Tribute Speech

According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking.  Number two is death.                                                                                             --Jerry Seinfeld

Tribute Essay/Speech

--Your speech will be 3-4 minutes long, so keep that in mind as you write.

--There's an example of a tribute speech below.**

--At the very bottom, I've included a link to the  pre-writing chart if you need another one. 

Intro: 

•  Hook: 

                Grab your audience: Please don't ask a question for your hook! 
                Thought-provoking? Suspenseful? Humorous? A quote? An anecdote?

• Thesis Statement: 

               Who is this person, and what's the overall reason this person is your honoree?

•  Brief Preview: 

                What are the three character traits that have most impressed you and impacted you in a                          positive  way?

Body Paragraphs:

1. In each body pararaph,  focus on the one of your three reasons from the brief preview.

Then, give at least two examples that support the reason.

2. In each body paragraph, it's critical that you SHOW, not TELL, who this person is through clear and descriptive anecdotes (little stories), examples, and other concrete details.

3. It should be very clear to your audience why you are honoring this person. Don't just tell the audience, show them!

Telling:

Egore is really helpful.

Showing:

Last year, when I had the flu for two weeks, Egore would bring all my HW to me and help me

stay current in all my classes. Not only that, he was always willing to tutor me in math. 

Telling:

My dad is a great guy.

Showing:

When I missed a goal in the final tournament of the season, I was so ashamed and disappointed in

myself. I walked off the field with tears rolling down my cheeks, and I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Dad was there at the car waiting for me. I was so afraid he'd be angry with me, but instead, he just gave me a huge bear hug and said, "Let's go get some ice cream." That was exactly what I needed, and he knew it.

Conclusion: 

1. Remember to refer back to your thesis statement in some way (but not by repeating it verbatim!)

2. Consider these ideas for your conclusion:

     a. What have you learned about life from this person?

     b. How has s/he enriched your life?

     c. In what was are you a better person for knowing your tributee?

     d. How would your life be different if you didn't know this person?

     e. How will you use what this person has taught you to make your life better?

Tribute Speech Example:

This example uses the 5P format as a springboard, and you can feel free to do that, too. What's good about it is it gives a strong sense of the connection between the author and the tributee. It could use more "showing" language, but overall, it's solid.

Generous of Heart and Spirit

            Lunch recess. Third grade. This had been going on for days now--probably a week, at least. It was spring, and the weather was warming up. No more 30 degree mornings. Lately, all the mean kids had decided I was the one to pick on, and I’d had just about enough. I was tired of crying and feeling like the victim, and I was about to rise up like the Phoenix from the ashes and get some backbone, finally. From where, I didn’t know. I felt pretty sorry for myself I had to do it all by myself, or at least I thought I did. At the precise moment when I was about to walk up to Ringleader Boy and let him know I’d reached my limit,  Egore appeared out of nowhere, and there he was right by my side. I’m not a violent person by nature, but when Egore stepped up and punched Ringleader Boy in the nose, I can’t say I was disappointed. In fact, I felt such relief that I threw my arms around him and gave him a huge kid-hug. I’m not so sure he appreciated it in front of our fellow third-graders, but that one episode of bravery on Egore’s part made him my hero and cemented our friendship. Egore has been my best friend since third grade I wouldn't trade him for the world.

            Egore is not movie-star handsome, but he's got this strange crooked smile that makes him when I look into his warm, deep brown eyes, I know he listening to me when I talk. He just so there for me. There is no effort on his part; Egore just is the most patient, kind person I know. He doesn’t dress in the most up-to-date ways; fashion is not an aspect of life he puts high on his priority list.  Egore is genuinely oblivious to other’s opinions of him, which frees him up to be himself, 100%.

            What I love about this person is his willingness to “stand up for what is right, even if he’s standing alone.” He will always follow his conscience, just as he  did in third grade when those kids were bullying me. Sure, he got in big trouble for punching Ringleader Boy, but he accepted the responsibility and moved on.  Another example of Egore’s integrity is when this mentally challenged person was being taunted at the mall, Egore went right upto those kids and told them, in a gentle yet firm way to “back off.” Although most of those kids were physically stronger and bigger than he is, they listened. He has this mystical way of making people listen to him. His voice is  high and shimmery, but he chooses his words carefully. When he talks, people listen.

            Egore’s family life isn’t exactly storybook-like. His parents are divorced, and he doesn’t see his dad much. Because his mom works full-time, he has to take care of his little brother a lot. Most kids I know can’t wait to get away from their younger siblings. Egore, however, loves his brother and really watches out for him. In fact, he often brings him along when we do things together after school. I don’t even mind much because they are so sweet together, and it makes me feel good just to watch how they interact.

            Egore is very gifted, and he is generous with his abilities. Math isn’t my strongest subject, to say the least, but Egore helps me with homework whenever I ask him. He doesn’t just give me the answers--he makes me figure out the problems, He has this way of explaining abstract ideas that make them seem concrete.

            Since that fateful day in third grade, Egore has been someone very special to me. I admire him tremendously, not so much for what he’s accomplished--although, talk to me in twenty years and I’m sure there will be many successes--but for what he's taught me about being a true and loyal friend.

Essay Pre-Writing Sheet:

If you can't print it from here, click on this link:

https://www.box.com/s/ltwurdcvok26uzk0i48t