Preparing and Delivering a Special-Occasion Speech

The good news is the basic form of a special-occasion speech is much like that of any other speech. It has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The better news is that because it is geared to a special occasion, you already have a purpose and, often, special occasion speeches are brief. The challenge is to say what you need to say as clearly and effectively as possible. Here are some steps that can help with structuring a special occasion speech.

Research

Research your occasion, your topic, and any persons or groups who are attending or who you will be introducing or mentioning. Find some interesting information about the audience, event, or person that is related to the speech topic and purpose.

For example, let’s say you volunteer for an organization that provides food and medicine for people experiencing homelessness. At an upcoming event, one of the other volunteers, Cynthia, is being recognized for her years-long dedication to the organization. You are to hand the award to her in an award ceremony.

You can approach this small speech by interviewing the person as part of your research. You can ask Cynthia about how she got involved with this specific charity, and anything else she may do to support  this cause. What is extremely important to remember when interviewing Cynthia is to ask permission before using any personal information about her in anything you write or say in your speech. Along with interviewing Cynthia, you might want to research background information such as the history of the organization or statistics about homelessness in the area.

Know your Audience

Know your audience and decide what is appropriate based on age group and interest level. Several different groups may be present and you will want to connect with everyone; you will need to find the best angle to address their interests, catch their attention, and gain their support.

Consider Cynthia’s award ceremony again. You were told that you have fifteen minutes to speak and introduce the awardee. You’ve learned that some of the attendees have a connection to the organization, but many don’t know much about the work it does. So, you decide to include the following:

• A brief history of the organization
• Cynthia’s role in the organization
• The story of how Cynthia got involved in this organization
• How the community can become involved

Writing (and Rewriting) the Speech/Outline

For a special occasion speech, you can lay out the body of the speech in a way you find most comfortable. Be mindful of the timing (is it a five-, 15-, or 30-minute presentation?).

A typical special occasion speech will include the following components:

• A self-introduction. You can include a summary of your background and your connection to the event in two or three sentences.

• Speech Body, organized in an appropriate way. Use the research you collected; don’t forget to cite any sources you use. You can add any relevant examples or short stories that could build excitement in your speech.

• Appropriate Tone and Language. Create a tone in the speech using language and literary devices to be engaging and memorable.

• Conclusion. Conclude in a memorable way. In special-occasion speeches, you do not always need to summarize all the speech points. It will depend upon what you learn in your audience analysis. You will want to thank the audience for their time and attention and conclude with a memorable closing statement.

As usual, write your speech outline first. An outline gives you the idea and structural framework for your speech. Look through your research and decide where you plan to include information by making notes in your speech outline.  You can then create your speaking outline, the pared-down version of the speech outline – once you have the fuller speech.

Practice and More Practice

Especially because a special occasion speech can often be more varied in language and tone, it’s important to practice to hear your delivery and to make as sure as possible that your information is coming across as you intended. Also pay attention to your pacing of information, as you may need to shorten the speech to fit the allotted time.

Pay attention as well to your emphasis, especially if you are using rhetorical devices for emphasis.  For example, determine whether you want to emphasize repeated or parallel language, or whether you want to pause before or after a humorous anecdote.

For example, with your speech presenting the award to Cynthia, you might want to emphasize statistics about homelessness quickly and verbally at the start.  Then your tone and pace might change when you move to talking about the organization’s accomplishments and the importance of Cynthia’s role within it. You might provide a brief, appropriate, and slightly humorous story about Cynthia that shows her character and commitment. You conclude by thanking Cynthia for her hard work and the audience for being there. You finish by handing the award to her. Cynthia is moved by your speech and thanks you for such an inspiring introduction. During the reception, many approach you stating what a great speech you gave. They give you feedback that your eye contact was great, or your words were well emphasized. You can walk away knowing that you did all the preparation necessary to deliver this successful speech.

If you need some help creating your speech for a specific event, ask a friend or colleague who is familiar with or attending the occasion to work with you. Talk with them about your ideas, pose questions, and practice speaking with language that speaks to your audience and makes you, your speech, and the event sparkle.