In this activity, you will write a formal speech.
Remember to use ALL THREE rhetorical appeals:
Ethos: An appeal to credibility (why should the audience believe YOU about risk-taking?)
Logos: An appeal to logic. Prove your point using facts, statistics, or cause/effect.
Pathos: An appeal to emotion. Connect these facts and your own experience to emotions your audience shares--the desire to succeed, be happy, etc.
Reminder: The introduction and topic sentences have been provided already.
Your first body paragraph will explain a risk you took where the outcome was positive. Your 2nd body paragraph will be an example of believing in yourself. Your conclusion will restate your thesis and summarize your main points, and make an appeal to the audience’s emotions.
Please turn in your speech using MLA format.
Review the rubric before turning the assignment in.
You may be wondering WHY you are writing a commencement speech in English 9. This is a good opportunity for you to visualize your graduation and what you would like to say to your peers.
What if you haven’t taken many risks? Risks don't have to be jumping out of a plane. Everyone takes risks, every day, when they get out of bed or order a new type of sandwich or voice their opinion.
As you are writing, be sure to consider your audience. They need to know you are trustworthy. Be sure to provide evidence to justify your views. Also, consider the diverse perspectives that might be in the crowd. How can you read an audience member that might not have your exact life situation?
Introduction:
Good evening graduating class of _______. Tonight I will be delivering the commencement speech and the message I hope you all hear is the importance of taking risks while believing in yourself.
1st body paragraph (consider focusing on LOGOS here--make the connection between risk-taking and the benefits of risk-taking obvious and logically connected):
Topic sentence: The first lesson I have to share is the importance of taking risks.
Concrete detail (personal example):
Commentary (opinion or explanation):
Commentary (opinion or explanation):
Concluding sentence (restate the main idea):
2nd body paragraph (consider focusing on ETHOS here. Why should the listener believe YOU about this? Prove to us with evidence from your own life that YOU are an example of the power of self-belief):
Topic sentence: The second lesson I’d like to share is the power you hold once you truly believe in yourself.
Concrete detail (personal example):
Commentary (opinion or explanation):
Commentary (opinion or explanation):
Concluding sentence (restate the main idea):
Conclusion:
Restate the thesis in different words:
Review body paragraph 1:
Review body paragraph 2:
Clincher (Appeal to the listener’s emotions here with a memorable statement linking your experiences/speech to your listener’s life):
Review the Formal Speech Rubric below to see how you will be graded:
