Speaking on Special Occasions

Types of Speeches Introduction Presentation or award Acceptance After dinner Commemoration

Introductions Be brief Be accurate Adapt to the environment

Formal vs. informal Adapt to the main speaker’s focus

Refrain from engendering audience emotion Use humor in good taste only

Adapt to the audience Establish speaker credibility Build according to audience interest

Create a sense of anticipation

Presentation or Award Speeches Explain award Praise others who may have competed for the

award Explain why person is receiving the award

Contributions Achievements

Acceptance Speeches Be brief Be humble

You merely did what you believed without expectation of any award

Be gracious Name those who helped

After Dinner Speeches Usually lighter in tone than other persuasive

or informative speeches Not technical or argumentative More entertaining in nature Can use humor that naturally evolves from the

material

Commemorative Speeches Purpose: to praise or celebrate a person or an

event Use vivid descriptions; paint a picture of the

recipient’s achievement Stir up sentiment Use language creatively

Metaphor, simile, repetition, antithesis, etc. Imagery