Get Organized
After collecting as much information as possible, it’s time to organize your information into some kind of structure. Eulogies can be written in a variety of ways.
One type of order that makes sense is chronological order. Here, the writer of the eulogy begins with events that happened first and ends with events that occurred last. This type of eulogy would share the person’s life history and experiences. Other types of arrangements include tribute, main point, and thematic approaches. In a tribute, the writer focuses on important accomplishments. When utilizing a main point approach, the writer covers several important points about a person’s life. Thematic speeches involve developing a theme or several themes about a person’s life and making sure that all details relate to the theme(s).
Regardless of the theme you choose, all eulogies should have a beginning, middle, and an end.
In the beginning, introduce the purpose of the eulogy. Will you be talking about the person’s life? Will you be talking about major accomplishments or main points? Will you be talking about a theme? By the end of your introduction, the audience should know exactly what you will be discussing.
The middle of the eulogy should make up the majority of the speech. Here, cover the person’s life and/or accomplishments. Develop your main points or your theme. Spend most of your preparation time here.
In the conclusion, share some final thoughts, read some passages of text (Bible, poetry, or other quotations), and end in a memorable fashion.