how to make declamation speech

Declamation Speech

You might have had an assignment as a student where you have to present a speech in front of the class. Most of the time, you are to present a declamation speech. You might have had difficulty on how to deliver your declamation piece. You might also have had a predicament on what to deliver for your declamation speech. Lastly, you might have had a problem on where to start with your speech and how to present it; let alone how to start to write an outline for your speech .

What is Declamation in Speech? – Definition Declamation in speech is an expressive and powerful way of speaking that emphasizes emotion, clarity, and engagement with the audience. This style of speech is particularly effective in various contexts, such as welcome speeches, motivational speeches, celebration speeches , narrative speeches , and appreciation speeches . Declamation involves delivering a speech with passion and intensity, making the content more impactful and memorable for the audience.

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A declamation speech is a speaking event that would showcase a person’s prowess in public speaking as well as how he or she would incorporate his or her feelings with the piece as well as interpreting the content of the speech.

What is the Best Example of a Famous Declamation Speech?

Declamation speeches are a powerful form of expression in public speaking. Historical examples, like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” exemplify how emotive delivery can inspire change. Literary adaptations, such as dramatic Shakespearean soliloquies, showcase the intense conveyance of complex emotions. In contemporary settings, motivational speakers often employ declamation to energize and uplift their audience. Educational and professional scenarios also utilize declamation; orientation speeches and award speeches are prime examples. These speeches, marked by their impactful delivery and emotional resonance, illustrate the art of connecting with an audience and leaving a lasting impression.

Full Speech Script

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.   Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.   But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.   In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” Download Full Speech in PDF

Short Declamation Speech

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Declamation Speech for Students

Declamation Speech for College Students

The Impact of Declamation in Different Speech Types

• Welcome Speech: In welcome speeches , declamation sets a welcoming and friendly tone, immediately engaging the audience.
• Motivational Speech: For motivational speeches , declamation is crucial in inspiring and energizing listeners, driving them to action.
• Celebration Speech: In celebration speeches, the declamatory style adds to the festive and joyous mood, effectively honoring the occasion.
• Narrative Speech: Declamation in narrative speeches helps in vivid storytelling, making the narrative more compelling and engaging.
• Appreciation Speech: When it comes to appreciation speeches, declamation allows the speaker to express gratitude and recognition in a heartfelt and sincere manner.

Characteristics of Declamatory Speech

• Emotional Expression: Declamation is marked by its ability to evoke and convey emotions effectively to the audience.
• Clear and Precise Communication: It involves delivering a message with clarity and precision, ensuring that the audience fully grasps the intended meaning.
• Dynamic Delivery: The use of varying tones, pacing, and body language keeps the audience captivated and emphasizes key points of the speech.
• Memorization and Preparation: Declamatory speeches are often memorized, allowing the speaker to focus on their delivery and the audience’s response.

Declamation and Storytelling Speech

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Simple Declamation Speech

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Crime Declamation Speech Example

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Good Declamation Speech in PDF

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Recalling Declamation Speech

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Sample Declamation Speech

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Inspiring Declamation Speech Example

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Guidelines in Choosing Your Declamation Piece

Ever found yourself stuck in deciding what declamation piece to present? Most of the time, declamation speeches are speeches that were presented by another person, perhaps the writer of the speech, in a form of presenting his or her declamation piece. With the myriad of declamation pieces available, it makes you indecisive on what declamation piece you would want to present. Here are five simple guidelines that will help you in choosing your declamation piece:

1. You can present it with passion.

Choose a speech that you can pour your heart out as you deliver it. If you cannot present the piece with passion, you will surely sound fake and forced. There is no point at all in presenting a piece that does not hold any meaning to you. You may also see presentation speech examples & samples.

2. You can present it with conviction.

Choose a speech with a point or message that meets and agrees your principles in life. In this way, you will be able to present your chosen piece with conviction; thus, sounding convincing enough to your audience.

3. The speech has a natural build.

There are speeches that would make you sound robotic in that  you need to exert more effort to adjust. Choose a speech that would start low at the beginning but would eventually reach to a climax that would excite and hook your listeners. You may also like speech examples for students .

4. The speech fits within the given time frame.

Always make sure that you choose a speech that fits the given time limit. Even if you meet all the given criteria but you fail to fit the time frame, then it still serves you no good. Choose a speech that does not go beyond the time limit and also surpasses half of the given time. You may also check out how to conclude a speech .

5. The speech can be understood by your audience.

Not all people can relate to every declamation piece out there so the least you can do is to make it understandable to your audience. Choose a speech that has a clear message so that it will be easy for you to deliver to the audience. It cannot be helped that there are topics that your audience can’t relate, and that you could not possibly know what kind of audience you deliver the speech to. But if given the opportunity to know who your audience are, make sure that your speech is worth listening for. You might be interested in appreciation speech examples & samples.

