Types of Speeches Speeches Focused on Persons

Speeches of introduction are intended to build both audience enthusiasm for the main speaker and interest in the topic. They should be thoroughly prepared – but brief – and they should relate the main speaker's topic to the audience.

Speeches of presentation honour the recipient of an award and may also serve to explain the reasons for making the presentation. Recipients often make a brief acceptance speech, but should ask the presenter whether this is appropriate. Humility, brevity, and graciousness should characterise speeches of acceptance.

Commemorative speeches fall into two major types: testimonial speeches and eulogies. Testimonial speeches praise living persons or celebrate occasions focused on persons, and they evoke joy, laughter, celebration, and sentiment. Eulogies are given to honour the dead and to console the living. They are often written in advance and delivered from manuscript or memory.

Speeches for Special Occasions

Speeches given to mark special occasions include keynote speeches, commencement speeches, dedication speeches, public relation speeches, and speeches to entertain.

Keynote speeches often open large conventions or meetings of government, business, and professional groups. They serve to rally the members around the organisation and commit them again to its goals.

The purpose of commencement speeches is to honour graduating students by noting their accomplishments, recognising the contributions of those who have aided them, and elaborating on the challenges ahead.

Dedication speeches depend on clear and lofty language to highlight the meaning of a recent creation or a new endeavour. The speaker's job is to focus attention on the goals and values of the event.

Unlike most special occasions speeches, the public relations speech has a strong persuasive purpose: to promote a positive image of an organisation. Public relations speakers typically outline the goals and purposes of their organisations, show how these tie in with the needs and values of their listeners, and indicate how their organisations can help.

Speeches to entertain, often called "after-dinner speeches", serve to relax an audience with humorous stories sand vivid language. They differ from a comedian's monologue in that they have a theme or focus.

Impromptu speaking – speaking with no advance notice – is a method of speech delivery. In order to give an organised impromptu speech, speakers state their main point, give supporting evidence, and then summarise and restate the main point.

Types of Informative Speeches

Informative speeches may be classified into four types. Speeches about objects deal with anything you can see, feel, hear, taste or smell. Speeches about events tell about anything that has happened, or happening, or is regarded as happening. Speeches about process treat related series of events that lead to specific results or product. Speeches about concepts deal with beliefs, theories, ideas, and principles.