Speech introductions
The introduction and conclusion of a speech are essential. The audience will remember the main ideas even if the middle of the speech is a mess or nerves overtake the speaker. So if nothing else, get these parts down!
Introduction
The introduction gives the audience a reason to listen to the remainder of the speech. A good introduction needs to get the audience’s attention, state the topic, make the topic relatable, establish credibility, and preview the main points. Introductions should be the last part of the speech written, as they set expectations and need to match the content.
Attention getters
The first few sentences of a speech are designed to catch and maintain the audience’s attention. Attention getters give the audience a reason to listen to the rest of the speech. Your attention getter helps the audience understand and reflect on your topic.
- Speaker walks up to stage with notes stuck to hands with jelly.
- Did you know there is a right way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
- Rob Gronkowski once said, “Usually, about 2 hours before a game, I stuff in a nice peanut butter and jelly [sandwich] with chocolate milk.”
- A little boy walks in from a long day at school, telling his mom that he is starving. His mom is confused because she knows she sent him to school with a full lunch. As she opens his lunch box, she sees his peanut butter and jelly, with the grape jelly smeared on the side of the bag. She realizes there has to be a better way to make a PB&J.
- Bring in a clear sandwich bag with jelly seeping through the bread of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Logical orientation
Once the audience is invested in the speech, logical orientation tells the audience how the speaker will approach and develop the topic.
- Peanut butter on both sides of the bread with jelly in the middle is the best way to make a PB&J.
- PB&Js have developed a bad reputation, because of the jelly making the bread soggy and hands sticky.
Psychological orientation
Like the logical orientation of a speech, the psychological orientation is also going to provide the audience with a map for how and why the topic is being presented.
- Most of us remember our moms – dads too – packing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in our lunches. We also remember how the jelly did not just stay in the sandwich, but became a new stain on our shirts and the glue that held all the playground dirt to our hands.
- We can end this torture for future generations by making sure all parents are aware of the best way to make a PB&J.
- I have eaten numerous PB&Js myself, but my real authority on the topic comes from being a mom of two boys and the maker of many PB&Js.
Both the logical and psychological orientations give the audience a road map for the speech ahead as well as cues for what to listen to. This will help the audience transition from the introduction to the main points of the speech.
Beebe, S. A., & Beebe, S. J. (2012). A concise public speaking handbook . Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Lucas, S. (2012). The art of public speaking . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Sprague, J. & Stuart, D. (2013). The speaker's compact handbook, 4th ed . Portland: Ringgold, Inc.
Vrooman, S. S. (2013). The zombie guide to public speaking: Why most presentations fail, and what you can do to avoid joining the horde . Place of publication not identified: CreateSpace.
Speech Writing
Introduction Speech
Introduction Speech - A Step by Step Guide & Examples
11 min read
Published on: Nov 10, 2018
Last updated on: Dec 28, 2022
On This Page On This Page
Writing a speech is different from other types of writing. Here, you intend to engage your audience by conveying the ideas logically. For this, you require solid evidence to support your stance. Thus, only a convincing and organized argument can make your speech writing impressive.
Apart from this, the introduction also provides you an opportunity to state your topic clearly. It will help them identify the importance and credibility of the speech.
If you plan to draft an introduction speech but are not sure about the proper writing style, we can help you with it. Read on this detailed guide to learn the essential steps involved in writing a perfect speech.
What is Introduction Speech?
An introduction speech is simply a way to introduce yourself, or the guest speaker, to a crowd of people. The main purpose is to gain the audience’s attention by establishing your credibility. Furthermore, it will also allow you to state the importance of the topic clearly.
We often get nervous about what to say when meeting a large group of people. Thus, this speech usually consists of the same elements found in a basic introduction when you first meet a person.
Moreover, it is always an honor to write an intro speech. The speaker giving the said speech will be remembered for starting an event with impressive content.
Apart from this, a writer should get too personal when delivering the speech for the guest speaker. But you can also add some personal details if you are introducing yourself. An introduction speech is one of the key types of speeches , and therefore, knowing about it is important.
Introduction Speech Outline
The introduction speech outline consists of the following three sections.
Introduction Speech Introduction
It is the first and foremost part of your introduction speech. Below are some of the elements of a good introduction.
- Greet the audience
- Tell your name and previous experience to build your credibility
- Gain the audience’s attention with an interesting hook
- Develop a strong thesis statement
- Explain why the topic is important by establishing its relevance to the audience
- State the main ideas of your speech
Introduction Speech Main Body
The main body of the speech typically discusses the major ideas of the topic, along with the evidence and examples to back them. It also consists of transition words to maintain a logical flow between the body paragraphs.
The main body of the speech follows the below pattern.
- 1st sub topic with evidence
- 2nd sub topic with evidence
- 3rd sub topic with evidence
Introduction Speech Conclusion
The conclusion is the last section of the speech. Moreover, it also serves as the last chance for the writer to relate the audience to the topic.
A good conclusion paragraph has the following aspects.
- Restatement of the thesis statement
- Summary of the entire speech
- A closing statement to attract the audience
Have a look at the below document to understand the complete speech format .
Outline for Introduction Speech
How to Start an Introduction Speech?
Follow the below tips to start an introductory speech.
- Open With a Relevant Quotation
Opening an introduction speech with a relevant quotation can help you set the tone of your speech.
For example, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain.
- Use the “What If” Scenario
Another technique is to draw your audience’s attention by standing in front and asking a “what if” question. It will help them follow your thought process.
For example, “What would happen if we said what is on our minds, all day every day?”
- Employee the “Imagine” Scenario
Use an “Imagine scenario” for starting a speech. It is similar to the previous strategy that intends the audience to visualize an exceptional scenario.
For example, "Imagine jumping from a skydiving plane and finding the parachute is not working. What memories pop in front of you? Now imagine opening the parachute. How would you behave when you landed?
- Ask a Rhetorical or Literal Question
Ask a rhetorical or literal question from the audience. It enables them to answer immediately.
For example, “Who wouldn’t want to live on an exotic island?”
- Use a Strong Statement
Using a startling statement will also help in catching the audience’s attention. As it will keep them confused about what you are going to say next. Afterward, implementing the silence technique can further contribute to the effect.
For example, “We can not win. We can’t win…”
“… that’s what every newspaper in the country is saying.”
How to Write an Introduction Speech?
Here are the steps for you to write the introduction speech.
1. Begin by Greeting The Audience
The first and most crucial step is to greet the audience depending on the time of the day. It will give a friendly impression.
If you do not greet the audience immediately, they will begin to feel distant from you. Similarly, they may ignore the rest of your speech.
2. State Your Name and Reason for Composing the Speech
After greeting, introduce yourself to the audience. State your name, age, occupation, and the reason why you are writing the speech. It will build your credibility and give the readers reasons to stay with you and read your speech.
3. Add Humor to the Speech
Adding humor to your introduction speech will make it sound more interesting. It is because jokes are a good way to entertain people by keeping them interested.
However, keep in mind when and where to state the jokes as some people may find it offensive.
4. State Problems Relevant to Your Topic
State the problems relevant to your topic while drafting an introduction speech. It will make the audience more informed.
5. Share Facts to Connect the Audience With the Topic
Share interesting facts to connect the audience with the topic. Also, use words like “you” and “we” to help them understand your point of view in a better manner.
6. Add Relevant Statistics
Add and state powerful statistics for the audience to understand your message easily. This strategy will also trigger their emotional appeal.
For example, “In this room, over 90 percent of us are suffering from Covid19.”
7. Give a Brief Summary of the Speech
Provide a brief summary of the speech by explaining what the topic is about along with its relevance. It will help people relate to it and have more things to ponder on.
8. Start Writing the Actual Speech
After following the above steps in the writing process, start writing the actual body of the speech. Use examples, evidence, and interesting data to support the arguments and the thesis.
How to End an Introduction Speech?
Follow the steps given below to end the introduction speech.
1. Summarize the Major Arguments
End your speech by summarizing the major arguments. It will help in clarifying any point that may be misunderstood by the audience. Moreover, it will also help them take notes of the main ideas that further allow people to remember the speech.
2. Mention a Closing Statement
Mention a closing statement to keep the audience engaged. Moreover, it will also show that you are about to end the speech.
3. Proofread Your Speech Thoroughly
After finishing the speech of introduction, proofread it thoroughly. Go through the main body to see if the thesis is arranged logically.
Moreover, you should also read the speech out loud to check if the arguments are properly conveyed. Lastly, paying attention to identify grammatical, spelling, and punctuation mistakes is a good way to craft a well-structured speech.
Introduction Speech Writing Tips
Here are some tips for you to write a perfect introduction speech in no time
- Choose a unique topic idea for your introduction speech.
- Develop a well-planned speech outline to organize ideas in one place.
- Conduct thorough research to gather credible and relevant data.
- Begin your speech with an impressive hook statement to attract the audience.
- Use simple sentences and words instead of difficult vocabulary.
- Focus on conveying the main ideas clearly and precisely.
- Use a convincing tone to engage the audience, and don’t brag about your accomplishments.
- Use visuals, including pictures, graphs, and maps to understand easily.
- Revise and proofread the speech to avoid common writing errors.
Introduction Speech Ideas
The following are some introduction speech ideas for you to write the perfect speech.
- What do you hate the most?
- Do your roots reveal something interesting about you?
- Tell about an incident that played a significant role in your life?
- What aspects of your personality distinguish you from other people?
- Tell us about the time you have struggled hard to develop a special skill set?
- Have you been through a turning point that changed your life completely?
- Tell us about a hobby that you enjoy in your spare time.
- Discuss how drinking has affected your mental and physical health.
- Elaborate on the risks that you have faced while bodybuilding as a woman.
- Describe the medications that you have used to recover from Covid19.
Introduction Speech Example
Below are some best introduction speech examples for students to get a better idea.
Introduction Speech - Sample
Short Introduction Speech - Sample
Self Introduction Speech - Examples
Self Introduction Speech - Sample
Outline for Self Introduction Speech
Introduction Speech About Yourself - Example
Introduction Speech for Public Speaking - Examples
Script for Presentation Introduction Speech
Teacher Introduction Speech - Example
New Employee Self Introduction Speech - Example
Debate Speech Introduction - Examples
Introduction Speech for Chief Guest - Example
Writing an introduction speech is more difficult than presenting the thoughts orally. Therefore, good speakers often find it stressful to pen down their speeches. It is because of the reason that they fail to convey the proper message to the target audience.
If you find yourself stuck in such a situation, and want to learn how to write an introduction about yourself. Get help from an expert writer for your introduction or an informative speech. MyPerfectWords.com is a legit essay writing service that guarantees to work according to your writing needs.
So, hire our essay writer? now to buy speeches at affordable rates.
Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)
Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.
People also read
Speech Writing Tips from Professional Writers
Speech Format: A Basic Template & Outline
How to Start A Speech - Interesting Ideas & Examples
Easy Speech Examples for Your Help
Basic Types of Speeches in English with Examples
Good Impromptu Speech Topics for Students
Entertaining Speech Topics for Your Next Debate
Special Occasion Speech - Writing Tips, and Examples
Acceptance Speech - Writing Guide & Examples
Presentation Speech - An Ultimate Writing Guide
Commemorative Speech - Writing Guide, Outline & Examples
Farewell Speech - Writing Tips & Examples
Extemporaneous Speech - A Complete Guide for Beginners
A Complete Guide of Graduation Speech for Students
Share this article
Keep reading
We value your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience and give you personalized content. Do you agree to our cookie policy?
Website Data Collection
We use data collected by cookies and JavaScript libraries.
Are you sure you want to cancel?
Your preferences have not been saved.
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
- What Is YPO?
- The YPO Experience
- Become a Member
- Strategic Relationships
- Requirements
- Diversity and Inclusion
- YPO Global Impact Award
- YPO Global Pulse
- COVID-19 Resources
- Facebook UI/Icon – FB – Light Blue Created with Sketch.
- Instagram UI/Icon – Instagram Light Blue Created with Sketch.
- LinkedIn UI/Icon – LinkedIn Hover Created with Sketch.
- Twitter UI/Icon – Twitter – Hover Created with Sketch.
- YouTube UI/Icon – YouTube – Blue
Most Popular Topics
7 memorable ways to open a speech or presentation.
After hours of preparation, the moment to deliver your speech has arrived. You’re standing before the podium, all eyes on you, with confidence that no one could take away. Then you begin…
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me. My name is ______ _______, and I am going to be speaking to you today about _______. To begin, _______ is important because…”
Suddenly people begin shifting in their seats, checking their phones, reading the program, talking to one another and doing anything but paying attention to you.
Your opening often determines how long the audience will “tune in” to your presentation. If you bore your audience right from the start, there is little chance that your message will effectively get across.
How do you effectively open a speech or presentation to prevent this from happening? Here are seven effective methods to open a speech or presentation:
- Quote Opening with a relevant quote can help set the tone for the rest of your speech. For example, one that I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking: “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain
- “What If” Scenario Immediately drawing your audience into your speech works wonders. Asking a “what if” question invites the audience to follow your thought process. “What if we were all blunt? How different would our everyday lives be? What would happen if we said what was on our minds, all day every day?”
- “Imagine” Scenario A similar method, but more relevant for sensational examples. It puts your audience members directly into the presentation by allowing each member to visualize an extraordinary scenario. “Imagine jumping out of a skydiving plane and discovering your parachute doesn’t work. What memories would flash before you? Now imagine the parachute opened. How differently would you act when you landed?”
- Question Ask a rhetorical or literal question. When someone is posed with a question, whether an answer is called for or not, that person intuitively answers. “Who wouldn’t want to live on an exotic island?”
- Silence A pause, whether two seconds or 10 seconds, allows your audience to sit and quiet down. Most audiences expect a speaker to begin immediately. An extra pause brings all the attention right where you should want it – on you.
- Statistic Use a surprising, powerful, personalized statistic that will resonate with the audience to get your message across right away. It has the potential to trigger the audiences’ emotional appeal. “Look to your left. Now look to your right. One of your seatmates will ___________.” “In this room, over 90 percent of us are going to _________.”
- Powerful Statement/Phrase A statement or phrase can catch the audience’s attention by keeping them guessing as to what you’re about to say next. Implementing the silence technique afterwards also adds to the effect. “We can not win. We can’t win…” (Pause) “… That’s what every newspaper in the country is saying.”
Ready to elevate your leadership journey?
Apply to ypo now., related insights.
EY Global IPO Trends Q2 2022: How can you find the clarity to steer your growth?
Every step of the way, I've had a mentor who pushed me to think beyond the ‘now’ and out of my comfort zone and looking back, I really appreciate that. Sehba Ali, Western U.S. regional honoree for the 2022 YPO Global Impact Award - Leading with Heart: How Sehba Ali Encourages Opportunities for All
YPO Peer Support Key to CEO Yvonne Chan’s Success
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Games, topic printables & more
- The 4 main speech types
- Example speeches
- Business Thank you
- Commemorative
- Declamation
- Demonstration
- Introduction
- Maid of Honor
- Student Council
- Speech topics
- Poems to read aloud
- Speech planning
- How to write a speech
- How to prepare cue cards
- Using props/visual aids
- Acute anxiety help
- Breathing exercises
- Letting go - free e-course
- Using self-hypnosis
- Delivery overview
- 4 modes of delivery
- How to read a speech
- 9 vocal aspects
- Vocal variety
- Diction/articulation
- Pronunciation
- Speaking rate
- How to use pauses
- Eye contact
- Body language
- Voice image
- Voice health
- Public speaking activities and games
- About me/contact
How to write a speech introduction
12 of the best attention getters to start a speech
By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 01-12-2023
The audience settles in their seats. The lights dim. You walk out to the center of the stage. You pause, take a deep breath, open your mouth and begin.
What you say over the next 30 seconds to introduce your speech or presentation is crucial.
That's how much time you have to make a positive impression on your audience. In it they will decide whether or not you have anything relevant or useful to say. Those first impressions count!
So how do you write an effective speech introduction to grab and hold their attention?
Begin by finding out how to choose the right opener.
What's on this page:
- how to choose the right opener for your speech
12 of the very best ways to start a speech
3. What if?
5. Key fact
7. Rhetorical
9. Headlines
10. History
11. Challenge
How to choose the right opener for your speech
The better way to make your choice of opener is after you have carefully considered who you are talking to and why you're talking to them.
One size does not fit all. Different audiences will respond differently. If you are giving the same speech multiple times think about what you may need to change to fit.
To work well your opening needs to be aligned with:
- the type of speech you're giving
- your main purpose for giving it
- your target audience and,
- their interests or needs
Both the hook * to catch their attention and your topic must be relevant to them. Unless they're a captive audience, they've come freely to listen to you and they're expecting something of value from you.
How are you going to let them know they're in the right place? Why should they listen? What are they going to get or gain through listening?
Out of all the different ways to open, what attention getter is absolutely the best way?
The only way I know to work out what is best is to go through each of them, and as you do, consider your audience. Make a short list of those you think might work then try them out before making your final choice.
* hook – an opening statement that immediately captures the audience's attention just like a well baited hook on a fishing line catches a fish.
Return to Top
1. Use imagination to create mind pictures
Ask the audience to use their imagination. Get them to build evocative compelling images in their minds. Make them large. Add vibrant color, sound and movement.
For example:
“Let's take a break. Make yourself comfortable. Now close your eyes for a moment. Take a deep breath, and you're there, in the place where you feel the most at ease, the place where all the tensions, all the demands of your normal everyday life disappear. Look around you. See it. Feel it. It's so good, it's perfect."
“Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and a moment to picture in your mind the people dearest to you, the people you feel you could not live without. Now when did you talk to them, or spend real time with them last?"
2. Use an item to build a connection
Choose an image or an object related to your speech, for instance a pair of shoes, to trigger interest and build a connection.
For example, if I were giving a speech on the lives of upper-middle class 19th century women I could open by holding up a pair of ornately decorated kid leather pumps.
“What's the name of the young woman who wore these? Listen. Can you hear the rustle of her silk skirts? And hear her heart beat bom-biddy-bom as the beau of the ball stepped her way? Would he, or wouldn't he ask her to dance?”
3. Ask a 'What if...?' rhetorical question
'What if...?' invites an audience to consider the possibilities of something becoming real. They can be positive somethings or negative, trivial or something that would have a significant impact if it came to pass.
The power of a 'what if...?' rhetorical question as an opener lies in the potency of the images and feelings it triggers. A well-chosen 'what if...?' will immediately have an audience wanting to hear the rest of your speech.
- "What if we don't find a way to successfully manage climate change?"
- "What if we really did solve the affordable housing crisis?"
- "What if questions of race and color ceased to matter?"
- "What if medicines were freely available to everybody who needed them?"
- "What if the person sitting next to you turned, looked into your eyes and said they loved you? Truly. Madly. Deeply."
4. Try a quotation from someone who's impacted your life in some way
To be effective a quotation doesn't have to be the clever quip or snippet of enduring wisdom: a famous quote from a well known person. It's origin could be personal, something someone important in your life said that's remained with you.
For example, my Mother answered all initial wails of outrage, pain or hurt from any of her five children with a command. "Breathe!" That was repeated, interwoven with encouraging asides, until whoever it was, was able to talk clearly and be understood. "It's OK.", she'd say. "Breathe. Come on. You can do it. Breathe. That's it. Keep going. Good."
Or I could use this line from one of my high school reports which read, "...with further maturity she should do well." (Thank you Mr Phillips. Your prediction was right on target.)
Or this from our son aged four as he watched me getting ready for another day of teaching: "When I grow up I'm going to wear pretty dresses and go to school just like you."
5. Use an interesting key fact
Choose an interesting key fact as an attention getting device: one of the most rarely known, or a shocking statistic from the body of your speech to open with.
For example: "Take a guess at what the most powerful and frequently used word is in the English language?
It's not one of those usually thought of candidates. Love? No. Money? Nope. Neither is it any member of your family... Mum, Dad, brother, sister, son, or daughter.
It's a three letter word, so common it's overlooked and taken for granted. 'The'. It's the humble 'the'."
(For more see this BBC article: Is this the most powerful word in the English language?
Or: "Between 2020/21 and 2021/2022, Americans consumed about 11 million metric tons of sugar, up from about 10 million metric tons in 2009/2010. Can you even begin to imagine the size of that sweet white mountain?"
(For more see: US sugar consumption statistics )
6. Share personal stories
Share a personal story related to your specific topic as the beginning of a speech. Done well, it lets the audience know you understand their situation and helps establish your credibility: your right to talk on the subject.
As an example here's the opening of a speech I gave about the impact of suicide on families and friends:
“One fine Spring day I biked home from school and found a policemen guarding our backdoor. Through it came sounds I'll never forget: my quiet Mother screaming. He said, "You can't go in."
I kicked him in the shins and did. It was the 15th of September, three days before my thirteenth birthday and my father was dead. Killed by his own hand. Suicide.”
(If you want to find out more about the speech and read it, it's here: After they're gone . It's an example persuasive speech using the five steps of Monroe's Motivated Sequence.)
7. Rhetorical questions
These are questions that although they are asked, they're never really intended to be answered by anyone other than the person asking them. * Their principal function is to act as a segue, or lead in, to what the person intends to say next. For instance, the first main point of your introduction.
Examples: "What if I were to say to you that there was no such thing as public speaking fear?"
"What do you think the main benefits of being able to speak up in public are?"
* Although there's bound to be someone in your audience who will. Be ready for them, and move on.
8. An empathetic question, aligning yourself with the audience and eliciting a response
These questions bring speaker and audience together, establishing a common ground, a mutual understanding, which is an effective way to ease into a speech. If your question 'works' you'll see heads nodding in agreement.
- "Have you ever experienced the butterflies in your stomach turning into a herd of rampaging elephants, just before you step up to give your presentation?"
- "Have you ever wanted a good day to never end?"
- "How often have you 'lost' your car in the supermarket car park?"
- "How often have you ever wanted to shout, NO? You want me to prepare a new presentation by tomorrow? NO. You want me to stay late, again? NO."
9. It's in the news
Take headlines from what's trending in media you know the audience will be familiar with and see.
Using those that relate to your speech topic as the opening of your speech is a good way to grab the attention of the audience. It shows how relevant and up-to-the-minute the topic is.
For example: "'Death toll soars to 76 in Florida after Hurricane Ian demolished entire communities.' 'Noru became a super typhoon in 6 hours. Scientists say powerful storms are becoming harder to forecast.' 'Hurricane Orlene strengthens into Category 4 storm as it heads toward western Mexico.'
Three front page headlines from CNN just today. Climate change. Let's do what we can."
10. This day in history
If you're giving a speech to celebrate a special birthday or an anniversary, consider using several carefully selected events that occurred on the same day as a speech opening. They could be either funny or serious, depending on the specific purpose of your speech. They're a great way to place the person in a much wider context and often with exalted company.
For example: "What do the 1863 National Thanksgiving Day proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, National Boyfriend Day, and Gwen Stefani have in common with Joe? Yes, the 3rd of October! It's a great date made better by being Joe's birthday. And we say Gwen is truly privileged to have the same one as him."
11. Issue a challenge
Let the audience know first thing, at the beginning of the speech, what action you expect they'll be able to take by the time your presentation is complete. Then when you come to the final points, repeat the call to action, or challenge, as part of your closing statement.
