I found chapter 25 to be very interesting as I never really thought about the fact that there are a variety of different types of speeches. Now that I read the chapter it seems so obvious to me but I never considered it enough before to realize it. I think it’s incredibly powerful to think about the amount of power that words can have and the way that they can impact someone. It made me think about my dad’s works and how he has to write all of these different kinds of speeches: in response to a tragedy, in celebration of medical accomplishments, in memoriams for doctors gone too soon. All of these speeches hold power and will impact people in different ways but every time he has to be careful and precarious about the words he uses and how he says them in order to make sure people feel respected and understood. I also think it is helpful that there are some key points for each type of speech that one should try to hit but also there is a lot of room for adjustment and making the speech (whatever form it is) your own and personal to you, the audience, and the situation.
There is a wide variety of speeches that are used on different occasions, including but not limited to introduction speeches, acceptance speeches, toasts, eulogies, inaugural addresses, or retirement speeches. We have all seen some of these speeches at some point in our lives, but I think we don’t think of them as often because they are for special occasions that we don’t see daily. The main function of these speeches is to entertain, commemorate, inspire, or celebrate. This is different than what we are used to in our writing for most English classes since a lot of the time we write to inform or persuade. Depending on the occasion, they all have a specific purpose and the tone must be appropriately set for the audience. It is also important to think about the right words. A few tips that I want to take into consideration when deciding what kind of speech I want to write for speech 3 is to prepare in advance, balance delivery and emotions if giving a eulogy because you have to be a guide for the audience, and be positive. If you are commemorating someone’s life, celebrating a new marriage, or welcoming families to graduation, it is necessary to gain the audience’s attention appropriately and not say something that shifts the mood. As I begin to think about our next speech I think the overview of some of these speeches will help determine whether a toast or eulogy would be best for myself and allow me to communicate my ideas well.
The chapter begins discussing special occasion speeches and how the main goal of these is to entertain the audience, celebrate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Then the reading addresses different types of special occasion speeches. These are some of the different types of speeches that stuck out to me and I thought that the tips they gave to go with them were helpful. The first one is called a speech of introduction. This is a short speech to get the audience ready for the speaker and to engage the audience so they want to listen to what the main speaker has to say. Some tips for this speech are to describe the speaker’s background, preview what the speaker will address, ask the audience to welcome the speaker, and to be brief. Then there is a speech of acceptance, this is made in response to getting an award. For this speech you should prepare in advance, even if you just suspect that you might receive the award, say what the award means to you, and be sure to express gratitude thanking everyone by name. It discusses roasts and toasts saying how a roast is more humorous whereas a toast is a brief tribute to the person or event that is being celebrated. You want to make sure that you prepare for a speech like this and highlight the traits of the person. It is important to be positive and brief so the audience stays engaged. This reading was helpful because for our next speech we may decide to use one of these speech styles when we are giving it. The reading gave lots of detail about what is important for each different type and was informative.
Chapter 25 discusses speaking on special occasions. While this may seem like a simple concept, when performing these speeches one must take into account the tone of the speech or the occasion that it is being presented. For example, speeches at a wedding or social events are light-hearted, friendly, and amusing, at points, while speeches to commemorate a person at a funeral, memorial, etc. are more sad and low, but also offer remembrance. Additionally, timing is important in these speeches. One does not want to lose the audience or bore them, rather one wants to entertain, persuade, inform, and more. Furthermore, speeches for accepting an award are different. These speeches require a lot of preparation to make sure the speaker is including what the award means, gratitude towards who gave it to them, etc. While all of these speeches take tremendous preparation, it is important to take the audience into account. One must be able to control emotions, while not acting monotone. Showing emotions is important but not to the point where they freeze up and can not speak. This is especially important when delivering a eulogy or a remembrance speech. With the idea of eulogies, a really important tip is to celebrate the life of the person, rather than focus on the fact they passed. Focus on memories, the person’s contributions to life, the person’s character, etc. Lastly, keynote speeches are highlighted in this chapter. Keynote speeches are made to inform, but not just read off a slide. This is usually for the audience to learn about organizations or important topics.
Chapter 25 talks about when giving a eulogy to commemorate life, not death. Talk about the person’s achievements and their characteristics. When people typically think of a eulogy speech, they often think about talking about the death of the person which can overwhelm their emotions. However, they mention having a positive tone, and if you do feel like you will become overwhelmed by the emotions to pause and take a deep breath. Chapter 25 also talks about how there are different types of speeches that can be done, such as a toast, speech of acceptance, speeches of presentations. Something that is interesting to me is that when people often give a toast, they are less stressed because they are around people they feel comfortable with. I found it interesting that these speeches are different in the ways that they express someone who is important to them. I think that the chapter did a good job explaining how you can go about expressing what someone means to you. Personally, for me, I always have a harder time talking about someone when I am giving a eulogy compared to a toast because I have a harder time controlling my emotions
Chapter 25 discussed different types of special occasion speeches and what each should include. One huge takeaway for me was how many different special occasion speeches there were as well as how different the route that you can take when delivering each special occasion speech can be. They can range from bestowing gratitude to a person when delivering an acceptance speech to delivering a sense of closure to a grieving family when delivering a eulogy. It is very important to know the criteria for the specific occasion for which you are delivering the speech or it could end very badly. You should be aware of the setting of the speech and rehearse for that specific crowd to avoid sounding like the speech you are delivering is “canned” which means a speech that you deliver over and over to different groups or isn’t specific to the current audience. Another thing about this chapter that stuck with me was the idea of balancing lightheartedness with seriousness. I think a lot of the time when someone gives a toast or a speech commemorating someone they lose sight of the actual theme of the speech and just try to win the audience over by using comedy or jokes, which can make them look a little foolish or unprepared.
Chapter 25 was titled “Speaking on Special Occasions”. The book defines speaking on public occasions as a speech whose general purpose is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Some examples would include something like an acceptance speech, inspiring speeches, or a wedding toast. Every “speaking on special occasions speech is geared towards the same goal, entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. I think this will be one of my favorite types of speeches for this class. It seems to have more of a natural and casual sense to it. These types of speeches can also be very personal. I was not aware of all the different types of these speeches, but it’s cool to read about them and see how many there are. I have witnessed many wedding toasts which I think would probably be my favorite one.
Chapter 25 was very insightful about giving speeches on special occasions hence the title “Speaking on Special Occasions”. The opening of the chapter highlighted special occasions as times that “stand out from the ordinary rhythm of life” which I thought was a really unique and true way to think about them. This also means that the speeches during these times should capture that feeling among everyone listening. There are many different types of speeches that fit under the special occasion umbrella, and they all have unique vibes to them, some fun and entertaining such as speeches of introduction or roasts and toasts. Others maybe sad and heavy hearted such as eulogies or other tributes and possibly even an after-dinner speech. More forms of special occasion speeches include speeches of presentation, speeches of acceptance, speeches of inspiration and speeches of social agenda. I wasn’t aware of all these different categories of special occasion speeches previously, but I now find them very intriguing and am aware how the right type of speech in the right moment can be extremely effective in reaching your audience.
Chapter 25 was about special occasion speeches. The point of special occasion speeches is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. There are many different types of special occasion speeches including introductions, award presentations, roasts and toasts, eulogies, dinner speeches, and many more. Each one has its unique way of being prepared and spoken with certain criteria to speak on. For example, in eulogies, the audience is looking for guidance in dealing with loss and with getting closure. It’s important to show emotion and empathy but be realistic about who this person was to highlight their life. Another example is an introduction where you introduce someone else to the stage, highlighting who they are and why they are important before welcoming them to the stage. Whatever special occasion speech it is though there is always some emotion or personal connection to the speech that makes it important and something you want to share with other people. It’s important when giving special occasion speeches to know the audience you are talking to and follow the guidelines to help prepare you. You don’t want to show up to a wedding and give a eulogy. I had always thought of special occasion speech’s as being just for weddings, but now I understand that special occasion things has a much broader range.
In Chapter 25, it talks a lot about different types of speeches for different occasions. The points of these speeches are to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set social agendas. There are many different types of speeches such as introductions, acceptances, presentations, roasts, toasts, eulogies, after dinner, and inspirational. Each of these speeches has their own unique purpose as to why they are given and why they are so important. For example, a speech of acceptance. These speeches are given usually when receiving an award and wanting to express both gratitude and honor. They would do this by preparing in advance what you wish to say, expressing how the award makes you feel, and expressing gratitude by thanking friends and family and people who helped get you to where you are today. A little tip that they added in the book was to respond to the introduction that you were given. This meaning, when you are introduced by another speaker it is always kind to add something such as “I appreciate those kind words” or if you are feeling humorous, you could add something such as “Your description was so amazing it didn’t occur to me that you were speaking about me”. People tend to gravitate towards humor so adding something funny into your speech is always a good thing of course unless you are speaking at a sad event. After reading this chapter, I did not realize how many differnt types of speeches there were but I think these will be some of my favorite since they are more laid back.
In chapter 15, the main idea was the type of speeches that one can give as well as what the reason the speeches can be given. One thing that stuck out to me was the reason to deliver a speech with a certain task at hand or for an event. The goal of a speech for a special occasion should be informative, persuasive, or both. The goal is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda for the task or event. The types of speeches are speeches of introductions, speeches of acceptance, speeches of presentations, roasts, toasts, eulogies, and other tributes, after dinner speeches, and speeches of inspiration. One thing that stuck to me was writing a eulogy. I had to write a eulogy in one of my classes in high school as if I was Macbeth. The most difficult part was trying to figure out more of his accomplishments and how I could be positive while talking about Macbeth because the story involves a lot of gruesome details and events. I also had to write a speech presentation when I had to give my sister an award. That was a hard task because she is my sister and I want to mention everything she is good at or accomplished in life, but all of it had to relate to the award she was getting.
