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100 Public-Speaking Jokes to Add Humor to Your Next Speech

So, if you are looking to add humor to your presentation, one of the best ways is to insert self-deprecating humor in the form of funny stories. A good story from your own personal experience will be easier to insert into your speech. The story will also create more of a shared experience with your audience. For details about how to use stories to add humor to your speech , click here.

With that being said, though, sometimes, you just need to get a quick laugh out of your audience. And good jokes can be a great way to lighten the mood. We’ve organized the post into four categories of public-speaking jokes.

100 Public Speaking Jokes to Add Humor to Your Next Speech.

• Public-Speaking Jokes .
• One-Liners about Public Speaking and Presenting .
• Funny Public Speaking Quotes .
• Dad Jokes that You Can Use as Presentation Icebreakers .

Public-Speaking Jokes for Your Next Presentation to Add a Little Fun.

Between you and I, telling jokes in front of an audience is pretty risky. But sometimes, just getting the audience to laugh right from the start can lighten the mood. Here are a few jokes about public speaking that you can use when you are public speaking.

Jokes about Being Nervous and the Fear of Public Speaking

• Why did the public speaker hire a pitching coach? Because he needed to improve his delivery!
• I used to think I was afraid of public speaking, but just now, I realized I was actually afraid of audiences.
• A public speaker asked the audience, “How many of you are afraid of public speaking?” About half the audience raised their hands. The speaker replied, “Don’t worry, I used to be too. In fact, there was a 50/50 chance that I’d canceled today’s talk!”
• My wife was nervous about public speaking. So, I told her she should embrace her mistake to add a little humor to her delivery. She gave me a hug. Then she laughed.
• Public speaking tip: Imagine the audience naked. But not if you’re giving a eulogy.

Funny Jokes about Presentation Challenges.

Okay, funny may be a little overexaggerated, but corny can work too. Here are a few jokes about challenges that can come up in a presentation.

• Why did the PowerPoint presentation go to therapy? It had too many issues with transitions.
• I was going to tell a time-traveling joke during my speech, but you didn’t like it.
• I asked the librarian if there were any books on how to overcome the fear of public speaking. She whispered, “They’re in the self-help section, but you might have to speak up to find them.”
• I used to be a baker before I became a public speaker. I kneaded the dough, and now I need the audience!
• Why did the public speaker become a gardener? Because he knew how to plant ideas and watch them grow!

These Jokes Are about Audience Interaction.

• I asked the audience if anyone had experience with public speaking. A cricket in the corner started chirping.
• The best way to become a confident public speaker is to imagine the audience in their underwear. Unless you’re speaking at a nudist colony.
• I told my wife I was going to give a speech on procrastination. She said, “Maybe next time.”
• How do you make a tissue dance during a speech? You put a little boogie in it!
• Why did the extroverted computer become a public speaker? Because it had great social networking skills!

Public Speaking Jokes about Presentation Themes.

These funny (or corny) jokes are about the process of public speaking. You can easily use one of these if you start with… “Before I actually start my presentation…” then add the joke.

• I asked my friend if he had any advice for public speaking. He said, “Yes, just imagine the audience is full of cats. They don’t care what you’re saying, but they’ll pay attention if you have treats.”
• How do you organize a fantastic space-themed presentation? You planet!
• Why did the public speaker bring a ladder to the presentation? To reach new heights in communication!
• My friend tried to give a speech on patience, but the audience left before he finished. It seems they didn’t have the patience for it.
• Why did the microphone apply for a job in public speaking? Because it wanted to be heard at work!

A Few Random Public Speaking Jokes (Use with Caution.)

These last few public speaking jokes are a little more tricky. You’d want to save these only for the right type of crowd.

• I used to be afraid of public speaking, but then I realized it’s just talking in front of people. Now I’m terrified of public listening.
• What’s a public speaker’s favorite kind of fish? The articulate!
• I told my friend I was giving a speech about a famous chicken. He asked, “Is it poultry in motion?”
• I was going to make a joke about public speaking, but I figured it would be better in front of a live audience.
• Why did the scarecrow become a great public speaker? He was outstanding in his field!

Remember, just adding a joke or two to a speech won’t win over every audience. For help becoming a confident and effective presenter, we invite you to attend one of our 2-Day Fearless Presentations ® Classes . Click here for details.

Here Are a Few Public Speaking One-Liners to Get Your Audience Laughing.

You’ll have a much easier time just adding a funny one-liner every now and then. When you tell a joke, you typically have to get your audience to respond. And, in some cases, the audience will finish your joke.

So a well-placed one-liner will often get you a quick chuckle without as much risk. Here are a few that we organized into five different categories.

These One-Liners Are Related to Audience Interaction (Or Audience Reactions.)

• “I’m not saying I’m a great public speaker, but I did once get a standing ovation… because I tripped over the microphone cord.”
• “I asked my audience if they had any questions after my speech. One person raised their hand and asked, ‘When does the torture end?'”
• “Public speaking is easy. It’s like riding a bike. Except the bike is on fire, you’re on fire, everything is on fire, and you’re in hell.”
• “I used to be afraid of public speaking until I realized every audience is just a bunch of people hoping you don’t notice them.”
• “I gave a speech on procrastination. The audience is still waiting for the punchline.”

Here Are a Few about Speech Techniques and Styles.

• “I asked the audience if they knew the definition of a will. Apparently, ‘a dead giveaway’ wasn’t the right answer.”
• “I don’t have a fear of public speaking; I have a fear of public not listening.”
• “Why don’t public speakers ever get lost? Because they always find their way to the lectern.”
• “I used to be a mime, but I couldn’t stay silent about it. Now I’m a public speaker.”
• “I told the audience I’d be speaking off the cuff. Turns out, my cuff was more interesting than my speech.”

That’s Ironic! One Liners about Humor and Irony in Speech

• “I used to be a public speaker at a mime convention. Needless to say, my speeches were a big hit.”
• “I asked the audience if they could define irony. They said, ‘Sure, it’s like goldy and bronzy, but made of iron.'”
• “Public speaking is a lot like a roller coaster. It’s terrifying, and I always feel like I’m going to lose my lunch.”
• “I used to be a motivational speaker, but then I lost my train of thought. Now I’m just a ‘meh’-tivational speaker.”
• “Why did the public speaker bring a ladder to the speech? To reach the high points, of course!”

These One-Liners Are about Speech Topics and Delivery.

• “I told the audience I’m going to talk about time travel. They’re still waiting for my future self to arrive.”
• “I tried to give a speech on humility, but everyone said I was the best at it.”
• “Why did the public speaker get an award? Because he was outstanding in his field of expertise – corn farming.”
• “I asked the crowd if they liked my tie. They said, ‘It’s not the tie, it’s what you’re saying that’s knot working.'”
• “I tried to make a speech about sleep, but I dozed off during my own presentation.”

Funny One-Liners Related to the Challenges of Public Speaking.

• “I asked the audience for silence during my speech. Apparently, their laughter didn’t get the memo.”
• (If your audience won’t give you feedback.) “Dialogue is like a parachute – it only works when it’s open.”
• (If you happen to break wind because of nervousness.) “I’m not a nervous public speaker. I just have a very expressive colon.”
• “I told my wife I’m writing a book on public speaking. She told me to speak louder.”
• “Why did the PowerPoint file go to therapy? It had too many issues with transitions.”

Funny Motivational Quotes Related to Public Speaking.

A really good way to add humor to any speech is to insert a funny quote from a famous person. These funny motivational quotes are very easy to insert. In fact, you can add them to your speech introduction right at the start. That will lighten the tension in the room and get your audience laughing.

Here are a few that always hit home!

Funny Quotes About Preparation and Delivery of Speech.

• “The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” – George Jessel
• “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain
• “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
• “A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.” – Winston Churchill
• “The best way to sound like you know what you’re talking about is to know what you’re talking about.” – Author Unknown

Quotes Related to Adding Humor to Your Speech.

If you are looking for a famous quote specifically about adding humor to a speech, try one of these.

• “The first time I spoke in the West, the agents and organizers looked at me and said, ‘Oh, my God, she’s funny.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve been funny all my life, but I never knew it.'” – Maya Angelou
• “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.” – Bill Gates
• “I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don’t have as many people who believe it.” – George Carlin
• “The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet.” – Ann Landers
• “I used to be a good communicator, but then I realized I was talking to myself.” – Author Unknown

Here Are a Few Quotes About Creativity and Writing.

• “I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.” – Steven Wright
• “I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands.” – Steven Wright
• “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” – Douglas Adams
• “I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline.” – Duke Ellington
• “I can’t understand why I flunked American history. When I was a kid, my father took me to all the historic spots. Every time I refused to get out of the car.” – W.C. Fields

The Funny Quotes Can Help You Make Your Point Better.

Like the last group, these funny quotes aren’t about public speaking. But you will likely be able to use them if you are delivering an informative speech.

• “The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.” – Oscar Wilde
• “I have never been in a situation where having a sense of humor and a giving spirit didn’t lead to a better result.” – Ed Catmull
• “The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his way.” – Josh Billings
• “I like to talk about my obsession with food. I love to eat. I’m not a ‘foodie,’ but I do love to eat.” – Miranda Kerr
• “I failed public speaking in college the first time and made a ‘D’ in the second class. It was horrible.” – John Grisham

These Last Funny Quotes Didn’t Fit the Other Categories. (LOL!)

These last quotes didn’t really fit in any of the other categories. But they are pretty funny. If you can find a way to insert them into your speech, you’re sure to get a laugh or two.

• “It’s hard to be serious when you’re surrounded by balloons.” – Jerry Seinfeld
• “I have six locks on my door, all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.” – Elayne Boosler
• “The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” – Willie Nelson
• “I used to be a heavy gambler. But now I just make mental bets. That’s how I lost my mind.” – Steve Allen

Dad Jokes that You Can Use as Presentation Icebreakers.

Years ago, I taught a leadership class for his team. And at the start of every session, he stood up in front of the group and told a corny Dad joke. The jokes were cringy. But whether the audience laughed or turned up their nose, they all smiled. Over the next few years, I noticed that Ron’s employee turnover was almost zero. It was unheard of in his industry.

It turns out that his team absolutely loved him. He made a tough job much more fun to come to. So, I changed my tune about Dad jokes. Here are a few that you can use to start your next speech or meeting.

Food Public Speaking Jokes

• What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta.
• Did you hear about the cheese factory explosion? There was nothing left but de-brie.
• What do you call a fish wearing a crown? A kingfish.
• Why did the chicken go to the seance? To talk to the other side.
• What did the grape say when it got stepped on? Nothing, it just let out a little wine.

Science and Technology Jokes.

• Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything.
• I told my computer I needed a break, and now it won’t stop sending me vacation ads.
• Did you hear about the guy who invented Lifesavers? He made a mint.
• How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together!
• What did one wall say to the other wall? I’ll meet you at the corner!

Academic Jokes for a Presentation.

• Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
• Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers? He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them.
• What do you call a factory that makes good products? A satisfactory.
• I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y.
• I used to have a job at a calendar factory, but I got fired because I took a couple of days off.

Spooky Jokes

• Why did the skeleton go to the seance? To talk to the other side.
• Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts.
• What did the big flower say to the little flower? “Hi, bud!”
• I went to buy some camouflage pants, but I couldn’t find any.
• What did one hat say to the other hat? Stay here, I’m going on ahead.

Miscellaneous Jokes

• I only know how to make holy water. I boil the hell out of it.
• Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants? In case he got a hole in one.
• Why did the bicycle fall over? It was two-tired.
• What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? Supplies!
• What did the snowman with a six-pack say? An abdominal snowman!

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Funny Speeches for School

Below are twenty topics related to funny speeches for school .

The goal of a funny speech is to make the audience cheerful, not angry. So follow the Best Speech Topics guidelines below to  prepare a humorous speech without offending anyone.

Never deliver a speech with the intent of disparaging another person. Hurting someone is bullying, and not funny.

Guidance to Deliver a Humorous Speech

Consider the audience when preparing funny speeches for school to avoid offending anyone. Consider the students' age, background, and sensitivities, and avoid jokes or humor that could be hurtful or inappropriate. Your first block of text...

If your speech includes a particular group or person, run the idea by them before working on it. Or, seek feedback before giving your speech from a trusted friend or mentor to ensure that your jokes and humor are appropriate and inoffensive.

In addition to considering the audience, consider avoiding any controversial or sensitive topics or avoid making jokes about controversial or sensitive topics, such as race, religion, gender, or politics. These topics can be divisive and may be offensive to some people.

Instead, consider using self-deprecating humor. It's often safer to make fun of yourself rather than others. You can use self-deprecating humor to make light of your own mistakes, quirks, or feelings about the topic without hurting anyone's feelings.

It is obvious, but it is worth restating. Avoid offensive language and jokes about people or groups that could be discriminatory or hateful. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.

With these guidelines in mind, below are twenty funny speeches for school meant to entertain and get the audience laughing.

Remember, the goal of a funny speech is to entertain and make people laugh, not to offend or hurt anyone's feelings. By being mindful of your audience and avoiding controversial or sensitive topics, you can give a funny, enjoyable speech that is appropriate for everyone.

Twenty Topics for Funny Speeches for School

• The top 10 most ridiculous excuses for being late to class
• The funniest prank calls I've ever made (or received)
• A parody of a popular TV show or movie set in my school
• The top 10 most embarrassing moments of my life
• The funniest memes and internet trends of the year
• A humorous take on the "stereotypes" of different school subjects or extracurricular activities
• The funniest moments from a school field trip or sporting event
• A mock awards ceremony for my classmates, complete with ridiculous categories and acceptance speeches ( example mock awards for students )
• A humorous retelling of a classic fairytale or children's story set in a school setting
• The top 10 things I would do if I were in charge of the school for a day
• A parody of a school assembly or graduation ceremony
• The funniest things I've overheard in the school hallway or bathroom
• A humorous take on the daily struggles of being a student
• A mock infomercial for a ridiculous school supply or classroom gadget
• A parody of a school talent show or variety show
• The top 10 most absurd rules or policies at my school
• A humorous retelling of a historical event or famous figure set in a school setting
• The funniest moments from a school play or production
• A mock "advice column" for students seeking guidance on school-related issues
• A humorous take on the different types of students and teachers in my school

Our book pick to learn more about being funny:

How to kill in comedy.

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READING THIS BOOK WILL CAUSE LAUGHTER!

"How to Kill in Comedy: Find Your Comedic Character, 20 Best Joke Formulas, Slay the Audience" by Steve North" :

• Improve your comedic skills: The book provides practical advice and techniques for developing your comedic character and crafting successful jokes.
• Become funny speaker: Following the advice and techniques outlined in the book can improve your comedic skills and become a more successful speaker.
• Find your humorous voice: The book helps you discover your unique character and style, which can help you stand out as a funny speaker and connect with your audience.
• Learn from a professional comedian: Steve North is a successful comedian with years of experience in the industry. By reading the book, you can learn from his expertise and insights.
• Entertain and engage your audience: By incorporating the techniques and strategies outlined in the book, you can create jokes and funny material that resonates with your audience and keeps them engaged.

Overall, "How to Kill in Comedy" offers valuable insights and techniques for aspiring public speakers or comedians looking to hone their craft. Even if you don’t plan to become a professional in the comedy world, you will find yourself entertaining others with engaging speeches at graduations, special events, toasts, and board meetings by learning the lessons embedded in this book.

