Write and Deliver a High School Graduation Speech

Do you want to give that captivating graduation speech that makes you well respected among your classmates? Do you want to leave that final mark on teachers and parents before you head off to college? Well then, please feel free to read on.

Steps

  1. Unless you are a very good public speaker, it is absolutely necessary that you write your speech and make an outline. Writing the speech allows you to put down on paper the types of words, phrases, and transitions that you want to use. The outline is used to remember your thoughts when you actually give your speech. You do not want to read your written speech word for word.
  2. There is no one way of writing a speech. However, you want to make sure that you have an engaging introduction, organized thoughts, and a strong conclusion. If you don't know how to start or what to say, just start writing.You don't have to go anywhere in your writing, but just let your thoughts run out on paper and see where it gets you.
  3. In the case of a high school graduation speech, it is absolutely important that your speech embodies these two principles: 1) it should be inclusive of your peers and audience (use "we", not "I"), and , 2) it should talk about the good times and not the bad. There should be nothing negative in the speech.
    • If you have to criticize something try it with a nice joke or memory about it.
  4. Practice, practice, practice! Practice your speech many times in front of the mirror. To break your nervousness, keep telling yourself: "I can deliver this speech, and I can deliver it ultra sweet!" Also, integrating hand motions in your speech can loosen you up and also help eat at nervousness, but don't overdo it. It looks unnatural and exaggerated then.
  5. Before your graduation ceremony, do a trial run of your speech wearing your graduation cap and gown. Pretend as if all of your peers are sitting in front of you.
  6. Go to graduation with a happy countenance. Have your outline and then deliver your speech. Contrary to popular opinion, look at your peers/parents when talking to them, as opposed to looking beyond them. Realize that although you never got along with most of these people in high school, they are the peers and members of your senior class. Look at them and give them a speech that expresses all your heart and feeling for the good times at school and a hope for a better future.

Tips

  • Remember to practice your speech!
  • Identify your audience. Mostly kids? Parents? Strangers? Think about who you're talking to as you write.
  • Consulting with your high school drama and English teachers may prove useful in creating a popping speech.
  • A good hand motion to use when talking is to spread your arms and swoop them back towards the middle of your chest; this gives the effect that you are including all of your peers into one united senior class.
  • Involve your audience by asking questions or making requests.

Warnings

  • Unless your school requires you to submit a written speech and to stick to the words of your speech, DO NOT read directly from your written, prepared speech, as you could sound dull. It is better to use an outline and practice your speech beforehand. To reiterate, the only purpose of the written speech is to give a structure to your speech by putting down the approximations of the words and phrases you will use during your speech, but the exact wording of your speech will change each time you practice the speech.
  • Make sure that you have a good night's sleep and you go to the bathroom beforehand.
  • Be comfortable with yourself.
  • Do NOT make pranks when giving your speech, unless your administrators have approved you doing so.
  • Do NOT say anything controversial in your speech. Do not insult, criticize, or slander in your speech. Don't talk bad about the principal or anyone else. If you criticize something, stultify it. Let the audience laugh about it and tell them a funny memory. Nobody will recognize that you criticized something when they laugh.

Things You'll Need

  • Pen
  • Paper
  • a Mirror/blank wall
  • preferably a drama or English teacher to look at your speech

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