How to Judge Declamation Speech

Judging a declamation speech involves evaluating several key aspects:

• Content Understanding: Assess how well the speaker understands and interprets the speech’s content.
• Delivery: Evaluate the effectiveness of the speaker’s delivery, including voice modulation, clarity, pacing, and use of pauses.
• Emotional Appeal: Consider how effectively the speaker conveys the emotions and tone of the speech.
• Body Language: Observe the speaker’s body language, including gestures, facial expressions, and overall stage presence.
• Audience Engagement: Note how well the speaker connects with and holds the attention of the audience.
• Originality in Presentation: While the speech content is not original, look for originality in the way the speaker presents it.
• Adherence to Time Limits: Check if the speaker effectively manages their time and stays within the set limits.

Conviction Declamation Speech

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4 Simple Tips on How to Deliver a Declamation Speech

You do not need a lot of tips to enhance your delivery of a declamation piece. You just need the right ones to help you in improving your declamation speech delivery. Here are four simple and easy tips on how you should deliver your declamation pieces that will earn you a round of applause and a standing ovation from your audience:

1. Practice, Practice, and Practice.

Given that you have already written or researched your declamation speech, you should start practicing your piece more than once or twice. It is always effective that you rehearse in front of a mirror so that you could see yourself as you speak and identify the hand gestures you need to work on. It is also good to rehearse on your own so you can listen how you deliver the piece. You could also rehearse in front of someone you are comfortable practicing in front with so that the parts where you need to work on that go unnoticed as you practice by yourself will be noticed by other people who will help you in determining what are the other things in your speech delivery you should work on. You may also see introduction speech examples & samples .

Time yourself as you practice so that you would be able to train yourself in delivering your speech within the given time limit. If you find yourself exceeding the time limit, figure out the parts of the piece that you can speed up. Also, make sure that you are not sacrificing or compromising the quality of your speech. One example of compromising the quality of your speech is that you would already start eating your words which would result to people not understanding what you are saying at all. You may also like  tribute speech examples & samples.

As you practice, make sure that you visualize yourself delivering your speech on the stage. You want to sound with authority and look confident? You can always visualize it. In doing so, you will eventually become exactly what you have envisioned yourself to be. You may also check out special occasion speech examples & samples.

2. Sound Natural.

Have you noticed that when you memorize something and then you deliver it, you sound robotic? It is because you are trying to deliver it like you are reading the paper. One way of helping yourself in sounding natural in delivering your speech while practicing is by making some markers. Take for instance this one paragraph taken from the declamation piece entitled “Am I to be Blamed?”:

Please/ let me go,/ let me go home before you imprisoned me.// Very well,/ officers? Take me to your headquarters.// Good morning captain!// No captain,/ you are mistaken,/ I was once a good girl,/ just like the rest of you here. Just like any of your daughters.// But time was, /when I was reared in slums.// But we lived honestly,/ we lived honestly in life.// My father,/ mother,/ brothers,/ sisters, and I.// But then,/ poverty enter the portals of our home/// My father became jobless,/ my mother got ill. The small savings/ that my mother had kept for our expenses/ were spent. All for our daily needs/ and her needed medicine.//

Notice the slash symbols? Aside from the comma and the period, the slash symbols can be used as markers that will signify or help you in locating where you should pause. Without these markers, you would be talking straight. Talking straight makes you sound like someone void of emotions. You can also encircle the words and phrases you want to put on the emphasis. Marking helps you in making your own tempo of the declamation and will make you sound much alive. You might be interested in leadership speech examples & samples.

Sounding natural also helps you make a connection with your audience since it sounds like you are just having a normal conversation with them. Normal conversations would often engage and encourage people to listen.

3. Enhance Your Body Language.

Can you imagine yourself delivering your speech by only standing straight throughout your delivery and your face empty of emotions? According to experts, our body language takes up between 55% and 65% in our communication. That only means that no matter how good you are verbally and vocally but your body stands stiff and face void of emotions, then your speech could only make little to no impact on your audience. You may also see declamation speech examples.

Aside from the fact that enhancing body language helps in establishing a connection to your audience and an impact-filled stage presence, body language also helps you in expressing your declamation speech effectively. Since you have already expressed your speech well, this increases the percentage of retention of your speech in your audience. This will also help your audience in identifying which part of your declamation speech is the most impact-filled part. Use hand gestures to show the points where you want to emphasize. You may also like welcome speech examples & samples.

However, it does not necessarily mean that you have to make exaggerated hand gestures in every word of your speech. There are some lines in some declamation pieces where the absence of a hand gesture enhances the meaning of the line but always make sure that your facial expression compensates the absence of hand gestures. Always be mindful of your hand gestures since it can be your medium where you unconsciously show your nervousness or anxiety as you deliver your speech. Do not also make it to a point where you use hand gestures as a cover up to your forgotten lines or simply as decoration. You may also check out thank-you speech examples & samples.

4. Relax, Breathe, Smile, and Have Fun.

Delivering any kind of speeches can be nerve-racking but if you would allow yourself to be overwhelmed with nervousness, then chances are, you will really mess up your delivery big time. As the famous idiom goes “fake it ’til you make it”, make it a point that once you already feel nervous, fake confidence until it becomes real. Always distract yourself from thinking that you might trip or forget a line. Remember Murphy’s Law that goes “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. If you keep on thinking that things will go wrong, it will really go wrong. You just have to relax or else you will really trip or forget lines from your declamation speech. Just have fun and your audience will also have fun listening to you. You may also see orientation speech examples & samples.

If you still find it hard to focus and get rid of your nervousness, you can always focus on the message you want to point out to your audience in your speech. In that way, you can speak with conviction and will be able to deliver your message with genuine confidence. You may also like acceptance speech examples.

What type of speech style is declamation?

Declamation is a style of speech that is typically dramatic and impassioned. It often involves the delivery of a previously written or well-known speech, poem, or piece of oratory with a strong emphasis on emotional expression and powerful delivery. The speaker aims to convey the message or content with a high level of intensity, engaging the audience through their vocal and physical expressions. This style of speech is intended to captivate and move the audience, making it a classic form of persuasive and dramatic communication.

What is the difference between speech and declamation?

General faq’s, what is the declamation speech definition.

Declamation is a formal and dramatic speech style in which a speaker delivers a pre-existing speech, poem, or oratory, emphasizing passionate and expressive delivery to engage and move the audience.

What are the Good speeches for Declamation?

Good declamation speeches are typically emotionally charged and thought-provoking, often drawn from historical speeches, social issues, or literature, offering compelling content and opportunities for passionate delivery.

Declamation speech Introduction Examples?

Declamation speech introductions should captivate the audience. Examples include quoting famous lines, posing rhetorical questions, or sharing relevant anecdotes, setting the stage for a compelling and engaging presentation.

How long Should a Declamation Speech be?

The length of a declamation speech can vary but is typically 5-10 minutes. It should be long enough to convey the emotional impact of the piece while holding the audience’s attention.

Is declamation speech memorized?

Yes, declamation speeches are typically memorized. A key aspect of declamation is the dramatic and expressive delivery, which is best achieved when the speech is committed to memory.

Declamation speeches are a powerful tool in public speaking, capable of inspiring, motivating, and leaving a profound impact on audiences. From historical addresses to contemporary motivational speeches, their emotionally resonant and dynamic delivery continues to play a crucial role in effective communication, demonstrating the timeless art of connecting deeply with listeners.

Greatest Speeches of All Time by Famous Personalities

• I Have a Dream Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Theodore Roosevelt, “Duties of American Citizenship”
• Winston Churchill, “We Shall Fight on the Beaches”
• Lou Gehrig, “Farewell to Baseball Address”
• Demosthenes, “The Third Philippic”
• Chief Joseph, “Surrender Speech”
• John F. Kennedy, “Inauguration Address”
• Ronald Reagan, “Address to the Nation on the Challenger”
• “Speech of Alexander the Great”
• William Wilberforce, “Abolition Speech”
• Theodore Roosevelt, “The Man with the Muck-rake”
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “First Inaugural Address”
• Charles de Gaulle, “The Appeal of 18 June”
• Socrates, “Apology”
• George Washington, “Resignation Speech”
• Mahatma Gandhi, “Quit India”
• Winston Churchill, “Their Finest Hour”
• William Faulkner, “Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech”
• Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Farewell Address”
• Marcus Tullius Cicero, “The First Oration Against Catiline”
• Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”
• Pericles, “Funeral Oration”
• General Douglas MacArthur, “Farewell Address to Congress”
• Theodore Roosevelt, “Strength and Decency”
• Abraham Lincoln, “2nd Inaugural Address”
• Patrick Henry, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
• Ronald Reagan, “40th Anniversary of D-Day”
• John F. Kennedy, “The Decision to Go to the Moon”
• Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
• General Douglas MacArthur, “Duty, Honor, Country”
• Theodore Roosevelt, “Citizenship in a Republic”
• Winston Churchill, “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation”
• Jesus Christ, “The Sermon on the Mount”
• Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address”
• Nobel Lecture by Mother Teresa
• Swami Vivekananda and His 1893 Speech in Chicago

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Declamation speech resources

How to choose, understand & deliver a declamation speech well.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

A declamation speech is the term used to describe the  re-giving  of an important or famous speech.

It could be a political, graduation or commencement speech, a eulogy, a sermon: any type of speech at all as long as it's one that had significant impact on those who heard it.

But what's their purpose? How do you choose a good piece?  Where do you look for one? And how do you work with it?

The answers to those questions are here.

What's on this page:

• the purpose of a declamation speech, and its origins
• how to choose a piece - guidelines to follow
• where to look for a piece, links to collections of notable speeches
• how to work with a piece: step by step guidelines covering interpretation, delivery and rehearsal
• links to additional declamation resources
• a definition of declamation as it's used in the phrase 'declamation speech'

The purpose of a declamation speech

The speaker's task is to re-interpret the original, reproducing its power afresh.

Often this exercise will be set as part of studying public speaking skills. The purpose is to have the student directly experience the power of masterfully crafted language. Through their interpretation the techniques and skills of the original orator are learned.

In  Toastmasters , the skills learned in giving a declamation speech are covered in the advanced  Interpretive Reading  manual: project 5 - The Oratorical Speech. 

Declamation speech origins

This method of teaching was used in ancient Greece where public speaking was considered a necessary art for anybody embarking on a career in public service.

A declamation was a practice piece set by a teacher for exactly the same reason they are set now: to have a student learn the skills of combining eloquent language with equally eloquent delivery in order to argue or persuade.

The great 4th century  Greek orator Demosthenes  is said to have honed his craft through studying the speeches of the great orators who preceded him.

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Choosing a declamation speech

The speech you choose is critical.

Firstly, you must like it. There's no good to be gained from choosing something because you think it will please or impress your teacher and likewise, judges.  You're going to work on this piece to make it your own. Therefore it needs to genuinely reflect you in theme and message.

And secondly it needs a combination of the qualities listed in the following areas:-

• Style of language : Elevated, inspirational, elegant, poetic, masterful - the speech should be an example of 'beautiful' language and construction.
• Structure : Look for unity of purpose. The piece needs to be structurally coherent - have a beginning, development and close. It is not a loose ramble or collection of impressions without form.
• Theme : The message or theme running through it should be worthy of its oratorical treatment, i.e., the style of language specified above. It must be important and applicable beyond the time it was first delivered. For example, Martin Luther King's 'I  had a dream'  speech has carried its theme down the years without any loss of potency or relevance. (But be warned  - choose carefully. A famous speech such as King's 'I had a dream' will have been heard and heard again. You need something of similar impact but with considerably less profile.)
• Impact : The speech must have reached and grabbed the hearts and minds of its listeners. It will have persuasively challenged and changed the way people thought and acted, uniting and inspiring them toward a common goal or course of action.

If you're choosing for a competition before you make your choice be sure to review the guidelines and do take note of the allocated time. Be prepared to cut your selection to fit.

Search for a declamation piece

Looking for just the right extract takes time. The links below are a good starting point.

Other avenues worth exploring are archives of previous declamation competition winners, asking for help from your teachers, or librarians, experimenting with search words: eulogies, motivational or persuasive speeches, civil rights speeches ...

Keep going until you find something you know you'll feel wholehearted about.

Famous speeches from African Americans

• African American History: Major Speeches
• Say It Plain - American Radio Works -A century of great African American speeches
• Notable Speeches and Letters by African Americans from Benjamin Banneker to Barack Obama

Famous American speeches

• American Rhetoric - a 5000+ database of speeches, including the top 100 speeches

Famous speeches - world wide

• A cross-cultural collection of famous speeches, both historical and contemporary

Famous speeches by women

• 25 Powerful Commencement Speeches by Famous Women
• History’s Most Powerful Speeches Given By Women

Listen and watch: famous speeches

• Learn Out Loud - podcasts of 10 famous speeches
• 25 of the most shared TED talks of all time

Understanding your declamation piece

- Make getting to know your piece your top priority If you learn or memorize the text of the speech without understanding it your delivery will become an ultimate blah-blah-blah talking head presentation.

Find out about the original context of the speech

What was the occasion the speech was written for? What period of time was it?  What was happening in society generally?

Who was the audience? Why had they come along to hear the speaker? What did they need or expect from the speech?

Find out about the person who originally gave the speech

Who was he or, she?  What passions drove them? Did they write the speech themselves? What did they want from the speech? (Was there a specific purpose or goal?)

What delivery characteristics did they use? Any particular habits?

What does this speech mean to you?

Can you put what is being said into your own words?  The more you dig into the meaning of the piece, emotionally and intellectually, the more able you'll be to convey it convincingly.  