See more great School Speech Topics .

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Student Council Funny Speech Ideas for Kids

How to give an annual day speech in school.

Funny is not always easily achieved. Writing and giving a funny student council speech takes creative material and good timing in the presentation. Giving a funny speech by using the deadpan, serious face is a good way to start. The type of humor you use should be age-appropriate to the audience. Finding something that they may relate to, so they feel as though they are laughing at themselves, is ideal. Know your audience, and you will know what to say and how to say it in order to give a funny student council speech.

Embarrassing Moments

Tell a story about something that was truly embarrassing, using pauses, in a somewhat logical order so that it will make sense. Remember the time you forgot something and you really needed it for the trip, or class, or camping vacation in the deep Congo? Man, that was embarrassing. Tell that story.

Student Council Platform

Wear huge platform shoes and give the student council a funny concept as to what your platform would be if you were elected president. Dress up as Mr. Brady and wear an afro wig, nice business suit and a pair of platforms. Give your campaign speech based on a statement such as, "If I were elected president, all students would have free access to indoor plumbing." Use a platform that is already a policy, giving it a twist to it to make it sound rather compelling.

A Funny Thing Happened ...

Begin with an apology and be sincere about it. Then say, "But a funny thing happened on the way to the student council meeting." Maintain a real innocence about your presentation, as if you are truly the victim in the story, but make it obvious that you are also the perpetrator. For example, your clumsy manner caused a chain reaction as you knocked someone off a ladder quite innocently and then as you spun around to respond to the screams, you knocked over a fruit stand on the sidewalk.

Related Articles

Styles Of Speech

How to Write a Speech to Win School Captain

Funny Motivational Speech Topics

Ideas for school-secretary speeches & posters.

How to Write a Humor Essay

Effective Persuasive Speech Writing & Delivering in High School

Characteristics of a Good Speech

How To Write A Salutatorian Speech

Jennie Ashley has been a technical writer since 1983. Her publications include quality assurance manuals, personnel policies and procedures manuals, as well as instructional guidelines for manufacturing sites. Ashley has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University in communications with a language arts minor.

6 Ways to Guarantee Laughs During Your Next Speech

We’ve all been there. The spotlight is on you, you’ve set up the perfect joke, you nail the punchline, and… crickets .

It’s never fun to feel like your humor isn’t reading as funny to the audience. That’s why I’m here to teach you my six greatest tips and tricks on how to make a speech funny, or your (metaphorical) money back.

See Related:  Best MC Jokes For A Conference

#1: Tell Relatable Stories

If there’s one thing we learned from Seinfeld , it’s that the everyday is funny . Use this to your advantage in your speech!

Audiences laugh when they see their own experience reflected onstage. Add relatable humor to your speech with these ideas:

Turn Frustration Into Comedy

What got on your nerves this morning? It was something. I know it was. You know it was. We all know it was.

And you know what? I bet it was funny and would be great for your master of ceremonies speech .

Let me guess…

Did your family member turn on a bright light while you were still asleep? Speech material.

Did one of your friends cut you off on the way to work, causing your chai latte to spill on your brand-new pants? Speech material.

Were you (yet again) not Caller #5 and didn’t win your radio station’s giveaway for tickets to John Mayer’s Sob Rock Tour? (I’m terribly sorry – but speech material.)

These sorts of situations may get on your nerves in the moment, but I promise that, when transformed into a joke told with the right spirit, they will be funny and make the audience laugh.

The main idea when writing your funny speech is to shift your own perspective from frustrated to amused.

#2: Use Your Physicality to Communicate

Humor isn’t just about the words you say. A major part of making a good joke and creating a funny speech is using your body language to tell the story.

What do I mean? Well , think about your favorite comedians .

From Ali Wong to John Mulaney, comedians each have their own way of using their bodies to add humor to the funny stories they tell. It’s like a secret, other skill that is so ingrained in their performances, you may not notice it at first.

Every great comic uses gestures and physicality to deliver their material and engage audiences.

Act as characters

In your speech, maybe you’re telling a funny anecdote about a parent-teacher conference you had with your son’s kindergarten teacher. Instead of just speaking about the event, make people laugh by playing it out for the audience!

Go ahead, embody the teacher and her proper, stiff posture. Show guests how utterly ridiculous it looked when you sat down in a tiny chair made to fit a five year-old because the teacher didn’t have an adult-sized chair for you to use.

I can hear the laughter already!

No need to overdo it

Remember, your shifts in body language don’t need to be hyperbolic. During speeches, even the slightest, most intentional changes will go a long way in helping the audience understand your story audibly and visually.

#3: Deliver Originality

Humorous speeches are based in truth . The best way to ground your speeches in truth is to use your own material!

This may seem simple, but it cannot be overstated: if you’ve heard the joke before, I promise your audience has too.

Personalize Your Funny Speech to the Event

It can be tough to create a humorous message that will pull lots of laughter out of your audience! But with practice, I promise you’ll become a pro – just like a regular ol’ event emcee . 

The best way to stay funny, original, and on-task is to remember the primary goal of the event :

What is the goal of the event?

Is it to help new students feel comfortable at a large university? To raise money for a local grassroots nonprofit?

Once you understand what the client hopes to achieve through these events (and, therefore, your speeches), you can begin adding humor that focuses on those particular subjects.

Here’s an example :

If I’m making a humorous speech with the goal of exciting the crowd before a 5K Fun Run begins, I might make a self-deprecating joke about the utter irony of putting the words “fun” and “run” next to each other – lighthearted, relatable for many, and sure to ease some runners’ nerves when they hear it.

Got Writer’s Block?

It happens to the best of us!

Here are some writing prompts to get your creativity, word play, and humor flowing:

• Write about something that made you laugh out loud recently.
• Write about the silliest message you’ve ever received over phone, text, or email.
• Write about the most memorable slip-up you’ve ever made in public.
• Write about a few people who make you laugh – what about them is so funny to you?
• If you are the punch line, write the joke.

Bonus:  What Does An Event Host Do?

#4: Structure Your Jokes

Look, not everything can be funny to everyone (and if you discover the magical meme that is the exception to that rule, please send it to me ASAP).

However, you can do yourself a favor by structuring your comedy with intentionality.

Not Sure How to Structure Your Jokes?

Here are the main categories into which most jokes fall:

We touched on the main points of anecdotal jokes at the beginning – they just involve telling a funny story from your own life!

An incident while baking holiday cookies ? A mix-up that surprised you while picking your child up from school? The sound of a squeaking chair at a very inopportune moment?

As the speaker, your humorous stories are all fair game!

You guessed it – one-liners are jokes told in just one sentence. Deliver one-liners smartly and you will have the room in stitches.

Observational

I mentioned Seinfeld earlier – that show is a classic example of observational humor! Observational jokes comment on the absurdity of everyday experiences and are great to add to your speeches.

A recent example of observational humor in television would be Abbott Elementary . Each episode tells a story about the everyday joys and frustrations that can come with working at a public elementary school in Philadelphia – and finds a way to create humor and heart in every moment.

Topical humor pokes fun at current events, be it the news, celebrity culture, or the latest Tik Tok trend. A dash of topical humor, when used appropriately, can grab your audience’s attention and be an asset to your funny speech.

However, you must stay aware of the client’s needs. If they prefer that politics and pop culture stay out of your presentation for fear of rubbing an audience member the wrong way, you must respect this. In fact, it can be safer to stay away from topical humor unless you know you have the right audience for it.

Self-Deprecating

Self-deprecating jokes are all about finding humor in your own flaws. It’s great to be able to laugh at yourself, but be careful not to use so much self-deprecating humor that it makes your audience feel uncomfortable.

#5: Tone Is Your Friend

In the same vein as physicality, your voice is an incredibly effective tool for making folks laugh.

What Do I Mean?

Say you’re telling an anecdotal joke about your niece’s sixth birthday party. Sure, you could use your everyday intonation to “play” the various roles at the party. But…

Wouldn’t it be funnier to give each character a distinct intonation?

Your six year-old niece’s high-pitched, bell-like voice. Your brother’s gruff, Midwestern tone. The angelic, sing-song-y sound of the actor playing a Disney princess to entertain the kids.

Each character in the story is another opportunity for creativity, and for laughs.

Let’s Take a Tip from Actors

Even when you’re not playing a character other than yourself, your voice is still an incredibly useful instrument. Why?

Your voice is the audience’s guide.

Softness versus loudness. Lightning-quick speech versus indulgent slowness. Serious versus playful.

Whenever you speak, you make a million little choices . Be intentional about those, because your audience is (quite literally) taking your cue!

Convey Confidence

Delivery is everything. If a speaker or corporate emcee can deliver your presentation with a strong sense of confidence, the audience will feel safe to let loose and laugh. But this takes practice!

I feel disappointed when a speaker exudes insecurity. Try your best to put yourself in the audience’s shoes – wouldn’t you prefer to watch someone with great command of the room and confidence in their presentation?

I know I would!

#6: Bring People Together

Your audience is full of different people – many of whom you don’t know, and who will find different things humorous. Here are some tips for making everyone feel comfortable and ready to laugh:

Speak to Universal Experiences

It is important to do your absolute best not to ostracize anyone in the audience. Your client has hired you to help everyone feel comfortable. So, what is the best way to go about doing this in a diverse society?

When writing your speech, focus on humor that is a testament to the human experience , so that most people will relate to it. Adults, kids, everyone!

I don’t mean to be vague – the opposite, in fact. Specificity is funny.

Here are some examples:

There are certain human experiences with which every single person can identify:

• Talk about a time when you felt embarrassed as a teenager .
• Make a joke about an insecurity you had growing up, and still have to this day.
• Surprise the audience with a weird dream you had recently.
• Keep guests laughing with anecdotes about lessons you’ve learned the hard way.

Balance Listening and Speaking

Okay, okay, I know you’re giving a speech – that sort of implies that you’re talking. But listening is an equally important factor in your delivery of a hilarious speech.

It can be scary, but practice including pauses in your speech. Depending on the joke, the audience may need a few seconds to digest it before they begin laughing. Sometimes, your silence is the most entertaining part – if allowed, the audience will often fill that silence with laughter.

And, Scene!

As I’ve said before, humor is subjective – that will always be the case.

If you haven’t been getting the laughs you’ve hoped for, please talk kindly to yourself. Creating a humorous speech that appeals to many people takes lots of practice – you will get there!

Keep Reading:  How To Host A Networking Event

Adam Christing  has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000  company meetings ,  special events ,  gala celebrations , and more. He is the  author of several books  and founder of  CleanComedians.com .   For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on  Instagram ,  Facebook ,  Pinterest ,  LinkedIn , and  YouTube .

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Funny Speech Topics to Make Your Audience Laugh

Who among us hasn’t been caught off-guard during a speech, struggling to think of something to say, grasping desperately for words to fill the silence?

Whether it’s during a school presentation, a sales pitch, or a TED talk , great public speaking relies on having interesting materials to work with — and that often involves humor. After all, nothing captures people’s attention or puts them at ease like a well-crafted joke!

Today, we’re going to help you get your creative juices flowing and make sure there’s never a dull moment in any of your speeches.

We’ve compiled some of the funniest speech topics to make your audience laugh, starting from the harmless to the outrageous. Whether you’re looking for something light and unassuming or a joke guaranteed to get a chuckle, this list has it all!

So without further ado, let’s dive right in and make sure your next talking points are both memorable and hilarious.

Quick Answer to Key Question

Some funny speech topics could include humorous takes on current events, jokes about popular celebrities, lighthearted observations, and satirical examples of everyday scenarios. The possibilities for humorous content are truly endless – use your imagination to come up with something unique!

What is a Funny Speech?

A funny speech is a lighthearted presentation that focuses on making the audience laugh. It can be delivered as either an informative, persuasive, or entertaining talk, with humorous remarks and jokes to recognize the comic elements in life.

To this end, it often features playful humor, irony, exaggeration, and even farce , but within an appropriate context. As such, funny speeches can help break up tension and serve as a refreshing break from more serious topics .

However, there are drawbacks to using humor in public speaking. First of all, being funny can be difficult, so speakers must cultivate their natural wit and observe trends and topics that may lead to amusing content.

Additionally, though an audience may seem receptive to lightheartedness upfront, it could become easily offended if jokes cross lines of decency. As such, a speaker must judge the energy of the room and deliver material that will evoke laughter without overwhelming their listeners’ sense of propriety.

Ultimately, presenting a funny speech requires finesse and skill. But when done successfully, it can create lasting memories for both speaker and audience alike. With these considerations in mind, let us now transition into the next section which explores ideas for humorous speech topics.

Ideas for Humorous Speech Topics

Humorous speech topics can be great ice breakers at an event or just an entertaining way to pass the time. Whether you are giving a speech in front of your peers or random strangers, you will want to come up with material that is witty, entertaining, and guaranteed to get a laugh or two. Here are some ideas for humorous topics to consider: 1. Discuss why cats are smarter than dogs 2. Compare life before and after cell phones3. Debate whether cake or ice cream is better 4. Talk about the pros and cons of going to bed late versus getting up early 5. Examine the ridiculousness of certain trends 6. Discuss why people overreact when a mistake is made 7. Share your thoughts about extreme diets 8. Laugh about the difficulty of parallel parking 9. Analyze why some people rebel against instructions 10. Debate which reality TV show is the most absurd No matter which topic you choose to discuss, make sure to focus on enjoying yourself and showcasing your humorous side.

While it’s important to focus on making others laugh, it is also essential that you have fun along with them, as this will help create a more authentic and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone in attendance. Now that you have some ideas for humorous speech topics, let’s move on to discussing events.

Talking About Events

Talking about events often brings out the most laughter in an audience.

Whether it’s discussing a current hot button issue or rehashing a comical blunder that happened to a friend, addressing funny topics related to events can be endlessly entertaining.

Though there are some topics that might be deemed too sensitive to address, such as politics or religious issues , many current and past events offer plenty of moments that make for interesting storytelling opportunities.

For example, humorous angles on the latest celebrity news or an analysis behind why sports teams make questionable decisions can be met with laughter and applause.

Similarly, gossiping about relationships or peculiar situations among friends provides plenty of material for comedic discourse. As long as a speaker is able to keep their dialogue respectful, making light of recent happenings often serves as great source material for humor.

That being said, even if the topic being addressed is objectively lighthearted, being mindful of how sensitive it may come off to some members of the audience is important.

When necessary, debaters should employ tact when approaching certain subjects and always strive to treat any individuals involved with respect in their presentations.

Kept within healthy limits, talking about events can be quite amusing and engaging – it can bring out not only laughter but positive conversations between family, friends and participants alike.

Leading into the next section now: Personal topics also provide an abundance of funny speech topics that will surely strike a chord with any group.

Personal Topics

When it comes to comedy, the personal touch can make all the difference. Taking your speech topic from something close to home such as family, work or hobbies can often result in an entertaining and relatable topic.

Whether you choose to do a light-hearted take on a serious issue or bravely share some embarrassing stories, there’s sure to be something funny within your own experience.

For instance, exploring the “family dynamic” is often a great place to start. Even in the tightest of families, the occasional funny moment can emerge. Tell a story about an occasion where everyone was struggling to act their best and you had a laugh at their expense.

