definition of a roast speech

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How to Give a Roast

Are you tasked with the honor of roasting a friend or colleague and unsure where to start? The art of roasting someone, while maintaining respect, is a skill that many desire but few master.

This guide unpacks the secrets to crafting an unforgettable roast, from understanding your audience and creating humor without crossing boundaries to dealing with potential hiccups along the way.

Dive in and discover how to command laughter, entertain your crowd, and leave them wanting more!

Key Takeaways

Understand the art of roasting: A roast is a speech that humorously honors someone while playfully teasing their quirks and accomplishments. It is important to maintain a respectful tone and strike a balance between humor and genuine admiration.
Gather material that is both humorous and respectful: When crafting a roast speech, gather funny stories, embarrassing moments, or endearing quirks about the person being roasted. Avoid derogatory comments or insults, and focus on light-hearted teasing and playful jabs.
Deliver with humor and respect: Set the right tone and delivery style by adopting an informal approach, incorporating witty anecdotes, jokes, and punchlines. Remember to avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone present.
End on a positive note: To leave a lasting impression, end your roast speech with a positive remark that shows appreciation for the individual being honored.

Understanding the Art of Roasting

A roast is a speech that humorously honors someone, highlighting their quirks and accomplishments while poking fun at them in a lighthearted manner.

What is a roast?

A roast, in essence, is a unique form of public address that straddles the line between tribute and teasing. It’s an opportunity to honor someone – perhaps a close friend or colleague – with humor and good-natured ribbing making it different from conventional speeches.

The art of roasting lies not just in delivering clever jibes but also in celebrating the individual’s quirks and achievements. This playful blend of jesting alongside genuine admiration guides the composition of your speech into something memorable and entertaining for all present at the occasion.

In this context, your role as a speaker is akin to a coffee roaster; like how mastering coffee roasting involves understanding bean characteristics and roasting process effects on flavor profiles, giving a successful roast speech requires knowing your subject well enough to strike that balance between humorous anecdotes and respectful tributes.

The purpose and tone of a roast

The art of roasting is an entertaining display that serves a dual purpose of humor and tribute. This form of comedy offers light-hearted jabs at a close friend or colleague to commend their qualities through laughter.

In essence, it makes fun out of admiration while maintaining respect for the individual being roasted.

The tone sets the atmosphere for a roast, usually adorned with wit and playfulness. It’s essential to remember that while roasts might be rib-tickling funny, they are not designed to offend or ridicule unfairly.

Therefore, balance is key – combining humor with genuine affection creates an engaging ambiance where everyone enjoys the event without crossing any sensitive boundaries. Roasts should always drive towards an aroma of fun and amusement rather than discomfort or harm.

Different types of roast

Roasting is a versatile comedic art with various styles to suit every occasion and personality. A light roast, much like its coffee counterpart, tends to be lighter in content, teasing surface traits without delving too deep into personal matters.

This roast type suits public speakers looking for humor with minimal embarrassment – imagine a gentle ribbing among friends rather than an all-out comedy assault! On the other hand, medium roasts balance between humorous jabs and genuine compliments – they are the equivalent of our ‘medium-dark’ coffee where acidity gets lower but more body develops in flavor profiles.

Shifting towards darker territory, we find savage roasts that leave no stone unturned. Sharp-tongued comedians often execute these with masterful precision and quick comebacks for anyone brave enough to interject during their set.

Despite this fiery execution though, even the most powerful shots fired should be underpinned by respect for the person being roasted.

When delivering smart roast speeches or tributes filled with roast jokes at non-celebrity events especially, it’s crucial not just knowing how to give a humorous tribute but also understanding these different types of roast s and identifying which style best fits your target audience.

The perfect blend of humor and respect can help create an unforgettable roast; let’s call it brewing the perfect cup from perfectly roasted beans!

Crafting a Memorable Roast Speech

Craft a roast speech that is both humorous and respectful by gathering material and anecdotes about the individual being roasted.

Know your audience and the individual being roasted

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with understanding your audience and the individual being roasted. This is crucial because knowing who you are speaking to allows you to tailor your jokes and anecdotes to their tastes and preferences.

It’s important to gauge their sense of humor, whether they appreciate lighthearted banter or more playful teasing. Equally significant is recognizing the unique qualities and quirks of the person being honored.

By incorporating inside jokes or stories that resonate with them, it ensures a heartfelt connection with both the roastee and the audience. Ultimately, a well-crafted roast speech requires careful consideration of your audience’s sensibilities and an appreciation for what makes the honoree so special.

Gather material and anecdotes that are both humorous and respectful

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with gathering material and anecdotes that strike the perfect balance between humor and respect. Start by brainstorming funny stories, embarrassing moments, or endearing quirks about the individual being roasted.

Look for humorous moments that are relatable to the audience but won’t cross any sensitive boundaries. Additionally, take into consideration their personality and preferences to ensure your jokes land well.

While it’s important to inject humor into your speech, always remember to maintain a respectful tone. Avoid derogatory comments or insults that may offend anyone present. Instead, focus on light-hearted teasing and playful jabs that will be appreciated by all.

Create a cohesive outline that flows well

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with creating a cohesive outline that flows seamlessly from one joke to the next. Think of it as building a roadmap for your comedic journey. Begin by organizing your material in a logical order , ensuring that each anecdote or punchline smoothly transitions into the next.

This will help maintain the audience’s attention and keep them engaged throughout your speech. Incorporate sentence structure variety and use humorously unexpected segues to add an element of surprise to your delivery.

Remember, a well-structured outline sets the stage for an unforgettable roast performance, leaving everyone laughing and applauding for more.

Set the right tone and delivery style

Crafting a memorable roast speech requires setting the right tone and delivery style. To engage your audience, it’s essential to adopt a conversational and informal approach. Avoid sounding rehearsed or stiff by using impromptu speaking skills that make your speech feel natural and spontaneous.

Incorporate humor with witty anecdotes, jokes, and punch lines that create laughter without crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone. Strike a balance between good-natured teasing and genuine compliments to keep the atmosphere light-hearted yet respectful.

By adopting an engaging delivery style, you can ensure your roast speech is entertaining and memorable for both the individual being roasted and the audience.

Delivering a Successful Roast

Start your roast with a captivating opening that grabs the attention of your audience and sets the tone for an entertaining speech .

Start with a captivating opening that grabs attention

One of the key elements to delivering a successful roast speech is starting with a captivating opening that grabs attention. As a public speaker, you understand the importance of capturing your audience’s interest from the very beginning.

The same principle applies when giving a roast. To do this, consider using a witty one-liner or an amusing anecdote related to the person being roasted. By starting off on a humorous note, you immediately engage your listeners and set the tone for what is to come.

For example, imagine opening your roast speech with something like this: “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we gather here to celebrate John’s birthday. Now, I’ve known John for many years..and after all those years, he still hasn’t realized his true calling as a clown! But hey, at least he makes us laugh unintentionally.” This playful jab not only grabs attention but also introduces the humor that will be infused throughout your speech.

Remember that while it’s important to grab attention with your opening line, make sure it stays within respectful boundaries and doesn’t offend anyone in attendance. Keep in mind that roasts are meant to honor and playfully tease someone rather than humiliate them.

Incorporate humor and wit throughout the speech

Crafting a successful roast speech requires the ability to incorporate humor and wit throughout your delivery. A well-executed roast combines comedic banter, witty remarks, and humorous anecdotes to keep the audience entertained and engaged.

The key is to strike a balance between playful teasing and genuine praise, ensuring that your jokes are lighthearted and fun rather than mean-spirited. By infusing your speech with raw humor and emotion, you can create a memorable experience for both the honoree and the audience.

Remember, delivering a successful roast is all about finding that perfect blend of laughter and respect that will make your speech truly unforgettable.

Avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone

When delivering a successful roast, it is crucial to avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone. Roasting should be done in good fun and not at the expense of someone’s feelings or reputation.

Stick to general subjects that will not offend or hurt anyone, and steer clear of personal, sensitive, or controversial topics. It is important to remember that roasts are meant to entertain and honor someone, so keep the jokes lighthearted and playful rather than mean-spirited.

