Note: The red text are only SUGGESTIONS for your tribute speech, you DO NOT have to follow them, they are only ideas.

Speech Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. Attention Grabber: Question, Shocking facts or statistics, Facts—that which is known to be true, Statistics—number facts, Anecdote—interesting little story, Quotation—a. can be from book/play/poem b. can be from another source on the same theme as topic, Definition, Suspense builder—sets an interesting scene but does not finish the story, Descriptive example. Anecdotes work best with tribute speeches.
  3. Speech Map:Briefly, review without presenting new information what your main paragraphs will be discussing.
  4. Thesis: (the speech map can be done together with the thesis if need be). This tells the audience “exactly” what your speech will be about, down to what your main points are. Every sentence in your paper should reflect your thesis.
  1. Main Paragraph #1: Explain when your first memories of your person, where you first met and so on.
  2. Topic Sentence: Introduce what you will be discussing within the paragraph.
  3. Supporting Detail. Use facts, quotes, and other sources to discuss your topic.
  4. Supporting Detail #2
  5. Supporting Detail #3
  6. Transition Sentence: Connect the point you just made with the point you will be discussing in your second paragraph.
  1. Main Paragraph #2Tell us about your person: physical features, personality
  2. Topic Sentence: Introduce what you will be discussing within the paragraph.
  3. Supporting Detail: Use facts, quotes, other sources to discuss your topic.
  4. Supporting Detail #2
  5. Supporting Detail #3
  6. Transition Sentence: Connect the point you just made with the point you will be discussing in your third paragraph.
  1. Main Paragraph #3Tell us what makes your person so important to you
  2. Topic Sentence: Introduce what you will be discussing within the paragraph.
  3. Supporting Detail: Use facts, quotes, other sources to discuss your topic.
  4. Supporting Detail #2
  5. Supporting Detail #3
  6. Transition Sentence: Connect the point you just made with the upcoming conclusion.
  1. Conclusion
  2. Restate your thesis in a different way than you did in your introduction.
  3. Restate your main points that you made without presenting any new information.
  4. Zinger: Leave the reader with a thought that deals with your speech. This is crucial to a well done speech. You may want to use a saying that your “person” likes to say or a funny finishing mini story about your person.