Jot down the points you want to raise in your bicentennial speech. Include topics relevant to the place or organization you are celebrating, such as the history of the city, the development of the company, or the educational contribution of the school.
Welcome your listeners. Briefly tell them that it is a pleasure to be addressing them for this historical event.
Keep your audience in mind as you are writing your speech. If, for example, you are speaking to a group of seniors, your speech will present a different slant than if you are speaking to school children.
Start your introduction with a thesis statement that sums up why the bicentenary is being celebrated. Briefly outline the topics you are going to cover in your speech. Informing your audience provides them with signposts of what to anticipate
Write supporting paragraphs of the topics you outlined. Cover things such as the history of the institution or the town. With 200 years of material to work with, identify some of the high and low points.
Make your speech easy to understand. Do not use big words when small ones will do; avoid run-on sentences. Stick to short paragraphs and stay on topic. Maintain a professional but friendly tone at all times.
Identify the reasons the bicentenary is an important occasion. Speculate on how life would be different if the town or the railway did not exist. Invite your audience to imagine how their lives would be different.
Compare the way things were 200 years ago to the way they are today. You may want to look at clothing, the position of women, or the way education is delivered. Give examples to paint a picture of the differences for your audience.
Reiterate the reason for the bicentenary in your closing remarks and relate it back to your thesis statement. Recap the main points and thank your audience for listening.
Leave your speech for at least 24 hours. Then correct any spelling or typing mistakes you may have made. Compare it with your original list and make sure you did not forget any significant historical events or neglect to mention important people.