Declamation Pieces
Resources include: titles of past winning state pieces for a decade, links to speech databases, and a few book titles for collections.
PAST STATE WINNING TITLES:
(Results were taken from Illinois’ State Finals from the 2000-2001 season until the 2009-2010 season. If the resource could be found, then a link has been provided. NOTE: because only the title was listed research was done to provide the most accurate author/link information, BUT sometimes it was unable to be located.)
2000-2001
At the Old Ballgame
What's Wrong With Black English? by Rachel L. Jones
http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/64717.html
Still Here
Living With The Look by Robert Hughes
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19703492.html
A Better Looking Dog
A Reel Doctor's Advice to Some Real Doctors from The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen E. Lucas
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Art-of-Public-Speaking/Stephen-E-Lucas/e/9780073216508
2001-2002
Or Forever Hold Your Peace
Vassar College Commencement Address
The Problem of the Megaschool by Anna Quindlen
http://www.newsweek.com/2001/03/25/the-problem-of-the-megaschool.html
Just Like Grandma Used to Make
Soldiering On
The Obligation to Educate Our Children
2002-2003
Babar's Children
Oh, the Things I Know! by Dr. Al Franken
http://www.amazon.com/Things-Guide-Success-Failing-Happiness/dp/052594673X
It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum
http://www.amazon.com/Was-Fire-When-Lay-Down/dp/0804105820
Teaching the Virtues by William J. Bennett
http://www.school-for-champions.com/education/teaching_virtues.htm
A Case of Severe Bias by Patricia Raybon
http://lesliebai.wetpaint.com/page/A+Case+of+%22Severe+Bias%22
2003-2004
The Time is Now
Mother Tongue
A Nation At Risk
http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html
The Boy Scouts are Wrong
The Last Childhood by Carrie Knowles
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Childhood-Family-Story-Alzheimers/dp/0609806483/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281125398&sr=1-1
Insane in the Membrane: A Guy's Brain is Really Different
2004-2005
Winning the Cultural War by Charlton Heston
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/charltonhestonculturalwar.htm
The Voice of Your Heart
Letter to a Daughter at Thirteen by Barbara Kingsolver
http://books.google.com/books?id=6P0mCF64NywC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144&dq=%22Letter+to+a+Daughter+at+Thirteen%22&source=bl&ots=fQU09ikgre&sig=YaBweteq0J-tvOz5JSMHlKqNzSE&hl=en&ei=lG5cTPm9GYaCsQPL88zqDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Letter%20to%20a%20Daughter%20at%20Thirteen%22&f=false
Girls Will Be Girls
Rules To Live By:..From Someone Who's Been There And Done That by Callie Khouri
http://gos.sbc.edu/k/khouri.html
University of Michigan Commencement Address
2005-2006
Livin and Lovin
Kidsong
The Young Have To Be There by Abbie Hoffman
http://connection.ebscohost.com/content/article/1024530475.html;jsessionid=0AC4027BC6EC89D4B462D28FDC94BC0B.ehctc1
The Other America by Michael Harrington
http://www.amazon.com/Other-America-Poverty-United-States/dp/068482678X
2006-2007
Even The Crumbled Ones
"Baby Run On!" (by Glenda Hatchett) from A Hand to Guide Me by Washington, Daniel Paisner
http://books.google.com/books?id=ILdSeSY8FSQC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=%22Baby+Run+On!%22+from+A+Hand+to+Guide+Me&source=bl&ots=rcwe87a9kq&sig=JFFhvFViiSa9WN3wEMkpQOsGeKs&hl=en&ei=4nRcTOXfNI3GsAOu4s3VCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=baby%20run%20on&f=false
Say Yes!
