Student Speeches
Submissions for the Senior Class Address will be accepted from participating graduates. Two speeches will be selected.
The speech should be three to five minutes long, must be the student’s original work, and should reflect how being homeschooled through high school has impacted his/her life or helped shape who he/she is. The speech should offer your fellow graduates inspiration and encouragement, and the focus should not be exclusively personal. Speeches will be judged on content, structure, and overall effectiveness.
The deadline for submitting a speech is February 15th.
Suggestions for an Effective Speech
You are writing a 3-5 minute speech. You will be speaking before well over 1,000 people, most of whom are relatives and friends of fellow graduates.
Content
What you choose to write about will be the most important decision because it will affect every aspect of your speech. Consider first your audience. Take into consideration the parents in the audience who have sacrificed greatly to reach this point with their children. Be sure to recognize their efforts and thank them on behalf of all the graduates.
Let your original voice and experience shine! Don’t rely on cliches. This is a reflective point in your life and in the lives of your fellow graduates. What have you learned about life? Is there a historical event that helps you put life in perspective? Did a public figure inspire you? Do you have a favorite quote? Feel free to share something about the centrality of your faith to your future goals and direction, but keep in mind there will be a diverse audience with varying views.
Humor is often an effective way to connect with your audience. Find a way to lighten the moment with a funny observation if you wish, or a transparent moment. This doesn’t mean you have to search joke books, but as you have others read your speech, ask them where you could add some lighthearted words to put others at ease (and yourself at the same time!). Make sure any jokes or funny anecdotes are relevant to the central theme of your speech.
Delivery
Memorize your speech, but there will be a printed copy of your speech available in the lectern.
Use gestures where they are natural to do so. Be sure to make eye contact with different sections of the audience, rather than focusing your attention in one spot the entire time. Keep in mind you are trying to connect with your audience in a meaningful way. Don’t forget to smile occasionally!
Judging Criteria
Speech submissions will be judged by a committee of volunteers in the following areas:
- Speech Development
Structured around purpose, organization (opening, body, and conclusion), support material, immediately engages audience, relevant examples, unified whole - Effectiveness
Achievement of purpose, thanks parents, holds interest - Speech Value
Important ideas, logic, original and meaningful thought - Appropriateness
Choice of words; relevant humor or personal anecdotes; fits the occasion; states how homeschooling impacted or helped shape student; avoids disparaging other faiths, political affiliations, and education choices - Correctness
Grammar, sentence structure, word selection