Journal 14
In chapter 25 it starts off by talking about how there is a wide variety of types of speeches. It also talks about all the different occasions where you can use these different speeches. It also talks about special occasion speeches. It talks about how these speeches are meant to entertain, inspire, celebrate, or set a social agenda. From there it talks about the speech of introduction. The chapter goes on to talk about how this speech is meant to prepare and warm up the audience and to motivate the audience to listen to what the main speaker has to say. Chapter 25 talks about a lot of different types of speeches. Two that I liked were eulogy and how it talks a lot about emotions and how no matter what you’re talking about you really have to keep your emotions intact because the audience looks to you for guidance. Another one that I liked was the presentation speech. It talks about getting an award and how to talk about it. Saying you should talk about who gave you the award and the meaning of the award and how a lot of audiences like humor so you could add a “roast” or a tribute to the person.
Chapter twenty-five was all about speaking on special occasions. I think this was a perfect chapter to read before getting started on our upcoming speech. The reading said that the main goal of one of these speeches is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Entertainment is light-hearted and adds insight. Celebration is praising something and showing love for it. Commemoration is a remembrance or a tribute to a person or thing. Inspiring is a motivational speech including achievements. Last but not least, setting social agendas reinforces the goals of the group. All of these different types include different tones to fit the occasion.
The reading also goes in-depth about introduction, presentation, roasts, toasts, eulogies, tributes, after-dinner, inspiration, and agenda speeches. Each different type of speech was looked at more in-depth. There were bullet points under each one talking about balancing emotions and how long the speech should be. For example, a roast or toast should be short and sweet, while a eulogy should be balanced and positive while giving enough remembrance to the person. I think it’s important to know how each different speech should be done and prepared. Reading this chapter helped me to see the different attributes each speech has, how they should be created, and the tone in which they should be said. I really think this chapter will help a lot when it comes to my next speech. I will be able to reference what I learned in this chapter to help me structure my speech and decide what tone I should use.
This chapter explained the differences between different types of occasion speeches. The biggest takeaway was the differences between toasts and eulogies, and how to approach each of them. This is important because these are two possible topics of our next speech assignment. Toasts are often a tribute to someone to show appreciation, while eulogies are more often than not a speech to praise someone who has passed. While it is important to prepare for both of these speeches, they should clearly be approached in different ways. When giving a toast, it is important to be positive and highlight the traits of the person being honored. It may also be appropriate to use humor during a toast to entertain the audience, although the same cannot be said for a eulogy. A eulogy should guide the audience towards a sense of closure, as they are more likely grieving, but should also be positive so that there is a sense of control. Control is extremely important as a speaker because you don’t want to break down in front of the audience.
For me, one of the biggest things that stood out to me from this chapter was the idea that special occasion speeches have more than one real purpose or function, with them being to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire or set up some sort of social agenda. To be more specific, when you want to entertain in a special occasion speech, you want the message to be lighthearted, heartwarming and somewhat amusing. However, at the same time, the listeners might also expect some sort of insight into the topic you are talking about, and you would expect to hear these types of speeches at events such as banquets and roasts, where the whole ideal mood is for everyone to have fun and be entertained. On the other hand, when you want to celebrate a certain individual or even place, the listeners usually expect the speaker to praise their subject matter, as well as some sort of degree of ceremony, but it has to be intact with the norms of said occasion. You would most likely see these types of speeches at weddings, anniversary parties, award ceremonies and also retirement parties. Next, when you want to give a speech that commemorates an event or person, you want to ensure that the speech is about remembering and honoring the subject, almost like a tribute. When looking to inspire, you want to make sure that the speech enlightens or motivates the audience through heroic attributes and achievements. Finally, when giving a speech centered around a social agenda, listeners are expecting some sort of articulation and reinforcement of goals, as well as values of a group, so it is best to focus on certain goals one wants to meet. I believe that this whole area is the most important part of the book because it separates each type of speech, defines it, and most importantly, it gives certain examples of what you need to do to actually make the speech impactful and memorable in the field you are giving it. That is what I believe is the most important part.
My main takeaway from Chapter 25 about special occasion speaking is that speaking at a special occasion varies greatly depending on which special occasion you are speaking at. Although one thing that connects all of the different special occasions one could speak at is, humor. Everyone appreciates a little bit of humor to lighten the mood and have a little laugh. From toasts to public addresses to eulogy speeches, each one has a purpose, whether to commemorate, praise, or joke about someone, each speech is about balancing the purpose of the speech with the entertainment aspect of the speech to keep everyone engaged and enjoying your speech. In Chapter 25, we dive into the world of special occasion speeches, where being flexible and keeping the audience engaged are key. Whether you’re giving a toast, a public talk, or a eulogy, adding a bit of humor helps people connect and makes the moment more enjoyable. But there’s more to it than just being funny. First off, you’ve gotta do your homework. Whether it’s finding funny stories for a toast, highlighting achievements for a public talk, or remembering good times for a eulogy, having plenty of material makes your speech genuine and relatable. Next up, how you structure your speech matters. You want it to flow smoothly from start to finish, grabbing people’s attention and keeping it. That means organizing your ideas well and telling stories that keep everyone hooked. The language you use is also important. You’ve got to speak in a way that fits the occasion and connects with your audience. Whether it’s using fancy words for a formal event or keeping it casual for a laid-back gathering, your words should match the vibe. And let’s not forget about humor. A well-placed joke can break the ice and make people feel more comfortable. Finally, practice makes perfect. Rehearsing your speech in front of close friends or family helps you get comfortable with the material and iron out any kinks. Plus, it lets you see how people react, so you can tweak your delivery for maximum impact.