Print the speech in a clear font and double spaced

You will use the gaps to write yourself notes and mark it up for delivery. For example, putting in the pauses, or breath points, the places to soften your voice, increase the volume or, for movement.

Make several copies. You are going to need them. ☺

Listen to the original speaker

If you can, listen to original speech while reading your copy.  Note how the speaker is using their voice. What qualities are you hearing? Do they change for different portions of the speech?  Why? Can you hear a beat or rhythm? What effect does that have?

Listen until you can clearly identify changes in tone, pitch, and pace, and know why it's being done.

The goal of delivering a declamation speech well

The goal is not to impersonate, or mimic, the original speech maker.

For example, if you are working with one of Winston Churchill's war time speeches* you don't have to 'become ' him, in the same way an actor would if he was playing him in a play or a film

However you do have to find and sincerely draw out the qualities of the speech making it memorable. That, is your goal.

*To see the full text of the speech the quote is drawn from, and much, much more about Winston Churchill, visit:  The Few, 1940 . 

Rehearsing your speech

Along with choosing an appropriate piece, and understanding it, thorough and regular practice is what will distinguish what you do from everyone else.

If you're serious about performing well, check these links. 

Begin with these full guidelines on how to rehearse . You'll find an easily followed step by step process, with detours into other areas should you need them:

• vocal variety to bring color and interest into your voice
• help to use pause and pace effectively, as well as,
• diction exercises to clear up any sloppy  pronunciation issues

 Extra Resources

Declamation Competitions This is a Wikipedia page with ongoing links to the National Catholic Forensic League and the Theodore Gibson Oratorical Project . And here's a link to a set of excellent resources from forensicscommunity.com . There is a wealth of information here: guides, a forum and links to videos. It's a must-look site if you're serious about performing to the best of your ability.

Declamation definition

The action or art of declaiming; the repeating or uttering of a speech, etc. with studied intonation and gesture.

• A public speech or address of rhetorical character; a set speech in rhetorical elocution.
• Declaiming or speaking in an impassioned oratorical manner; fervid denunciation with appeals to the audience.
• A speech of a rhetorical kind expressing strong feeling and addressed to the passions of the hearers; a declamatory speech, a harangue.
• Renunciation, repudiation, disclaimer.

For more see the multiple definitions gathered together on one page by thefreedictionary.com/declamation

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Declamation Speech Examples for Students and Teachers

A Declamation Speech is one of the trickiest speeches to prepare and deliver. Re-imagining a famous speech from a well-known

Reported by Anshika Saxena

Published on 1 May 2024

A Declamation Speech is one of the trickiest speeches to prepare and deliver. Re-imagining a famous speech from a well-known orator and adding your perspectives to it requires much effort. However, a masterfully delivered Declamation Speech that wins the audience makes all your effort worth it. Through this article, we will discuss the Declamation Speech examples that will help you prepare your speech.

In addition, we will also give you ample insights into preparing an eloquent and well-structured Declamation Speech. So, do check out this article through to the end.

How to Choose a Declamation Speech?

Choosing a Declamation Speech from a renowned orator’s great pieces is no easy task. However, if you keep the following things in mind, you might be able to pick the right Declamation piece to reinterpret in your language.

• Pick a Speech you Personally Resonate With – This is crucial when choosing a Declamation Speech. As you reimagine a great speech from your point of view, it must have a profound impact on you. Otherwise, your attempt to prepare the speech will also come off as half-hearted.
• Pick a Timeless Speech- Your speech topic must be relevant today. If you pick a dated speech, then it might be hard for your audience to connect.
• Pick a Speech with a Strong Theme at its Core- The declamation piece that you choose must be constructed around a strong theme. You must not pick a speech that is just pointless rambling by the orator.
• Pick a Well-Structured Speech- Your speech needs to have a strong opening, an insightful body, and a memorable conclusion. This will make the process of reimagining the speech relatively easier.
• Understand the Significance of the Event- Do not choose a speech that feels out of place in the event. If the speech completely matches the theme of the event, then the audience will connect with it more.

Introduction of a Declamation Speech

The Introduction part of your Declamation Speech can be used to surprise the audience. It is highly likely that the Declamation Piece you are reimagining is known to your audience. Therefore, by not starting the speech in a conventional manner, you can surprise the audience and engross them in the speech.

For this, you can use a few creative elements. This includes a rhetorical question, a baffling statistic, a quote, etc. But keep in mind whatever you include in the speech must fit its context and not appear out of place.

In the introduction, you can also briefly tell the audience why you chose this specific Declamation Piece for your speech.

Declamation Speech Body

A Declamation Speech is given to evoke strong emotions from the audience. However, you cannot have a strong emotional impact on the audience without a suitable build-up. So, you have to infuse the body of your speech with elements of that build-up.

For this build-up, you can use your creativity to the fullest. You can use an anecdote that fits the context of your speech. Moreover, you can use a short and crisp story that ties in with the theme of the speech.

You can also use this part of the speech to give the audience insights into the life of the original orator of the speech. All these things will make the conclusion of your speech more impactful and memorable.

Impactful Conclusion of a Declamation Speech

More often than not, the conclusion of a Declamation Speech is used to persuade the audience to think like the speaker. So, you can also end your speech with a “Call to Action,” asking them to act like the original orator wanted.

Keep in mind you must not just impose your thoughts onto the audience. Feel the emotions of the conclusion yourself and let the audience connect with you. Furthermore, you can end your speech with a takeaway sentence that remains etched in your audience’s brains for a long time.

Things to Keep in Mind While Preparing a Declamation Speech

While preparing your Declamation Speech, you must remember the following things.

• Do not impersonate the original orator of the speech. This way, your speech will come off as disingenuous, and the audience will not be able to connect with it.
• Keep the tone of the speech powerful to have a profound impact on the audience.
• Watch the original speech by the orator multiple times and try to understand their perspective entirely.
• Read your speech aloud and ensure that your pitch is steady.
• Use vocal varieties in your speech and gestures to convey your message to the audience.
• Do not complicate your speech by blending too many ideas.
• Tell the audience about your fondness for the chosen Declamation Speech and its orator to resonate with them emotionally.
• Make sure your speech is brimming with passion and emotion for the entirety of its duration.

Declamation Speech Examples

The following are examples of some of the best Declamation Speech Examples by renowned personalities and takeaway statements from their speeches. You can go through them and accordingly pick a speech to reimagine yourself .

Final Words

We hope our article provided useful insights into Declamation Speech examples, tips, and structure. You can feel free to ask us more of your queries in the comment section below. Also, to keep consuming more useful and worthwhile content like this, stay connected to us through the NVSHQ Homepage .

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Middle School and Freshman Declamation

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Declamations

GRADES 6-9: DECLAMATION

A declamation is a 2-3 minute minimum recitation of a literature selection.  Grades 6-8 perform their declamation in front of the middle school and students in grade 9 perform their declamation in front of the whole school community.

Time Your Declamation

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• Last Updated: Aug 19, 2021 11:56 AM
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Category: Declamation

Declamation: The Art of Expressive Oratory

Declamation is an artistic method of public speaking that expresses the full sense of the text being conveyed through articulation, emphasis, and gesture. This type of dramatic oration can be used to...

Choosing a Declamation Piece for High School

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From speeches by ancient historians to those given by modern U.S. presidents, you can find a wealth of possible declamation pieces through online speech banks and anthologies of famous speeches. Many online resources feature audio and video of the original speeches to help you understand the power behind the original speech .

What Is a Declamation Speech?

A declamation piece is a speech that was originally given by a well-known orator. Declamation speeches originated in ancient Greece as a way for people to practice public speaking skills, and they have now evolved into a common practice for high school students as a way to learn how to give oral presentations and improve speaking skills. The National Catholic Forensic League has a yearly public speaking event where students compete and give their declamations. The competition is for students in grades nine or ten and the pieces cannot be more than ten minutes long. Many students choose excerpts from famous speeches and literary works for their declamation piece, with the idea being to recite the motivational speech with the same power and authority as the original speaker. The speech should be memorized and conveyed in a way that is memorable although not acted out. The speech should also be spoken in a way that is subtle and detached, not dramatic.

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Speeches to Choose From

There are lots of different interesting speeches that high schoolers can use for a declamation speech. Explore several speeches that cover a variety of categories .

Declamation Speeches About Life

There are speeches and then there are speeches. These speeches about life show people how to not fear the failure and roll with the punches.

• The Fringe Benefits of Failure by JK Rowling. In her 20-minute commencement speech at Harvard, JK Rowling discusses how to not let failure stop you from embracing your dream.
• How to Live Before You Die by Steve Jobs. This 15-minute commencement speech discusses how to accomplish your dream in spite of setbacks.
• Commencement Address by Stephen Colbert. In 20 minutes, Colbert shows students how to roll with the punches the life brings.

Declamation Pieces About Love

Whether it is a message about loving yourself, your enemies or those around you, examine speeches that discuss love.

• Loving Your Enemies by Martin Luther King. An inspirational sermon giving by King, Loving Your Enemies shows us how important it is to love enemies even though it is difficult.
• How to Love and Be Loved by Billy Ward. This 17-minute inspirational speech uses a personal story to show how important it is to be loved.
• Love Yourself by Tom Bilyeu. In this 15-minute speech, Tom Bilyeu and Tyrese Gibson deliver a motivational speech about the laws of attraction and loving yourself.

