Presidential speech writers Patrick Anderson, Kenneth Khachigian, and Ray Price, discuss how to write a presidential candidate's nomination acceptance speech and some of the mistakes they have made in speech writing. The discussion is led by Baylor University Communications Professor Martin Medhurst.

Discussion Questions

1. What is an acceptance speech? When is it delivered? Who delivers it?
2. How did television change the writing of an acceptance speech? What aspects of a nominating convention should a speech writer take into consideration when writing an acceptance speech? Why?
3. Mr. Price says a speech will be judged by "how many times it was interrupted." What does he mean by this? What would interrupt an acceptance speech?
4. Name one speech writing "mistake" mentioned in this clip? Can you think of some other techniques or styles to avoid in speech writing?
5. Extension Activity: Pass out nomination acceptance speeches from past party conventions as a guide for your students. Ask them to select three different issues to address in a nomination acceptance speech. Have your students write their own nomination acceptance speech. They may pretend they are one of the current candidates, or they may write a speech as if they themselves are receiving a party's presidential nomination.