By being mindful of your audience’s sensibilities and respecting their boundaries, you can ensure that your roast speech is enjoyed by all without causing any discomfort.

Give genuine compliments along with playful jabs

When giving a roast speech, it’s important to strike the right balance between humor and admiration. One effective way to do this is by giving genuine compliments along with playful jabs. By acknowledging the positive qualities of the person being roasted, you show that your intention is not to hurt or offend, but rather to celebrate their unique quirks.

This approach helps create an atmosphere of lightheartedness and ensures that your roasting comes across as friendly banter rather than mean-spirited mockery. Remember, the goal is to entertain and make people laugh while still showing appreciation for the individual being honored.

End on a positive note to leave a lasting impression

To give a truly memorable roast, it is crucial to end on a positive note that leaves a lasting impression. Your closing remarks should not only tie the speech together but also leave your audience feeling uplifted and appreciative.

After all, the goal of a successful roast is not to offend or belittle but to entertain and honor the individual being roasted.

One effective way to achieve this is by emphasizing the qualities or achievements of the person you’re roasting. Highlight their accomplishments, strengths, and contributions in a genuine and heartfelt manner.

By doing so, you demonstrate that despite the playful jabs throughout your speech, there is true admiration and respect for them.

Another approach is to express gratitude directly towards the person being roasted. Thank them for their friendship, support, or impact they have had on your life. This shows appreciation while also maintaining a positive tone.

Lastly, consider ending with an uplifting quote or anecdote that encapsulates both humor and affection towards the honoree. This can leave a lasting impression as it reinforces fond memories or shared experiences within your collective group.

Handling Challenges and Tips for Success

Handle hecklers calmly and confidently, approach sensitive topics with caution and respect, practice and rehearse your speech multiple times, enjoy the moment and embrace the energy of the event, show appreciation to the individual being roasted, follow up afterwards.

Deal with any hecklers calmly and confidently

Handling hecklers during a public speaking engagement can be a challenging situation, but with the right approach, you can navigate it calmly and confidently. Preparation is key when dealing with potential interruptions or disruptive behavior.

By anticipating such challenges, you can develop effective strategies for maintaining composure in the face of interruptions. Additionally, having techniques for responding to disruptive attendees and managing unruly participants will help you stay focused on delivering your message.

Remember that handling difficult training situations requires expert advice, which you can find in comprehensive resources or seek from experienced professionals like stand-up comedians who have dealt with hecklers before.

Approach sensitive topics with caution and respect

When addressing sensitive topics, it is crucial to approach them with caution and respect. Effective communication requires a tactful and careful handling of delicate subjects, especially in public speaking engagements like giving a roast.

By being mindful of cultural diversity, avoiding offensive language or stereotypes, and using both verbal and nonverbal cues to promote respectful conversations, you can ensure that your speech remains appropriate and inclusive.

Remember to listen actively when discussing sensitive issues with employees or individuals from different backgrounds. By doing so, you create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Practice and rehearse your speech multiple times

Practice and rehearsal are key elements in giving a successful roast speech. It is crucial to prepare by practicing your speech multiple times before the event. Rehearsing allows you to become familiar with the flow of your speech, fine-tune your delivery, and build confidence in what you’re saying.

By practicing under different scenarios, such as in front of a mirror or recording yourself, you can analyze your body language, facial expressions, and overall stage presence. You can also seek feedback from trusted individuals or ask one person to be your audience for a realistic simulation of speaking in front of a crowd.

Remember that the goal is not to memorize your speech word-for-word but rather to understand and convey the key concepts effectively. Visual cueing can be helpful in ensuring smooth transitions between points during delivery.

Enjoy the moment and embrace the energy of the event

Embracing the moment and soaking in the infectious energy of a roast event is key to delivering a memorable speech. As public speakers, it’s important to fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere and embrace the excitement surrounding us.

By doing so, we not only connect with our audience on a deeper level but also tap into our own natural charisma and confidence. Just as Starbucks innovates the coffee experience at its Reserve Roasteries, we too can elevate our performance by embracing this unique opportunity to make people laugh and create lasting memories.

