commemorative speech stuff

The Commemorative The Commemorative SpeechSpeech

Some Tips for Formulating and Some Tips for Formulating and Writing Your PresentationWriting Your Presentation

What Are They?What Are They?

Commemorative speeches are Commemorative speeches are addresses of praise, tribute or addresses of praise, tribute or celebration.  Commemorative speeches celebration.  Commemorative speeches pay tribute to a person, group, institution, pay tribute to a person, group, institution, thing, event or an idea.  Eulogies, Fourth thing, event or an idea.  Eulogies, Fourth of July speeches, testimonial addresses, of July speeches, testimonial addresses, and dedications are examples of and dedications are examples of commemorative speeches. commemorative speeches. 

Purpose of the SpeechPurpose of the Speech

The The fundamental purpose fundamental purpose of a of a commemorative speech is to commemorative speech is to inspireinspire the the audience, and to audience, and to heighten their heighten their admirationadmiration for the person, group, for the person, group, institution, event, thing, or idea being institution, event, thing, or idea being praised. praised.

This is NOT an This is NOT an Informative PresentationInformative Presentation

Although it usually presents information Although it usually presents information about its subject, a commemorative about its subject, a commemorative speech is different from an informative speech is different from an informative speech. speech. 

The Aim of the The Aim of the Commemorative SpeechCommemorative Speech

The aim of an informative speech is to The aim of an informative speech is to communicate information clearly and communicate information clearly and accurately.  accurately. 

The aim of a commemorative speech is to The aim of a commemorative speech is to express feelingsexpress feelings, , arouse sentimentsarouse sentiments, and , and inspireinspire.  It is NOT just a list of a persons .  It is NOT just a list of a persons achievements, accomplishments and/or achievements, accomplishments and/or background; it is much more. background; it is much more. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE AND EMOTIONLANGUAGE AND EMOTION

Language is ImportantLanguage is Important

Commemorative speeches depend, Commemorative speeches depend, above all, on the creative and subtle use above all, on the creative and subtle use of language. Some of the most of language. Some of the most memorable speeches in history are memorable speeches in history are commemorative addresses that we commemorative addresses that we continue to find meaningful because of continue to find meaningful because of their eloquent expression. their eloquent expression.

Language is ImportantLanguage is Important

Two aspects of language use are Two aspects of language use are especially important for commemorative especially important for commemorative speeches. speeches.

Avoid clichés and trite sentiments. Avoid clichés and trite sentiments.

Utilize stylistic devices to enhance the Utilize stylistic devices to enhance the imagery, rhythm, and creativity of the speech.imagery, rhythm, and creativity of the speech.

The Commemorative The Commemorative Speech and EmotionSpeech and Emotion

““The vice presidency is the sand trap of The vice presidency is the sand trap of American politics. It’s the near prize, and American politics. It’s the near prize, and designed to be limiting.” – Howard designed to be limiting.” – Howard Fineman Fineman

The Commemorative The Commemorative Speech and EmotionSpeech and Emotion

““We should not demean our democracy We should not demean our democracy with the politics of distraction, denial, and with the politics of distraction, denial, and despair” – Al Goredespair” – Al Gore

The Commemorative The Commemorative Speech and EmotionSpeech and Emotion

““America is not like a blanket – one piece America is not like a blanket – one piece of unbroken cloth…America is more like of unbroken cloth…America is more like a quilt – woven together with one a quilt – woven together with one common thread…” – Jesse Jacksoncommon thread…” – Jesse Jackson

COMMEMORATIVE COMMEMORATIVE SPEECHES ARE EASY…NO SPEECHES ARE EASY…NO KIDDING…SERIOUSLY, KIDDING…SERIOUSLY, THEY ARETHEY ARE

Take It Step By StepTake It Step By Step

1.1. Start with a significant aspect of your Start with a significant aspect of your subject to commemorate. No trivialities, subject to commemorate. No trivialities, but an activity that represents a value but an activity that represents a value that can stir our emotions and inspire us. that can stir our emotions and inspire us.

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A commemorative speech topic is meant A commemorative speech topic is meant to grab attention and achieve feelings of to grab attention and achieve feelings of recognition right at the start of your recognition right at the start of your speech. speech.

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A PersonA Person - Describe how the person you - Describe how the person you honored always takes care of the pets in honored always takes care of the pets in your neighborhood. Choose a person your neighborhood. Choose a person who has made a major impact on your who has made a major impact on your life.life.

