Chapter 17: Speeches for Special Occasion

Wedding Toast Resources:

Chapter 17 Learning Objectives:

• Define the specific purposes of several special occasion speeches.

• Discuss the characteristics of these speeches.

• Describe popular kinds of contest speeches.

Anyway, here are two very brief sample introductory speeches. The first uses these three principles while the second ignores them. See which you think is best:

RECOMMENDED FORMAT "Ladies and gentlemen, we're in for a real treat tonight. Our guest speaker is a man who has been the driving force behind this project for many years. He is the person who knows the whole history of how we got to where we are today: the stories, the challenges and the little known secrets. Not only that but he's a very entertaining speaker. Please join me in giving a very warm welcome to Stan Smith".

INCORRECT FORMAT "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce our guest speaker Stan Smith. Stan is going to talk about the project, and in particular the factor which he thinks has been the most important to our success: hard work. I agree with Stan. What I think is most important about hard work is that no-one gets anywhere without hard graft. I mean, look at all the training those Olympic gold medallists have to go through. Without further ado then, over to you Stan.".

Assignment:  Special Occasion Speech 

Purpose:  Special occasions, such as award ceremonies, banquets, weddings, and retirement parties frequently call for speeches.  This type of speech is often called the ceremonial or special occasion speech.  The goal of a special occasion speech is very different from speeches to teach, inform, or even persuade.  The goal with the special occasion speech is to mark an event as distinct and to help our audience reflect on the special nature of the gathering.  With special occasion speeches, we introduce (ourselves, someone else, an event), commemorate (another person for his/her accomplishment), or accept (an award or special recognition).  

 For this assignment, you are to prepare a one to two minute special occasion speech idea.  Think about experiences that you have had that were interesting, humorous, suspenseful, different, educational, revealing, or somewhat dramatic.  Select a theme/idea which you believe your audience would find interesting.  You may:

• Introduce an event, or significant person in the news

• Commemorate/Toast your favorite musician/sports hero/friend

• Accept an award or special recognition for a recent accomplishment

As you construct your speech, consider the following:

• Select a topic you know something about

• Refer to text for suggestions and guidelines for organizing this type of speech

• Determine the response that you want from your audience

~What is the purpose/thesis/point/goal?

• Analyze your audience and the occasion

• Decide whether your speech will be an introductory speech, a toast, an award presentation, nomination, acceptance speech, or other types mentioned in the text and those which can meet the time restraints of this assignment.

• Outline the speech on paper first, then put in typed fashion

• Choose the wording of main points and supporting materials

• Practice in a variety of ways and in front of an audience prior to delivering your speech in class 

Remember, you will want to adapt the central idea of the speech to your audience by making it relevant to them.  Why might they want to listen to the speech?  Usually audiences will listen to information they perceive as relevant.  Remember, there are few topics or subjects that cannot be adapted to an audience.  The introduction of the speech is the best place to emphasize relevance for the first time and then reinforce it again in your conclusion. 

Finally, remember that most listeners are willing to interact with a speaker who is sincere, well prepared, and concerned about their welfare.  Be creative in planning your speech content.  This will make the delivery more interesting, and easier to convey.  In-class discussion on how to develop the introduction and conclusion of a speech should help as you start this assignment.

Chapter 17 Section 1:  Recalling the Facts-Courtesy Speeches

(TB pp. 396-402)

1.  What are the guidelines for a speech of presentation?

2.  How should you organize an after-dinner speech?  

Chapter 17 Section 2:  Recalling the Facts- Ceremonial Speeches

(TB pp. 403-407)

1.  What is the purpose of a testimonial speech?

2.  What two things should a commencement address do?

Chapter 17 Section 3:  Recalling the Facts- Contest Speeches

(TB pp. 408-411)

1.  What is the key to writing an original oratory?

2.  What is the difference between original oratory and extemporaneous speaking?

3.  What is dramatic interpretation?

4.  In which category of popular contest speech events do you have to memorize the speech you give?

​5.  Name three speech contests that give monetary $$ awards to the winners.

Chapter 17 Review and Enrichment

1.  Audiences expect an _______ to present a message in a light, if not humorous, way.

2.  A ______ acknowledges the importance of the ceremony and honors the graduates.

3.  When a star athlete hawks a particular brand of tennis shoe, that is a form of ______.

4.  Testimonials and eulogies are two types of _________.

5.  A ______ is generally thought of as a speech given to praise or honor someone who has died.

6.  An ______ is a speech you write on a topic of your own choosing.

7.  In the memorized ______ event, the competitors are usually "acting from the waist up."

8.  If a classmate was to be publicly presented with a gift, you would prepare a ________ for the occasion.

9.  List five guidelines to follow in a speech of introduction.

10. Speeches of acceptance serve a double purpose:  To ___________ and to __________.

11.  In his concession speech ______________________ compared himself to a boy who has stubbed his toe in the dark: "too old to cry, but it hurts too much to laugh."

12.  Ronald Reagan's speech following the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 is considered an inspiring example of a _____________ speech.

13.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tribute to Earvin Johnson is a form of the _____________ speech.

14.  If you wanted to find a particular oration in a collection of speeches, to which reference work in the library would you turn?

15.  List five guidelines that you might follow in a speech of presentation.

16.  __________________ is a contest speech event that requires you to draw a topic and prepare a speech in 30 minutes on that topic.

17.  In the scripted interpretation events (Declamation/Dramatic Interpretation), competitors are expected to ___________________ rather than to "become" the characters.

18.  List five guidelines to follow in a speech of acceptance: