CEREMONIAL SPEAKING SPEECHES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
You may want students to give a special occasion speech as one of the first speech assignments. Students see these types of speeches as practical, fun and entertaining. They are an ideal way to begin a speech class.
Is a speech at a political convention a persuasive, motivational, or special occasion speech? Defend your answer based on what you have learned in the last few chapters of the text.
Make a list of the types of speakers who would be appropriate to invite to your college's next commencement ceremony. Defend your choices based on the type of audience present and the special occasion.
Can a special occasion speech also be informative or persuasive? How? If this is so, why do these speeches need to be different than traditional informative or persuasive speeches?
Have a discussion with the class about good and bad special occasion speeches they have seen on TV, at weddings, funerals, retirement parties, etc. Also, have them talk about any special occasion speeches they have given.
Collect video of special occasion speeches from films, TV or awards shows. Show examples in class and discuss the effectiveness, appropriateness of each. You can also have the students critique speeches from awards shows for basic speech skills and organization. Have the class give suggestions for how to improve the speech.
CLASS ACTIVITIES
Activity #15.1: Special Occasion Speeches on the Internet
As a homework assignment, have students search for an assigned type of special occasion speech using INFOTRAC. You may want to assign the class one type, such as Commencement speeches, assign groups of students to different types of ceremonial speeches or allow students to choose a type. Students should read and print the speech they found. In class, either in groups of three or four or as a class discuss the expectations for the different types of speeches and how the examples meet or do not meet those criteria and expectations. You may even want to have students go to the front of the room and read a few short examples of the downloaded speeches.
Activity #15.2: Evaluation of Special Occasion Speeches
Provide students or groups of students with any of the speech evaluation checklists presented in Challenge. The informative speech checklist usually works well. Have students or groups analyze the checklist and make any changes they think are necessary in order to more effectively analyze a special occasion speech. Then discuss their modifications and reasons for them in class. Variations on this activity may include giving each group of students a different type of special occasion speech to consider or having groups come up with sample speech goals and thesis statements for the speech type they have been assigned.
Activity #15.3: Commencement Addresses
Using INFOTRAC, have students locate the review of the book Graduation Day: The Best of America's Commencement Speeches in Booklist, May, 1998. Have students select and locate one of the speeches listed and conduct a written analysis of that speech using the guidelines of expectations and considerations discussed in Chapter 15.
An alternative to this assignment, is something similar to activity #15.1. Have students search the INFOTRAC database for a commencement address and then write an analysis of that speech. Discuss the examples found and their corresponding written analysis in class.
Activity #15.4: Celebrity Awards Speech
Divide students into groups of 3-4. Have each group choose a celebrity to give an award to and the award to be given. You may want to provide a list of celebrities for them to choose from or allow them to choose one on their own. (A short is list is provided below.) The groups should consider the expectations and considerations that the textbook discusses. Give students 15-20 minutes for preparation and then have each group present their speech to the class. This activity is fun and students generally really enjoy doing it.
List of possible celebrities:
Donald Trump Martha Stewart Michael Jordan Brad Pitt
Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson Orlando Bloom Derek Jeter
Anna Nicole Smith Jennifer Gardner Lindsay Lohan Paris Hilton
Jamie Foxx John Wayne The Rock Bill Gates
Elvis Presley Marilyn Monroe The Osbornes 50 Cent
Activity #15.5: The Public Speaking Awards Show Extraordinaire
This activity showcases the characteristics of each type of Special Occasion Speech (Introduction, Presentation, Acceptance, Welcome, Tribute).
Divide the class into groups and give them one of the 5 special occasion speeches. Depending on the time of year (Grammy Season or Oscar Season), the class will have an award show. Allot 20 minutes for brainstorming and creativity. Each group must stand in front of the class and present their portion of the show:
1st Group: Welcoming Group
Expresses pleasure for the person/organization
Brief intro to what is going on ("Welcome to..."
2nd Group: Introduction Group (kind of the emcee)
Paves the way for the main speaker (for the activities puposes, the presentation group).
Tells who the speaker/group is
Includes biographical info
Builds speaker's credibility
3rd group: Presentation
This group decides the award that will be presented (they need to decide this quickly and inform the acceptance group so they can get their speech going).