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An EventAn Event - Describe how the Super Bowl - Describe how the Super Bowl unites many fans, what happens at the unites many fans, what happens at the big day, what it means to them. Think of big day, what it means to them. Think of a time in your life that has changed the a time in your life that has changed the way that you do things. way that you do things.

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A GroupA Group - Describe that the baseball - Describe that the baseball team being honored became champion team being honored became champion because of their co-operation. Pick an because of their co-operation. Pick an organization that has profoundly affected organization that has profoundly affected American society.American society.

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The AbstractThe Abstract - Describe the “natural - Describe the “natural world wonder” you commemorate, and world wonder” you commemorate, and how it inspires thousands of visitors to how it inspires thousands of visitors to protect nature in their local community. protect nature in their local community. Think of music or a style of art that has Think of music or a style of art that has made a cultural impact.made a cultural impact.

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So, what significant aspect of your So, what significant aspect of your subject represents or symbolizes an subject represents or symbolizes an important value in our own lives? important value in our own lives?

It will help if you ask yourself the basic It will help if you ask yourself the basic who, when, what where, why and how who, when, what where, why and how questions about your subject. questions about your subject.

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2.2. Explain why you are the speaker and Explain why you are the speaker and want to pay a tribute. Mention the want to pay a tribute. Mention the reasons and the character of the reasons and the character of the occasion. occasion.

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Why does your subject deserve to be Why does your subject deserve to be honored? honored?

Why this kind of tribute? Why this kind of tribute?

Why at this moment, at this occasion? Why at this moment, at this occasion?

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3.3. Refer to the particular contributions, Refer to the particular contributions, achievements, or merits. Give concrete achievements, or merits. Give concrete examples. What has been examples. What has been accomplished? accomplished?

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4.4. State why the efforts, impressions, State why the efforts, impressions, achievements are such a success. achievements are such a success.

Who or what will benefit? Who or what will benefit?

Why is this way of thinking or acting Why is this way of thinking or acting valuable to us? valuable to us?

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5.5. Link your examples to the morality, Link your examples to the morality, taste, beliefs, opinions and sentiments of taste, beliefs, opinions and sentiments of your audience. It's the heart of this kind your audience. It's the heart of this kind of speech. of speech.

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What specific values can we discount What specific values can we discount and which ones make the difference? and which ones make the difference?

Why and how can we also apply the Why and how can we also apply the values? values?

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Describe the values in such a way that all Describe the values in such a way that all attendees can empathize and re-attendees can empathize and re-experience these feelings. experience these feelings.

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If the commemorated subject is a person, If the commemorated subject is a person, then ask yourself, for example: what can then ask yourself, for example: what can we learn of the subjects' way of we learn of the subjects' way of approaching things in his personal or approaching things in his personal or professional life?professional life?

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Celebrate this special manner in this Celebrate this special manner in this commemorative speech topic.commemorative speech topic.

If the subject for instance is a war If the subject for instance is a war monument, then ask yourself, what monument, then ask yourself, what values does this monument stand for? values does this monument stand for? What are we commemorating at this What are we commemorating at this place and why?place and why?

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6.6. Now, make a summarizing transition. Now, make a summarizing transition.

Link the previous commemorative Link the previous commemorative speech topics of the important values to speech topics of the important values to the common feelings and thoughts that the common feelings and thoughts that you and the audience share. you and the audience share.

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Illustrate them with a short story, Illustrate them with a short story, anecdote, facts or a testimony of a anecdote, facts or a testimony of a symbolic personal experience with the symbolic personal experience with the subject. subject.

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If it's a place you commemorate, for If it's a place you commemorate, for example the Grand Canyon, then tell example the Grand Canyon, then tell what you feel when you visit it. what you feel when you visit it.

But also that you have feelings of joy and But also that you have feelings of joy and great respect for the beauty of Mother great respect for the beauty of Mother Nature. Place it in perspective.Nature. Place it in perspective.

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7.7. Conclude with a memorable summary. Conclude with a memorable summary. Help the audience to remember the Help the audience to remember the speech topics, and above all the values speech topics, and above all the values being celebrated. being celebrated.

Language and StructureLanguage and Structure

Here are the three most important tips Here are the three most important tips about writing and delivering your about writing and delivering your commemorative speech topics. commemorative speech topics.

1.1. Use expressive and elegant language Use expressive and elegant language

2.2. Formulate in an eloquent, serious style Formulate in an eloquent, serious style

3.3. Avoid exaggerating expressions Avoid exaggerating expressions