Barbara P
Barbara P

20+ Outstanding Speech Examples for Your Help

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15 min read

speech examples

On This Page

  • 1. What Are Speech Examples?
  • 2. Speech Examples 
  • 3. Format and Structure of Speech
  • 4. Tips to Write a Good Speech

Public speaking can be daunting for students. They often struggle to start, engage the audience, and be memorable. 

It's a fear of forgetting words or losing the audience's interest. This leads to anxiety and self-doubt. 

You may wonder, "Am I boring them? Will they remember what I say? How can I make my speech better?"

The solution lies in speech examples. In this guide, we'll explore these examples to help students create captivating and memorable speeches with confidence.
So, keep reading to find helpful examples!

On This PageArrow Down

  • 1. What Are Speech Examples?
  • 2. Speech Examples 
  • 3. Format and Structure of Speech
  • 4. Tips to Write a Good Speech

What Are Speech Examples?

Speech examples are sample speeches that demonstrate effective structure, engaging openings, clear arguments, and memorable conclusions. They serve as templates showing how to organize ideas, use rhetorical devices, and connect with audiences. Good speech examples teach the mechanics of public speaking through real-world demonstrations rather than abstract theory.

Speech Examples 

Talking in front of a bunch of audiences is not as easy as it seems. But, if you have some good content to deliver or share with the audience, the confidence comes naturally.

Before you start writing your speech, it is a good idea that you go through some good speech samples. The samples will help to learn how to start the speech and put information into a proper structure. 

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Stuck with your speech? Let our experts write it!

Speech Examples for Students 

Speech writing is a huge part of academic life. These types of writing help enhance the creative writing skills of students.

Here is an amazing farewell speech sample for students to get you inspired.

2013 Student Graduation Speech

Good morning, family, friends, faculty, and fellow graduates.


Well, we did it. We all accomplished one of the major early milestones of our lives: high school graduation. This is a major step in the journey of our lives, one that should be recognized for its immense significance. It is an act not only of personal commitment, but also one of pride. We all worked hard to get to this day, and our work did not go to waste. A high school diploma is a wonderful tool in this world, one that opens many doors of opportunity for anyone who is lucky enough to have one.


But graduation is not an end goal in itself; it is instead a part of the larger journey of life. Wherever your future takes you, let it take you somewhere. Life is a journey, and all accomplishments we achieve during its course should be taken as starting points for further achievements. Our graduation should serve as such a launching point, projecting us to wherever our futures are meant to take us, whether we land ourselves a career, take up a trade, or continue our education at college or Vocational/technical School.


But before we can begin to reach for the stars, there is one more personal milestone that we all need to reach. Most people who graduate from high school experience only one graduation — that from high school. But we all have one more shortly ahead of us.  


We’ve already shown our commitment to personal growth through making it to this ceremony today, but soon, all of us will experience another ceremony when we graduate from our programs. As I said before, life is a journey — we don’t stop growing once we get our diplomas. Life is about growing, and being in our programs gives each of us new opportunities to continue growing and to learn new skills that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.


And we don’t have to stop there! This graduation has already shown us how capable we all are of accomplishing our goals when we commit ourselves to them. I hope all of us here today can take this personal accomplishment as an example of how anything is truly possible when we put our minds to it. As we all continue on in our lives, let us take each new problem on with confidence, knowing that we have achieved great heights and are equipped with the necessary tools to tackle our futures.


The road that lies ahead won’t be easy. There will be obstacles and missed exits, potholes and roadblocks. There will be times when each of us will feel like we cannot possibly go on. There will be times when each of us will think he or she is alone, backed against the wall. But we are not alone — we are all on this journey together. We’ve made it this far — why should we back out now? Nothing worthwhile is easy, and that includes making the most out of our futures. But that doesn’t mean we give up on ourselves. We will keep pushing because we know we can achieve our dreams, and because we are worth it.
 
From this day forward, let us make each decision with our best interests in mind. Let us  believe in ourselves so that we may reach our goals and fulfill our dreams. Let us be the best that we can be so that we may fill our lives and the lives of those closest to us with happiness and with pride. We’ve already taken the first step by making it to this ceremony today — now, it’s time to take the next steps in the journey that is our lives and begin to build our futures.

Congratulations to the class of 2013!

3-Minute Campaign Speech for Student Body President

Good morning, Riverside High!

I'm Sarah Martinez, and I'm running for student body president. But I'm not here to make promises I can't keep. I'm here to tell you what I've already done and what we can do together.