Or explore how certain family members are always found in the center of attention (even if they don’t intend to be). If done in good taste and with respect, poking fun at your family can result in some sincere laughs from both yourself and your audience.

These topics provide an opportunity for self-deprecating humor and bring a unique perspective on life that others may find both humorous and intriguing.

Personal insights into everyday struggles, misunderstandings or awkward moments can lead to topics that are surprisingly relatable. You will find that what you feel is ordinary can actually be extraordinary in someone else’s eyes.

Keep in mind, though, that when taking this approach, it is important to never offend anyone with your comments or jokes. Embrace embarrassment but never belittle any individuals or groups who are part of your stories or experiences

By leaning into those funny moments – whether they involve yourself or others – they can become powerful tools that make your speech memorable and enjoyable. Now let’s move onto telling funny stories – which also has its own unique set of advantages!

Personal topics can make comedy writing unique and relatable. Telling stories involving family and funny moments can provide entertainment while being respectful. Touching on ordinary struggles and awkward situations can lead to humor while still avoiding offending anyone directly. Humorously embracing embarrassment will help make speeches memorable.

Telling Funny Stories

Telling funny stories is an effective way to make your audience laugh, as stories are usually much more relatable than jokes.

People of all ages will often enjoy hearing a clever anecdote that they can relate to or that paints a vivid picture in their mind. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when telling a funny story as part of your speech.

First, it is important to remember that time is limited. Try to select anecdotes that have a clear beginning, middle, and end that are not too long-winded or complicated. Make sure the story you choose conveys your point while making it entertaining.

One debate between comedians and public speakers is whether stories should be made up or true. On the one hand, factual stories can be full of fascinating nuances and details and may appeal to some audiences.

True stories allow you to fully describe an experience for the audience’s enjoyment or gain a better understanding of the person telling it.

On the other hand, comedic opinions often say that made-up stories can be even funnier than real events if they present a creative spin on life. Whichever route you choose, always try to turn your story into a humble brag!

No matter which type of story you tell, ensure that it fits in with your overall message, as this helps tie it together for the listener. With any luck your humor will land with the crowd and keep them engaged until you reach the conclusion.

To help prepare for delivering such an important section of your presentation, let’s move on to looking at some useful tips for Writing and Delivering a Funny Speech.

Tips for Writing and Delivering a Funny Speech

Writing and delivering a funny speech can be a rewarding experience, especially if you can make your audience roar with laughter. However, crafting an effective comedic monologue takes skill, confidence and sometimes a bit of trial and error. To help you get started, here are some tips for writing and delivering a funny speech: 1. Understand Your Audience – Study your audience to determine what kind of humor they will respond to. For example, family-friendly jokes will play better at a dinner table than a corporate conference room. Adjust your standards accordingly to ensure the best outcome. 2. Know What Not to Do – A true professional comedian knows what not to say or do during their performance. Avoid vulgar language, off-color jokes and controversial topics that may offend certain members of your audience. Also, it’s important to know how far is too far when making fun of yourself or colleagues. 3. Write Your Speech First – Write out the speech first before even attempting to deliver it in front of others. This will give you more control over the timing and pacing of key punch lines for optimum effect¹. It also eliminates any confusion about the order you want to deliver your jokes in front of an audience. 4. Rehearse – Even if you have written the speech beforehand, practice multiple times until you are comfortable delivering it in public or private settings. Know which visual aids (if any) will engage your audience during key points in the speech. 5. Have Fun – When delivering a funny speech, don’t take yourself too seriously! Relax, have fun and let your personality shine through while you tell your story or jokes³. Then enjoy the applause after each punch line lands! Ultimately, writing and delivering a funny speech requires knowledge, skill and dedication—but done right, it can be very rewarding! Now let’s move on to addressing how we can use humor appropriately in our speeches…

Use Humor Appropriately

When giving a speech, it is important to use humor appropriately. Too much humor can actually dilute the impact of an otherwise persuasive message.

Adding bits of humor throughout the presentation will keep an audience engaged and help make your points easier to remember. But if you attempt too many jokes during your speech, it can be distracting for listeners and actually work against your intended message.

Adopting a humorous persona or mocking people who disagree with you can be dangerous because members of your audience may take offense. It is recommended to base humor on personal experiences or stories that you know your audience can relate to in order to ensure the best response.

Likewise, comedian Jerry Seinfeld suggests avoiding overt political material in your speech–which should come as no surprise considering how polarizing politics has become these days.

Overall, it is important to strike the right balance when adding humor to a speech. Humor should be used sparingly and should stay away from controversial topics unless done skillfully; otherwise, it can backfire instead of unifying your audience or making a strong point. With this in mind, let’s look at some examples of humorous speech topics next.

Examples of Humorous Speech Topics

When it comes to funny speeches, it’s important to find a topic that resonates with your audience. If you can make an audience laugh, the speech will be remembered for years to come. While humor may differ from culture to culture, there are some topics that remain universally funny. Here are a few examples: • The Pros and Cons of Dating an Alien • How to Create an App That Makes Doing Laundry Easier • A Practical Guide To Quitting Your Job and Becoming an Astronaut • Surviving a Zombie Invasion Without Looking Too Silly • How To Be The Life Of Any Party By Creating Inventive Dances • A Tour Of Local Haunted Locations These humorous speech topics could also be used as the basis for some light-hearted debate, offering the opportunity to explore both sides of a comedic argument. Ultimately, with each topic, the possibilities and potentials of making a crowd laugh are endless!

It is clear from looking at the speech topics discussed in this article that humor can be found everywhere and used in a variety of forms. A funny speech does not have to contain jokes or stand up comedy, but can simply use wit, wordplay and well-timed delivery to draw attention and elicit laughter from an audience.

When preparing a funny speech, it is important to consider the topic carefully and ensure that it is appropriate for the context. Some people may find certain topics offensive or inappropriate depending on their preferences, so these should be avoided when giving a humorous speech.

The topics presented in this article cover a wide range of perspectives and provide ample opportunity for crafting an entertaining and memorable speech. If crafting your own material is not something you feel comfortable with, there are many sources available on the internet which provide ready-made humor suitable for speeches.

Ultimately, whatever speech topic you choose, the most important thing is that it resonates with your audience and makes them laugh!

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions with Detailed Explanations

What are some tips for delivering a funny speech.

1. Start by rehearsing your speech – make sure you know it word for word and practice delivering it with the right tone of voice and body language . Rehearsing will also help you memorize what to say if you get nervous during the performance. 2. Keep your audience in mind when choosing your topic. Make jokes and references that your audience will appreciate and understand – don’t try too hard to be funny if others won’t get the joke. 3. Come up with creative ways to capture your audience’s attention from the start – tell stories, anecdotes, or jokes that pique their interest and connect to your overall message. 4. Stay away from crude humour or off-color remarks if they aren’t appropriate for the situation. Make sure whatever jokes you make are lighthearted and not offensive or hurtful to anyone in the room. 5. Have fun! If you come across as too serious or uptight, no one will laugh at your jokes. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate or bring enthusiasm when delivering your speech – it will make it much more entertaining.

What topics are suitable for a funny speech?

Some excellent topics for a funny speech include: 1. Inexplicable Mishaps – Stories about your funniest mistakes, blunders, and bumbles! 2. Unusual Occupations – Share the details of your weirdest job or wackiest hobby. 3. Unforeseen Consequences – Talk about decisions you regret and the hilarious results that followed. 4. Random Animal Facts – Insert some hilarious animal trivia from around the world into your speech. 5. Dumb Criminals – Discuss the most foolish criminals and their failed attempts at avoiding justice. 6. Childhood Memories – Recount humorous moments from your childhood to brighten the mood of your audience. 7. Bad Jokes – Use classic puns, tongue-twisters, and one-liners to get the crowd laughing. 8. Comical Slogans – Talk about corporate catchphrases that are humorous in unintended ways! 9. Upcycled Language – Create new words or tweak old ones to give them a funny spin and make people chuckle! 10. Cultural Commentaries – Discuss deficiencies and absurdities in popular culture that can spark a good laugh from your listeners!

What types of funny speeches would be suitable for different audiences?

When determining which type of funny speech would be suitable for different audiences, it’s important to consider several factors. For instance, the age, gender, interests, and background of the audience will all play a role in deciding on a topic.

For example, if your audience is mainly composed of young students or professionals in their 20s and 30s, you might want to focus on topics that are relevant to their experiences such as relationships, technology, popular culture, and current events. You could also make jokes about self-deprecating humour, sarcasm, and irony.

If the audience is made up of mostly seniors or retirees, you may want to focus on topics like nostalgia, family stories, and observations about retirement. You can use human interest stories and light-hearted anecdotes to make them laugh.

For college audiences with various backgrounds and interests, you’ll want to focus on topics such as sports rivalries, differences between generations or cultures , or even absurdist humour.

Organizing a funny speech around a common experience that everyone in the room can relate to will help ensure it resonates with the whole audience. Doing some research beforehand can provide lots of inspiration for appropriate funny speech topics that are sure to make your audience laugh!

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10-minute demonstration speech topics

100 + short 3-10 minute how to speech ideas

By:  Susan Dugdale   | Last modified: 02-17-2023

If you've been asked to put together a 10 minute, or less, demonstration speech for your speech class, look these 'how-to' ideas over. They're perfect for preparing short show and tell presentations to teach a new task succinctly and quickly.

Use the quick links below to get around the page easily. The topics are arranged in four batches. Begin with 'Why demonstrate something simple and ordinary?'. It could save you a lot of time!

What's on this page

Why demonstrate something simple and ordinary.

• 25 10-minute demonstration speech topics

25 ideas for short how-to speeches

26 topics for show-and-tell speeches.

• 32 demonstrative topics for 3 to 10-minute speeches

How plan and prepare your demonstration speech

• Get an adaptable printable demonstrative speech outline

Other topics for demonstration speeches

Before you settle on a topic, please don't overlook demonstrating a skill or a process you regard as commonplace.

If we already know how to do something competently, we have an understandable tendency to dismiss whatever it is as far too simple, and too ordinary to turn it into a demonstration speech.

And yet, that assumption can be so wrong.

There are audiences who will want to know how to do some of the things we do so efficiently and easily, that we forget we had to learn how to do them in the first place!  Many of those things are on this list.

For instance, a group of people who don’t spend a lot of time online, could find why and how to set up a safe password valuable knowledge to have. It might stop them from being hacked!

Likewise teaching people who intend to explore the great outdoors, and haven't had much prior experience, how to use a portable gas stove safely is extremely useful.

Or showing parents of children with long hair how to plait it. That will save a lot of time and tears when it comes to brushing.

And I'll always be grateful to the person who showed me how to give medicine to my beloved cat, without being scratched to bits!

Think about your audience. What would be useful for them to know? Sharing something of real benefit and value will help keep them actively interested.  *

* For more on how to choose a great demonstration speech topic .

Return to Top

25 3 to 10-minute demonstration speech topics

Once you’ve got your topic be sure to collect a printable demonstration speech outline to help you prepare your speech. You’ll find the link for that at the foot of the page. The outline will help you efficiently plan, organize and deliver a well-structured speech.

Now here's the first batch of the 100, and more, topics. 

• How to set up a safe password
• How to avoid ID theft
• How to use Google docs well
• How to set up Google analytics on a website quickly
• How to create a simple presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint or Apple Keynote
• How to back up your important files
• How to set up a wifi connection
• How to report online bullying
• How to fill out online forms well
• How to clear cookies off your computer
• How to identify and report spam
• How to set up a Spotify account
• How to use online banking
• How to use a credit card responsibly
• How to use online grocery shopping to save
• How to defend yourself against a random personal physical attack
• How to pack a travel bag efficiently
• How to help someone who is choking
• How to lift heavy objects without damaging yourself
• How to make a perfect cup of tea
• How to shop for groceries efficiently in a supermarket
• How to use a dryer to make your own dried fruit
• How to can vegetables safely
• How to freeze excess produce
• How to make perfect fruit jam

• How to chop vegetables safely and quickly
• How to carve a chicken, turkey...
• How to store raw chicken in the fridge safely
• How to prepare a simple healthy meal from basic ingredients
• How to plan an affordable weekly dinner menu
• How to iron a shirt
• How to tie a neck tie
• How to sort laundry, use a washing machine and dry your clothes
• How to hand wash delicate fabrics
• How to use a knife and fork correctly
• How to use a pair of chop sticks properly
• How to know what cutlery to use when you’re at a formal dinner party
• How to plait long hair
• How to brush a long-haired dog or cat well
• How to brush your teeth correctly
• How to do a press up correctly
• How to choose a haircut to suit your face shape
• How to a jacket to suit your body shape
• How to dress well on a limited budget
• How to make a simple healthy dessert
• How to ice a cake simply and effectively
• How to upcycle a tee shirt
• How to mend a fallen hem
• How to sew on a button
• How to make a bookcase from recycled materials

• How make a simple personal budget
• How to grow kitchen herbs in a window box
• How to escape from a sinking car
• How to use a blanket to move heavy objects
• How to sharpen a knife
• How use a thermometer correctly
• How to use a compass
• How read a simple topographical map
• How to use a portable gas stove safely out of doors
• How to put out a stove top fire
• How to change a light bulb
• How to clear a blocked sink
• How to clean a bathroom well
• How to make a bed
• How to use the local public transport system
• How to hold a baby properly
• How to change a baby’s diaper
• How to dress a baby
• How to dress a wound
• How to make an emergency call
• How to administer first aid for burns
• How to treat hypothermia
• How to handle frostbite
• How to handle someone having a seizure
• How to use CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• How to shine a pair of shoes

32 demonstrative topics for 10-minute speeches

• How to book a taxicab
• How to arrange flowers in a vase
• How to sow flower or vegetable seeds
• How to re-pot an indoor plant
• How to take a cutting from a plant
• How to prune a rose
• How to dry or press flowers
• How to forage for edible plants
• How to set a mouse trap
• How to make good lecture notes
• How to set a meeting agenda
• How to run a meeting efficiently
• How to read body language – what shows a person is unsure, shy, angry, confident...
• How to effectively and easily join a conversation between people you don’t know at a gathering
• How to make a personalized greeting card – birthday, wedding, anniversary, Christmas...
• How to make paper flowers
• How to make touchstones for children
• How to make a personalized birthday crown
• How to make colorful party bunting
• How to make a yarn ball
• How to make finger puppets
• How to felt wool balls for a garland
• How to decoupage a box, tray...
• How to make a pasta necklace
• How to make personalized pencil and pen holders from tin cans
• How to mend a tear in a favorite piece of clothing
• How to organize your wardrobe, kitchen counter, pantry...
• How to give medicine to a cat or a dog safely
• How to see a situation from another person’s point of view
• How to encourage and practice creative thinking
• How to make a friendship bracelet
• How to make a family pinboard

To be really effective you'll want to plan and prepare your 'how-to' speech thoroughly - even if you know the subject inside out!

Demonstration speeches that haven't been thought through and practiced carefully have a nasty habit of suddenly sliding sideways super-fast. Then what you want to happen and what actually does are miles apart - two quite different things. 

To avoid that read  planning, preparation & delivery of your demonstration speech . 

Get the printable demonstration speech outline 

Click the link to access to printable demonstration speech outline .  (It goes to the same page on planning and preparation linked to above. While you are there be sure to read the FAQs, especially the information about cue cards. If you haven't given a demonstration speech before you'll find it useful.)

If you've not found the how-to speech idea you want here, here's the link to access four more pages of demonstration speech topics . Collectively, that's 100s of suggestions! They include soft skills: the skills we need to communicate well with each other.

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300 Funny Speech Topics to Tickle Some Funny Bones!

Funny speech topics are usually difficult to turn up with. Yet, presenting this kind of speech might put you in trouble if you do not decide on the topic properly.

Better research on the topics motivating starting point. You will be happy to see smiles and laughter on your audience’s faces when you share the funny speech.

Besides, presenting a speech is challenging, and adding humor makes your speech interesting. Successful humor will entertain the listener.

It can break down professed barriers between you and the audience. This article gives some ways to use humor to your advantage while delivering the speech.

To jump to the funny 270 speech topic section, click here . And, to jump to funny speech videos, click here .

A funny speech recommends a joyful response from the audience from the start of the speech. Here every tone and gesture prognosis the significance with the audience.

The general belief and preference appear from the funny speech topic you choose. This type of speech also helps to differentiate you from others in a similar area.

• Persuasive Speech Topics
• Informative Speech Topics
• Argumentative Speech Topics

Indeed, public speech is full of fun usually when humor is added to them. The main usage of humor is to convince the audience with your overview. This can move a long way convincing your solution is the correct one.

For most people, delivering a speech can be like sitting on the cactus plant. It is a great responsibility and with intense pressure.

Due to nervousness, we do not desire to deliver a speech in front of a crowd of audiences.

A speech helps to communicate with an audience allowing them to understand a specific side of a topic. The language, volume, confidence, and body language matter while delivering the speech.

Adding a little humor both in your speech and topic will help to cut the stress. The article deals with funny speech topic ideas for every type of speaker. Relevant to the age group of your audience, better select the topic and carry out the proper research.

Table of Contents

1. Research and find the topic

2. consider and understand your audience, 3. decide the type of speech you are going to deliver, 4. decide your ideas and goal, 5. think about your main points, 6. deliver the speech clearly and understandably, 7. use vivid and particular adjective, 8. get inspired, 9. record the speech you practice, persuasive funny speech topics, informative funny speech topics, impromptu funny speech topics, funny speech videos, how to deliver an effective funny speech.

While deciding on the topic, think about the quality of your speech. It should not only depend on the topic you choose.

Better think about and make a list of the things you enjoy talking about the most. Point out the topics which you understand better and can be funny at the same time.

This might exclude some topics which are difficult to deliver a funny speech. Such topics are poverty, funeral, domestic violence, and much more. Better make proper use of the list and decide on the prospective topic.

Before working on the speech, remember who you are going to deliver the speech. It will be better if you consider and understand your audience. Here are some questions to think about:

• What is the common age of your listener?
• What does your audience have in general?
• What kind of speech do they desire to hear?
• What kind of funny speech did they expect to appreciate?

There are two types of speech. They are humorously informative and humorous speeches. You have to choose among them

A humorously informative speech delivers the information to the audience making them laugh. Besides, a firmly humorous speech aims to make the audience laugh.

Suppose, you are delivering a speech whose main aim is to deliver information or ideas. Here, you might desire to integrate humor while thinking about the ideas you want to deliver. Better draft the revealing part of your speech initially, then include jokes and humor.

After you decide on the topic, you have to focus on the main points of the speech. Think about the key message you desire to get across.

Do not forget to select a particular topic. If the foremost topic is extremely wide, your speech might not be fruitful. These types of speech are hard to complete in a short time.

Think about the main points and use the devising procedure to turn up prospective points. This helps to discuss and support your main idea. Get rid of anything that does not match the topic. Better do not speak on the points that you do not feel comfortable talking about. You can also pick up your strongest points and choose which ones to comprise.

Most of us get 25% of what we learn by hearing . Since your audiences listen to your speech, make sure your language is clear and simple. Unlike writing, speech deals with delivering speaking on the relevant topic.

Here, the audience will be less agreed with the details of sentence structure. They will be more agreed to your complete message.

Also, pay more attention to the expressions while presenting the speech. Avoid too long and complicated sentences. Since these types of sentences will be difficult to follow.

Clear and direct sentence structures are improved the way you express words. These words should be as vivid as possible. The more expressive a word is, the fewer needed to converse a similar concept.

It is much east to talk about humor when you are in a humorous mood. It is much east to talk about humor when you are in a humorous mood. So, earlier than presenting the funny speech, be inspired by the things you find humorous and entertaining.

You can also:

• Make some time for funny movies, television shows, or comedians.
• Read the work done by your favourite entertaining writers.
• Focus more when you make people round you laugh. Note the things you do or say that entertains people and the way you do it.

It is better to video record when you practice the speech. Doing this allows you to observe and tweak both your vocal and physical performance.

But if you are unable to take video, and audio recording can be useful as well.

Observe or listen to the recording to look for the points where the speech lags or where your tone goes down.

Assure you are not presenting too quickly or too slow. Make sure you do not jiggle or say “um” excessively. It can be uncomfortable to listen to yourself. Yet, doing this helps to improve your presentation.

270 Funny Speech Topics 

Find here the list of funny speech topics. Read the topic and make sure you practice more for a good result.

• Why you should never participate in a food challenge
• Describing a yo-yo to an alien
• Practical guide to a toothache
• How do I fire my boss?
• Breakup insurance policy: A must have
• Life should come with a soundtrack
• A petition for comfortable lingerie.
• How to Kill Your Goldfish
• How to Lose the Guy of Your Dreams
• Bad pick up lines are better than good pick up lines.
• Sometimes I talk to myself because I need intelligent conversation
• If failures are a stepping stone, I’ve built myself a ladder to heaven
• Never start a diet on a Monday
• Netflix is a hobby
• My birthday should be a national holiday
• Shoes tell a lot about a person: Crocs for all!
• Why braces are cool
• The Strangest Person I Ever Met –
• Eating things you don’t like
• Children’s Nursery Rhymes: The real meaning behind them
• Internet dating: The best way to find love
•  Why the Barbie Doll is an icon
• Why Mom knows best
• A man’s right to wear skirts
• If I were the Lord of Misrule…
• Mistaken identity: Why I am commonly confused with a movie star.
• Is the ‘Force’ with you?
• My best chat-up lines
• The worst chat-up lines ever
• Why I prefer dogs over people
• Homer Simpson for President
• How to Flunk Out of College
• Why Good Girls Love Bad Boys
• Shifting the blame: the only way to handle difficult situations
• Talk Shows: Airing Our Dirty Laundry
• Taylor Swift: A Role Model For Today’s Youth
• Jared, the Subway Guy: His Rise to the Top
• Bollywood movies and Illuminati
• We Are the People Our Parents Warned us About
• Everything I Needed to Know in Life, I Learned in Kindergarten
• Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Your Credit
• Blaming your dog for things
• Blaming your horoscope for why things went wrong
• Protection from Zombies
• People with mediocre talents have success and high talented people haven’t.
• How teachers spend their time when they are not teaching.
• Coffee tastes bitter, but we want it anyway.
• Are the final exams in schools rigged?
• Why are Dads so weird?
• Reasons why I love doing nothing around the house.
• Internet surfing is a workout.
• Every child should get a cootie shot.
• The funniest amusement parks.
• How to deny reality.
• Wine/beer/cocktail of the month.
• Why I don’t want to be a millionaire.
• When I resign, I will …
• For her/him who doesn’t have to do it, nothing is impossible.
• Once a month, the school should allow kids to host a food fight.
• Short guys are closer to your heart.
• Halloween shouldn’t be the only holiday when we get to wear costumes.
• My younger/elder sibling(s) should treat me like a king/queen.
• Men should never wear skinny jeans.
• Why older women do not want to admit their age.
• Why women say they hate sports.
• Why casino players actually are sad people.
• Why smart people don’t know they have the wrong ideas.
• Women marry much younger men.
• What if plants had feelings?
• Your guide to life.
• Who runs the world? No really, who’s in charge?
• Eating flowers is possible.
• Happy puppies make humans happy.
• Urban running acrobatics.
• Personal bloopers are great funny topics for a speech.
• What women really say when they talk to men.
• Answers on the meaning of life.
• A true story that isn’t true in the end.
• How to pass the blame like a pro
• Why men like action and women like romance movies.
• Five requirements to be called a bestie by girlfriends.
• Why rose is the best flowers’ fragrance many women like.
• The power of foot reading
• Chasing idle dreams is a good habit.
• Rare speed limits and the reasons why.
• What women really say when they talk to men?
• In a fight between superheroes, who will win the battle?
• Life with Harry Potter.
• Calorie counts should be listed on all foods.
• Cleaning your room is overrated.
• Why men are proud of themselves.
• Ways to remember birthdays.
• My most profitable mistake.
• How to find funny speech topics in 24 hours.
• How to bunk college
• How to do make up like a joker
• Why is cheating not included in the course curriculum?
• What to do on a desert island.
• Things to do in the traffic jam.
• How to cope with troubles at a family reunion.
• Why I don’t need money or cash.
• The Ten Commandments in a restaurant boys and girls room.
• Why people look like their dogs.
• Top 5 bad business slogans.
• How lazy students still survive and succeed in life.
• Why my – any fun speech topic – looks cooler than the … of my neighbor.
• Why you need to lie.
•  What do teachers do off duty?
• A guide to efficient lazyness
• How to juggle
• How to carve a pumpkin
• How to catwalk
• How to apply face paint
• Offending your parents: The proper way to do it.
• Why exercise is a scam
• What to say on a first date
• What not to say on a first date
•      How to sell yourself: A guide to proper prostitution
• How to survive a blind date
• How to survive as an incompetent person
• How to cheat at Monopoly
• The 3 biggest lies at school
• How you can tell when you’re drunk
• Why the chicken crossed the road: An analysis
• Questions not to ask people
• The worst jokes ever
• The best jokes ever
• The art of making cereal
• How to give your dog a pill
• How to cheat at poker
• How to dance the twist
• What to do with cold custard
• What Not to Say on a Date
• What Not to Wear on a Date
• Divorce: The escape you’ve been seeking
• How to Screw up a Job Interview
• How to Ruin a Good Thing
• How to Fail at Dieting
• How to Change a Baby’s Diaper (Use a doll)
• How to Succeed in College Without Attending Class
• How to Get Out of A Speeding Ticket
• How to Survive on Minimum Wage
• America’s Dumbest Criminals
• Celebrities Behaving Badly
• An Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Frozen Dinners
• Is this a sign? Learning sign language.
• Get Rich Quick
• Marketing tactics and why they work
• How to Succeed as a Freeloader
• How to Catch a Cheater
• Mastering the art of passive aggressiveness
• Napoleon Dynamite: An American Hero
• American Idol
• The McDonald’s Diet
• Adam Sandler
• Best Excuses For Missing Work
• How to Cheat on a Test
• Unique uses for duct tape
• Fun with super glue
• Quote Shakespeare like a pro
• Yodel like a professional
• Eating well on $5.00 a day
• My apology for global warming
• How to grow grits for fun and profit
• Getting over your fear of speech making
• Plausible conspiracy theories
• Thanksgiving dinner in three easy steps
• How to be a charming host at any event.
• The art of being unbearable
• 10 ways to irritate a telemarketer.
• 10 ways to freak out your roommate.
• What are dentists truly after?
• How to drive the baby-sitter crazy.
• How to cheat poker the nice way.
• How to Lose the Guy of your dreams
• The secret to a successful Thanksgiving dinner
• Tips for merging two households.
• Why modern art is a scam.
• Do’s and Don’ts for a first pregnancy
• Five ways to keep a boring conversation going at a cocktail party.
• Bare funny facts about men.
• Funny facts about women.
• Small things to appreciate for a happy life.
• How to perform a convincing fake laugh.
• Crazy rules men wish women knew. 
• How to give your dog or cat a pill.
• How to determine you are addicted to the Internet.
• How to throw a paper airplane in class.
• What really happened to the toothfairy.
• Ten things you’ve learned from your pet.
• How to become a rat and make a fortune.
• 10 ways to order pizzas.
• Why do rock stars break their guitars on stage?
• The secret behind the most popular tattoos.
• Worst birthday presents ever.
• Why must I clean my room every day
• What magicians don’t want you to know: Magic’s biggest secrets.
• A handy list of excuses to get out of doing things
• How to learn from your parent’s mistakes.
• How to get – more – Valentine’s Day cards next year.
• How to turn the Academy Awards ceremony into funny event
• Why do most mainstream songs make no sense at all?
• What you can’t say in public.
• Making a mud pack facial
• Tips for buying gifts everybody wants.
• Disney theme songs to suit your life.
• Unexpected disasters that can happen.
• Ten fun things to do during an exam.
• Ten ways to order a pizza.
• What are your dreams trying to tell you?
• Worst marriage counseling advice.
• Interesting ancient remedies
• How to get fired in three easy steps.
• How to not promote your products online.
• Do all pop songs sound the same?
• Three elements to creating the next catchy hit.
• Odd foods that you have to try.
• Is tiktok a legitimate career?
• Cheating: The proper way to do it
• If I ruled the World…
• My most effective hangover cure
• My Most Embarrassing Moment
• Are white lies ok?
• How I ran away from home
• Unhappily Ever After
• Funny job applicant stories.
• Being the older child and depression: Coincidence?
• Why the youngest child deserves her own holiday!
• Which celebrity would you like to meet and why?
•      How I choose friends.
• The one time I made my parents proud
• Humor or intelligence: What is the preferred trait?
• Favourite cartoon characters
• My American Idol audition
• A ghost that you want to hang out with
• Last day at school/college
• The party that went wrong
• The joke that backfired
• If I had a time machine
• Out of the Mouth of a Child
• Speech topics are tough
• Funny Names to call your tutors
• Are uniforms necessary?
• My first day at school
• My worst nightmare…
• My best April Fool’s prank
• Funniest Childhood Memory
• My worst day ever
• The perfect television advertisement
• How I ruined a good date.
• How real love is different from movies?
• Caught in a Compromising Position
• Tales From Scribbles on the Bathroom Wall
• A Time I Got Arrested
• My 15 Minutes of Fame
• The end justifies the means
• Your most hated household chore
• Cancel all the seasons other than summer.
• Men behaving badly
• Women behaving badly
• Practical Jokes
• April Fool’s Day
• The Bogeyman
• Blind Dates
• Demonstrate tasting wine in a humorous way.
• If I was my boss, then …
• Funny computer terms and phrases.
• Funny holidays in other countries.
• My most embarrassing moment
• The strangest thing I’ve ever met anyone
• Procrastinators unite! ..Tomorrow?
• Funny first date experiences.
• What I don’t understand about fashion.
• My motto: I´m flexible by indecision
• How I choose friends.
• The time I Ran Away From Home.
• Worst present I’ve ever gotten
• Unusual incidents.
• Does the perfect man exist?
• Crazy things to do in the supermarket.

The guide and topics for humorous speech should get you started with your funny speech. Let me know what you think about this article by commenting below.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

“How To” Speech Topics, Ideas & Examples

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Want to speak in front of an audience but are terrified of freezing or being boring? I know the feeling. If you’ve ever had to give a “how-to” speech, you know that it can be incredibly intimidating. It also entails coming up with how-to speech ideas and creative examples.

After all, how will they finish listening if the audience isn’t hooked by what you’re saying right away? To help ease your worries (and inspire those ideas!), here’s everything you need on “how-to” speeches: topics, samples & potential pitfalls — so read ahead!

Writing a How-to Speech

The speaker needs to consider several important factors when preparing to give a how-to speech. The how-to speech should identify the problem that needs to be resolved, explain how the problem can be fixed with a step-by-step approach, and list any potential obstacles the audience may face.

It is also important for speakers to choose how-to speech topics that are of interest or relevance to their target audience. This will ensure maximum engagement and retention throughout the speech.

How-to Speech Ideas That Are Funny

When it comes to funny “how-to” speeches, the possibilities are endless! Whether talking about how to make a perfect paper airplane or how to be the life of the party, humor can enhance your presentation and help keep your audience engaged.

Try using puns, silly props, or even anecdotes that provide insight into the process while still making people laugh. The goal is to not only impart valuable knowledge but also entertain your listener.

With some creativity, you can develop a humorous speech that achieves a comedic effect and explains its topic.

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Interesting How-to Topics

When asked to present a speech, many people immediately search for the most interesting ideas for a how-to speech. From tidying up after the biggest mess to baking a delicious cake, speeches about how to do something can be informative and entertaining.

While it may seem challenging to come up with fresh ideas, an infinite number of topics could be used. Some great suggestions include teaching viewers how to create a simple budget plan , explaining plant-based diets and their benefits, explaining how to instruct others effectively, or even how to ace an interview.

No matter what topic you go with, remember that the important thing is to be passionate and provide audiences with detailed instructions. When done correctly, choosing an interesting “how-to” topic for your speech will surely have your audience applauding in no time!

Choosing a Demonstration Speech Topic

Choosing a demonstration speech topic may seem daunting, but it can be simple and enjoyable with the right guidance. Identifying the topics appropriate for a demonstration speech is the first step in navigating this process.

Demonstration topics should be grounded in facts and provide pertinent knowledge about your expertise or interest. They should also focus on something that can be demonstrated in a tangible way, such as making a craft or performing an experiment.

• Your Interests

Choosing engaging good how-to speech topics based on one’s interests can be daunting yet rewarding. Taking the time to reflect on potential topics and thinking carefully about what topics truly interest you is fundamental to assembling a captivating presentation.

As such, it is paramount to begin by reflecting upon your hobbies and leisure activity ideas that you find most intriguing, as well as any activities or tasks you feel passionate about sharing with others.

Additionally, curating ideas from other media sources, such as newspaper articles or magazines, helps provide further insight into new and novel subjects or angles that can motivate your research process.

Only through this deliberate effort to understand our interests and apply them creatively towards developing a worthwhile “how-to” speech topic can we find the contentment of presenting a presentation with which listeners will engage.

• Who the Speech Is For

Choosing a “how-to” speech topic is critical in delivering an effective presentation. When selecting your topic, it’s important to keep the audience in mind.

Decide who your speech is for and make sure it is relevant to their interests. Select something specific that can benefit them or be beneficial in a general sense. Choose something the audience wants to learn about and that you are comfortable presenting. This will ensure your presentation skills are on display, as well as your knowledge about the topic.

Ensure your topic has enough depth for you to use additional research as support. This will strengthen the content of your presentation and demonstrate personal effort.

Ultimately, with careful consideration of who your speech is addressed to, you can craft a “how-to” topic that adds value both for yourself and your audience.

• The Setting of the Speech

Choosing a “how-to” speech topic based on the setting of the speech is an important step in preparing for an effective presentation.

It is essential to consider the purpose of the speech, the audience’s interests and needs, and any limitations or restrictions that may be present to construct an appropriate topic and choose relevant information to include.

Anticipating questions or topics of interest related to the audience is helpful when selecting a relevant topic.

• The Time You’ve Got to Prepare the Speech

Deciding on a “how-to” speech topic can be daunting. But the task becomes much more manageable, considering how much time you have to prepare for the presentation. Start by narrowing down the possibilities based on how much time you have.

If you have more time to prepare, opt for something more challenging. If you have only a short amount of time, choose a simpler topic.

Once you have determined the complexity level and estimated preparation time, consider your interests to find a topic that is both engaging to yourself and hopefully your audience.

As with any speech or presentation, researching and practicing before the actual event will greatly benefit your delivery and engagement with your audience.

Although finalizing a speech topic for a “how-to” presentation can be stressful, understanding constraints and utilizing interests will help make this process easier.

• The Time You’ve Got to Give the Speech

When selecting a “how-to” speech topic, the amount of time you have to give the presentation should be considered. It is wise to carefully analyze the time frame constraints of the assignment and assess which topics can be thoroughly explored in the allocated duration.

Attempting to cover too much material within a limited timeframe may lead to rushed communication and limit your opportunity to expand on the subject matter. Instead, select a focus that allows space for further discussion but remains concise enough to explore properly within your allotted time.

It is also advantageous to choose a topic that naturally interests you. This will heighten enthusiasm and engagement throughout your presentation, thus helping create an impactful delivery. Doing so will ensure you stay on track and avoid exceeding the assigned timeframe.

• The Guidelines for Assessment

When choosing a “how-to” speech topic, it is important to ensure that the topic meets all of the guidelines for assessment. It is a good idea to consider current and relevant topics, informative, interesting, and new, demonstrating the speaker’s understanding of their subject matter.

Choosing a topic with an appropriate difficulty level can help ensure that your speech will be comprehensive and engaging for your audience.

Demonstrative Speech Topics

Selecting topics for speeches comes down to choosing something you both know and can present effectively. As you brainstorm possible show-and-tell ideas, narrow the topics until you arrive at one that is interesting to you and your audience and fulfills all criteria needed for an effective demonstration presentation.

Once you’ve chosen a successful topic, preparing the speech will become much simpler, allowing you to demonstrate confidently and successfully.

Here are some easy demonstrative speech ideas for how-to.

Animals/Pets

Giving a speech to educate an audience about how to care for animals/pets can be an enriching experience.

It is important to research and thoroughly understand the topic to provide the audience with accurate and applicable information. This will entail researching different animal species and their specific characteristics, needs, and behaviors.

Moreover, ample time must be allocated for preparation so all aspects of proper pet-keeping can be explained clearly and confidently.

Topics ideas could range from a persuasive speech on how to pick the best breed to an informative speech on pet health. 

Gardens/Yards

Talking about creating and maintaining a garden or a yard requires proper preparation to ensure that the information relayed is accurate and beneficial. Researching various gardening elements beforehand will provide a strong base for discerning audiences to build on.

Be sure to present topics such as plant selection, design ideas, pest prevention, watering methods, and other environmental factors in an organized fashion that is easy for your listeners to follow.

Offering clear instructions throughout the speech with examples showing the steps in action can help ensure that your audience walks away feeling confident about their newly acquired knowledge.

Topics could cover how to identify poisonous plants, how to get rid of garden pests, how to make an indoor herb garden, and even how to make garden art. 

To give an effective “how-to” speech about crafts, the speaker should start by introducing themselves and properly framing the topic. They should provide a brief overview of what the audience will learn in their presentation and then begin with the most basic information, slowly building up to more complex concepts.

Crafting often has visual aid speech topics. At every stage of presenting, visuals should be provided for illustration. Visuals could range from diagrams or step-by-step photographs showing how a craft is made to video or actual physical models.

Once all of this information has been presented, the speaker should summarize the key points covered and allow time for questions from the audience before concluding their presentation.

Games/Sports

Giving a “how-to” speech about games/sports is an excellent way to share knowledge and teach important concepts. It requires the speaker to do comprehensive research and prepare in advance.

To give an effective “how-to” speech, start by introducing the game/sport accurately and make sure to tailor the presentation for your specific audience. Additionally, focus on one topic at a time, explain each step with vivid examples, and use visuals like charts or diagrams if possible.

Once you have covered all steps necessary for playing the game/sport, end the speech concisely and provide resources that can be used after the presentation.

Topics here could range from how to perfect your golf swing to even how to teach basketball.

Food And More

Delivering a successful “how-to” speech about food and drinks requires careful preparation. First, it is important to do research on the topic so that you have an understanding of the background information.

Once this has been accomplished, the next step should be to focus on a specific field within the topic and craft your presentation around this selected focus. Be sure to collect illustrations, charts, or photographs relevant to your chosen material, as these visual elements can make all the difference in bringing your words to life.

How to Structure a How-to Speech

Structuring a “how-to” speech can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Firstly, you should brainstorm the steps needed to accomplish your desired outcome with as much detail as possible. Secondly, organize the steps in chronological order.

This will give the rhythm of your speech a natural flow. Then, begin by introducing yourself and the topic by providing background information on why it is important.

Following completion of the step-by-step instructions, summarize what was just explained and explain why it matters in general terms. Finally, address any foreseeable issues and offer solutions to avoid them.

How-to Speech Template

A “how-to” speech template is an effective method to prepare a speech. This is especially useful when speaking on topics that may be largely unfamiliar to the audience, as it provides a straightforward structure for organizing the material.

The basic format of this type of speech involves:

• Introducing the topic.
• Describing the purpose and benefits of knowing more about it.
• Decomposing the subject matter into easily digestible sections.
• Concluding with a summary and reflection on what has been covered.

Additionally, including visual aids and personal anecdotes can further add interest and clarity to speeches, helping ensure everyone remains engaged throughout the presentation. Use this blank demonstration speech outline to craft your own any time!

To Sum It Up

Giving a great how-to speech is mostly about choosing the right topic. As how-to speeches often require visuals such as PowerPoint slides and handouts, these should be reviewed pre-speech to guarantee smooth delivery during the presentation itself. Speaking confidently and clearly while allowing time for questions and feedback is also essential in delivering an effective how-to speech.

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Funny Graduation Speeches

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Graduation speeches infused with humor bring life to these traditional celebrations and speak to the nature of the youth in attendance. If you're not a natural comedian, these funny graduation speech ideas provide a great starting point to customize your speech.

Funny High School Graduation Speech #1 - Finding Out Who You Are

Who are we? That is a great question. We've spent the last 13 years of our lives trying to prepare for that, but it isn't something that you can Google. Well, you can Google it, but make sure that you turn on the safe search first. There is no telling what your results might be.

• 4 High School Graduation Speech Samples That Inspire

It's Okay to Not Know

However, Google won't tell us where our passion lies. It won't tell us who we are. And while some of us know, (your parents are breathing a deep sigh of relief right now), others of us don't, (sorry Mom and Dad). We don't know what we want to be when we grow up yet, and that is okay. Well, your parents might not think so when you are on your fourth major and they're paying your tuition, but it is still okay.

A New Chapter and Finding Your Passion

High school was fun, but we have turned a page in our life. We have moved from childhood into adulthood and now is the time to find our passion. It's time to learn what we want to be if we haven't figured it out, or follow our dream if we have. So parents, open up your wallets because studying philosophy isn't cheap.

Thank You All

Teachers, your passion and dedication has helped us to realize that being first in line isn't a life or death situation. And thank you for understanding that dogs can eat anything from homework to gym shorts. True story. Faculty, thank you for putting up with us from our nose picking days to raging hormonal breakdowns. Through it all, you have been our rocks. So as we take this final walk out of this school, we thank you all for helping us to answer the question of who we are.

Humorous Sample Speech #2 - Learn From Your Mistakes

We all make mistakes. I know that I have. Stealing Shelly's boyfriend in 3rd grade was definitely a mistake, but I think I did her a favor. Staying up the night before ACTs was a mistake, but I'm standing up here so it wasn't that bad. I have made mistakes. Hundreds, no thousands, okay maybe millions, of mistakes within my short 18 years, including that funny student council speech I made sophmore year that turned out more stupid than funny.

Mistakes Help You Grow

Have I learned from all of them? Probably not. But more often than not mistakes helped me to grow. I mean I learned that volunteering to give a graduation speech was probably not my best choice 13 hours and four speeches later. But then again, I'm killing it right now, so time well spent. I also learned that I'll probably never volunteer for this again. So as you can see, mistakes are all about learning.

New Adventure - New Mistakes

As we bust through this new adventure in our lives, some call being a grown up, I call the end of freeloading, we will make mistakes. We will choose the wrong major and have to pay thousands extra in student loans, but we will learn to be more frugal. Honestly, we will probably just learn how to live on Ramen, but who knows. We will miss deadlines and be late, but all these things will make us grow and change. Our mistakes will become as important as our successes because they will define us.

So, don't aim for perfect, instead, it is better to be flawed. So, thank you, parents and teachers, for letting us make mistakes. Thank you for molding us into the imperfect creatures we are today. And most of all thank you for allowing us to learn from our mistakes as we move forward.

Customization Options for the Funniest Graduation Speech

Each sample speech is general enough to be used for most school graduations. If you want to create an original speech, you can modify both samples by:

• Changing out terminology with words like high school or senior class
• Adding in personal stories or examples
• Including funny sound effects and facial expressions where they make sense
• Changing the greeting or closing statements

Tips for a Great Speech

Giving a speech in front of a large crowd, especially in front of people you know well, can be a challenge if you plan to give an unexpected surprise like a funny speech. These suggestions and ideas will help you prepare so your speech gets the positive reaction you hope for.

Bits of Humor

You don't have to be known for your humor to add it into a speech, but there is a right way and a wrong way to give a humorous speech. Funny graduation speeches command an audience's attention and involve them in the ceremony. However, adding humor that is well-timed, appropriate, and funny can be tricky. Keep the following points in mind as you plan your speech.

• Timing is everything. Take a look at your speech ahead of time and decide where humor will be most appropriate.
• Stories of classmates and faculty members are your best sources for funny stories. Think about funny moments that included others at the school.
• Search for funny quotes , jokes , sayings , poems , song lyrics or even newspaper headlines that could be related to the ceremony. Be sure they complement the moment.
• Don't be afraid to talk about yourself, especially any embarrassing moments you might have experienced during your academic years.
• Tell stories. Even without trying to inject humor, you might find that your stories about your graduating class, the faculty, and the administration are funny.
• Refer to subjects that everyone is familiar with, such as politics or especially pop culture. Think about popular TV shows, bands, movie stars, etc. Remind the audience about fads that have been popular while your graduating class has been in school. If you know a funny story relating to this theme, tell it.

Practice Pointers

Before the actual ceremony, you'll want to practice your speech several times. You'll also want to:

• Give a copy of your speech to the principal and any other faculty members involved in the ceremony. Be sure you get their approval before you give your speech.
• Practice your speech in front of several friends and ask for their honest feedback.
• When adding humor to a speech, it is important that you stress certain words to add emphasis to the funny parts of the speech.
• Don't just focus on stories that relate to you and your friends. It's important to include as many of the groups in your school as possible. You want to reach all of your audience, not just some of them.
• Funny graduation speeches should not be rude or cruel. Do not use this time to ridicule a teacher or principal who is disliked by you or your friends. Be sure your speech material is appropriate.
• Sometimes, there is a fine line between poking fun at something or someone and being offensive. Use tact and consideration in your speech.

