How to Write a Good Speech About a Person in Your Life (2024)

A well written speech can leave people talking long after the last word has been spoken. School children continue to memorize Lincoln's Gettysburg address more than a century after it was written and people continue to quote John F. Kennedy's inaugural address decades after his death. While your speech about a person in your life might not go down in history you can leave your audience with a chuckle or two and stories to ponder.

Choose someone who has an interesting story or who has made a strong impression on you and taught you something. Think of your own experiences with the person and jot down anecdotes that come to mind.

Gather additional information about the person. Talk to him directly and to people who know him. Get details and stories about his childhood, work life, social and community activities. Find out from others what makes your subject stand out.

Sketch an outline for your speech. Make a note of an opening joke or story about the individual to begin. Note the points and the anecdotes you want to include in the body of the speech. Include examples and personal narratives to illustrate your message. Look for an ending that leaves the audience with something to think about.

Fill out your outline. Engage the audience from the start. Tell a story or a joke or describe the person in the introduction; or begin by speaking about values and show how this person demonstrates those values. Use a sentence or phrase to let the introduction flow into the body of the speech. In conclusion, encourage the audience to imitate the standards of your subject or to reflect on what they have learned from people in their own lives.

Revise your speech for structure, content and flow. Your points must be clear and logically ordered. Make sure all details and examples effectively illustrate your points. Practice your speech silently and then in front of someone else for feedback. Make additional revisions as needed based on your own impression of the speech and suggestions you receive.

If you can speak comfortably from an outline, do not write the speech out word for word because this can make your presentation seem too rehearsed and unnatural.

How to Write a Good Speech About a Person in Your Life (2024)

FAQs

How to write a speech about someone's life? ›

Tributes provide a unique opportunity to sing the praises of someone you love. In a tribute, write about the person's best qualities and successes in life. Share how they changed your life or made you a better version of yourself. Summon admiration for their life's work and what it meant to them.

How to write a good speech about another person? ›

You may want just to talk about a person, concentrate on their childhood, highlight their most notable achievements, or show how clever or friendly this person is. When you work on a speech for someone, you should always try to relate and make a personal story told.

How to write a speech to a special person? ›

Here are my top five tips when writing a speech for someone else.
  1. Tip 1. Get to know your speaker: It's important to know your speaker. ...
  2. Tip 2. Get to know your audience and venue. ...
  3. Tip 3. Research your topic. ...
  4. Tip 4. Make it sound natural. ...
  5. Tip. 5 Give yourself time for feedback.
Mar 5, 2021

How do you write about people in your life? ›

You can make sure that they show up in your story as whole, complex characters—make them feel as real to us as you, the narrator, will be. Sometimes you might choose to signal, in the text, where your memories diverge: e.g., you remember an event this way; your sister remembers it like that.

How do you write about someone's life? ›

How To Write a Biography About Someone Else
  1. Preferred name, including stage names, nicknames, pronouns, or other considerations.
  2. A clear, relevant photograph.
  3. Job title and description.
  4. Current city.
  5. Major life and career achievements.
  6. Information that makes the subject an authority on their topic or niche.
Jun 20, 2022

How to write a speech about someone you love? ›

Keep things informal and simple. Some people like to write the whole speech out in full. Some people just want bullet-points on note cards, so they can make it up as they go. If you're not sure which works best for you, write it out in full and then see how easy you find to read it out loud.

What is an example of speech introduction of a person? ›

Here are some examples: Formal introduction: "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce our guest speaker today, [Name], who is a renowned [profession/position]. [Name] has achieved many accomplishments in their field, including [list a few]. Please join me in welcoming [Name]."

What are the 2 P's of a good speech? ›

Trite as it might sound (or obvious), the basic foundation for a good speech delivery involves the two “P's”: Preparation and Practice. There is not an actor, athlete, or musician worth his/her salary who does not prepare and practice. Even when a performance is given with spontaneity, the “P's” are crucial.

How do you write a good personal speech? ›

How to make a good speech
  1. Choose an important topic.
  2. Consider your audience.
  3. Prepare a structure.
  4. Begin with a strong point.
  5. Use concrete details and visual aids.
  6. Include a personal element.
  7. Consider rhetorical devices.
  8. End memorably.
Jun 24, 2022

How do you give a good speech? ›

Speech delivery practice
  1. Stand tall—do not hold or lean on the podium.
  2. Come out from behind the podium during the speech. Makes an impact especially at the conclusion of the speech. ...
  3. Use gestures. Be sure gestures can be seen.
  4. Make eye contact. It is easy with a podium to look down especially if you have notes or outlines.

How to start a speech about someone? ›

Another effective way to start a speech is by mentioning something a universally-known person did that is connected with what you are about to say. Famous personalities generally attract people, so sharing a story that includes something they said or did is likely to grab your audience's attention.

What is a good sentence to start a speech? ›

Introduction. Good morning/afternoon everyone and welcome to my presentation. First of all, let me thank you all for coming here today.

How do you write a heartfelt speech? ›

Crafting a memorable speech involves connecting with your audience emotionally, using vivid anecdotes, and structuring your message for clarity and impact. Engage your audience with relatable stories, and ensure a strong opening and closing to leave a lasting impression.

How do you write a life essay about someone? ›

Writing a Biography Essay Outline
  1. Parents, place of birth, family background.
  2. Significant childhood experiences.
  3. Education, coming of age.
  4. Key relationships.
  5. Career, achievements.
  6. Later years: Death and legacy (if the person no longer lives) Your subject's current situation and impact they had.

How do you start a loved one speech? ›

Introducing yourself in relation to the person you are remembering can be a good place to start. Describe what they meant to you, and what qualities defined them in your eyes. This will establish a connection with other people at the service and put you in the picture for those who might not know you very well.

How do you start writing a speech? ›

Here are eight steps you can use to compose an effective speech for any situation:
  1. Choose an important topic.
  2. Consider your audience.
  3. Prepare a structure.
  4. Begin with a strong point.
  5. Use concrete details and visual aids.
  6. Include a personal element.
  7. Consider rhetorical devices.
  8. End memorably.
Jun 24, 2022

How do you write a motivational speech for life? ›

Here is a list of steps you can follow when writing a motivational speech:
  1. Determine your purpose. Before writing your speech, determine the purpose of your speech. ...
  2. Know your audience. ...
  3. Start with a hook. ...
  4. Include narratives. ...
  5. Include a call to action. ...
  6. Conclude your speech. ...
  7. Review your speech.
Feb 13, 2024

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