Last year, when the music program faced budget cuts, I didn't just complain. I organized a fundraiser that brought in $5,000. When the cafeteria changed lunch times and created chaos, I didn't just wait for adults to fix it. I gathered 200 signatures and presented a solution to the principal. The schedule changed within two weeks.

That's what leadership means to me. Not grand speeches. Not popularity contests. Action.

Here's what I'll fight for as your president:

First, mental health support. One in three of us struggles with anxiety or depression. Yet our school has one counselor for 800 students. I'll work with administration to bring in additional mental health resources and create peer support groups where students help students.

Second, real-world learning. How many of you feel prepared for life after high school? I'll push for personal finance classes, college application workshops, and partnerships with local businesses for internship opportunities. School shouldn't just teach us to pass tests. It should prepare us for life.

Third, student voice. Your concerns shouldn't disappear into a suggestion box. I'll hold monthly open forums where you can raise issues directly. I'll create a student advisory board with representatives from every grade, every club, every corner of our school. Your voice will be heard, not just during election season, but every single day.

I know what you're thinking. "Politicians make promises and forget them." I get it. I've been disappointed too. That's why I'm making this commitment: I'll publish a monthly progress report. You'll see exactly what I'm working on, what's been accomplished, and where I've hit roadblocks. Complete transparency. You deserve nothing less.

Some candidates will promise you longer lunch periods, better vending machines, and more fun. Those things are great. But they're not what will change your high school experience.

What will change your experience is having someone who listens, who acts, and who treats this position like the responsibility it is, not just another line on a college application.

I'm not the most popular person running. I'm not the one with the flashiest posters. But I'm the one who will show up every day, work hard, and put your needs first.

This isn't about me. It's about us. It's about the school we want, the education we deserve, and the community we can build together.

On Friday, when you vote, don't vote for who has the most Instagram followers. Vote for who will follow through.

Vote for someone who will listen. Vote for someone who will act. Vote for real change.

Vote Sarah Martinez for student body president.

Thank you.

Below, you will find other downloadable PDF samples.

Speech Examples for School 

Every school and college has a student council. And every year, students elect themselves to be a part of the student council. It is mandatory to impress the student audience to get their votes. And for that, the candidate has to give an impressive speech. 

Here are some short speech examples for students.



Need a custom speech that captures your unique voice and situation? Our professional speech writing service creates tailored speeches for any occasion, from student council campaigns to graduation addresses.

Persuasive Speech Examples

The main purpose of a speech is to persuade the audience or convince them of what you say. And when it comes to persuasive speech, the sole purpose of speech becomes more specific.

Here is a persuasive speech sample for your help.                                                          


Informative Speech Examples

Informative speeches are intended to inform the audience. These types of speeches are designed to provide a detailed description of the chosen topic. 

Below we have provided samples of informative speech for you.


Entertainment Speech Examples

Entertainment speeches are meant to entertain the audience. These types of speeches are funny, as well as interesting. The given speech samples will help you in writing an entertaining speech.

Argumentative Speech Examples

Making a strong argument that is capable of convincing others is always difficult. And, when it comes to making a claim in an argumentative speech, it becomes more difficult. 

Check out the argumentative speech sample that demonstrates explicitly how an argumentative speech needs to be written.

Demonstration Speech Examples

The demonstrative speeches are intended to demonstrate or describe the speech topic in depth. Get inspired by the demonstrative speech sample given below and write a captivating demonstrative speech.

OBJECTS

Unsure how to start your speech? Let our experts do it!

Motivational Speech Examples

Motivational speeches are designed to motivate the audience to do something. Read out the sample motivational speech given below and learn the art of motivational speech writing.


Impromptu Speech Examples

Impromptu speech writing makes you nervous as you are not good at planning and organization.

Need impromptu speech topic ideas for practice? See our impromptu speech topics guide with dozens of prompts for all skill levels.

Graduation Speech Examples

Graduation speeches mark significant academic milestones and inspire graduating classes to embrace their futures. These speeches balance reflection on shared experiences with encouragement for the journey ahead.

When to use: High school graduations, college commencements, academic achievement ceremonies

What makes them effective: Personal anecdotes from school years, acknowledgment of teachers and family, life lessons learned, inspirational future vision, balance of humor and sincerity

Popular themes: Embracing change, the power of community, defining success, making an impact, carrying lessons forward

For complete graduation speech examples, templates for different roles, and step-by-step writing guidance, see our graduation speech guide.

Below is a sample graduation speech for your help. 

Wedding Speech Examples

“My best friend’s wedding is next week, and I’m the maid of honor. She asked me to give the maid of honor speech, but I’m not good at expressing emotions. I’m really stressed. I don’t know what to do.”

If you are one of these kinds of people who feel the same way, this sample is for you. Read the example given below and take help from it to write a special maid of honor speech.

Acceptance Speech Examples

Acceptance speeches express gratitude when receiving awards, honors, or recognition. These speeches acknowledge those who contributed to your success while remaining humble and gracious.

When to use: Award ceremonies, scholarship presentations, promotion announcements, hall of fame inductions

What makes them effective: Genuine gratitude, thanks specific people by name, shares credit generously, stays brief (2-4 minutes), ends memorably

For complete acceptance speech examples and guidance on striking the right tone, visit our acceptance speech guide.

Introduction Speech Examples

Introduction speeches welcome and introduce another speaker to an audience, providing relevant background and building anticipation for their presentation.

When to use: Conferences, guest lectures, award presentations, panel discussions, keynote introductions

What makes them effective: Establishes speaker credibility, explains topic relevance, builds anticipation, stays brief (1-3 minutes), transitions smoothly

For complete introduction speech examples and templates for different settings, visit our introduction speech guide.

Commemorative Speech Examples

Commemorative speeches honor people, events, institutions, or ideas. These speeches celebrate values and inspire audiences by highlighting what makes the subject worthy of recognition.

When to use: Memorial services, dedication ceremonies, anniversary celebrations, tributes to retiring colleagues

What makes them effective: Focuses on values and ideals, uses vivid language, tells meaningful stories, inspires the audience, maintains an appropriate tone

For comprehensive commemorative speech examples and templates, see our commemorative speech guide.

Extemporaneous Speech Examples

Extemporaneous speeches are carefully prepared and practiced but delivered without memorization or reading from notes. This style appears natural and conversational while maintaining organization.

When to use: Professional presentations, classroom speeches, panel discussions, business meetings

What makes them effective: Thorough preparation, note cards with keywords only, flexible delivery, natural conversational tone, strong eye contact

For extemporaneous speech techniques and practice strategies, visit our extemporaneous speech guide.

Presentation Speech Examples

Presentation speeches deliver information, analysis, or proposals to audiences in professional or academic settings. These speeches combine clear structure with visual aids.

When to use: Business meetings, academic conferences, sales pitches, project proposals, research presentations

What makes them effective: Clear objective, logical organization, visual support that enhances content, audience engagement, professional delivery

For detailed presentation speech examples and slide design best practices, see our presentation speech guide.

Special Occasion Speech Examples 

Special occasion speeches mark significant moments and ceremonies. These speeches serve specific purposes like welcoming, celebrating, inspiring, or commemorating.

When to use: Weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties, award ceremonies, milestone celebrations, community events

Types include: Toasts, tributes, eulogies, dedications, farewells

What makes them effective: Matches occasion's tone, focuses on values, tells stories, unites audience, respects time

For comprehensive special occasion speech examples and templates, see our special occasion speech guide.

Speech Essay Example

A speech essay is a type of essay that you write before writing a proper speech. It helps in organizing thoughts and information. 

Here is a sample of speech essays for you to understand the difference between speech format and speech essay format.

What Makes a Good Speech?

A good speech has a clear purpose, engaging opening, logical structure, concrete examples, appropriate tone for the audience, and a memorable conclusion. It balances preparation with authenticity, information with emotion, and complexity with clarity. The best speeches make audiences think, feel, and remember.

Format and Structure of Speech

All effective speeches follow a three-part structure: Introduction (10-15%) hooks the audience and previews main points, Body (70-80%) delivers your content in organized sections with clear transitions, and Conclusion (10-15%) reinforces your message with a memorable ending.

Typical speech lengths:

500-750 words for 3-5 minute speeches (classroom), 1,000-1,500 words for 7-10 minute speeches (standard presentations), 2,000+ words for longer keynotes. The average speaking pace is 125-150 words per minute.

Tips to Write a Good Speech

Reading some famous and incredible sample speeches before writing your own speech is really a good idea. The other way to write an impressive speech is to follow the basic tips given by professional writers. 