In chapter 25, the chapter talks about special occasion speeches. These kinds of speeches have five functions. Those functions are to entertain, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Special occasion speeches are prepared for a specific topic/purpose depending on the occasion. There are at least eight different types of special occasion speeches. Each one has different goals of what the writer/speaker is trying to convey. Which is also dependent on the situation the writer/speaker is in. One thing that I found interesting, is that among a couple of speeches they had something in common. In a couple of the speeches you want to make sure that you aren’t showboating. To make sure you are really focused on the important qualities that will grasp people’s attention and keep them interested.
Chapter 25 was explaining the importance and meaning of speaking at special occasions. There are different reasons for speaking; to entertain, to celebrate, to commemorate, to inspire, and to set social agendas. There are also different types of special occasion speeches. There’s one to introduce the person you’re talking to, one to accept something you’re being honored for, or one for when you’re presenting something. The chapter also talked about roasts and toasts, and how to succeed at both of them. A big takeaway for me from the chapter was the different goals of talking at special occasions. I wouldn’t necessarily say I didn’t “know” about the different goals, but it was nice to be reminded of them.
the key takeaways from the chapter 25:
1. Functions of Special Occasion Speeches: Special occasion speeches are tailored for specific events and serve purposes dictated by the occasion. They can include speeches of acceptance, eulogies, after-dinner speeches, and speeches of inspiration.
2. Preparing for Special Occasion Speeches: It is essential to prepare in advance for special occasion speeches. This includes identifying the speaker correctly, practicing pronunciations, verifying facts about the speaker, and expressing gratitude when delivering speeches of acceptance.
3. Delivering Effective Introductions: Introducing a speaker involves highlighting the speaker’s background, previewing the topic briefly, and asking the audience to welcome the speaker. It is important to keep introductions concise and engaging to build credibility and interest.
4. After-Dinner Speeches: After-dinner speeches are expected to be lighthearted and entertaining while also providing insights into the topic at hand. Connecting the speech with the occasion and setting a social agenda are crucial aspects of after-dinner speeches.
5. Eulogies and Speeches of Inspiration: Eulogies should focus on commemorating the life of the deceased rather than the circumstances of death. Speeches of inspiration aim to uplift the audience, appeal to emotions, use real-life stories, and end with a dramatic conclusion to motivate listeners.
6. Significance: Special occasion speeches play a vital role in honoring events, individuals, and milestones. They provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements, express gratitude, inspire audiences, and commemorate important moments. Effective delivery of special occasion speeches can leave a lasting impact on the audience and contribute to the overall success of the event.
In summary, Chapter 25 emphasizes the importance of tailoring speeches to specific occasions, preparing thoroughly, engaging the audience effectively, and delivering speeches that are memorable and impactful. It highlights the significance of recognizing the purpose of the speech, connecting with the audience emotionally, and leaving a lasting impression through thoughtful and well-crafted delivery.
Chapter 25 talks about the different types of speeches to give on special occasions. You can give one to introduce someone, to celebrate a person, place, or event. You can also give a speech at an award ceremony, to roast someone, or give a toast at something like a wedding. This also involves eulogies. In order to set yourself up for success, you must introduce yourself and the person you are speaking about. Then you have to share some things about this individual, for a roast they might not be nice things. You should also practice saying the person’s name beforehand. During a toast or roast, the speaker should be prepared to highlight traits of the person they are talking about, and be brief but positive. Speeches on inspirations are appealing to an audience’s emotions. They do this by making goals clear and sharing personal stories, and having a dramatic closing. The biggest takeaway for me personally while reading this chapter was that I want to someday give a toast to my dog, and after reading this I hope he appreciates it as much as the effort that I’m putting into it.
Contrary to the contents of chapter 25, I originally thought that there were only a few types of speeches such as eulogies and celebration speeches. I never really thought that teaching is a type of public speaking, and one that I really never thought about any sort of public speaking to be a form of entertainment but looking back on it, it makes so much more sense. I am genuinely surprised I never thought of this considering how much stand-up I used to watch. Anyways, my key takeaway was that you have to prepare a specific mindset for each speech that you give. A eulogy will be incredibly different than a speech written to entertain the audience. Nobody is expecting or really wanting somebody to be laughing at a funeral or the recent “state of the union” speech delivered just days ago. The vision of America would decrease dramatically, and we would become a horrible model and quite frankly the laughingstock of the world. So in summary, we must focus on the content and make sure to create the right space for those words. The speech that I am giving for speech three is not a particularly sad one. It is about my long-distance friend and how close we are. I did not expect it to be nearly this difficult. I would love this speech to be lighthearted and hopeful with a little sentimental feeling.