Funny Declamation Speeches

A little humor is a good thing. If you are looking to make your class laugh , try out these declamation pieces.

• Commencement Address by Jim Carey. In 25 minutes, Jim Carey delivers a funny and inspirational message about the power of love and thinking big about your future.
• I Got 99 Problems… Palsy is Just One by Maysoon Zayid. Maysoon uses humor and wit to discuss being disabled in this 14-minute inspirational piece.
• Create Your Own Destiny by Maya Rudolph. Maya delivers a 15 minute inspirational and motivational speech that uses personal stories and comedy to demonstrate building your own future.

Speeches by Famous Personalities

Sometimes the words of famous personalities like musicians and actors have the greatest impact. Look at these short inspirational speeches by famous personalities.

• Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing by Ed Sheeran. Sheeran uses personal stories and humor in this 2-minute persuasive speech that shows how being different is a good thing.
• Body Positivity by Ashley Graham. In less than 2 minutes, Graham motivates and inspires the audience about loving yourself just the way you are.
• Loving Yourself for Yourself by Pink. Pink motivates the audience in her 3 minute Music Award speech to embrace our differences and how they make us special through a story about her daughter.

Famous Speeches in History

Speech throughout history by public figures have shaped our country. Examine some of the most persuasive and motivational speeches throughout history.

• We Shall Fight on the Beaches by Winston Churchill. Churchill motivates and inspires a nation to push through and fight during World War II in this 12 minute persuasive speech.
• I Am Prepared to Die by Nelson Mandela. In this long speech, Nelson Mandela works to motivate a nation to change through non-violent means.
• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King. In less than 20 minutes, King persuades a nation to see his dream for freedom for all people regardless of race.

Speeches by Women

The view of women can many times be different from that of men. Examine these different speeches written by women.

• On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelo. This 6-minute inspirational poem made at Bill Clinton's Inauguration calls for change and inclusion.
• Looking at Technology Through Women's Eyes by Robin Adams. This persuasive speech explores the role of women in technology and how it is changing.
• I've Been Stood Up on My Wedding Day by M.C. Espina. This short, expressive piece shows the plight of a teen woman stood up on her wedding day and how this changes her.

Speeches in Under Five Minutes

Not so good at standing up in front of the class, short declamation pieces can be your best friend. Take a look at these short gems that still pack a bunch.

• Vengeance Is Not Ours, It's Gods , author unknown. This short inspirational speech uses a memory to show the power of forgiveness.
• The Face Upon the Floor by Hugh Antoine d'Arcy. This short ballad combines humor and pain through the loss of a love.
• Land of Bondage, Land of the Free by Raul Manglapus. This short inspirational piece explores oppression and how to find freedom against it.
• Oh Captain, My Captain by Walt Whitman. This historical, persuasive poem represents Abraham Lincoln's fall during the civil war.

Five Minute Speeches

Short is great but sometimes teachers call for a little length. Don't go overboard with these speeches that come in at about five minutes.

Address on the Challenger Disaster by Ronald Reagan. In Reagan's Address to the Nation, Reagan uses motivational speaking to remind the audience of the loss of the crew and what it means to the nation.

I Have Sinned by Bill Clinton. In this inspirational speech, Clinton apologizes to a nation and asks for forgiveness.

Never Give in Speech by Winston Churchill. In just under 5 minutes, Churchill provides motivation and inspiration to a warring national about the importance of not giving in.

More Online Resources for Speeches

Here are some additional websites that will help with choosing a speech:

• American Rhetoric has hundreds of speeches from American history and suggestions on how to improve speaking ability.
• Gift of Speech has famous speeches by women.
• Famous Speeches has a collection of famous speeches by influential people in history.
• View past speech titles given by the National Forensic League members.

How to Choose Your Declamation Piece

There are hundreds of speeches that could work as a declamation for high school students who are involved in speech, debate, or forensics. Here are some tips on choosing a great speech and theme:

• Focus on speeches that utilize masterful and eloquent language.
• Choose a speech you understand.
• Understand the theme and context of the speech. Choose speeches that mean something to you so you can capture the right emotion.
• Examine the history behind your speech.
• Use speeches that you are drawn to. Whether it be because of the history or the humor, these will be the speeches that you can deliver the best.
• Look at the style of the language in the piece. Avoid those that are going to trip you up.
• Decide whether length will be an issue.
• Think about your audience and the audience of the speech.
• Explore whether you can emulate the passion of the original author.