So let go of any nerves or inhibitions, enjoy every second of the event, and let that vibrant energy fuel your captivating delivery. Remember, you have all the tools within you to conquer this stage with flair!

Show appreciation to the individual being roasted and follow up afterwards

After delivering a memorable roast speech, it’s crucial to show appreciation to the individual being roasted and follow up afterwards. This simple act goes a long way in strengthening relationships and ensuring that the humor of the roast is taken in good spirits.

A heartfelt thank you or a genuine compliment can make the person feel valued and respected despite the playful jabs they received during the roast. Following up with them after the event also allows for further connection and shows your sincerity in appreciating their presence.

Remember, roasting is all about celebrating someone while having fun, so don’t forget to express your gratitude and keep the positive energy flowing even after the event concludes.

In conclusion, giving a roast can be a fun and memorable experience when done right. By understanding the art of roasting, crafting a well-thought-out speech, and delivering it with humor and respect, you can create an unforgettable moment for both the roasted individual and the audience.

Remember to handle challenges gracefully, practice your speech beforehand, and most importantly, enjoy the process. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to give a hilarious and heartfelt roast that will be talked about for years to come.

Let the roasting begin!

1. What is a roast and how does it work?

A roast is a humorous speech or event where someone is subjected to good-natured ridicule in front of an audience. It typically involves jokes, teasing, and playful insults about the person being roasted.

2. How do I prepare for giving a roast?

To prepare for giving a roast, you should gather information about the person being roasted and their accomplishments, quirks, and personality traits. This will help you craft funny and personalized jokes that will resonate with both the honoree and the audience.

3. Are there any guidelines or boundaries when giving a roast?

When giving a roast, it’s important to keep the humor light-hearted and avoid crossing any sensitive or offensive topics that could be hurtful to the person being honored or anyone in attendance. Respect boundaries by ensuring your jokes are well-intentioned and maintain respect for the individual.

4. How can I deliver a successful roast speech?

To deliver a successful roast speech, practice your material beforehand to ensure good timing and delivery. Use body language and tone of voice to enhance your comedic effect while maintaining confidence on stage. Be sure to gauge audience reactions during your performance so you can adjust if necessary for maximum laughter.

Module 11: Speaking to Entertain and for Special Occasions

Introduction to speeches about people: toasts, roasts, and eulogies.

Whether a toast, a roast, or a eulogy (as in this picture), special occasion speeches about people require thoughtfulness and preparation.

Toasts, roasts, and eulogies are public speaking situations that call for thoughtfulness and care. In each of these situations, you’re trying to honor someone close to you through your words, while creating an emotional connection to the crowd. You may be entertaining the crowd in an uproarious roast, creating a festive mood with a toast at a banquet, or comforting grieving family and friends with a heartfelt eulogy. Knowing how to deliver speeches for each of these situations will serve you for a lifetime. We’ll cover how to properly craft a speech that is tailored for each of these circumstances so that you can rise to meet the occasion!

Candela Citations

Eulogy. Authored by : Bahudhara. Located at : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria_Bannon_eulogy.JPG . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Introduction to Speeches about People: Toasts, Roasts, and Eulogies. Authored by : Misti Wills with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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18.2 Special-Occasion Speeches

Learning objectives.

Identify the different types of ceremonial speaking.
Describe the different types of inspirational speaking.

A man giving a birthday speech for his friend

M+MD – Birthday Speech – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Many entertaining speeches fall under the category of special-occasion speeches. All the speeches in this category are given to mark the significance of particular events. Common events include weddings, bar mitzvahs, awards ceremonies, funerals, and political events. In each of these different occasions, speakers are asked to deliver speeches relating to the event. For purposes of simplicity, we’ve broken special-occasion speeches into two groups: ceremonial speaking and inspirational speaking.

Ceremonial Speaking

Ceremonial speeches are speeches given during a ceremony or a ritual marked by observance of formality or etiquette. These ceremonies tend to be very special for people, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they are opportunities for speech making. Let’s examine each of the eight types of ceremonial speaking: introductions, presentations, acceptances, dedications, toasts, roasts, eulogies, and farewells.

Speeches of Introduction

The first type of speech is called the speech of introduction , which is a minispeech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and his or her speech. Few things are worse than when the introducer or a speaker stands up and says, “This is Joe Smith, he’s going to talk about stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls flat. Audiences won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Joe’s speech.

Just like any other speech, a speech of introduction should be a complete speech and have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion—and you should do it all in under two minutes. This brings up another “few things are worse” scenario: an introductory speaker who rambles on for too long or who talks about himself or herself instead of focusing on the person being introduced.

For an introduction, think of a hook that will make your audience interested in the upcoming speaker. Did you read a news article related to the speaker’s topic? Have you been impressed by a presentation you’ve heard the speaker give in the past? You need to find something that can grab the audience’s attention and make them excited about hearing the main speaker.

The body of your introductory speech should be devoted to telling the audience about the speaker’s topic, why the speaker is qualified, and why the audience should listen (notice we now have our three body points). First, tell your audience in general terms about the overarching topic of the speech. Most of the time as an introducer, you’ll only have a speech title and maybe a paragraph of information to help guide this part of your speech. That’s all right. You don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the main speaker’s speech; you just need to know enough to whet the audience’s appetite. Next, you need to tell the audience why the speaker is a credible speaker on the topic. Has the speaker written books or articles on the subject? Has the speaker had special life events that make him or her qualified? Lastly, you need to briefly explain to the audience why they should care about the upcoming speech.

The final part of a good introduction is the conclusion, which is generally designed to welcome the speaker to the lectern. Many introducers will conclude by saying something like, “I am looking forward to hearing how Joe Smith’s advice and wisdom can help all of us today, so please join me in welcoming Mr. Joe Smith.” We’ve known some presenters who will even add a notation to their notes to “start clapping” and “shake speakers hand” or “give speaker a hug” depending on the circumstances of the speech.

Now that we’ve walked through the basic parts of an introductory speech, let’s see one outlined:

Specific Purpose: To entertain the audience while preparing them for Janice Wright’s speech on rituals.

Introduction: Mention some common rituals people in the United States engage in (Christmas, sporting events, legal proceedings).

Main Points:

Explain that the topic was selected because understanding how cultures use ritual is an important part of understanding what it means to be human.
Janice Wright is a cultural anthropologist who studies the impact that everyday rituals have on communities.
All of us engage in rituals, and we often don’t take the time to determine how these rituals were started and how they impact our daily routines.

Conclusion: I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Wright at the regional conference in Springfield last month, and I am excited that I get to share her with all of you tonight. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wright (start clapping, shake speaker’s hand, exit stage).

Speeches of Presentation

The second type of common ceremonial speech is the speech of presentation . A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor. Speeches of presentation can be as simple as saying, “This year’s recipient of the Schuman Public Speaking prize is Wilhelmina Jeffers,” or could last up to five minutes as the speaker explains why the honoree was chosen for the award.

When preparing a speech of presentation, it’s always important to ask how long the speech should be. Once you know the time limit, then you can set out to create the speech itself. First, you should explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is important. Second, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the award to be bestowed. Did the person win a race? Did the person write an important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight his or her work. Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well. While you don’t want to steal the show away from winner (as Kanye West did to Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, for example http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/435995/taylor-swift-wins-best-female-video.jhtml#id=1620605 ), you may want to highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

Speeches of Acceptance

The complement to a speech of presentation is the speech of acceptance . The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor. For example, in the above video clip from the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, Taylor Swift starts by expressing her appreciation, gets interrupted by Kanye West, and ends by saying, “I would like to thank the fans and MTV, thank you.” While obviously not a traditional acceptance speech because of the interruption, she did manage to get in the important parts.

There are three typical components of a speech of acceptance: thank the givers of the award or honor, thank those who helped you achieve your goal, and put the award or honor into perspective. First, you want to thank the people who have given you the award or honor and possibly those who voted for you. We see this done every year during the Oscars, “First, I’d like to thank the academy and all the academy voters.” Second, you want to give credit to those who helped you achieve the award or honor. No person accomplishes things in life on his or her own. We all have families and friends and colleagues who support us and help us achieve what we do in life, and a speech of acceptance is a great time to graciously recognize those individuals. Lastly, put the award in perspective. Tell the people listening to your speech why the award is meaningful to you.

Speeches of Dedication

The fourth ceremonial speech is the speech of dedication . A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and possibly those to whom the project has been dedicated. Maybe your great-uncle has died and left your college tons of money, so the college has decided to rename one of the dorms after your great-uncle. In this case, you may be asked to speak at the dedication.

When preparing the speech of dedication, start by explaining how you are involved in the dedication. If the person to whom the dedication is being made is a relative, tell the audience that the building is being named after your great-uncle who bestowed a gift to his alma mater. Second, you want to explain what is being dedicated. If the dedication is a new building or a preexisting building, you want to explain what is being dedicated and the importance of the structure. You should then explain who was involved in the project. If the project is a new structure, talk about the people who built the structure or designed it. If the project is a preexisting structure, talk about the people who put together and decided on the dedication. Lastly, explain why the structure is important for the community where it’s located. If the dedication is for a new store, talk about how the store will bring in new jobs and new shopping opportunities. If the dedication is for a new wing of a hospital, talk about how patients will be served and the advances in medicine the new wing will provide the community.

At one time or another, almost everyone is going to be asked to deliver a toast . A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember. First, toasts can be delivered for the purpose of congratulating someone for an honor, a new job, or getting married. You can also toast someone to show your appreciation for something they’ve done. Lastly, we toast people to remember them and what they have accomplished.

When preparing a toast, the first goal is always to keep your remarks brief. Toasts are generally given during the middle of some kind of festivities (e.g., wedding, retirement party, farewell party), and you don’t want your toast to take away from those festivities for too long. Second, the goal of a toast is to focus attention on the person or persons being toasted—not on the speaker. As such, while you are speaking you need to focus your attention to the people being toasted, both by physically looking at them and by keeping your message about them. You should also avoid any inside jokes between you and the people being toasted because toasts are public and should be accessible for everyone who hears them. To conclude a toast, simply say something like, “Please join me in recognizing Joan for her achievement” and lift your glass. When you lift your glass, this will signal to others to do the same and then you can all take a drink, which is the end of your speech.

The roast speech is a very interesting and peculiar speech because it is designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Generally, roasts are given at the conclusion of a banquet in honor of someone’s life achievements. The television station Comedy Central has been conducting roasts of various celebrities for a few years.

In this clip, watch as Stephen Colbert, television host of The Colbert Report , roasts President George W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE_saVX_2A

Let’s pick this short clip apart. You’ll notice that the humor doesn’t pull any punches. The goal of the roast is to both praise and insult in a good-natured manner. You’ll also see that the roaster, in this case Stephen Colbert, is standing behind a lectern while the roastee, President George W. Bush, is clearly on display for the audience to see, and periodically you’ll see the camera pan to President Bush to take in his reactions. Half the fun of a good roast is watching the roastee’s reactions during the roast, so it’s important to have the roastee clearly visible by the audience.

How does one prepare for a roast? First, you want to really think about the person who is being roasted. Do they have any strange habits or amusing stories in their past that you can discuss? When you think through these things you want to make sure that you cross anything off your list that is truly private information or will really hurt the person. The goal of a roast is to poke at them, not massacre them. Second, when selecting which aspects to poke fun at, you need to make sure that the items you choose are widely known by your audience. Roasts work when the majority of people in the audience can relate to the jokes being made. If you have an inside joke with the roastee, bringing it up during roast may be great fun for the two of you, but it will leave your audience unimpressed. Lastly, end on a positive note. While the jokes are definitely the fun part of a roast, you should leave the roastee knowing that you truly do care about and appreciate the person.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died. (Don’t confuse “eulogy” with “elegy,” a poem or song of mourning.) Unless you are a minister, priest, rabbi, imam, or other form of religious leader, you’ll probably not deliver too many eulogies in your lifetime. However, when the time comes to deliver a eulogy, it’s good to know what you’re doing and to adequately prepare your remarks. Watch the following clip of then-Senator Barack Obama delivering a eulogy at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in November of 2005.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsH92sJCr4

In this eulogy, Senator Obama delivers the eulogy by recalling Rosa Parks importance and her legacy in American history.

