Declamation

Students may choose poetry or passages from plays, novels, essays, or great speeches for their declamation pieces. You can search for a great declamation piece, but often the best pieces come out of what you are reading right now. Books you read for pleasure or assigned books from class are a great place to start. As you read, think about how a piece would sound if it was read aloud.  Students should read and review the criteria for Public Declamation before settling on a piece to present.

• Wondering what pieces have been been presented at declamations past? Check out this spreadsheet.
• Check the box below for ebooks available through the Keefe Library or with your BPL card.
• The library also has a special Declamation section in the Fiction Room with books you can browse and borrow.

• Click here to connect to a list of exemplar texts from the BLS English department.

Speeches

• Speeches in World History A collection of 200 notable speeches throughout world history along with comments about their historical context, significance, and speakers.
• Great Women's Speeches : Empowering Voices That Engage and Inspire Discover the inspiring voices that have changed our world, and started a new conversation.
• Speak Up! : Speeches by Young People to Empower and Inspire 45 speeches by children and teenagers who have stood up for causes they passionately believe in and challenged adults in power to take note.
• The Will of a People : A Critical Anthology of Great African American Speeches Drawing upon nearly two hundred years of recorded African American oratory.

Poetry

• What I Say : Innovative Poetry by Black Writers in America Influential and innovative work by Black poets from WWII to today.
• Courage: Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls  A collection of fierce, empowering poems by living, self-identified women writers intended for girls age 12-21. 
• Talking through the Door : An Anthology of Contemporary Middle Eastern American Writing Poetry and prose from sixteen accomplished writers whose works concern a variety of themes.

Monologues

• Backstage Searchable database of important dramatic monologues
• Monologue DB Search this page for monologues from dramatic works, but pay attention to the source. Some are from movies, despite being tagged as plays.

Speeches

• Great Speeches By Native Americans
• Great Speeches on Gay Rights
• Great Speeches by American Women
• Say it Loud! Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity
• The World Is Waiting For You: Graduation Speeches to Live By from Activists, Writers, and Visionaries

Poetry

• Yes! We Are Latinos! Poems and Prose About the Latino Experience