Guidelines for Special Occasion Speech--Speech of Tribute
Time limit is 3-5 minutes

1.  Be sure you have read ch. 18, preferably more than once.

2.  Your assignment is to give a speech in tribute to a public figure, someone you admire, someone who has made important contributions.  You will be celebrating that person's accomplishment and/or contributions.  This is not a biography, not a listing of events in your subject's life, although you should certainly give us enough basic information so we can get a sense of who the person is or was.  Your subject may be living or dead, famous or obscure.  It should not be anyone you know or are related to.

3.  Please do not choose Elvis, John Wayne, Oprah, or Dale Earnhart--I've just heard them too many times.  I have heard excellent speeches on world leaders, athletes, scientists, foresters, innovators, writers, and even cartoon characters (your speech doesn't necessarily have to be serious).

4.  Any special occasion speech should
             appeal to emotions
             suit the mood of the occasion
             adapt to audience expectations and evoke shared values
             respect time constraints

5.  Once you have a topic in mind, re-read ch. 18, this time applying the advice in the chapter to your specific topic.

6.  There is no specific number of sources you should use.  As always you will not copy other writers' work.  Your manuscript will be your original work.  You will probably not be citing sources unless you have a direct quotation.  You will, however, list your sources at the end of the manuscript you will submit.

7.  We would expect to see a picture of your subject: a photograph, painting, illustration, etc.  Finding one or more appropriate images should not be difficult.

8.  You are required to turn in to me a manuscript--not outline--of your speech on the day you present your speech, as well as submitting it to Turnintin.  For samples of special occasion speech manuscripts, see pp 620-631.  The speech on Rosa Parks, 628-630, is particularly relevant.  (Be sure to include a bibliography, even though you will not see any in these samples.)