Great examples have been: "Biggest has-beens in the music industry, worst portrayal of acting in a movie... the students come up with some good ideas)
Discuss nature of the award and the recipients accomplishments
4th group: Acceptance
Responds to the presentation
Thanks the group and others who share in the honor
5th group: Tribute
The group can pick anyone related to the awards show to tribute (Chewy from Star Wars and Michael Jackson were particularly entertaining).
Groups praises the individuals' accomplishments by creating an allusion of "no one's perfect," focus on the his/her accomplishments, and providing biographical info.
Clearly, the acceptance group and presentation group will have to work together to decide on an award. Also, the welcoming and introduction groups need to work together initially as well.
TEST QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 15
Multiple Choice
1. A speech that expresses pleasure for the presence of a person or an organization is called a .
a. welcome speech
b. speech of introduction
c. speech of recognition
d. speech of acceptance
2. A speech that familiarizes the audience with biographical information that establishes the credibility of the person being presented is called a .
a. welcome speech
b. speech of introduction
c. speech of recognition
d. speech of acceptance
3. A speech that acknowledges someone and usually presents an award, a prize, or a gift to the individual or a representative of a group is called a .
a. welcome speech
b. speech of introduction
c. speech of recognition
d. speech of acceptance
4. A speech given to acknowledge receipt of an honor or award is called a .
a. welcome speech
b. speech of introduction
c. speech of recognition
d. speech of acceptance
5. A speech offered at the start of a reception or meal that pays tribute to the occasion or to a person is called a .
a. toast
b. commencement address
c. keynote address
d. tribute speech
6. A speech that praises someone's life and accomplishments is called a .
a. toast
b. commencement address
c. keynote address
d. tribute speech
7. A tribute speech given at the memorial or funeral for a person who has died is called a .
a. toast
b. tribute speech
c. keynote address
d. eulogy
8. A speech that recognizes graduation is called a ___.
a. keynote address
b. commencement address
c. commemorative address
d. tribute speech
9. A speech that begins a conference or convention is called a .
a. keynote address
b. commencement address
c. commemorative address
d. tribute speech
10. A speech presented to celebrate national holidays or anniversaries of important dates or events is called a .
a. keynote address
b. commencement address
c. commemorative address
d. tribute speech
11. In a welcome speech you are expected to ______.
a. provide a brief description of the group that he or she is being welcomed
b. focus on three or four things about the person being welcomed
c. discuss the nature of the recognition
d. establish the nature of the occasion
12. Which of the following is NOT an example of a special occasion speech?
a. tribute speech
b. acceptance speech
c. informative speech
d. commencement address
13. Commencement addresses should .
a. make a political statement
b. inspire the graduating class
c. commemorate a special event
d. none of the above
14. A eulogy is a speech.
a. tribute
b. recognition
c. welcome
d. keynote
15. A person announcing the winner of an Academy Award is giving a(n)
speech.
a. tribute
b. recognition
c. acceptance
d. welcome
16. A toast is expected to .
a. discuss the achievements of a person
b. present an award
c. focus on a single characteristic of a person or occasion
d. introduce a person
17. When presenting someone with an award or gift, as in a speech of recognition, the speaker should .
a. hold the award in their left hand, so they can shake with their right
b. give the recipient a hug
c. give the recipient the award after the ceremony
d. give the award to someone else to give to the recipient, because that is too much responsibility for the speaker
18. A speech of introduction should .
a. focus on a single characteristic of a person
b. be the longest speech of the night
c. describe the group you are introduced to
d. tell the audience the education, background and experience of a person
19. You may be asked to give a welcome speech combined with a
speech.
a. recognition
b. keynote
c. tribute
d. commencement
20. A speech of recognition should .
a. explain the criteria for the award
b. describe how or why someone achieved the award
c. establish credibility of the speaker
d. both a and c
True/False
21. T F A eulogy is a tribute speech given at a retirement, birthday or anniversary.
22. T F An example of a commemorative address would be a speech given on the anniversary of D-Day.
23. T F Toasts are expected to last around 6 to 8 minutes.
24. T F A tribute speech should also include a detailed background of the person, even if the audience is familiar with him or her.
25. T F It is appropriate in a commencement address to make a political statement and ignore the graduating class.
26. T F A speech of recognition presents an award or gift to a person or group.
27. T F An example of a welcome speech would be a speech that welcomes a group to an event.
28. T F A speech of introduction recognizes an award winner.
29. T F An acceptance speech is a response to a speech of recognition.
30. T F A keynote address begins a conference or convention.
Attachment:- Evolution review.rar