What to write in a graduation speech
How To Write And Deliver A Great Graduation Speech
if you've accepted an invitation to make
a graduation speech you're definitely
taking on a tough task because as
speeches go the graduation speech is
probably second only to the eulogy as a
challenge for non professional speakers
here's why let's be honest the graduates
are eager to get through the ceremony
and start the parties
family and friends of the graduates are
often packed into an auditorium or even
a gym where the seats and the climate
may not be so comfortable they don't
want to hang around very long either so
considering this how do you write and
deliver a graduation speech they'll be
glad they heard here are some tips
really make an effort to keep it short
graduation audiences really start
getting restless in about the 15 minute
mark and then they get downright
resentful if you hit 20 make sure you
know your audience what are their
interests and values look for subject
matter that will appeal to them write
your thoughts down on small sheets of
paper or index cards to take up to the
stage with you stack them edit them
organize them into an outline craft a
message or use a theme what do you know
through experience or education that the
graduates don't what a lesson have you
learned that will be instructive and
valuable to them use anecdotes and
stories to illustrate your points
personal stories are best if you have
good ones but stories you've heard about
other people will work well too if
they're relevant and interesting oh by
the way did I mention keep it short
be really careful trying to use humor
very few speakers are good at it
so avoid inserting jokes in your
graduation speech just to try to get a
laugh very often it doesn't work and
sometimes it could even damage your
credibility
speaking of damaging your credibility
watch out for superlatives they get old
pretty fast if you keep using them over
and over again take it easy on words
like the best the greatest the most etc
avoid cliches try to find an interesting
way to say something that the audience
hasn't heard a million times before use
relevant quotations since the Internet
has come along it's not hard to find
them oh and let's see don't forget keep
it short practicing your speech in
advance of course can make a big
difference you can practice in front of
a mirror
talking to a digital or tape recorder or
best of all use a video recorder if
you're using audio or video tape be sure
to go back and critique yourself if
there's time you may want to record your
entire graduation speech burn it onto a
CD and listen to it over and over in
your car this is especially helpful if
you have to do a long commute every day
test all your stories anecdotes or any
attempts at humor on your friends family
or coworkers gauge their reaction to
what you say and definitely stress to
them that they should be brutally honest
time your speech don't just guess edit
as necessary and as I've said how many
times before keep it short
now let's take a minute to talk about
some technical issues you should
definitely Scout the setting make sure
you check out the sound system and the
lighting so you know what to expect now
there was one instance where I had a
bright light shining in my eyes a
spotlight actually during my
presentation the light was so bright I
had trouble adjusting my eyes as I
shifted my gaze from the audience down
to the outline that my speech was
written on you don't want last-minute
surprises like that generally speaking
you're not going to want to use audio or
visual aids in a graduation speech but
if you decide they're an important part
of your presentation make sure you know
that everything is working and that all
your information is in order
keep in mind the more technical elements
you have to control in a presentation
the more likely something is going to go
wrong one of the things you'll have to
decide is whether you want to read your
speech word-for-word from a script so to
speak or ad-lib from an outline this is
definitely a personal choice but in
either case use large-type
and leave plenty of white space on your
script or index cards whitespace helps
keep you from losing your place and
definitely number your pages or cards
one final thought on graduation speeches
despite its challenges it's not
impossible to write and deliver a
memorable relevant interesting and even
entertaining graduation speech and if
you're looking for a one-stop website
where you can find everything you need
click on the first link below the videos
it will take you to Tom antion's
homepage Tom is one of the most
accomplished and highest-paid
professional speakers in the world his
website is a treasure trove for anyone
who wants to become a better public
speaker and I highly recommend you sign
up for Tom's free weekly public speaking
tips newsletter you'll see a sign-up
screen that looks like this when you go
to his homepage you should also browse
his speaker shop by clicking on the
speakers tools link on the lower left
side of his homepage the speaker shop
contains dozens of inexpensive but
information-packed books e-books audio
and video programs Tom CD course on how
to use humor in your speeches is the
best I've ever heard again to go to Tom
antion's homepage just click on the
first link below this video screen
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