Speech options
Over the weekend, you attended a co-worker’s birthday party. During the birthday celebration, your co-worker delivered the speech below. Which aspect of the speech most appealed to you? Provide an explanation for your choice.
- Option A: Introduction and conclusion
- Option B: Use of direct quotes
I would like to first start by thanking my family, friends, and colleagues who have honored me with your presence today. Over the years, I have learned that there is not a specific formula for a long and prosperous life. However, I will share a few of the principles I live by and have found valuable.
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston S. Churchill
“To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be gritty is to invest, day after week after year, in challenging practice. To be gritty is to fall down seven times, and rise eight.” Angela Lee Duckworth
“Always be nice to the people you meet on your way up in life as you may meet them again on the way down.” Jimmy Durante
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” Yogi Berra
I hope these words of wisdom help you create lives filled with peace, love, and joy. Thank you all for coming to celebrate my special day, and I look forward to our next celebration!
Answer preview
A speech is a powerful tool of communication. Speakers, therefore, have to establish unique ways to engage with their audience and also to make their speech appealing. A speaker could make his/her speech appealing by considering several approaches such as creating a nice opening that would grab the attention of the audience. Still, the speaker could develop good content that would impact the audience. With that in mind, what I found appealing in my coworker’s speech is the use of direct quotes.
I found the quotes appealing because they reinforced the speaker’s principles and boosting the credibility of the speech…
(300 words)