For example: "I've a challenge for you. That's to sign up for our public speaking course. Right now you may not see yourself doing that. Public speaking? Me? I'd rather have a root canal done, without painkillers. However, by the end of the presentation...well, let's see. There's a first time for everything!"
Use a startling statement, a fact, or a series of facts, to jolt the audience into paying attention.
"Covid. We've had 1.06 million of us die in the US, so far. Today there are nearly 60,00 new cases. More mothers, fathers, friends, colleagues, children – people. People ill. People who might die. So why have we stopped wearing masks?"
For more: Google: Covid stats US
Other speech writing resources
- how to end a speech effectively : explanations with examples showing how to close a speech with impact
- how to write a speech : a detailed guide with examples covering audience analysis, planning, writing oral language, transitions, how to use an outline...
speaking out loud
Subscribe for FREE alerts about what's new! For more information, click here
Top 10 popular pages
- Welcome speech
- Demonstration speech topics
- Impromptu speech topic cards
- Thank you quotes
- Impromptu public speaking topics
- Farewell speeches
- Phrases for welcome speeches
- Student council speeches
- Free sample eulogies
From fear to fun in 28 ways
A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.
Useful pages
- Search this site
- About me & Contact
- Blogging Aloud
- Free e-course
- Privacy policy
©Copyright 2006-22 www.write-out-loud.com
Designed and built by Clickstream Designs
- EXPLORE Coupons Tech Help Pro Random Article About Us Quizzes Contribute Train Your Brain Game Improve Your English Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
- HELP US Support wikiHow Community Dashboard Write an Article Request a New Article More Ideas...
- EDIT Edit this Article
- PRO Courses New Tech Help Pro New Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Coupons Quizzes Upgrade Sign In
- Browse Articles
- Quizzes New
- Train Your Brain New
- Improve Your English New
- Support wikiHow
- About wikiHow
- Easy Ways to Help
- Approve Questions
- Fix Spelling
- More Things to Try...
- H&M Coupons
- Hotwire Promo Codes
- StubHub Discount Codes
- Ashley Furniture Coupons
- Blue Nile Promo Codes
- NordVPN Coupons
- Samsung Promo Codes
- Chewy Promo Codes
- Ulta Coupons
- Vistaprint Promo Codes
- Shutterfly Promo Codes
- DoorDash Promo Codes
- Office Depot Coupons
- adidas Promo Codes
- Home Depot Coupons
- DSW Coupons
- Bed Bath and Beyond Coupons
- Lowe's Coupons
- Surfshark Coupons
- Nordstrom Coupons
- Walmart Promo Codes
- Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
- Fanatics Coupons
- Edible Arrangements Coupons
- eBay Coupons
- Log in / Sign up
- Education and Communications
- Communication Skills
- Public Speaking
- Speechwriting
How to Write a Speech Introducing Yourself
Last Updated: January 13, 2023 References Approved
This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 27 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 3,625,177 times.
First impressions have a big impact on how others perceive you, so how you introduce yourself to others is extremely important. Many people call an introductory speech an elevator speech, because it should be succinct enough that you could introduce yourself and tell someone about your goals or interests in the time it takes to ride an elevator. It may also be called an "icebreaker" speech, as it breaks the ice and lets others get to know you. [1] X Research source Consider your words carefully when you write a speech introducing yourself. Crafting a good self-introduction can either build or harm your credibility.
Sample Speeches
Preparing Your Speech
- State your name in the very first sentence of your speech. This can be very straightforward: "Good afternoon!/Good morning! My name is Deshawn Smith, and I am a computer programming student at the University of Arkansas."
- If the introduction is work-related, mention your interests and your career goals together in the same sentence. This will save on time and convey that your personal interests can serve your professional goals. For example, "I am working on an app that allows people to order pizza from their Twitter account."
- You may want to mention your education or professional training background, if it is relevant and appropriate. [2] X Research source "This is the fifth app I've designed. My second app, which helped people locate dog parks near them, won an award at my university."