  • Audience Analysis: Understand your audience's interests, knowledge, and expectations. Tailor your speech to resonate with them.
  • Clear Purpose: Define a clear and concise purpose for your speech. Ensure your audience knows what to expect right from the beginning.
  • Engaging Opening: Start with a captivating hook – a story, question, quote, or surprising fact to grab your audience's attention.
  • Main Message: Identify and convey your main message or thesis throughout your speech.
  • Logical Structure: Organize your speech with a clear structure, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Transitions: Use smooth transitions to guide your audience through different parts of your speech.
  • Conversational Tone: Use simple, conversational language to make your speech accessible to everyone.
  • Timing: Respect the allocated time and write the speech accordingly. An overly long or short speech can diminish the audience's engagement.
  • Emotional Connection: Use storytelling and relatable examples to evoke emotions and connect with your audience.
  • Call to Action (if appropriate): Encourage your audience to take action, change their thinking, or ponder new ideas.
  • Practice Natural Pace: Speak at a natural pace, avoiding rushing or speaking too slowly.

For comprehensive guidance on all aspects of speech writing, from choosing topics to delivering with confidence, visit our speech writing resource center.

You've now explored 20+ speech examples across every major type. You understand what makes each type effective and how to structure your own speech for maximum impact.

Your Next Steps:

  1. Identify your speech type - Match your assignment or occasion to the examples above
  2. Study the structure - Notice how effective speeches open strong, develop logically, and close memorably
  3. Create an outline first - Plan your main points before writing full sentences
  4. Write conversationally - Draft as if talking to a friend
  5. Practice extensively - Deliver out loud at least 5-7 times before presenting
  6. Get feedback - Test with friends or family before the big day
  7. Revise based on practice - Edit ruthlessly and strengthen weak areas

Public speaking is a skill that serves you throughout life. Whether you're presenting in class, interviewing for jobs, leading teams, or celebrating at special occasions, the ability to communicate clearly and confidently opens doors.

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With our proficient essay writing service, you can be confident in your ability to communicate your message effectively and leave a lasting impact. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of good speeches?

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Good speeches often leave a lasting impact due to their content, delivery, and emotional resonance. Examples include:

  • Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream"
  • Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
  • Winston Churchill's "We Shall Fight on the Beaches"

What is a 5 minute speech?

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A 5-minute speech is a brief address of about 600-800 words, designed to cover key points comprehensively while maintaining audience attention. This format is ideal for classroom presentations, briefings, or public events with limited time.

What is an example of a speech of introduction?

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A speech of introduction is designed to welcome and introduce a speaker to an audience, providing relevant background and context. Here’s an example:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to introduce our esteemed guest speaker, Dr. Jane Smith. A renowned environmental scientist with over 20 years of experience in climate change research, Dr. Smith has published groundbreaking studies on sustainable energy solutions and has been a pivotal voice in international climate policy. Today, she will share her insights on the latest developments in renewable energy and how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jane Smith.

How long should a speech be?

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Speech length depends on the occasion, audience, and purpose:

Academic presentations: 3-5 minutes (500-750 words) for standard classroom speeches, 7-10 minutes (1,000-1,500 words) for major presentations

Professional settings: 10-15 minutes (1,500-2,000 words) for business presentations, 20-30 minutes (3,000-4,000 words) for conference keynotes

Special occasions: 2-3 minutes (300-400 words) for toasts, 5-7 minutes (750-1,000 words) for wedding speeches, 10-15 minutes for graduation addresses

Golden rule: Always prepare for slightly less time than allocated. Most speakers naturally speed up when nervous, and ending early is better than rushing through your conclusion. Practice with a timer to ensure comfortable pacing at 125-150 words per minute.

What are the main types of speeches?

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The six main speech types are:

Informative - Educate through facts (presentations, training). Persuasive - Convince audiences to act (debates, sales pitches) Entertaining - Engage through humor (ceremonies, social events). Demonstrative - Teach step-by-step skills (tutorials, how-tos). Motivational - Inspire action (team building, commencements) Ceremonial - Honor occasions (weddings, graduations)

Choose your type based on your goal: inform, persuade, entertain, teach, inspire, or celebrate.

How do I overcome speech anxiety?

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Speech anxiety affects 75% of people. Here's how to manage it:

Prepare thoroughly. Know your content inside-out. Practice 7-10 times before delivering. Memorize your opening and closing sentences.

Use physical calming techniques. Take slow deep breaths (4 counts in, hold 4, exhale 4). Stand in a power pose for 2 minutes before speaking.

Focus on your message, not yourself. Shift from "what do they think of me?" to "what do they need to hear?" Serve your audience, not your ego.

Start with friendly faces. Make eye contact with people smiling or nodding. Positive feedback calms nerves and builds confidence.

Accept nervousness is normal. Even professionals feel nervous. That adrenaline helps you perform. Channel it into enthusiasm for your topic.

Remember: audiences want you to succeed, not fail. Most nervousness you feel is invisible to them.

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Barbara P

WRITTEN BY

Barbara P

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.