21 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 14”
I found chapter 25 to be very interesting as I never really thought about the fact that there are a variety of different types of speeches. Now that I read the chapter it seems so obvious to me but I never considered it enough before to realize it. I think it’s incredibly powerful to think about the amount of power that words can have and the way that they can impact someone. It made me think about my dad’s works and how he has to write all of these different kinds of speeches: in response to a tragedy, in celebration of medical accomplishments, in memoriams for doctors gone too soon. All of these speeches hold power and will impact people in different ways but every time he has to be careful and precarious about the words he uses and how he says them in order to make sure people feel respected and understood. I also think it is helpful that there are some key points for each type of speech that one should try to hit but also there is a lot of room for adjustment and making the speech (whatever form it is) your own and personal to you, the audience, and the situation.
There is a wide variety of speeches that are used on different occasions, including but not limited to introduction speeches, acceptance speeches, toasts, eulogies, inaugural addresses, or retirement speeches. We have all seen some of these speeches at some point in our lives, but I think we don’t think of them as often because they are for special occasions that we don’t see daily. The main function of these speeches is to entertain, commemorate, inspire, or celebrate. This is different than what we are used to in our writing for most English classes since a lot of the time we write to inform or persuade. Depending on the occasion, they all have a specific purpose and the tone must be appropriately set for the audience. It is also important to think about the right words. A few tips that I want to take into consideration when deciding what kind of speech I want to write for speech 3 is to prepare in advance, balance delivery and emotions if giving a eulogy because you have to be a guide for the audience, and be positive. If you are commemorating someone’s life, celebrating a new marriage, or welcoming families to graduation, it is necessary to gain the audience’s attention appropriately and not say something that shifts the mood. As I begin to think about our next speech I think the overview of some of these speeches will help determine whether a toast or eulogy would be best for myself and allow me to communicate my ideas well.
The chapter begins discussing special occasion speeches and how the main goal of these is to entertain the audience, celebrate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Then the reading addresses different types of special occasion speeches. These are some of the different types of speeches that stuck out to me and I thought that the tips they gave to go with them were helpful. The first one is called a speech of introduction. This is a short speech to get the audience ready for the speaker and to engage the audience so they want to listen to what the main speaker has to say. Some tips for this speech are to describe the speaker’s background, preview what the speaker will address, ask the audience to welcome the speaker, and to be brief. Then there is a speech of acceptance, this is made in response to getting an award. For this speech you should prepare in advance, even if you just suspect that you might receive the award, say what the award means to you, and be sure to express gratitude thanking everyone by name. It discusses roasts and toasts saying how a roast is more humorous whereas a toast is a brief tribute to the person or event that is being celebrated. You want to make sure that you prepare for a speech like this and highlight the traits of the person. It is important to be positive and brief so the audience stays engaged. This reading was helpful because for our next speech we may decide to use one of these speech styles when we are giving it. The reading gave lots of detail about what is important for each different type and was informative.
Chapter 25 discusses speaking on special occasions. While this may seem like a simple concept, when performing these speeches one must take into account the tone of the speech or the occasion that it is being presented. For example, speeches at a wedding or social events are light-hearted, friendly, and amusing, at points, while speeches to commemorate a person at a funeral, memorial, etc. are more sad and low, but also offer remembrance. Additionally, timing is important in these speeches. One does not want to lose the audience or bore them, rather one wants to entertain, persuade, inform, and more. Furthermore, speeches for accepting an award are different. These speeches require a lot of preparation to make sure the speaker is including what the award means, gratitude towards who gave it to them, etc. While all of these speeches take tremendous preparation, it is important to take the audience into account. One must be able to control emotions, while not acting monotone. Showing emotions is important but not to the point where they freeze up and can not speak. This is especially important when delivering a eulogy or a remembrance speech. With the idea of eulogies, a really important tip is to celebrate the life of the person, rather than focus on the fact they passed. Focus on memories, the person’s contributions to life, the person’s character, etc. Lastly, keynote speeches are highlighted in this chapter. Keynote speeches are made to inform, but not just read off a slide. This is usually for the audience to learn about organizations or important topics.
Chapter 25 talks about when giving a eulogy to commemorate life, not death. Talk about the person’s achievements and their characteristics. When people typically think of a eulogy speech, they often think about talking about the death of the person which can overwhelm their emotions. However, they mention having a positive tone, and if you do feel like you will become overwhelmed by the emotions to pause and take a deep breath. Chapter 25 also talks about how there are different types of speeches that can be done, such as a toast, speech of acceptance, speeches of presentations. Something that is interesting to me is that when people often give a toast, they are less stressed because they are around people they feel comfortable with. I found it interesting that these speeches are different in the ways that they express someone who is important to them. I think that the chapter did a good job explaining how you can go about expressing what someone means to you. Personally, for me, I always have a harder time talking about someone when I am giving a eulogy compared to a toast because I have a harder time controlling my emotions
Chapter 25 discussed different types of special occasion speeches and what each should include. One huge takeaway for me was how many different special occasion speeches there were as well as how different the route that you can take when delivering each special occasion speech can be. They can range from bestowing gratitude to a person when delivering an acceptance speech to delivering a sense of closure to a grieving family when delivering a eulogy. It is very important to know the criteria for the specific occasion for which you are delivering the speech or it could end very badly. You should be aware of the setting of the speech and rehearse for that specific crowd to avoid sounding like the speech you are delivering is “canned” which means a speech that you deliver over and over to different groups or isn’t specific to the current audience. Another thing about this chapter that stuck with me was the idea of balancing lightheartedness with seriousness. I think a lot of the time when someone gives a toast or a speech commemorating someone they lose sight of the actual theme of the speech and just try to win the audience over by using comedy or jokes, which can make them look a little foolish or unprepared.
