Inspirational Speech Purpose: Inspire the audience Heighten their admiration for the person, group, institution, event, thing/monument or idea being praised.

Different from an informative speech   The aim of a commemorative speech is to express feelings, arouse sentiments, and inspire.  Heighten admiration  

Techniques Avoid clichés Use stylistic devices to enhance the imagery, rhythm, and creativity of the speech. Use inspirational Quotes

Consider using devices such as the following: Alliteration: the repetition of initial consonant sounds: "You want your speech to be a clear, concise, creative commemoration.“ Parallelism: the use of parallel ideas in succession: "Our mission is to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve humanity“ “I came, I saw, I conquered” Alliteration and Parallelism combined: “The task is heavy, the toil is long, and the trials will be severe.”

“This momentous decree [Gettysburg Address] came as a Simile: the comparison of two seemingly dissimilar things, using the words like or as when making the comparison “This momentous decree [Gettysburg Address] came as a great beacon light of hope to millions”(King). “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (King). Metaphor: the comparison of two seemingly dissimilar things, WITHOUT using the words like or as when making the comparison “All the world’s a stage . . .” (Shakespeare). “A shadow has fallen upon the scene . . . A curtain has descended across the Continent” (Churchill).

Using the same phrase over throughout your speech or in succession. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream“ used “Let freedom ring” ten times at the end of the speech. I Have a Dream (begin around 15:30 for context)

Tips for preparing an easy-to-read manuscript: You can start each sentence with the first word bolded and on the left margin. You can use a larger first letter for each sentence so that you can quickly pick out the beginning of each sentence. You can also bold and/or italicize words that you want to emphasize.

Using your experience when delivering the Special Occasion Speech, consider one or more of the following manuscript techniques: Typed, Large Font (20pt.+), double and triple spaced Start all sentences on the left margin, indenting additional lines. This will resemble the format of entries on a Works Cited page; beginnings are easy to locate. Use the top 2/3’s of the page; once below 2/3 of a page, it gets more challenging to keep one’s eyes on the page and glancing up at audience as well.

Remember: 1 minute in length. DO NOT GO UNDER 60 SECONDS! (a little over is fine) Appropriate message to audience, intending to inspire Will be delivered in the auditorium—without a microphone. Final Speech grade=200 points. Reduction of one letter grade per day speech is late. Absence will not be an excuse except for extreme emergencies: hospitalization should not be your goal. Oversleeping is not an emergency.