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Helpful links: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Special Occasion Speech Evaluation Form & Checklist Student Name: Instructor Name: Megan Pederson Date of Speech: Due date of self-evaluation: Type of Special Occasion Speech: Your self-evaluation needs to address the following questions in depth. This document should be double-spaced, Times New Roman size 12 font. The questions should be in bold, but your responses should be in regular, not bolded font. 1. Why did you choose the type of Special Occasion Speech that you chose?

2. Did you use notes/notecards/outline, etc?

3. What was your attention getter? Did you use any listener relevance cues? Did you state your speaker credibility?

4. Did you have a strong introduction and conclusion? Did they align? (For example, did you have a theme for both?) Did you adequately develop ideas in the introduction and effectively summarize them in the conclusion? 5. Were you transitions smooth and coherent?

6. Did you use any logos, pathos, or ethos? Was emotion prevalent throughout your speech? Did you choose to use any imagery or props?

7. Did you make a direct connection to the audience?

8. Did you do justice to the person, place, or thing under consideration?

9. If you could re-do this speech – would you change anything? Were there any blunders or mishaps? If so, how did you handle them?

10. From your very first speech in this class until now – do you think that you have improved? If so, in what ways?

Paper For Above instruction

The special occasion speech is a distinct category of public speaking aimed at celebrating, honoring, or marking a significant event or individual. Choosing and delivering an effective special occasion speech requires careful consideration of the occasion's nature, the audience's expectations, and the message's purpose. This essay reflects on a recent special occasion speech I delivered, analyzing my choices, delivery methods, and the lessons learned to enhance future performances.

Firstly, I selected a eulogy as the type of special occasion speech because I wanted to pay a heartfelt tribute to a dearly departed family member. The emotional significance of honoring someone who had a profound impact on my life motivated my choice. I believed that a eulogy provided an avenue to express personal sentiments while offering comfort to the grieving audience. The purpose was to celebrate the individual's life and achievements, sharing memorable stories that encapsulated my loved one’s personality and legacy. This choice aligned with the occasion's solemn yet celebratory tone, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and reflection.

In preparing for the speech, I utilized notes and an outline rather than reading verbatim from a script. This approach helped me maintain eye contact and engage more naturally with the audience. My attention getter was a poignant quote about life and remembrance, which immediately drew the audience's focus and set an empathetic tone. I also incorporated listener relevance cues by addressing shared experiences and emphasizing the collective mourning and celebration. I made sure to articulate my credibility by sharing my connection to the deceased, thereby establishing authenticity and emotional resonance.

The introduction was crafted to be compelling, beginning with the quote and a brief personal anecdote, while the conclusion summarized the key attributes and contributions of my loved one, leaving the audience with a sense of closure and inspiration. Both sections had a unifying theme — honoring a life well-lived — which provided coherence. I paid close attention to transitions, ensuring they flowed smoothly from one idea to the next, using phrases like “moving forward,” and “in remembrance of,” which facilitated coherence and maintained engagement.

Throughout my speech, I deliberately employed ethos by sharing my personal connection, logos through recounting specific achievements and qualities, and pathos by evoking emotional responses with heartfelt stories and expressive language. Emotion was prevalent as I aimed to connect genuinely with the audience's feelings of loss and respect. I also incorporated imagery, by describing memorable moments vividly, and used props sparingly, perhaps a photograph or memento to symbolize memories, which helped deepen the emotional impact.

Engaging the audience was crucial; I made eye contact, addressed their shared grief, and acknowledged their participation in this collective tribute. The speech aimed to do justice to the person's memory by highlighting their virtues and contributions meaningfully and respectfully. If I were to re-do the speech, I might practice my delivery further to reduce any pauses or hesitations, ensuring a more seamless flow. A minor mishap occurred when I momentarily lost my place in my notes, but I managed by pausing briefly and continuing with composure, turning the mishap into a display of calmness.

Reflecting on my growth since my initial speech, I believe I have significantly improved in areas such as emotional delivery, use of gestures, and structuring my content cohesively. I have become more attuned to my audience's responses and more confident in expressing genuine emotion. Overall, this experience reinforced the importance of sincerity, preparation, and audience connection in making a memorable special occasion speech.

References

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• Seate, R. (2018). Speech Communication: Linking College and Career. Cengage Learning.
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• Lucas, S. E. (2017). The Art of Public Speaking (11th Edition). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Harwood, T., & Brown, J. (2019). Public Speaking and Communication. Routledge.
• McCroskey, J. C., & McCroskey, L. L. (2001). Communication Ethics and Theory. Pearson.
• O'Hair, D., Stewart, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2015). A Speaker's Guidebook. Bedford/St. Martin's.