Chapter 25 was titled “Speaking on Special Occasions”. The book defines speaking on public occasions as a speech whose general purpose is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Some examples would include something like an acceptance speech, inspiring speeches, or a wedding toast. Every “speaking on special occasions speech is geared towards the same goal, entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. I think this will be one of my favorite types of speeches for this class. It seems to have more of a natural and casual sense to it. These types of speeches can also be very personal. I was not aware of all the different types of these speeches, but it’s cool to read about them and see how many there are. I have witnessed many wedding toasts which I think would probably be my favorite one.
Chapter 25 was very insightful about giving speeches on special occasions hence the title “Speaking on Special Occasions”. The opening of the chapter highlighted special occasions as times that “stand out from the ordinary rhythm of life” which I thought was a really unique and true way to think about them. This also means that the speeches during these times should capture that feeling among everyone listening. There are many different types of speeches that fit under the special occasion umbrella, and they all have unique vibes to them, some fun and entertaining such as speeches of introduction or roasts and toasts. Others maybe sad and heavy hearted such as eulogies or other tributes and possibly even an after-dinner speech. More forms of special occasion speeches include speeches of presentation, speeches of acceptance, speeches of inspiration and speeches of social agenda. I wasn’t aware of all these different categories of special occasion speeches previously, but I now find them very intriguing and am aware how the right type of speech in the right moment can be extremely effective in reaching your audience.
Chapter 25 was about special occasion speeches. The point of special occasion speeches is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. There are many different types of special occasion speeches including introductions, award presentations, roasts and toasts, eulogies, dinner speeches, and many more. Each one has its unique way of being prepared and spoken with certain criteria to speak on. For example, in eulogies, the audience is looking for guidance in dealing with loss and with getting closure. It’s important to show emotion and empathy but be realistic about who this person was to highlight their life. Another example is an introduction where you introduce someone else to the stage, highlighting who they are and why they are important before welcoming them to the stage. Whatever special occasion speech it is though there is always some emotion or personal connection to the speech that makes it important and something you want to share with other people. It’s important when giving special occasion speeches to know the audience you are talking to and follow the guidelines to help prepare you. You don’t want to show up to a wedding and give a eulogy. I had always thought of special occasion speech’s as being just for weddings, but now I understand that special occasion things has a much broader range.
In Chapter 25, it talks a lot about different types of speeches for different occasions. The points of these speeches are to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set social agendas. There are many different types of speeches such as introductions, acceptances, presentations, roasts, toasts, eulogies, after dinner, and inspirational. Each of these speeches has their own unique purpose as to why they are given and why they are so important. For example, a speech of acceptance. These speeches are given usually when receiving an award and wanting to express both gratitude and honor. They would do this by preparing in advance what you wish to say, expressing how the award makes you feel, and expressing gratitude by thanking friends and family and people who helped get you to where you are today. A little tip that they added in the book was to respond to the introduction that you were given. This meaning, when you are introduced by another speaker it is always kind to add something such as “I appreciate those kind words” or if you are feeling humorous, you could add something such as “Your description was so amazing it didn’t occur to me that you were speaking about me”. People tend to gravitate towards humor so adding something funny into your speech is always a good thing of course unless you are speaking at a sad event. After reading this chapter, I did not realize how many differnt types of speeches there were but I think these will be some of my favorite since they are more laid back.
In chapter 15, the main idea was the type of speeches that one can give as well as what the reason the speeches can be given. One thing that stuck out to me was the reason to deliver a speech with a certain task at hand or for an event. The goal of a speech for a special occasion should be informative, persuasive, or both. The goal is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda for the task or event. The types of speeches are speeches of introductions, speeches of acceptance, speeches of presentations, roasts, toasts, eulogies, and other tributes, after dinner speeches, and speeches of inspiration. One thing that stuck to me was writing a eulogy. I had to write a eulogy in one of my classes in high school as if I was Macbeth. The most difficult part was trying to figure out more of his accomplishments and how I could be positive while talking about Macbeth because the story involves a lot of gruesome details and events. I also had to write a speech presentation when I had to give my sister an award. That was a hard task because she is my sister and I want to mention everything she is good at or accomplished in life, but all of it had to relate to the award she was getting.
