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12.5: Discussion Questions

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    307752
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    1. What makes a special occasion speech memorable? Identify one speech you have seen in real life, on television, or online. Explain what elements such as storytelling, tone, language, or structure made it effective or ineffective.

    2. How should a speaker balance emotion and message in a ceremonial or inspirational speech? Is it more important to make the audience feel something or to communicate a clear takeaway? Explain your reasoning.

    3. Different audiences have different expectations. Describe a moment when you or someone you know had to adapt language or tone for a specific audience. How does this connect to speaking at graduations, memorials, or celebrations?

    4. Humor can build connection, but it can also cause harm if used poorly. What guidelines should speakers follow when using humor in toasts, roasts, or after-dinner speeches? Provide an example to support your answer.

    5.Imagine you are asked to deliver a farewell, a toast, or a commencement message. Which type would be most challenging for you and why? Which type would be the easiest? Discuss what skills you would need to strengthen to deliver both effectively.


    12.5: Discussion Questions is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.