When preparing a eulogy, first you need to know as much information about the deceased as possible. The more information you have about the person, the more personal you can make the eulogy. While you can rely on your own information if you were close to the deceased, it is always a good idea to ask friends and relatives of the deceased for their memories, as these may add important facets that may not have occurred to you. Of course, if you were not very close to the deceased, you will need to ask friends and family for information. Second, although eulogies are delivered on the serious and sad occasion of a funeral or memorial service for the deceased, it is very helpful to look for at least one point to be lighter or humorous. In some cultures, in fact, the friends and family attending the funeral will expect the eulogy to be highly entertaining and amusing. While eulogies are not roasts, one goal of the humor or lighter aspects of a eulogy is to relieve the tension that is created by the serious nature of the occasion. Lastly, remember to tell the deceased’s story. Tell the audience about who this person was and what the person stood for in life. The more personal you can make a eulogy, the more touching it will be for the deceased’s friends and families. The eulogy should remind the audience to celebrate the person’s life as well as mourn their death.

Speeches of Farewell

A speech of farewell allows someone to say good-bye to one part of his or her life as he or she is moving on to the next part of life. Maybe you’ve accepted a new job and are leaving your current job, or you’re graduating from college and entering the work force. Whatever the case may be, periods of transition are often marked by speeches of farewell. Watch the following clip of Derek Jeter’s 2008 speech saying farewell to Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, before the New York Yankees moved to the new stadium that opened in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJrlTpQm0to

In this speech, Derek Jeter is not only saying good-bye to Yankee Stadium but also thanking the fans for their continued support.

When preparing a speech of farewell, the goal should be to thank the people in your current position and let them know how much you appreciate them as you make the move to your next position in life. In Derek Jeter’s speech, he starts by talking about the history of the 1923 Yankee Stadium and then thanks the fans for their support. Second, you want to express to your audience how much the experience has meant to you. A farewell speech is a time to commemorate and think about the good times you’ve had. As such, you should avoid negativity during this speech. Lastly, you want to make sure that you end on a high note. Derek Jeter concludes his speech by saying, “On behalf of this entire organization, we just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world!” at which point Jeter and the other players take off their ball caps and hold them up toward the audience.

Inspirational Speaking

The goal of an inspirational speech is to elicit or arouse an emotional state within an audience. In Section 18.2.1 “Ceremonial Speaking” , we looked at ceremonial speeches. Although some inspirational speeches are sometimes tied to ceremonial occasions, there are also other speaking contexts that call for inspirational speeches. For our purposes, we are going to look at two types of inspirational speeches: goodwill and speeches of commencement.

Speeches to Ensure Goodwill

Goodwill is an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or reputation of an individual or organization. Speeches of goodwill are often given in an attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. Although speeches of goodwill are clearly persuasive, they try not to be obvious about the persuasive intent and are often delivered as information-giving speeches that focus on an individual or organization’s positives attributes. There are three basic types of speeches of goodwill: public relations, justification, and apology.

Speeches for Public Relations

In a public relations speech, the speaker is speaking to enhance one’s own image or the image of his or her organization. You can almost think of these speeches as cheerleading speeches because the ultimate goal is to get people to like the speaker and what he or she represents. In the following brief speech, the CEO of British Petroleum is speaking to reporters about what his organization is doing during the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCfa6AxmUHw

Notice that he keeps emphasizing what his company is doing to fix the problem. Every part of this speech is orchestrated to make BP look caring and attempts to get some amount of goodwill from the viewing public.

Speeches of Justification

The second common speech of goodwill is the speech of justification, which is given when someone attempts to defend why certain actions were taken or will be taken. In these speeches, speakers have already enacted (or decided to enact) some kind of behavior, and are now attempting to justify why the behavior is or was appropriate. In the following clip, President Bill Clinton discusses his decision to bomb key Iraqi targets after uncovering a plot to assassinate former President George H. W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mpWa7wNr5M

In this speech, President Clinton outlines his reasons for bombing Iraq to the American people and the globe. Again, the goal of this speech is to secure goodwill for President Clinton’s decisions both in the United States and on the world stage.