A Fun Way to Say Goodbye

Your graduation speech is the perfect time to sum up your experiences over the past years and close this chapter of life. Infuse the speech with a youthful spirit, ingenuity, and humor to make it an experience others will never forget. Now all you have to do is figure out your graduation thank you speech to give to your loved ones at your party.

Five Tips for a Valedictorian Speech that Gets Laughs

Have you been elected valedictorian? Are you the one who will be called up on stage to speak in front of all your classmates, family, friends, and teachers at the graduation ceremony? Your audience expects a memorable speech that is both inspiring and funny. Perhaps your speech will will end up on Youtube where it will be preserved for years to come. The pressure is enormous. But don’t worry! Just follow these five tips and you will write a hilarious speech in no time.

Tip 1: Pick a Funny Opener

Alfred Hitchcock said about movies: “Start with an earthquake, then slowly increase the level of suspense.” The same is true for graduation speeches. Your first sentence should shake your listeners. Then you can go on and dazzle ‘em.

The best way to draw in the attention of your audience right from the start is humor. By the way, if you are graduating from high school this year, – even college students might not know! – you might not know who be familiar with Hitchcock, he was considered one of the best movie makers of all times. But let’s look at some funny openers.

Talk show host Conan O’Brien began in his graduation speech at the University of Dartmouth in 2011 like this: “Graduates, parents, relatives, teachers and old people that just come to these things: Good morning and congratulations…”

You could easily change this opener to fit your speech situation. For example, you could also welcome the bored siblings, tourists, who lost their bearings or people from the street who were hoping for free drinks.

The humor in the valedictorian speeches often plays with the fact that after passing their exams, student can now afford to speak up much more freely. Even small taunts to the teachers are allowed, as long as they don’t go too far. Like this example:

“At the beginning of my speech, I want to thank the teachers. They do not always have an easy time with their students. They are often incredibly loud, they cannot focus well and for long stretches of time they have absolutely no clue what the class is all about. That’s right, dear teachers, I’m talking about you. But the fact that all students who are sitting in front of me today have graduated from high school shows that despite these deficits, you have done well. I think, that deserves a big round of applause.”

If the speaker was not his teacher’s favorite student, he or she could start their speech like this: “When Principal Rogers was considering which one of his students would be a good candidate to deliver a speech at our graduation ceremony, my name was at the top of his list. The title of this list? Worst Case Scenario.”

Hundreds of funny and inspiring ideas by America’s top graduation speeches can be found here .

Tip 2: Look Back at Your Time in High School

At graduation ceremonies there are usually several speakers, a teacher, a parent or a guest speaker. But only one speaker knows everything about what went on during the graduates’ high school years. Only one speaker has been there, at parties, behind the school building or in the backseats of parents’ cars. And that speaker is you.

Use your knowledge to make some jokes. You don’t have to give away secrets. Just let your audience know that you have them. How this can be done, was shown by J.K. Rowling in her speech at Harvard (even though she didn’t speak as a graduate, but as a world famous writer):

“The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.”

Or you can do it like this. “I had planned to talk extensively about the most embarrassing anecdotes that happened in recent years. I even wanted to present some funny pictures and videos. But since the offers for hush money have been generously increased by several of my classmates, I have decided to delete those passages from my speech.”

Tip 3: Give Some Tongue-in-Cheek Advice

Not only teachers and parents can make suggestions for the future of the graduates. Valedictorians can, too. But make sure you spice up your advice with a pinch of humor.

You can find inspiration in the speech delivered by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in 2009 at Tulane University in New Orleans. “Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path and by all means you should follow that. Don’t give advice, it will come back and bite you in the ass. Don’t take anyone’s advice. So my advice to you is to be true to yourself and everything will be fine.”

Your audience should always feel that you don’t take yourself too seriously, for example like Tim Minchin did in his speech at the University of Western Australia in 2013: “You may find some of my tips inspiring, some you may find them boring. Surely, you will have forgotten all of them next week.”

Lots of witty phrases for graduation speeches can be found here .

Tip 4: Get to the Point and Come to the End

Speeches are like love affairs: It’s not difficult to start one. But only few people manage to end them gracefully. A pleasant exception was Jimmy Kimmel’s speech in Las Vegas in 2013: “With your degree you have not only proven that you are smart people. You have also shown something even more important. You have proven that you can finish something. That being said, I think this is a great opportunity to show that I can finish something as well and finish this speech.”

Denzel Washington concluded with his graduation speech at the University of Pennsylvania 2011 like this: “When you leave the friendly confines of West Philly: Never be discouraged. Never hold back. Give everything you’ve got. And when you fall throughout life—and maybe even tonight after a few too many glasses of champagne—fall forward. [Learn from your experiences] Congratulations, God bless you.”

Tip 5: Don’t Be Scared

A rousing graduation speech needs a hilarious opener, a humorously-packaged look back, some words of wisdom and a crisp conclusion. However, there is something even more important than all this: your enthusiasm. Your audience must feel that you are excited about your speech.

Unfortunately, this is something many speakers struggle with. The reason for this is usually stage fright. Some people are simply too scared of public speaking to ignite the spark in their audience.

However, there is a simple cure for your anxiety. Don’t take yourself too seriously – and let your listeners know that. Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling did a pretty good job at this in her graduation speech in Harvard in 2011: “The first thing I would like to say is ‘thank you.’ Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honor, but the weeks of fear and nausea I have endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight.”

Or you can say this: “Opera singer Enrico Caruso badly suffered from stage fright and is said to have thrown up many times shortly before his performances. My anxiety is usually not that bad, but for the case of an emergency, I would like to ask the people in the frond row to move their chairs backwards a little bit.”

More humorous phrases that will relax even the most terrified of speakers can be found here. Take these five tips to heart and you will give a graduation speech that will sweep your audience of their feet. Good luck to you!

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Funny Student Council Speeches

If you are running for the student council, you certainly need to popular vote from your peers if you are to become the winner. Because your campaign speech is targeted at other high school teens and not parents or teachers, you must be creative and use a funny introduction.

What You Should Know When Writing An Election Speech

Here are a few suggestions that should help you craft a solid your audience will never forget. It is however important that you make sure that the speech adequately suits your position and school.

Start with some humor!

It is always easy for people to be swayed by someone who knows how to engage them with some humor. You can begin like this: some of you here probably remember me for shutting myself in the restroom last summer. My being here today is a testament to the fact that you can overcome any form of embarrassment.

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My track record.

I have had a lot of good ideas, many of which have been used to serve especially here in this high school. From the first time I stepped my feet in this school, I knew I should be involved. Before now, I have served as a member of the school athletic team as the vice-captain. The little experience I have gained in these leadership roles has put me in good stead to further advance the virtues upon which this school is built.

Declaration of interest

It may not come to a number of you as a surprise that I am running for student council for the post of (……………………..). if I am elected into this office, I will work hard to ensure that every student of this high school feels the effect of good governance.

I know what it takes

I am fully aware that the student council to which I am aspiring to be a member of works hand in hand with the administration and student body to ensure that the student events held yearly turn out to be a success.

I ask for you votes

I assure you that if I am considered worthy of election into this exalted office, I will do all to put your interests first while also ensuring that your concerns are taken care of.

Some Good Ideas Of Speeches For President You Should Consider

When running for the highest office in your school or class, you must do all to make it stand out.

Knock them out with the opening statement

Hello everyone, my name is Mark Henry. I may not be the coolest guy out there who doesn’t mind breaking a few rules and I’m sure that’s not what you want in a student council president. What I bring to the table is hard work, transparency, probity, and team spirit. This I promise to do without souring the fun.

Many of you will remember the petition I wrote concerning the hygiene issue we faced in the restroom last summer. We were able to affect the needed changes by coming together to endorse that petition. This is the kind of team spirit I hope my leadership will entrench if given the opportunity.

What Do I Bring To The Table?

The years I have spent so far in this high school has seen me explore the different opportunities on offer. I am a member of the school soccer team, and I have been part of a team that has helped juniors improve their math skills. I was made the vice-captain of the school soccer team just this year and along with my teammates, we have won 80 percent of our matches to date .

With me as your student council president, I may not be able to cancel all homework, but I guarantee you that I will be your voice whenever there is a need for one. I will make sure that this turns out to be a year to remember for you all in this school. I will ensure to improve upon the already existing extracurricular activities in this school while also introducing new ones. The community will also feel our impact as we will work together to come up with innovative ideas to improve a lot of our community through volunteer programs.

Call For Your Votes

Today, I make it known to you that it takes the people to vote for effective change to occur. I would be grateful for every vote cast for me to become your president. Together, I believe we can bring the changes we so much desire. Let’s activate the power of our votes as we turn this vision to reality.

Sample Vice President Speech

For your speech for the role of the vice president to sell, it must be delivered with great precision and effect.

Introduction

Rather than bore you with a default introduction expected of a great speech, I will begin by sharing with you all a memory that changed my view of high school. It was the day I scored my first goal on the school soccer team in a match. I had enlisted into the team earlier last summer and I was assigned as number 9(a striker). It was a struggle settling into the team as I wasn’t the most physical guy out there(I’m sure I still am not). The games went by and I just couldn’t get the ground running.

I needed a goal badly as expected for my role as a striker. Then came a qualification match for the local championships. The regular striker was out injured and I was called upon to deputize. To be honest, not much was expected of me in that match till the 85 th minute when I rose highest to head home the winner of the match. That was a remarkable day in my life and served as a turning point for me and my team. I learn the value of hard work, patience, and teamwork from that experience.

Why Should I Be Your Vice President?

The main reason I am running for the post of student council vice president is to contribute my quota to a school that has made me the awesome guy standing before you today. I want to work with each one of you to make this place even more awesome than it currently is.

The past years I have spent in this school have served as the perfect training ground for me to serve as your vice president. I have also spent some time an office aid gaining experience in the day to day operations of the school.

I know that for you people to vote me in, I have to bring something different. I can guarantee you that if I am voted into office; I will work together with the president providing the much-needed support for a stable and purposeful tenure. I will be actively involved in planning activities such as homecoming, prom, and graduation. I will be the ear for you to speak to and the shoulder to lean on when necessary.

Plea For Votes

I may not have succeeded in making one of the best student council speeches of all time today, but I do hope I have done enough to earn your trust and vote for this office. Join me as we begin creating memories that will never be forgotten.

How Can You Make Your Student Council Speech Stand Out?

If you want the people to vote for you, you should be prepared to make one of the student council speeches that would be used as reference material for a long time to come. It doesn’t matter how big or small the post you are running for is, there is a great need for you to create a lasting impression for your audience. Here are a few tips that should help you out in that regard:

• Know that people tend to follow things they see more than what they just hear. This is why you should strive to give a visual angle to your presentation. This means you have to use hand gestures or props.
• You should also look to expand your vocabulary by searching for words that have the same meaning as the office you are gunning for. Sounding different from the crowd puts you in good stead.
• One of the most notable phrases Martin Luther King and Barack Obama will always be remembered for is the ‘I have a dream’ phrase. If there is anything learned from that, it is the fact that a catchphrase has the power to catch the people.
• Also, when presenting the good ideas stored in your head, ensure that the speech is kept short. Don’t bore people with long speeches. You could also spice things up by putting a lyric in the background.

Why Do You Need To Include Some Humor In Your Speech?

I bet if you weren’t contesting for a position and had to listen to a ‘great speech’ by a contestant that was devoid of fun and humor, you would probably get bored and decide against voting for such a person. Using sarcasm and jokes only people who attend your high school will get is a great way of connecting with them.

Go And Win That Election!

Regardless of whether you use one of the samples we provided here or create your own, a personal touch is required for success. Place great emphasis on what makes you different from the crowd. At the end of the day, if you lose or win the election, you can always hold your head up high for delivering a great speech.

https://quotes.pub/q/economics-is-haunted-by-more-fallacies-than-any-other-study–92254

http://www.morefamousquotes.com/topics/can-we-start-over-quotes/

https://www.theburningplatform.com/2014/02/11/quotes-of-the-day-562/

https://quotes.pub/q/when-alexander-the-great-visited-the-philosopher-diogenes-an-92246

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Take Your Child to Work Day: How to prepare yourself, child and the office

Remember the time your son or daughter looked at you and said, "What do you do at work all day?"

It's difficult to explain what happens at work. Sometimes, the best way for a child to learn is for them to see it themselves.

Children can get the opportunity with Take Your Child to Work Day.

When is Take Your Child to Work Day?

Bring Your Child To Work Day is on the fourth Thursday of April. This year, that's Thursday, April 25.

What is Take Your Child to Work Day?

According to daughtersandsonstowork.org , the event is designed to be more than a career day; it goes beyond the average practice of “shadowing” an adult. Exposing children to what a parent or mentor does during the workday shows them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities of work and family life. It provides boys and girls a chance to share how they envision the future and allows them to begin steps toward their goals in a hands-on and interactive environment.

What is the theme for Take Your Child to Work Day?

Inspire 2 Aspire is the 2024 theme, which is about instilling a mindset that children can choose their future. It highlights the collaborative development of youth, preparing them to navigate the evolving world of work.

What's the best age to take your child to work?

According to Indeed.com, the general age range is between 8 and 18 years old.

Tips for Take Your Child to Work Day

Here are some dos and don't if you're taking your child to work from Indeed.com :

• Know your child's limitations: Don't do too much, but you also don't want your child bored. Plan a healthy balance of activities and remember, you're not dealing with an adult.
• Keep your emotions in check: Even the best day can go sideways and you don't want your child to have a negative view of you or your workplace.
• Check with your boss and other employees: It is just a courtesy to let everyone know your child will be in the office. Plus, you can also find out if any other children are participating so your child will have someone to keep them company.
• Inform your school: You may want to check and make sure this is an excused absence or if there is classwork your child can do related to Take Your Child to Work Day.
• Talk with your child about their experience afterward.
• Don't force your child to participate: If a child doesn't want to go, he or she may not get the most out of it.
• Don't leave your child unattended at work.
• Don't oversell your job: Be honest about what you do. Your child won't have unrealistic expectations about his or her day.

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What should I do with my child during Take My Child to Work Day?

If you need help, the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation has a tool kit and facilitator guide for children at daughtersandsonstowork.org.

What if I can't take my child to work?

There are a number of virtual programs available. The U.S. Department of the Interior, for example, has a page dedicated to everything it's doing to celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day . The page has resources for teachers, parents and a virtual program from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Other sites like teambuilding.com have a list of activities and suggestions for parents who work from home.

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Middle East crisis — explained

The conflict between Israel and Palestinians — and other groups in the Middle East — goes back decades. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.

Columbia to continue talks with student protesters after deadline to clear out passes

Rachel Treisman

Ayana Archie

Hundreds of people rallied on the University of Minnesota campus on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to protest Israel's war with Hamas. Earlier in the day, nine antiwar protesters were arrested as police took down an encampment organizers said was set up to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. Mark Vancleave/AP hide caption

Hundreds of people rallied on the University of Minnesota campus on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to protest Israel's war with Hamas. Earlier in the day, nine antiwar protesters were arrested as police took down an encampment organizers said was set up to show solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Columbia University officials said early Wednesday they will continue to negotiate with student pro-Palestinian protesters after setting a midnight deadline for them to disperse.

