How to write a graduation speech with examples

How to write a graduation speech with examples

A graduation is a ceremonious event marked with jubilation and excitement. It is a time to reflect past the sleepless nights and occasional breakdowns as you focus on academic achievements, constant support received from family, friends, and relatives. A graduation speech alternatively called a commencement address is commonly delivered by overachievers or faculty members addressing the graduating class. Writing a graduation speech is involving for most parts considering the volume of its content. As such, learning how to write a graduation speech is helpful. It will make sure you capture every detail that will show the required levels of appreciation, creatively unveil the accomplishments, and positively challenge every member in attendance.

how to write a graduation speech
how to write a speech
graduation speeches

Graduation speeches should uphold the required standards of beauty and composition to make them memorable. A graduation speech is as good as the atmosphere it leaves in the air when delivering.

READ ALSO: How to write a speech

Tips for writing a good graduation speech

Composing an impactful speech is nothing more than aligning your writing with our proven and well-established patterns. Here are simple tips on how to write a speech for graduation regardless of prospective graduates’ level of study.

1. Brainstorming ideas

The step entails thinking through the key message you intend to share in the speech. Brainstorming marks the start of a great graduation speech and circles around experiences gained in the course of study be it in high school, college or else. It is always advisable to capture details concerning essential lessons learned as well as relevant success stories.

Besides schooling experiences, it is crucial to consider details on career prospects and common challenges in the upcoming phases of life. Linking previous experiences as a preparation to tackle future problems is desirable. Don’t cut yourself down of the volume of ideas generated during brainstorming, as such will equip you with a proper foundation to overwhelm your audience. Great ideas build up in our minds when we least expect, carrying a notebook will help harness inspirational ideas whenever they come up. Set aside and engage multiple brainstorming sessions to tap as many inspiring ideas as possible.

2. Identify a theme

A graduation ceremony surrounds with a bunch of cool ideas but settling on a theme to shape a coherent speech takes up some skills. Selecting a theme is a tactic employed by fluent speechwriters to come up with a complete copy. A central theme is preferable because it establishes a benchmark upon which to unify different idea to avoid rambling on several topics. A central theme also renders the speech memorable and favorite to the audience. Some of the common themes for graduation speeches include the following;

  • Following your dreams
  • Serving others
  • Believing in yourself
  • How failure is vital for success
  • Being creative
  • The power of hard work and perseverance

After choosing a proper theme, proceed to filter various ideas developed during the brainstorming session to ascertain their relevance.

3. Come up with the Basic Structure of the Speech

The basic structure of the speech entails organizing various elements supporting the theme of the speech. Here is how to collect these elements to come up with a great speech.

  • Captivate the listeners with an interesting fact or a joke pertinent to the occasion.
  • Illustrate the theme you intend to share with a creative story. The story should start with a hardship you encountered, followed by a brief on how you managed to overcome the lessons learned after that. Sharing how the experience influenced your journey and perceptions about the theme is a plus.
  • Tie all your points together at the conclusion to allow your audience to relate to your experiences.
how to write a speech for graduation 
writing a high school graduation speech
tips to writing a good graduation speech

4. Preparation for speech delivery

Some people find it easier to write a speech but find it intimidating to deliver it. Also, it is possible you are planning to deliver the speech for the first time. Anyways, it is a good choice to set aside enough practice time. Some of the techniques used by high ranking public speakers to realize success at this step include;

i. Memorizing the speech

Memorizing the speech is beneficial to help you emphasize personalizing the speech. Many speech writing guidelines find this a noble thing to do to avoid making your speech boring and unrealistic.

ii. Keeping the speech about 15 minutes long

The duration of a graduation speech varies depending on the school and level of study. It is, however, preferable to keep the speech as short as possible to make up for its main purpose.

iii. Compose your speech

Delivering a graduation speech at a fast rate suggests nervousness and may betray the authenticity of your well-reasoned thoughts. Slow down your speed to help focus and emphasize on the main points.

iv. Speak passionately

Speaking with passion and feeling help overcome monotone voice introducing rhythm and style to your speech.

v. Pause when necessary

When whenever you provoke or jog the mind of the audience, this is especially crucial to allow listeners to engage with your opinions and ideas.

vi. Keep eye contact

Keep your audience engaged by focusing your sight on them as keeping eye contact serves better.

vii. Get over the mistakes you make

It is common to make a mistake or two, and that should not stop you from proceeding. Get the line correct and move forward.

viii. Overcome nervousness

Practice helps overcome nervousness by boosting your confidence levels. Proper practice will get you over the jittery feelings to let you deliver a great speech.

how to write a speech for graduation 
writing a high school graduation speech
tips to writing a good graduation speech

When writing a high school graduation speech or a college graduation speech, it is appropriate to recognize people who have relentlessly helped you in your academic journey. The general tone of the speech should remain enthusiastic in celebration of the accomplishments. Seek for feedback ahead of the delivery day by presenting the speech ahead of friends and family members. Having fun should stand out as the central goal of a graduation speech keeping all the serious faces back in class. Learning how to write a speech should not be hard given our elaborate guide and a series of others that are now accessible. A graduation speech takes after standard speech writing formats commonly used for other related academic occasions.

READ ALSO: How to write articles in few easy steps

Receiving the honor to deliver a speech presents one as the voice of the graduation class. This opportunity comes with the responsibility of an equal measure to give a meaningful and memorable address to the parents, peers, lecturers and other stakeholders. It is not easy to achieve a good reading graduation speech without enduring long nights and crumpled papers. Figuring out what to include or exclude from a commencement speech is equally challenging. Use our guidelines and template to come up with a typical graduation speech.

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Source: Tuko News

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