The Graduation Speech

While there is no getting around insufferable political speeches from local dignitaries at a graduation ceremony, student speeches are different. They are from the heart and read with passion by people for whom the ceremony is deeply moving. Today graduation speeches are recorded and posted online for posterity and for all time. This is very likely the first big speech in a student’s lifetime and so although an impromptu speech may be as good as a rehearsed one, there are a few tips about rhetoric that will help every speaker take their OK speech and make it memorable.

A great speech is provocative, emotive, eloquent, profound and timeless. Not much to ask! What that means specifically is that a well written speech will not bore the audience with details about the year and how getting involved is the most important part of school life, blah, blah, blah. A great speech captures audience attention by bringing into focus aspects of education and graduation that are highly charged. Ideally this charge has timeless relevance and will be as moving today as it will be in 50 years. A subtly argumentative speech will hold audience attention.

Sincerity is what raises a great speech to its full height. Sharing sentiments that are genuine and personal with conviction will captivate an audience. Listeners will be inspired to hear more and sympathize with the speaker’s viewpoint, even if they do not agree. Cleverly incorporated anecdotes will create a greater sense of association with the speaker’s ideas. Great speeches are personal speeches in which the experiences and values of the speaker are used to enlighten the audience. From this a common vision is nurtured and shared.

Therefore the best advice for those who have been chosen to speak on behalf of themselves and their peers is sincerity. To create and retain sincerity, start jotting uncensored notes now in preparation. As the big day nears take these ideas and sew them together in a logical form but still do not censor your writing. Edit for spelling, grammar and syntax by all means but do not remove the passion from your speech through censorship. A couple of days before speech day read through your speech again (out loud) and if some of the sentiment just doesn’t fit, remove it, but attempt to leave in all of the great rhetoric of your uncensored emotions.