Columbia President Minouche Shafik said in setting the deadline that the university had been in talks with demonstrators but would have to "consider alternative options" for clearing the encampments protesters had set up.

But a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement to NPR later that the university was making progress with representatives of the student encampments and "In light of this constructive dialogue, the university will continue conversations for the next 48 hours.

The pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have rocked New York-area schools in recent days — and the ensuing arrests of participants — have spread from coast to coast.

Students have launched protests and encampments at more than a dozen schools across the country, from Massachusetts to Michigan to California. They are calling for an end both to the Israel-Hamas war and their universities' investment in companies that profit from it or, more broadly, do business with Israel.

It's the latest wave of protests to sweep college campuses since the Oct. 7 attack Hamas-led attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and roughly 240 others taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities, who say more than 130 remain captive in Gaza. Israel's ensuing military response in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, some two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Columbia University shifts classes to remote-only after a wave of protests on campus

College-age Americans are more likely to sympathize with Palestinians than Israelis, according to recent polling by the Pew Research Center .

And the Israel-Hamas war has become a major flashpoint at institutions of higher education, many of which are now grappling with how to balance free speech protections with student safety at a moment of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia .

Police break up protests from New York to California

NYPD officers face pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday night after clearing an encampment on NYU's campus. Alex Kent/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NYPD officers face pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday night after clearing an encampment on NYU's campus.

On Monday, police arrested nearly 50 protesters at Yale University while Columbia, which has seen rising tensions since more than 100 demonstrators were arrested last week, shifted classes online — a move it has since extended through the end of the semester. (Classes end on April 29 and finals end on May 10, according to the school's academic calendar .)

New York police on Monday cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters outside New York University's Gould Plaza, taking an unspecified number of them into custody after they refused to leave.

Concerns over antisemitism rise as Jews begin observing Passover

An NYU faculty group tweeted that the school had authorized police to "arrest its own students, faculty, staff and anyone who dares to stand in solidarity with Palestine."

NYU spokesperson John Beckman said in a statement that after some 50 demonstrators assembled that morning, the university closed the plaza to prevent additional people from joining.

He said more protesters — "many of whom we believe were not affiliated with NYU" — breached the barriers in the afternoon, changing the dynamic with their "disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing behavior," and noted reports of "intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents."

"Given the foregoing and the safety issues raised by the breach, we asked for assistance from the NYPD," he added. "The police urged those on the plaza to leave peacefully, but ultimately made a number of arrests."

Columbia cancels in-person classes after some students say they don't feel safe

Negotiations continue at columbia.

The Columbia spokesperson said the school had reached agreement with protest representatives that they would remove a "significant" number of the tents they had set up on the campus' West Lawn and that those in the encampment would comply with fire department safety requirements.

They agreed to ensure that those not affiliated with the university would leave the encampment and only Columbia students would participate in the protests and that they had agreed to prohibit harassing and discriminatory language, the spokesperson said.

Shafik said in her statement late Tuesday that "We are working to identify protestors who violated our policies against discrimination and harassment, and they will be put through appropriate disciplinary processes."

'A dangerous and volatile situation'

Across the country at California State Polytechnic University, a group of students waving Palestinian flags and signs occupied Siemens Hall, an academic and administrative building on the Humboldt campus.

They barricaded the front entrance with chairs, desks, trash cans and other pieces of furniture, according to reports from ABC affiliate KRCR and an image posted to social media by the organization National Students for Justice in Palestine.

Barricades at the Cal Poly Humboldt occupation, where riot police have recently arrived on the scene pic.twitter.com/FHT0WLnH72 — National Students for Justice in Palestine (@NationalSJP) April 23, 2024

Around 8:30 p.m. local time, school officials urged people to stay away from the building, calling it "a dangerous and volatile situation." They said they were concerned about the safety of the protesters barricaded inside and called on them to heed law enforcement's directive to leave peacefully.

Several hours later, they said campus will remain closed through Wednesday for the safety of the community.

"Buildings are locked down and key cards will not work," they said, adding that "In-person classes and activities are transitioning to remote where possible."

Solidarity encampments emerge at over a dozen schools

Pro-Palestinian students protest at a tent encampment in front of Sproul Hall on the UC Berkeley campus on Monday. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

Pro-Palestinian students protest at a tent encampment in front of Sproul Hall on the UC Berkeley campus on Monday.

Pro-Palestinian students at colleges in multiple states are now launching movements of their own, many as a direct response to the recent events at Columbia.

Students at Northwestern University, Ohio State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Temple University, Princeton University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and others held walkouts and rallies in support of Columbia students last week after their arrest.

And others have followed suit this week.

A Pro-Palestinian student group at the University of Minnesota tweeted that they were joining with Columbia students by setting up an encampment on their own campus lawn at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, in solidarity "with the people of Palestine and with students standing up for Palestine across the country."

Students at the University of Pittsburgh also set up tents on Tuesday morning outside its central Cathedral of Learning, which they said in a news release was done in solidarity with students at a list of other schools.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators shut down airport highways and bridges in major cities

Some 300 students staged a "solidarity walkout" at Stanford University on Monday to show support for Palestinians in Gaza and their pro-Palestinian peers at other colleges, according to the Stanford Daily .

Students have also put up encampments at several Boston-area schools , including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College and Tufts University. Harvard University has closed Harvard Yard to the public through Friday, in apparent anticipation of potential protests.

At the University of Michigan, student groups erected some two dozen tents in the middle of campus on Monday. Michigan Public reports that some 100 people gathered for a rally that afternoon, chanting "Disclose! Divest! We will not stop, we will not rest!" as police looked on.

Students at the University of California, Berkeley also set up a " Gaza Solidarity Encampment " on Monday. Organizers told ABC7 that they want school leaders to end what they're calling their "silence" over the situation in Gaza and to provide better protection for Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students.

Questions loom about protections for students and speech

Protestors occupy an encampment on the grounds of Columbia University in New York City on Monday. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images hide caption

Protestors occupy an encampment on the grounds of Columbia University in New York City on Monday.

The recent turmoil has raised even more questions about the responsibility of universities when it comes to balancing student safety with freedom of expression.

Some pro-Palestinian activists have publicly said they are protesting Israel, not Jews, and noted that their ranks include many Jewish students. At Columbia and Yale, some came together for Passover seders mid-protest .

Debbie Becher, a sociology professor at Barnard College (which is part of Columbia), told Morning Edition Tuesday that campus feels relatively safe and peaceful, unlike the portrayals of it on social media. She described the pro-Palestinian encampment as a "place of sharing and community building."

"Students have watched movies there, they hold teach-ins, they study, they eat together," she said.

But the demonstrations have left other Jewish students feeling unsafe, particularly due to reports of antisemitic rhetoric and harassment on several campuses.

The Anti-Defamation League has tracked several instances of protesters expressing support for Hamas and the Oct. 7 attack. A protester at Columbia, for example, held up a sign reading "Al-Qasam's next targets" with an arrow pointing towards nearby pro-Israel counter-protesters (referring to Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas).

The war in Gaza is a big story on campus. These student reporters aren't shying away

It says students at various schools have also waved signs glorifying figures associated with U.S.-designated terror groups, used pro-Intifada slogans and called for destroying Zionism and either hounding or getting rid of Zionists altogether.

Tensions reached such a boiling point at Columbia that a university-affiliated rabbi urged Jewish students over the weekend to return home for their own safety.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke out against antisemitic incidents and hate speech at Columbia in a statement that referenced specific incidents, including a woman yelling "We are Hamas" and student groups chanting "We don't want no Zionists here."

The White House also released a statement on Sunday condemning the "calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students," saying they have "have absolutely no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America."

NYPD officers detain a person as pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside of Columbia University on Thursday. Kena Bentacur/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NYPD officers detain a person as pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside of Columbia University on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Shafik is facing criticism for her response to the protests at Columbia.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is leading New York Republicans' charge to get her to resign, a seeming repeat of the situation in December, when the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania resigned after widely panned Congressional testimony.

Shafik testified before Congress about the school's response to antisemitism last Wednesday, the day students set up the encampment. In her testimony, Shafik told lawmakers that antisemitism "is not tolerated and it is not acceptable."

The next day, she called in the NYPD to break up the demonstration, which she said violated university policies and posed a "clear and present danger" to its functioning.

Lawmakers grill the presidents of Harvard, MIT and Penn over antisemitism on campus

Her decision has been widely criticized by groups including the university's own Knight First Amendment Institute and the American Association of University Professors . Its Columbia and Barnard chapter plans to submit a "resolution of censure" against her and other administration officials, the Columbia Spectator reported Tuesday.

"President Shafik's violation of the fundamental requirements of academic freedom and shared governance, and her unprecedented assault on students' rights, warrants unequivocal and emphatic condemnation," it reads.

In a Monday note to the Columbia community , Shafik said administrators, deans and faculty were working to resolve the situation, including by discussing with protesters what actions the community can take to "peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other."

She added that she is aware of the debate around "whether or not we should use the police on campus" and happy to participate in those discussions.

"But I do know that better adherence to our rules and effective enforcement mechanisms would obviate the need for relying on anyone else to keep our community safe," she said. "We should be able to do this ourselves."

Becher, the Barnard professor, said "the actual crisis here is the university leadership's failure to stand up to right-wing actors."

"Our president has, over the past six months and at Congress last week, abandoned our institutions of academic freedom, freedom of expression and turned our campus into a police state," she added. "And now other campuses around the country are following suit."

In a Monday statement , the civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) called on universities to protect peaceful protest but "ensure the swift arrest" of anyone engaging in violence on campus. But it acknowledged the extra challenges posed by this "extraordinarily difficult" moment.

"Tensions are high and nerves are raw," it said. "The charity and grace necessary for productive dialogue are in vanishingly short supply, and it can be difficult to separate protected expression from its opposite. Amidst this intense pressure, our nation's institutions of higher education must lead the way."

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What federal education data shows about students with disabilities in the U.S.

Public K-12 schools in the United States educate about 7.3 million students with disabilities – a number that has grown over the last few decades. Disabled students ages 3 to 21 are served under the federal  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) , which guarantees them the right to free public education and appropriate special education services.

For Disability Pride Month , here are some key facts about public school students with disabilities, based on the latest data from the  National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) .

July is both Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To mark these occasions, Pew Research Center used federal education data from  the National Center for Education Statistics  to learn more about students who receive special education services in U.S. public schools.

In this analysis, students with disabilities include those ages 3 to 21 who are served under the federal  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) . Through IDEA, children with disabilities are guaranteed a “free appropriate public education,” including special education and related services.

The 7.3 million disabled students in the U.S. made up 15% of national public school enrollment during the 2021-22 school year. The population of students in prekindergarten through 12th grade who are served under IDEA has grown in both number and share over the last few decades. During the 2010-11 school year, for instance, there were 6.4 million students with disabilities in U.S. public schools, accounting for 13% of enrollment.

The number of students receiving special education services temporarily dropped during the coronavirus pandemic – the first decline in a decade. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, the number of students receiving special education services decreased by 1%, from 7.3 million to 7.2 million. This was the first year-over-year drop in special education enrollment since 2011-12.

The decline in students receiving special education services was part of a 3% decline in the overall number of students enrolled in public schools between 2019-20 and 2020-21. While special education enrollment bounced back to pre-pandemic levels in the 2021-22 school year, overall public school enrollment remained flat.

These enrollment trends may reflect some of the learning difficulties and health concerns students with disabilities and their families faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic , which limited or paused special education services in many school districts.

Many school districts struggle to hire special education professionals. During the 2020-21 school year, 40% of public schools that had a special education teaching vacancy reported that they either found it very difficult to fill the position or were not able to do so.

Foreign languages (43%) and physical sciences (37%) were the only subjects with similarly large shares of hard-to-fill teaching vacancies at public schools that were looking to hire in those fields.

While the COVID-19 pandemic called attention to a nationwide teacher shortage , special education positions have long been among the most difficult for school districts to fill .

The most common type of disability for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade involves “specific learning disabilities,” such as dyslexia.  In 2021-22, about a third of students (32%) receiving services under IDEA had a specific learning disability. Some 19% had a speech or language impairment, while 15% had a chronic or acute health problem that adversely affected their educational performance. Chronic or acute health problems include ailments such as heart conditions, asthma, sickle cell anemia, epilepsy, leukemia and diabetes.

Students with autism made up 12% of the nation’s schoolchildren with disabilities in 2021-22, compared with 1.5% in 2000-01.  During those two decades, the share of disabled students with a specific learning disability, such as dyslexia, declined from 45% to 32%.

The percentage of students receiving special education services varies widely across states. New York serves the largest share of disabled students in the country at 20.5% of its overall public school enrollment. Pennsylvania (20.2%), Maine (20.1%) and Massachusetts (19.3%) serve the next-largest shares. The states serving the lowest shares of disabled students include Texas and Idaho (both 11.7%) and Hawaii (11.3%).

Between the 2000-01 and 2021-22 school years, all but 12 states experienced growth in their disabled student populations. The biggest increase occurred in Utah, where the disabled student population rose by 65%. Rhode Island saw the largest decline of 22%.

These differences by state are likely the result of inconsistencies in how states determine which students are eligible for special education services and challenges in identifying disabled children.

The racial and ethnic makeup of the nation’s special education students is similar to public school students overall, but there are differences by sex.  About two-thirds of disabled students (65%) are male, while 34% are female, according to data from the 2021-22 school year. Overall student enrollment is about evenly split between boys and girls.

Research has shown that decisions about whether to recommend a student for special education may be influenced by their school’s socioeconomic makeup, as well as by the school’s test scores and other academic markers.

Note: This is an update of a post originally published April 23, 2020.

Katherine Schaeffer is a research analyst at Pew Research Center

Most Americans think U.S. K-12 STEM education isn’t above average, but test results paint a mixed picture

About 1 in 4 u.s. teachers say their school went into a gun-related lockdown in the last school year, about half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction, what public k-12 teachers want americans to know about teaching, what’s it like to be a teacher in america today, most popular.

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Some Jewish Students Are Targeted as Protests Continue at Columbia

After reports of harassment by demonstrators, some Jewish students said they felt unsafe. Others said they felt safe, while condemning antisemitism.

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By Luis Ferré-Sadurní ,  Colbi Edmonds and Liset Cruz

• April 21, 2024

Days after Columbia University’s president told Congress that she would work to tamp down antisemitism, some pro-Palestinian demonstrations on and around campus veered into the harassment of Jewish students, drawing the attention of the police and the concern of a number of Jewish students.

Over the weekend, the student-led demonstrations on campus attracted separate, more agitated protests by demonstrators who seemed to be unaffiliated with the university just outside Columbia’s gated campus in Upper Manhattan, which was closed to the public because of the protests.

Those demonstrations took a dark turn on Saturday evening, as protesters targeted some Jewish students with antisemitic vitriol that was captured in video and pictures, both inside and outside the campus. The verbal attacks left a number of the 5,000 Jewish students at Columbia fearful for their safety on the campus and its vicinity, and even drew condemnation from the White House and Mayor Eric Adams of New York City.

“While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable and dangerous,” Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the White House, said in a statement.

On Monday, the university’s president, Nemat Shafik, who goes by Minouche, called for classes to be taught virtually, saying that “over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus.”

