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Tribute Speech Assignment

This document provides instructions and guidelines for a tribute speech assignment. Students must give a 3 to 5 minute speech paying tribute to a person, group, institution, idea, place, or event. They must use descriptive language and emotional appeals to paint a picture for the audience. Five guidelines are provided for effective tributes, including establishing noble themes, using vivid examples, expressing feelings, creating a memorable image of the subject, and being genuine. An outline format is also included, and speeches will be evaluated based on various criteria such as language, delivery, and adapting to the audience.

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332 views

Tribute Speech Assignment

This document provides instructions and guidelines for a tribute speech assignment. Students must give a 3 to 5 minute speech paying tribute to a person, group, institution, idea, place, or event. They must use descriptive language and emotional appeals to paint a picture for the audience. Five guidelines are provided for effective tributes, including establishing noble themes, using vivid examples, expressing feelings, creating a memorable image of the subject, and being genuine. An outline format is also included, and speeches will be evaluated based on various criteria such as language, delivery, and adapting to the audience.

Uploaded by

Phi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tribute Speech Assignment

100 points

Purpose: This speech will focus particularly on using language imaginatively, strong delivery
techniques, appealing to your audience through ethos and pathos, and practicing with written outlines.

Time: 3-5 minutes. Speeches less than 3:00 and over 5:00 will be docked points. Please refer to time
deduction sheet.

Topic selection: You will pay tribute to a person, a group of people, an institution, an idea, a place, a
thing or an event to honor in this assignment. You can choose to be serious or funny. Review Ch.17.

o Sincerity is the key. Write your speech from the heart. It could be someone very close to you, or
someone or something you admire.

o Or, you could choose to be creative! Former students have paid tribute to the cell phone, toilet
paper, rain, and Krispy Kreme donuts!

Word choices and emotional appeal: Attention is to be given to the use of language. Language
should be expressive, colorful, elegant and clear. Give specific examples, tell vivid stories, use
language that expresses how you feel and explains how this person, thing, or event influences you
personally. Let the audience feel what you feel through language choices, vocals and body language.
Review Ch. 10 and 12.

No visual aids allowed: Paint a picture with descriptive words instead.

Outline required before speaking. It must be printed and typed. Follow the outline format included in
this packet.

Notes: If used, must be with key ideas as a guide for your delivery. Do not read your speech!
Tribute Speech Outline Format

Title
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter (Write out all of your opening remarks including the transition to
your preview statement. This will help you know exactly what you’ll say in your
intro.)

B. Preview Statement (ONE sentence that states the subject and your specific areas of
discussion).

II. Main Points


A. First Main Point (ONE sentence)*
1. Support 1 (ONE sentence)**
2. Support 2 (ONE sentence)
3. Support 3 (ONE sentence)
4. Support 4 (ONE sentence)

B. Second Main Point (ONE sentence)


1. Support 1 (ONE sentence)
2. Support 2 (ONE sentence)
3. Support 3 (ONE sentence)

C. Topic Sentence for Third Main Point (ONE sentence)


1. Support 1 (ONE sentence)
2. Support 2 (ONE sentence)
3. Support 3 (ONE sentence)
4. Support 4 (ONE sentence)

III. Conclusion (Write out all your closing remarks so you can get it mostly memorized—
and give some extra practice to this important piece of the speech.)
A. Summary of Points (Highlight your main ideas and reword your overall purpose,
activating audience response)

B. Closing Statement (Close with a statement that ends with impact and leaves us
with a final thought)

* Number of supports may vary, depending on what you use to develop your point.
** Use only ONE sentence per letter or number in the BODY. It should be a simple sentence with a
subject, verb, and object; example: My dad was our primary caregiver.
Five Guidelines for Tributes
Predominately quoted from Mastering Public Speaking by Grice and Skinner

1. Establish Noble Themes. Your tribute should answer the question, “Why is this person worthy of my
respect and praise?” Develop themes you want your audience to remember and focus on the positive.
Your job is to celebrate what is good about a person. Be careful not to exaggerate a person’s
accomplishments because that can seem insincere or unbelievable. Also take care not to turn your
speech into a biography or informative presentation about the person—this can make your talk drier and
less appealing. Here is an example from a tribute speech about Baseball’s Hall of Fame hero Ted
Williams:
“He was given many eloquent nicknames by his teammates and the news media: The Splendid
Splinter, The Kid, and Teddy Ballgame. All portray his amazing baseball talent, but all fail to
capture the values that directed his life. Ted Williams taught us a lesson in patriotism, a lesson in
perseverance, and a lesson in charity.”
Notice that this keeps the focus on noble themes that we can all relate to, rather than his
accomplishments as a player, which may not appeal to everyone in the audience.

2. Develop the themes of your speech with vivid examples. Anecdotes, stories, and personal testimony
are excellent ways of making your speech more vivid, humane, and memorable. Audiences may not
remember details of a list of accomplishments, but they will remember stories!

3. Express feelings with your word choices. This applies to speeches in the “real world,” especially, but
also brings appeal to your classroom tribute. Giving us a glimpse of the emotional connection you feel
toward your topic will allow us to feel it with you.

4. Create a memorable image of the honored person. Use the three ideas above (themes, vivid
examples, and expressive feelings) to paint a picture of your topic that we can share in and enjoy with
you. Your speech not only honors someone, but also helps audience members focus on that person’s
importance.

5. Be genuine. If you are ever asked to give a tribute speech about someone you do not know, you may
want to decline respectfully. The personal bond and interaction you develop in getting to know someone
well is essential for a speech of tribute. Make sure you can make a sincere tribute for the topic you
choose.
Tribute Speech Evaluation Form
100 pts

Speaker __________________________________________________

Topic ____________________________________________________

Rate the speaker on each point: E-excellent G-good A-average F-fair P-poor

Introduction gained attention E G A F P


Subject introduced clearly E G A F P
Main ideas easily followed E G A F P
Language clear E G A F P
Language vivid E G A F P
Topic dealt with creatively E G A F P
Speech adapted to audience E G A F P
Sufficient eye contact E G A F P
Voice used effectively E G A F P
Physical action effective E G A F P
General evaluation of the speech E G A F P

TIME (3-5 minutes) _______

POINT TOTAL _______

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