Journal 14
In chapter 25 it starts off by talking about how there is a wide variety of types of speeches. It also talks about all the different occasions where you can use these different speeches. It also talks about special occasion speeches. It talks about how these speeches are meant to entertain, inspire, celebrate, or set a social agenda. From there it talks about the speech of introduction. The chapter goes on to talk about how this speech is meant to prepare and warm up the audience and to motivate the audience to listen to what the main speaker has to say. Chapter 25 talks about a lot of different types of speeches. Two that I liked were eulogy and how it talks a lot about emotions and how no matter what you’re talking about you really have to keep your emotions intact because the audience looks to you for guidance. Another one that I liked was the presentation speech. It talks about getting an award and how to talk about it. Saying you should talk about who gave you the award and the meaning of the award and how a lot of audiences like humor so you could add a “roast” or a tribute to the person.
Chapter twenty-five was all about speaking on special occasions. I think this was a perfect chapter to read before getting started on our upcoming speech. The reading said that the main goal of one of these speeches is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Entertainment is light-hearted and adds insight. Celebration is praising something and showing love for it. Commemoration is a remembrance or a tribute to a person or thing. Inspiring is a motivational speech including achievements. Last but not least, setting social agendas reinforces the goals of the group. All of these different types include different tones to fit the occasion.
The reading also goes in-depth about introduction, presentation, roasts, toasts, eulogies, tributes, after-dinner, inspiration, and agenda speeches. Each different type of speech was looked at more in-depth. There were bullet points under each one talking about balancing emotions and how long the speech should be. For example, a roast or toast should be short and sweet, while a eulogy should be balanced and positive while giving enough remembrance to the person. I think it’s important to know how each different speech should be done and prepared. Reading this chapter helped me to see the different attributes each speech has, how they should be created, and the tone in which they should be said. I really think this chapter will help a lot when it comes to my next speech. I will be able to reference what I learned in this chapter to help me structure my speech and decide what tone I should use.
This chapter explained the differences between different types of occasion speeches. The biggest takeaway was the differences between toasts and eulogies, and how to approach each of them. This is important because these are two possible topics of our next speech assignment. Toasts are often a tribute to someone to show appreciation, while eulogies are more often than not a speech to praise someone who has passed. While it is important to prepare for both of these speeches, they should clearly be approached in different ways. When giving a toast, it is important to be positive and highlight the traits of the person being honored. It may also be appropriate to use humor during a toast to entertain the audience, although the same cannot be said for a eulogy. A eulogy should guide the audience towards a sense of closure, as they are more likely grieving, but should also be positive so that there is a sense of control. Control is extremely important as a speaker because you don’t want to break down in front of the audience.
For me, one of the biggest things that stood out to me from this chapter was the idea that special occasion speeches have more than one real purpose or function, with them being to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire or set up some sort of social agenda. To be more specific, when you want to entertain in a special occasion speech, you want the message to be lighthearted, heartwarming and somewhat amusing. However, at the same time, the listeners might also expect some sort of insight into the topic you are talking about, and you would expect to hear these types of speeches at events such as banquets and roasts, where the whole ideal mood is for everyone to have fun and be entertained. On the other hand, when you want to celebrate a certain individual or even place, the listeners usually expect the speaker to praise their subject matter, as well as some sort of degree of ceremony, but it has to be intact with the norms of said occasion. You would most likely see these types of speeches at weddings, anniversary parties, award ceremonies and also retirement parties. Next, when you want to give a speech that commemorates an event or person, you want to ensure that the speech is about remembering and honoring the subject, almost like a tribute. When looking to inspire, you want to make sure that the speech enlightens or motivates the audience through heroic attributes and achievements. Finally, when giving a speech centered around a social agenda, listeners are expecting some sort of articulation and reinforcement of goals, as well as values of a group, so it is best to focus on certain goals one wants to meet. I believe that this whole area is the most important part of the book because it separates each type of speech, defines it, and most importantly, it gives certain examples of what you need to do to actually make the speech impactful and memorable in the field you are giving it. That is what I believe is the most important part.
My main takeaway from Chapter 25 about special occasion speaking is that speaking at a special occasion varies greatly depending on which special occasion you are speaking at. Although one thing that connects all of the different special occasions one could speak at is, humor. Everyone appreciates a little bit of humor to lighten the mood and have a little laugh. From toasts to public addresses to eulogy speeches, each one has a purpose, whether to commemorate, praise, or joke about someone, each speech is about balancing the purpose of the speech with the entertainment aspect of the speech to keep everyone engaged and enjoying your speech. In Chapter 25, we dive into the world of special occasion speeches, where being flexible and keeping the audience engaged are key. Whether you’re giving a toast, a public talk, or a eulogy, adding a bit of humor helps people connect and makes the moment more enjoyable. But there’s more to it than just being funny. First off, you’ve gotta do your homework. Whether it’s finding funny stories for a toast, highlighting achievements for a public talk, or remembering good times for a eulogy, having plenty of material makes your speech genuine and relatable. Next up, how you structure your speech matters. You want it to flow smoothly from start to finish, grabbing people’s attention and keeping it. That means organizing your ideas well and telling stories that keep everyone hooked. The language you use is also important. You’ve got to speak in a way that fits the occasion and connects with your audience. Whether it’s using fancy words for a formal event or keeping it casual for a laid-back gathering, your words should match the vibe. And let’s not forget about humor. A well-placed joke can break the ice and make people feel more comfortable. Finally, practice makes perfect. Rehearsing your speech in front of close friends or family helps you get comfortable with the material and iron out any kinks. Plus, it lets you see how people react, so you can tweak your delivery for maximum impact.