Speeches of Apology

The final speech of goodwill is the speech of apology. Frankly, these speeches have become more and more commonplace. Every time we turn around, a politician, professional athlete, musician, or actor/actress is doing something reprehensible and getting caught. In fact, the speech of apology has quickly become a fodder for humor as well. Let’s take a look at a real apology speech delivered by professional golfer Tiger Woods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8nseNP4s0

When you need to make an apology speech, there are three elements that you need to include: be honest and take responsibility, say you’re sorry, and offer restitution. First, a speaker needs to be honest and admit to doing something wrong. The worst apology speeches are those in which the individual tries to sidestep the wrongdoing. Even if you didn’t do anything wrong, it is often best to take responsibility from a public perception perspective. Second, say that you are sorry. People need to know that you are remorseful for what you’ve done. One of the problems many experts saw with Tiger Woods’s speech is that he doesn’t look remorseful at all. While the words coming out of his mouth are appropriate, he looks like a robot forced to read from a manuscript written by his press agent. Lastly, you need to offer restitution. Restitution can come in the form of fixing something broken or a promise not to engage in such behavior in the future. People in society are very willing to forgive and forget when they are asked.

Speeches for Commencements

The second type of inspirational speech is the speech of commencement , which is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class or other group of people. The most typical form of commencement speech happens when someone graduates from school. Nearly all of us have sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives. And if you’re like us, you’ve heard good ones and bad ones. Numerous celebrities and politicians have been asked to deliver commencement speeches at colleges and universities. One famous and well-thought-out commencement speech was given by famed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling at Harvard University in 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck

J. K. Rowling’s speech has the perfect balance of humor and inspiration, which are two of the main ingredients of a great commencement speech.

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to think through when deciding on your speech’s content.

If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is no specific theme, come up with one for your speech. Some common commencement speech themes are commitment, competitiveness, competence, confidence, decision making, discipline, ethics, failure (and overcoming failure), faith, generosity, integrity, involvement, leadership, learning, persistence, personal improvement, professionalism, reality, responsibility, and self-respect.
Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid pitfalls or take advantages of life. How can your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?
Make the speech humorous. Commencement speeches should be entertaining and make an audience laugh.
Be brief! Nothing is more painful than a commencement speaker who drones on and on. Remember, the graduates are there to get their diplomas; their families are there to watch the graduates walk across the stage.
Remember, while you may be the speaker, you’ve been asked to impart wisdom and advice for the people graduating and moving on with their lives, so keep it focused on them.
Place the commencement speech into the broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better.

Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a commencement speech. Remember, it’s a huge honor and responsibility to be asked to deliver a commencement speech, so take the time to really think through and prepare your speech.

Key Takeaways

There are eight common forms of ceremonial speaking: introduction, presentation, acceptance, dedication, toast, roast, eulogy, and farewell. Speeches of introduction are designed to introduce a speaker. Speeches of presentation are given when an individual is presenting an award of some kind. Speeches of acceptance are delivered by the person receiving an award or honor. Speeches of dedication are given when a new building or other place is being opened for the first time. Toasts are given to acknowledge and honor someone on a special occasion (e.g., wedding, birthday, retirement). Roasts are speeches designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Eulogies are given during funerals and memorial services. Lastly, speeches of farewell are delivered by an individual who is leaving a job, community, or organization, and wants to acknowledge how much the group has meant.
Inspirational speeches fall into two categories: goodwill (e.g., public relations, justification, and apology) and speeches of commencement. Speeches of goodwill attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. On the other hand, speeches of commencement are delivered to recognize the achievements of a group of people.
Imagine you’ve been asked to speak before a local civic organization such as the Kiwanis or Rotary Club. Develop a sample speech of introduction that you would like someone to give to introduce you.
You’ve been asked to roast your favorite celebrity. Develop a two-minute roast.
Develop a speech of commencement for your public speaking class.