Speech Writing

When Amanda was in 4^th grade, she asked me to help her write a campaign speech. Since she did not have a platform, and bribing was discouraged, I didn’t have much to work with. It was a one-day popularity contest so we needed to do something with her speech to promote this. I decided to write a few lines in rhyming verse that incorporated each of the names of the voting populace (19 kids.) Maybe this way they would each feel connected to her campaign and she might gain an advantage. She won in a landslide and attributed it to her speech.

So last year when Natalie had a similar election, I wrote a similar (but better) speech. She loved it and won easily. I inserted one line as a joke but she loved it. A year later she still quotes it. It was something like this:

Kylie, Andrew, John, and Britton

If you are the hand, I am the mitten

It was a metaphorical stretch, even in the world of politics.

Today is her campaign speech for 4^th grade Student Council, so I wrote speech #3 with a similar strategy and cadence. Here are the two goofiest couplets:

So Daniel, Matthew, Colby and Lauren,

If I get your vote, the home team is scorin’

Hey Harris – Hey Brandon – Christina and Hannah,

If you are the biker, I’m the bandana!

Home team? Bikers? What does this even mean? I don’t know but she loved it and is using it today!