A Quick and Easy Way to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

The Graduation Speech

For the final exam, you will present a graduation speech.  Reflect upon the last four years and determine what you have learned.  Select one meaning—truth—lesson that you have gained, as a result of your experience.  Within the speech you will be telling a story/stories.  You are giving a speech partly on behalf of the senior class, but also specifically on behalf of yourself.  Avoid clichés and generalizations for the thesis of the speech—avoid them throughout the speech as well.  Additionally, this is NOT the time to say anything inappropriate or to complain about anyone or the school; a student who chooses to do so will earn an F.  The speech ought to be inspirational!

We began the school year off with the Personal/College Essay, in which you expressed one unique facet about yourself.  Now, we will end the year in a similar way, but this time you are defining the meaning of unique facets of your high school experience.  

Requirements:

• The speech must be 4 minutes in length.
• Type this speech ahead of time, and turn in a double-spaced copy on the presentation day; the hard copy must include a labeling of the thesis and at least three rhetorical appeals/modes/strategies used (ethos, pathos, logos, alliteration, allusion, metaphor, simile, imagery, analogy, amplification, definition, example, compare/contrast, cause/effect, narration, description, etc.)

Format:

• Start:  to begin the speech, think about your audience.  Acknowledge their presence with a greeting.
• Include an appropriate, personal anecdote, which will be followed by a thorough “so what?” explanation: why is this story meaningful?  (Remember: no attacking anyone or anything).
• If you choose to follow with another mini-story or analogy to emphasize the lesson, you may do so as well.
• Conclude in a creative way.