In chapter 25, the chapter talks about special occasion speeches. These kinds of speeches have five functions. Those functions are to entertain, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda. Special occasion speeches are prepared for a specific topic/purpose depending on the occasion. There are at least eight different types of special occasion speeches. Each one has different goals of what the writer/speaker is trying to convey. Which is also dependent on the situation the writer/speaker is in. One thing that I found interesting, is that among a couple of speeches they had something in common. In a couple of the speeches you want to make sure that you aren’t showboating. To make sure you are really focused on the important qualities that will grasp people’s attention and keep them interested.
Chapter 25 was explaining the importance and meaning of speaking at special occasions. There are different reasons for speaking; to entertain, to celebrate, to commemorate, to inspire, and to set social agendas. There are also different types of special occasion speeches. There’s one to introduce the person you’re talking to, one to accept something you’re being honored for, or one for when you’re presenting something. The chapter also talked about roasts and toasts, and how to succeed at both of them. A big takeaway for me from the chapter was the different goals of talking at special occasions. I wouldn’t necessarily say I didn’t “know” about the different goals, but it was nice to be reminded of them.
the key takeaways from the chapter 25:
1. Functions of Special Occasion Speeches: Special occasion speeches are tailored for specific events and serve purposes dictated by the occasion. They can include speeches of acceptance, eulogies, after-dinner speeches, and speeches of inspiration.
2. Preparing for Special Occasion Speeches: It is essential to prepare in advance for special occasion speeches. This includes identifying the speaker correctly, practicing pronunciations, verifying facts about the speaker, and expressing gratitude when delivering speeches of acceptance.
3. Delivering Effective Introductions: Introducing a speaker involves highlighting the speaker’s background, previewing the topic briefly, and asking the audience to welcome the speaker. It is important to keep introductions concise and engaging to build credibility and interest.
4. After-Dinner Speeches: After-dinner speeches are expected to be lighthearted and entertaining while also providing insights into the topic at hand. Connecting the speech with the occasion and setting a social agenda are crucial aspects of after-dinner speeches.
5. Eulogies and Speeches of Inspiration: Eulogies should focus on commemorating the life of the deceased rather than the circumstances of death. Speeches of inspiration aim to uplift the audience, appeal to emotions, use real-life stories, and end with a dramatic conclusion to motivate listeners.
6. Significance: Special occasion speeches play a vital role in honoring events, individuals, and milestones. They provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements, express gratitude, inspire audiences, and commemorate important moments. Effective delivery of special occasion speeches can leave a lasting impact on the audience and contribute to the overall success of the event.
In summary, Chapter 25 emphasizes the importance of tailoring speeches to specific occasions, preparing thoroughly, engaging the audience effectively, and delivering speeches that are memorable and impactful. It highlights the significance of recognizing the purpose of the speech, connecting with the audience emotionally, and leaving a lasting impression through thoughtful and well-crafted delivery.
Chapter 25 talks about the different types of speeches to give on special occasions. You can give one to introduce someone, to celebrate a person, place, or event. You can also give a speech at an award ceremony, to roast someone, or give a toast at something like a wedding. This also involves eulogies. In order to set yourself up for success, you must introduce yourself and the person you are speaking about. Then you have to share some things about this individual, for a roast they might not be nice things. You should also practice saying the person’s name beforehand. During a toast or roast, the speaker should be prepared to highlight traits of the person they are talking about, and be brief but positive. Speeches on inspirations are appealing to an audience’s emotions. They do this by making goals clear and sharing personal stories, and having a dramatic closing. The biggest takeaway for me personally while reading this chapter was that I want to someday give a toast to my dog, and after reading this I hope he appreciates it as much as the effort that I’m putting into it.
Contrary to the contents of chapter 25, I originally thought that there were only a few types of speeches such as eulogies and celebration speeches. I never really thought that teaching is a type of public speaking, and one that I really never thought about any sort of public speaking to be a form of entertainment but looking back on it, it makes so much more sense. I am genuinely surprised I never thought of this considering how much stand-up I used to watch. Anyways, my key takeaway was that you have to prepare a specific mindset for each speech that you give. A eulogy will be incredibly different than a speech written to entertain the audience. Nobody is expecting or really wanting somebody to be laughing at a funeral or the recent “state of the union” speech delivered just days ago. The vision of America would decrease dramatically, and we would become a horrible model and quite frankly the laughingstock of the world. So in summary, we must focus on the content and make sure to create the right space for those words. The speech that I am giving for speech three is not a particularly sad one. It is about my long-distance friend and how close we are. I did not expect it to be nearly this difficult. I would love this speech to be lighthearted and hopeful with a little sentimental feeling.