Put local details in a commencement speech
Last month, I taught my annual Advanced Speechwriting seminar. A big topic in the Advanced class? Writing “special occasion” speeches.
I encouraged the speechwriters to put local details in special occasion speeches - the more specific, the better.
Here’s an example:
Tom Brokaw addressed the Class of 2009 at The College of William and Mary (my alma mater). According to the Alumni Magazine:
Brokaw said that in preparation for his speech, he had asked Jon Stewart ‘84, D.A. ‘04, a College alumnus and the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, what words he associated with William and Mary. Stewart gave William and Mary’s commencement address in 2004.
“He thought for a moment and he said: ‘Just four words. Paul’s Deli cheese fries,’” said Brokaw, receiving laughter and cheers from the audience.