Giving Your Declamation Piece

Remember too that practice makes perfect. Listen to your speech several times before you have to deliver it. Try to deliver it in such a way as to invoke emotion in your audience. Think about how the speech communicates the key ideas to the audience. Once you've practiced several times, you are ready.

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Study Mumbai

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Here’s how to prepare a declamation speech

July 13, 2022 by studymumbai Leave a Comment

A declamation speech is a shortened version of a speech that was delivered earlier by a well-known personality. The person giving the declamation speech can use their own words and thoughts to deliver the original message.

A declamation speech is a motivational speech, and the idea is not to imitate the original person but to deliver the message of the original orator in your own way, and make it shorter.

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Structure of a declamation speech

Several schools how have declamation speech competitions where students are expected to give speech of well-known personalities.

Here is a format to be followed when giving a declamation speech:

• Provide Introduction: For example, “Respected Teachers, I am (mention name) from Class (mention standard-division). My declamation speech is based on Barrack Obama’s address to the students of St Xavier College, Mumbai”.
• Say the Speech
• Say ‘Thank You’ in the End.

Declamation Speech Competition Requirements

Here is the requirement of a Declamation Speech Competition for students aged under 10 years.

Each speaker will be given 3 minutes to speak. At the end of 2 minutes 30 seconds, a warning bell will be rung. The final bell will be sounded at the end of the third minute. Speaking for less than 2 minutes 30 seconds and more than 3 minutes will entail a deduction of 5 marks by each judge. It has to be a speech that has been delivered by a national or international personality.

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Speech on Declamation

Declamation is a powerful way to express ideas. It’s an art where you recite a speech, making it come alive with your voice and gestures.

Think of it as a performance. You step into the shoes of the original speaker, reliving their words and emotions. It’s not just about talking, it’s about feeling and sharing those feelings with others.

1-minute Speech on Declamation

Good day, everyone! Today, I want to talk about something exciting yet challenging. I’m here to speak about declamation.

Declamation is like painting, but with words. It’s an art form where you use your voice, your gestures, and your expressions to bring a written piece to life. Just like a painter uses colors to create a beautiful scene, a person doing a declamation uses words to create a vivid image in the minds of the listeners.

Now, let’s look at why declamation is important. It’s not just about standing on a stage and talking. Declamation helps you grow. It builds confidence. It teaches you how to express your thoughts clearly and effectively. It’s like a gym workout for your communication skills. The more you do it, the stronger your skills become.

But remember, good declamation doesn’t happen overnight. It needs practice. It’s like learning to ride a bicycle. You may fall a few times, but with every fall, you learn something new. So, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. They are stepping stones to success.

In the end, declamation is about telling a story. It’s about sharing your thoughts and ideas with the world. It’s about making people see what you see, feel what you feel. And when you can do that, you become more than just a speaker. You become a storyteller, an artist, a leader.

So, let’s embrace declamation. Let’s use it to express, to learn, to grow. Let’s use it to make our voices heard. Thank you.

2-minute Speech on Declamation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let’s talk about declamation. You might be thinking, what’s that? It’s a big word, isn’t it? Well, it’s not as big as it sounds. Declamation is just a fancy way of saying “public speaking”. It’s when someone stands up in front of a group of people and talks about something important.

Now, why is declamation important? Think about this. When you have something to say, you want people to listen, right? You want them to understand your point of view. That’s where declamation comes in. It teaches you how to speak clearly and confidently, so people will listen to what you have to say.

Let’s take an example. Imagine your favorite storybook. Now, imagine that book without any full stops or commas. Would it make sense? No, right? Similarly, declamation is like the full stops and commas in our speech. It helps us to deliver our thoughts in a way that makes sense to others.

Now, you might be thinking, “But I’m too shy.” Or, “I don’t like talking in front of people.” And that’s okay. It’s normal to feel nervous. But remember, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you get. And declamation is no different. It’s like learning to ride a bike. At first, you might fall. You might feel scared. But with time, you get better. And one day, you’re riding without even thinking about it.

So, how can you practice declamation? Start small. Talk to your friends, your family. Share your thoughts and ideas. Listen to others too. Learn from them. And then, slowly, you can start speaking in front of larger groups.

Remember, it’s not just about talking. It’s about listening too. It’s about understanding others and making sure they understand you. It’s about sharing ideas and learning from each other. That’s what declamation is all about.

In conclusion, declamation is not just a big word. It’s a powerful tool. It helps us to express ourselves clearly and confidently. It helps us to share our thoughts and ideas with others. It helps us to learn, to grow, and to understand the world around us. So, let’s embrace declamation. Let’s learn to speak, to listen, and to understand.

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Sample Ballot – Declamation – Blank

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What is Declamation?

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