1. Speech Writing Tips
Senior Grad Speeches

2. Write Formally, But Conversationally
You want your speech to sound well thought out and prepared, but not so overly technical that it's boring. Write as if you were making a presentation to your family - people you talk to normally.
Do NOT write informally, don't use slang, don't use acronyms that your judges may not be familiar with.

3. Use the Time Limits As Your Guide
On the Outline Guide there are suggested time limits for each section of your speech.
60 seconds of speech is ABOUT 200 words if you are talking conversationally.

4. Include Your Citations Orally
You should still cite your information to give yourself more credibility as a speaker.
So, this sentence from your paper:
"In fact, 62% of children in North Carolina's foster care system showed academic growth below the average for their age group on end-of-course tests (Johnson, 2015)."
Would become:
"According to a 2015 study conducted by child psychologist Sarah Johnson at the University of North Carolina, 62% of children in North Carolina's foster care system showed academic growth below the average for their age group on end- of-course tests."
Include the qualifications of your information to build your credibility!

5. Begin to Plan your Visual
If you are going to make reference to a visual display of...
Data
Charts or Graphs
Images
All of the Above
...then you will want to include this reference in the text of your speech. For example:
"As you can see in this comparison, the high school graduation rates for students in the foster care system are significantly below the rates for students in a traditional household." or
"As you can see in this image, conditions in foster homes can be cramped and noisy, creating a challenging environment for studying."