and craft a vision of community and right living
for your audience to adopt.
Genres:
Encomium (speech of praise)
Vituperation (speech of blame)
Commemorative (speech of collective memory of an event, person, idea, or institution)
Funeral oration
Requirements:
This speech will require you to build on the skills already developed in class with an
additional focus on artful word choice, rhythm and imagery, metaphor and analogy, and
emotionally dynamic delivery.
Your speech should not only be about your subject but also for your audience. This
means that in addition to praising or blaming your subject (person, event, idea,
institution), it should also offer a lesson about how we can/should live. For example, a
funeral oration should celebrate the lost loved one, but also present vision of
responsibility and proper conduct for the living. Likewise a speech of vituperation that
shames and blames a villain should also offer a model for your audience of how not to
act, and/or how to avoid this folly and malice.
Your research should be appropriate to your topic. If you are speaking about a public
event or figure, you should consult credible sources and cite them properly. If you are
speaking about a personal acquaintance, no scholarly research will be necessary. In
either case, know that ceremonial speeches are often improved by quotations from
famous writers and speakers. Cite these appropriately.
Your speech should be between 4-6 minutes.
Due: Nov 10 & Nov 12
(Note, your final speech will come shortly thereafter, so you’ll need to be working on
both concurrently)