Bookmark This!: Free Speech(es)

Are the Democratic and Republican national conventions—and, in particular, the speeches from major political figures—the talk of your school? A great online resource provides a way to connect today's enthusiasm to America's speeches of the past.

The American Rhetoric Web site hosts "The Top 100 Speeches," the most significant speeches in American history as decided by leading scholars and compiled by two prominent researchers in the field. Users can view speeches by rank or decade, as well as by categories such as speeches by women.

A full-text transcript is available for each speech and an MP3 audio file is available for most, providing a fascinating multimedia experience. The #1 most important speech? Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream," followed by John F. Kennedy's inaugural address.

See the top speeches at http://americanrhetoric.com/newtop100speeches.htm.