Guidelines for Writing a Commencement Address
The draft you write for consideration does not need to be a final version, but should give the panelists a clear idea of what you plan to say in your speech. The traditional commencement address has had content which reflects back on the class's experiences and also gives advice or guidance for the future. The tone should be one which inspires and motivates the listeners.
Although the Commencement Address is directed at the graduating class, the message needs to be meaningful and appropriate for the adult audience present as well. Content, language, or style which parents or grandparents might find offensive is not suitable for a Commencement Address.
Humor can be an effective minor element of a Commencement Address. The predominant message, and consequently the predominant writing style, should be serious, thoughtful and inspirational.
Format: This a general map of graduation speeches. It is not required. Feel free to be creative. But as a starting point, you might want to observe the following steps.
Introduction--
* Attention getting anecdote
* Establish a theme -- Past speakers have used themes like the qualities of Eagles or the symbolic importance of bridges
* Set purpose or message
Body--
* Reflect on events of past 4 years
* Reflect on present status
* Reflect on where things are headed
Conclusion--
* Re-emphasize message
* Closing thoughts and anecdotes
A few helpful suggestions:
Though you may want to fill your speech with inspirational quotations, and heartfelt thoughts of hope, be careful of overusing clichés. Because they have been used so often, clichés do not always hold much power within a text and tend to be easily forgotten by an audience.
On the other hand, the most memorable speeches are those that tell some type of story. Typically, speakers will use either brief anecdotes or longer narratives to convey their message. As opposed to citing bland clichés that are easy to forget, stories tend to stay with people and carry a stronger emotional and intellectual impact.
Here are some samples of past commencement addresses.
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