Student protesters have erected a sprawling encampment on one of the campus lawns. They have draped tents and the grass with Palestinian flags and protest signs, and the encampment has been surrounded with piles of supplies.

Protesters and counterprotesters have occasionally faced off, and there have been several moments in which demonstrators have yelled intimidating phrases. In one instance, video captured a person holding up a sign that said, “Al-Qasam’s Next Targets,” referring to Hamas’s armed faction, near several Jewish counterprotesters. Mr. Adams said the police had already increased its presence near the campus and would investigate any potential violations of the law.

Still, some Jewish students who are supporting the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus said they felt solidarity, not a sense of danger, even as they denounced the acts of antisemitism.

“There’s so many young Jewish people who are like a vital part” of the protests, said Grant Miner, a Jewish graduate student at Columbia who is part of a student coalition calling on Columbia to divest from companies connected to Israel.

And in a statement, that group said, “We are frustrated by media distractions focusing on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us” and added that the group’s members “firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry.”

Reports of antisemitic harassment by protesters surfaced on social media late Saturday. A video posted on X shows a masked protester outside the Columbia gates carrying a Palestinian flag who appears to chant “Go back to Poland!” One Columbia student wrote on social media that some protesters had stolen an Israeli flag from students and tried to burn it, adding that Jewish students were splashed with water.

Chabad at Columbia University, a chapter of an international Orthodox Jewish movement, said in a statement that some protesters had hurled expletives at Jewish students as they walked home from campus over the weekend, and had said to them, “All you do is colonize” and “Go back to Europe.”

“We are horrified and worried about physical safety” on campus, said the statement, adding that the organization had hired additional armed guards to chaperone students walking home from Chabad.

Eliana Goldin, a junior at Columbia who is the co-chairwoman of Aryeh, a pro-Israel student organization, said she did not “feel safe anymore” on campus. Ms. Goldin, who is out of town for Passover, said campus had become “super overwhelming,” with loud protests disrupting class and even sleep.

In a statement, Samantha Slater, a Columbia spokeswoman, said that the university was committed to ensuring the safety of its students.

“Columbia students have the right to protest, but they are not allowed to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate fellow students and members of our community,” said the statement. “We are acting on concerns we are hearing from our Jewish students and are providing additional support and resources to ensure that our community remains safe.”

The upheaval on and around the Columbia campus this week marked the latest fallout from the testimony that Dr. Shafik gave at a congressional hearing on antisemitism on Wednesday.

Dr. Shafik vowed to forcefully crack down on antisemitism on campus, in part by disciplining professors and student protesters who used language she said could be antisemitic, such as contested phrases like “from the river to the sea.” Her testimony, meant as an assertive display of Columbia’s actions to combat antisemitism, angered supporters of academic freedom and emboldened a group of protesting students who had erected an encampment of about 50 tents on a main lawn in the campus this week.

University officials said the tents violated the school’s policies and called in the New York Police Department on Thursday, leading to the arrests of more than 100 Columbia University and Barnard College students who refused to leave. But the police involvement only fueled the uproar. Students pressed on with their “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” sleeping in the cold without tents on a neighboring lawn, and some began to erect tents again on Sunday, without Columbia’s permission.

Students who support the protesters say there is a wide range of opinion among Jewish students at Columbia. “To say that it’s unsafe for Jewish people, to me, indicates that you’re only speaking about a certain portion of Jewish people,” Mr. Miner, 27, said at the university on Sunday.

“We are totally opposed to any sort of antisemitic speech,” he added. “We are here to, you know, stand in solidarity with Palestine. And we refuse — our Jewish members refuse — to equate that with antisemitism.”

Makayla Gubbay, a junior studying human rights at Columbia, said that as a Jewish student, she has mostly been concerned for the safety of her peers protesting for Palestinians.

Ms. Gubbay said that throughout the past six months her friends — particularly those who are Palestinian and other students who are Muslim — have been injured by the police and censored for their activism. Though she was not involved in the organizing of the encampment, she went there for the Sabbath on Friday, attended a speech given by a participant in Columbia’s intense 1968 protest and brought hot tea for friends.

“There’s been a lot of amazing solidarity in terms of other students coming on campus, hosting Shabbats, hosting screenings, having faculty give speeches,” Ms. Gubbay said.

Columbia officials have previously said there have been several antisemitic incidents on campus, including one physical attack in October — the assault of a 24-year-old Columbia student who was hanging fliers a few days after the Hamas attacks on Israel in October.

While many Jewish students had left campus to celebrate Passover, which begins on Monday evening, the rising tensions led at least one rabbi on campus to suggest that the Ivy League school was no longer safe and that Jewish students should leave.

Elie Buechler, an Orthodox rabbi who works at Columbia, sent a WhatsApp message to a group of more than 290 Jewish students on Sunday morning saying that campus and city police had failed to guarantee the safety of Jewish students “in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.” He recommended that students return home “until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved.”

“It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus,” wrote Rabbi Buechler, the director of the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Columbia University and Barnard College. “No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school.”

Citing Passover preparations, Rabbi Buechler declined to be interviewed, but he said that his message was meant as a personal statement and did not reflect the views of the university or Hillel, the Jewish organization on campus.

Indeed, in an apparent response, Hillel issued a statement on Sunday afternoon saying that the organization did not believe that Jewish students should leave Columbia, but it pressed the university and the city to step up safety measures.

“We call on the university administration to act immediately in restoring calm to campus,” Brian Cohen, the group’s executive director, wrote. “The city must ensure that students can walk up and down Broadway and Amsterdam without fear of harassment,” he added, referring to the avenues that run alongside the Upper West Side campus.

Noah Levine, 20, a sophomore at Columbia and an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace, said they found the rabbi’s comments “deeply offensive.”

“I’m a Jewish student who has been in this encampment since its inception,” they said. “I’m also a student who has been organizing in this community with these people since October, and even before that, and I believe in my heart that this is not about antisemitism.”

But Xavier Westergaard, a Ph.D. student in biology, said the mood for Jewish students was “very dire.”

“There are students on campus who are yelling horrible things, not about Israelis only or about the actions of the state or the government, but about Jews in general,” he said.

Sharon Otterman contributed reporting.

Luis Ferré-Sadurní covers immigration, focused on the influx of migrants arriving in the New York region. More about Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Colbi Edmonds writes about the environment, education and infrastructure. More about Colbi Edmonds

10 Funniest Beetle Bailey Comics That Break the Fourth Wall

• Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey strips were known for regularly breaking the fourth wall, adding another layer of humor to its slice-of-life jokes about being a private in the army.
• Beetle Bailey's longevity as a syndicated comic strip was due, in large part, to Walker's clever techniques, which included a quirky sense of humor than went beyond the simple premise of his cartoon.
• Beetle Bailey was not afraid to poke fun at itself, often referencing its place in comic strip history with witty self-awareness.

Beetle Bailey is an iconic comic strip that shows a silly look at military life for the eccentric group of recruits and authority figures at a fictional Army post. While many of the strips are pretty straightforward, some hilariously break the fourth wall, gaining laughs and insights into the fictional world of a comic strip.

Creator Mort Walker worked on Beetle Bailey from its start in 1950 up until his death in 2018, making Beetle Bailey one of the oldest comic strips ever that was still made by its original creator . Given the long run of the comic strip under Mort Walker, there were careful measures to keep the strip fresh and funny, even after decades had passed. One notable technique that Walker used to keep Beetle Bailey readers on their toes was the use of breaking the fourth wall.

The Army Banning Beetle Bailey Helped Make It a Success (According to Its Creator)

Mort walker solicited fan help creating "a computer whiz character", first published in 2002.

Having fans and readers play a part in the new character's creation made audiences bond with the recruit before he was even introduced.

Breaking the fourth wall is one of many aspects of Beetle Bailey that show the creator's view of an irreverence to authority . Beaking with typical conventions in one notable strip, Mort Walker entertained his audience, as well as made them an active part of the comic's creation, by using their help to come up with names for his new computer whiz/tech officer character. The idea to have readers write in with their name was incredibly clever , as it had the audience get involved, while adding tongue-in-cheek, fourth-wall breaking humor in the meantime.

Given that this comic was published in 2002, when the internet era was really starting to come into full swing, introducing a tech officer to Beetle Bailey was a no-brainer. Additionally, having fans and readers play a part in the new character's creation made audiences bond with the recruit before he was even introduced.

This Beetle Bailey Strip Was Drawn In Support Of Toys For Tots

First published in 2017.

Including a Toys for Tots promo, this Beetle Bailey strip is both a funny comic and a source of marketing for the Toys for Tots charity . With the inclusion of Toys for Tots, the comic breaks the fourth wall by having the box of toys be both a source of happiness for the character of Lt. Fuzz, while explaining what the charity is to the audience to help readers get involved and contribute. Interestingly, Toys for Tots is run by the U.S. Marine Corps, an appropriate charity to include in the military themed Beetle Bailey .

A unique example of synergy in newspaper comics, this Beetle Bailey cartoon blends both a philanthropic purpose for a charity organization and an entertaining aim, providing a meaningful, while also humorous, comic. While Christmas can be a wonderful time, it can also be difficult for some families, which this comic recognizes by its inclusion of the Toys for Tots charity.

A unique example of synergy in newspaper comics, a rarity, this Beetle Bailey work blends both a philanthropic purpose for a charity organization and an entertaining aim, providing a meaningful comic with humor.

"It's Thought-Provoking and He's a Fan": Even Jim Davis Admits Garfield Minus Garfield Is Funny (& Refused to Sue)

Beetle bailey puts a new spin on "catching zs".

Longtime Beetle Bailey fans know that he is one lazy recruit, always sleeping on the job of lounging about. As a result, he is consistently in need of someone to get him awake because if it was up to Beetle, he would sleep all day, every day. Continuing that thought, there's the normal way to wake someone up, like by tapping them on the shoulder or saying to wake up.

However, the comic goes the meta route , as the Zs that float above the sleeper's head are scooped up by a net, effectively waking him up. Most can recognize that floating Zs signify that someone is sleeping, so the comic giving notice by having another character remove the Zs himself is a clever way of breaking the fourth wall that retains Beetle Bailey's trademark sense of humor.

How Mort Walker Came Up With Character Names

Showing Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker in the Beetle Bailey comic is an inventive and funny breaking of the fourth wall, one that many strips did not attempt, making Walker's creation unique among his peers . When tasked with coming up with new names, the two fictional characters remark on their creator's name picking abilities. The comic serves as an in-joke for Mort Walker as he suggests his process for naming characters in a silly and funny way.

Readers can get a glimpse into what it is like to create a new character and how difficult the seemingly easy task of picking a name actually is. Moreover, since this comic was part of the series that had readers write in with name suggestions, the comic shows readers that Mort Walker really does need their help with their name suggestions.

The comic serves as an in-joke for Mort Walker as he suggests his process for naming characters in a silly and funny way.

Beetle Bailey Asks The Reader A Question

Despite being a military-centric comic strip, Beetle Bailey's fourth wall-breaking humor contributes to the love so many civilians have for the classic funnies section staple, adding to the comic strip's universal appeal . This strip is a classic example, where Beetle is busy cleaning vigorously when he, perturbed, asks the reader if they're just going to sit there and watch him cleaning while he's hard at work. The comic takes the reader by surprise by taking seven panels to get to the character breaking the fourth wall to deliver his joke.

The fact that the strip takes its time to get to the punchline is funny on its own, but then having Beetle Bailey address the audience directly adds another element of surprise and humor . The titular character may be hard at work in this comic, but given his trademark laziness, his annoyance at the cleaning is palpable, even before he breaks the fourth wall.

10 Far Side Comics Starring The Strip's Secret Recurring Character

How characters in comic strips heal from injuries, first published in 2004.

While comics have given a coy wink about breaking the fourth wall, this comic instead points to the fourth wall breaking with neon signs. The characters talk clearly as well as positively about what it's like regarding fights in a comic strip. As a result, the readers are given the rare opportunity to see what imaginary rules the characters live by in the comics.

Likewise, the breaking of the fourth wall in the comic brings the audience into the inner world of Beetle Bailey as a comic strip instead of as some fictional world. Moreover, having two characters discuss belonging to comics and the advantages of living in that fantasy realm gives the strip a surreal quality as well as an explicit awareness of themselves and existence.

There was a Beetle Bailey musical in the late 1980s that had a limited run.

"Stop Making Me Sound Funny, Mort!"

First published in 2010.

When asking a love interest out on a date, no one wants to be mistaken as joking. Beetle lands himself in that particular predicament, causing him to call out his creator, Mort Walker, to stop making him sound funny. Given it is Walker's literal job to make the character funny, Beetle will likely not have much luck with that.

The banter between Walker and his fictional creations represents a whimsical and irreverent breaking of the fourth wall that is impossible not to be drawn into as a reader. The in-universe dialogue between the Beetle Bailey characters and Mort Walker gives readers a glimpse into how close Walker is to his famous creations . He treats them like real people, viewing them as entities different from himself, making him able to write comics that stay true to the characters personalities.

Beetle Bailey Characters Name Their Favorite Comic Strips

First published in 2013.

A witty send up of Beetle Bailey's place in comics, the strip pokes fun at itself, with none of the characters picking their own strip as their favorite.

Name-dropping a number of different, famous comic strips, yet somehow leaving out the comics behemoth Peanuts , Beetle Bailey gives a wink and a nod to the audience about their own famous spot in the history of syndicated cartoons. While Beetle and his friend are aware of their existence within a comic strip, their blonde-haired compatriot is none the wiser, ensuring an existential breakdown for the poor guy sooner or later.

A witty send up of Beetle Bailey's place in comics, the strip pokes fun at itself, with none of the characters picking their own strip as their favorite. Also, the strip looks at Beetle Bailey's long-running place in newspaper comics history. With mountains of licensed products that have included shirts, mugs, toys, and even a Bloomingdale's fashion line to name just a few, the comic's place in history is well deserved.

Why Social Media Loves This 1 Surreal Peanuts Comic

A glimpse at mort walker's creative dedication.

Coming up with names and titles can be a thorn in the side of many creators and artists. Mort Walker is one such creative that belongs to that group, as shown in this fourth wall breaking strip. While trying to come up with a name for his new character, he struggles but is determined to get the name even if it takes all night. However, he falls asleep, obviously not working on new names.

The Beetle Bailey strips that showed Mort Walker front and center gave audiences a unique look into what it is like as a comics creator, and the different struggles that come with the creative process . While a name may seem like something that can just be picked out of thin air, it is actually more complex than that, given that the character's name must be able to stand the test of time, and be unique enough that people remember it.

Beetle And Sarge Can See Their Own Speech Bubbles

First published in 2006.

Beetle Bailey is no stranger to getting in trouble, often getting scolded or yelled at by his senior NCO. In this particular strip, Beetle has some choice expletives directed his way. However, a flower symbol is thrown in among the more aggressive symbols, which are meant to stand for different curse words. Standing out among the other symbols, the flower confuses Beetle, who is told that it is meant to stand for something nice that Sarge promised the base's chaplain he would say.

Commenting on the commonly used technique in comic strips, of miscellaneous symbols as stand-ins for cuss words, this strip is a notable example of one in which the characters interact with the medium itself. Since the strip is winking at the audience about their comic strip distinction , the flower is used in the same way as the expletives, as a symbolic representation.