Public Speaking (Summer 2019)/Commemorative Topic

You need to select a subject to praise. Your people, organizations, or events. You want something that can be discussed stylistically in 5-7 minutes.

Please review the commemorative assignment description since this is an associated homework. Below are some topic area suggestions.

Option 1. Person

You can talk about a famous person, but you don’t have to. These speeches highlight how the person illustrates a core set of values, usually through lots of stories about the person and their impact. Award speeches, toasts, and eulogies typically focus most on praising the person. Samples: Victor Frankl, Winston Churchill, my grandfather, etc.

Option 2. Organization

You can talk about how an organization demonstrates a shared value. These are often like person-based speeches, but the subject isn’t a single group. The stories here often focus more on the organization’s positive impact. Award speeches and keynotes typically focus most on praising the organization and speaking to the reasons why members benefit by being a part of it. The concern here is staying focused on praising the organization instead of advocating for it. The two certainly blend together, but speak more to the values shared by current members instead of getting money from the pockets of potential members. Samples: UNICEF, the University of Sao Paulo, Goodweave (an anti-child labor organization).

Option 3. Event

Maybe you want to talk about an event. Commemoration speeches are there to mark the importance of an event. It can be something benign, the opening of boating season. It can be something deeply important, commemorating a memorial to tragedy victims. The issue is that the reason people are brought together is because of the event itself. Commemorative speeches and keynotes are often focused on the event. Samples: Speech at a Veterans Day ceremony, Free Comicbook Day, College graduation, etc.

Submission

In the box below please:

1. Identify the subject you will be praising.
2. Describe the subject in 2-5 sentences and the value(s) you are considering and how you might explore these values.
3. If this is a subject isn't a personal one (like a relative), link to some background/context.

Note: Your will draft up TWO potential commemorative topics. For each potential topic, you must address each of the sections above.

Sample

Potential topic #1

1. The Girl Scouts
2. I want to talk about the importance of the Girl Scouts in helping young girls develop their self-confidence. I have stories from my time in the Girl Scouts as well as some material from the Girl Scouts website. I plan on talking a bit about Michelle Obama who was a Girl Scout.
3. The main page page for the Girl Scouts USA is here: http://www.girlscouts.org/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Potential topic #2

1. The University of Washington
2. I want to talk about the the importance of the UW as a public institution committed to the education of the citizenry. I have some stories from UW founding and some quotations from business leaders. I want to talk about how UW helps individuals prepare for their jobs, but also for their civic responsibilities.