Not a Genuine Black Man by Brain Copeland
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Genuine-Black-Man-Lily-White/dp/1401302335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281127912&sr=1-1
Children of the Storm by Elizabeth Peters
http://books.google.com/books?id=lx8iCUUSeKEC&dq=Children+of+the+Storm&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=EnZcTODbEYKWsgPXk6WyDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
2007-2008
Journeys
From Disabilities to Abilities: The Miracle of Possibilities by Marlee Matlin
Lesson for a Complicated Time by Katie Couric
http://www.williams.edu/home/commencement/2007/couric.php
It's Better Than Good
Class Day Speaker for the Aughty Aughts
Being Raised by a Single Parent
2008-2009
Ready To Live
Odditude by John R. Powers
http://www.hcibooks.com/p-3454-odditude.aspx
The Power of Four by Tom Hanks
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tomhanksvassar.htm
A Matter of Perspective
Address at the NAACP on the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education by Bill Cosby
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm
The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination by J. K. Rowling
http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-fringe-benefits-failure-the-importance-imagination
2009-2010
Being a Mr. G by J.A. Gamache
http://www.jagamache.com/en/tm/win4.htm
Matter of Perspective For all to See
To The Katrina Class of 2009 by Ellen DeGeneres
http://www.coffeedrunk.com/2009/05/26/ellen-degeneres-commencement-speech-at-tulane-university/
Greatest Days of Your Life...(so far) by Mark Scharenbroich
http://www.nicebike.com/info_speech.htm
The Wisdom of Big Bird by Caroll Spinney
http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Bird-Genius-Oscar-Grouch/dp/0375507817
On the Move by Bono
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/bononationalprayerbreakfast.htm
Speeches Links
American Rhetoric (Top 100 Speeches): http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html
Famous Speeches: http://www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/famous-speeches/index.htm
35 Greatest Speeches in History: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/08/01/the-35-greatest-speeches-in-history/
25 Celebrity Commencement Speeches That Were Surprisingly Good: http://www.onlinecollegedegrees.org/2009/04/23/25-celebrity-commencement-speeches-that-were-surprisingly-good/
10 Famous and Noteworthy College Commencement Speeches: http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Famous_and_Noteworthy_College_Commencement_Speeches.html
The Top Ten All-Time Best Graduation Speeches: http://www.gradspot.com/guides/top-ten-all-time-best-graduation-speeches
Index Of Outstanding Speeches From 1936 To 2010 (listing of 41 speeches): http://www.humanity.org/voices/commencements/
Famous Eulogies: http://www.eulogyspeech.net/famous-eulogies/
A Selection of Celebrity Eulogies: http://www.creative-funeral-ideas.com/celebrity-eulogies.html
Famous and Memorable Eulogies and Tributes: http://dying.about.com/od/famousmemorableeulogies/Famous_and_Memorable_Eulogies.htm
Some Book Selections:
Speeches that Changed the World: The Stories and Transcripts of the Moments that Made History by Simon Sebag Montefiore [ISBN-10: 1906719004]
Description: “Collected here are more than 50 of the world’s most momentous and insightful speeches, drawn from a vast range of historical eras and from persons of all walks of life. Some speeches—such as Roosevelt’s response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor—changed the course of history itself, while others—such as Martin Luther King’s talk in Washington, DC—defined an era. Along with a transcript of each speech, a biography of the speaker is provided along with an explanation detailing why each speech was significant and its impact on the world. Evocative and inspiring, this is a fascinating collection of some of the greatest words ever spoken by mankind.”
Cost: $13.57
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Speeches-that-Changed-World-Transcripts/dp/1906719004/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279176652&sr=8-3
Graduation Day: The Best Of America's Commencement Speeches by Andrew & Trissler Albanese [ISBN-10: 0688160336]
Description: “An odd idea, well done but with, it would seem, a relatively small audience. The editors have gathered together the transcripts of a number of commencement speeches given at American colleges and universities in the 1980s and '90s by a variety of notables and celebrities (including Dan Rather, Carl Sagan, Mario Cuomo, and Ronald Reagan, among others). A number of the speeches are surprisingly good: funny, frank, even occasionally stirring. Others, sounding both glib and bland, would seem to indicate the homogenizing presence of ghostwriters. The best pieces include Russell Bakers hilarious address offering advice to graduates (Dont go around in clothes that talk. Theres already too much talk in the world); Toni Morrisons powerful meditation on violence and hatred; and Hank Aarons heartfelt discussion of courage. A final section gathers together commencement speeches given over the past century (including addresses by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Winston Churchill, and Martin Luther King Jr.), remind one of how unique and lasting a truly great commencement address can be. Few of the contemporary pieces, affecting as some of them are, reach those heights.”
Cost: OUT OF PRINT--VARIES ON SELLER
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Graduation-Day-Americas-Commencement-Speeches/dp/0688160336
The Book of Eulogies by Phyllis Theroux [ISBN-10: 0684822512]
Description: “Theroux has gathered over 100 eulogies delivered in the form of spoken tributes, editorials, letters of condolence, essays, and poetry. Many of these testimonials are eloquently penned by the well known to commemorate the well known (e.g., Thomas Merton on Flannery O'Connor, Robert F. Kennedy on Martin Luther King). Others are equally compelling memorials to unknown souls by everyday people. There are helpful commentaries by the author. A worthwhile addition to any collection.” (As stated in the description, some of these pieces might not have been given as a speech, thus some may not qualify for a Declamation.)
Cost: $17.82
Sermons That Shaped America: Reformed Preaching from 1630 to 2001 by William S. Barker and Samuel T., Jr. Logan [ISBN-10: 0875520030]
Description: “This anthology of eighteen historic, Reformed sermons will be welcomed by all who have a serious interest in American history, literature, and religion. Each sermon is introduced by one of the editors, historians who specialize in American Christianity… Includes John Cotton, John Winthrop, James Boice, Timothy Keller, and more.”
Cost: $19.99
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