- If you are explaining your passion or goal and how it helped formed your progression up to this point, that can help you tell a compelling story about yourself. For example, if you're writing a speech for your college speech class , you might want to explain how you got into computers at an early age and why they're important to you now as you pursue your career goals.
- If, however, you are introducing yourself to potential clients at a business lunch, they are probably not interested in your hobbies. They will want to know what you are doing right now and what your skills are.
- Try writing one draft with your experience/hobbies and one without, and run both versions by an objective listener who can give you feedback before your speech. [3] X Research source
- Highlight the qualities, skills and experience you have that are most relevant for the audience and occasion. For example, "Because of my background in app writing and my extensive network of professional connections, I have a strong grasp of what today's young professionals are looking for. My apps offer convenience and immediate gratification."
- You are trying to present yourself as a professional while making a strong and lasting impression.
- If you're trying to sell yourself to a group of new colleagues, you probably won't need to tell them about your family life, or anything outside of work that isn't directly relevant. [4] X Research source
- You can simultaneously demonstrate your skills and experience, while presenting yourself as a forward-looking person who is always learning and developing. [5] X Research source For example, you could say, "I spend a lot of time attending app conventions and conferences so I can learn what audiences are looking for. I pride myself on staying on the cutting edge of app design."
- Try to tie this into your broader outline of your career goals and personal development.
Revising and Practicing Your Speech
- Make sure that if this is an assignment, you stay within the assigned guidelines.
- If your speech is supposed to be 3-5 minutes, a 7-minute speech and a 2-minute speech are equally inappropriate.
- If you are giving a brief introductory speech in an interview , be certain that you don't go over the recommended time.
- Avoid long rambling sentences, and use direct and concise prose as much as possible.
- Think about your sentence structure carefully. Reading your speech out loud will help you determine when you have overly long sentences that need to be restructured.
- Practicing in front of other people will enable you to gauge whether your speech captures the interest of your listeners.
- Think about which parts of the speech were successful and which parts weren't.
- Try to get as much detailed feedback as possible by asking specific as well as general questions after your speech. [9] X Research source
- As well as saying "how did you like the speech?", ask specifically what parts were the strongest and weakest.
- Check that you delivered a clear message by asking your practice audience what they took away from the speech.
- If you are staring down at a piece of paper all the time, the audience might struggle to truly engage with what you are saying.
- You can, however, bring an index card with bullet points, just in case you freeze up. You shouldn't write your whole speech on the card, just the main points you hope to cover.
- Think of the card as a point of reference, rather than a backup for your speech. [10] X Research source
Planning Your Speech
- Who is the intended audience?
- What is the purpose of my introduction?
- What are the expectations others may have? [12] X Research source
- Stick to one or two main points you want to convey about yourself. You can always add more if time allows it.
- Depending on the audience and function of your speech, you shouldn't allow the focus to become too narrow. For example, if you're introducing yourself to a crowd of prospective investors, you'd focus on your skills to build their confidence in you. If you're introducing yourself to a general audience -- say, for a speech class in college -- you can be a bit more wide-ranging.
- Remember that you're introducing yourself in general, and you want to present yourself as an interesting and rounded individual. [13] X Research source
- That doesn't mean you should spend time talking about your love of baseball when you are introducing yourself in a professional scenario.
- Are you hoping to win someone over to your point of view with this introduction, or to inspire/motivate someone to work hard under your leadership?
- All of these will affect the things you say in your introduction and the way you say them. [14] X Research source
Delivering Your Speech
- You can also try some visualization techniques to help ease your nervousness and give you confidence for your speech.
- Imagine the way you will feel when you have finished delivering your speech and are met with smiling faces and resounding applause. Then channel that confidence into the actual speech you are about to deliver. [16] X Research source
- Avoid crossing your arms or clutching your hands. [19] X Research source
- Don't stare down at the ground or cling to the table or lecture in front of you.
- Make eye contact across the room in a measured and controlled way. Avoid lingering on one person, but also avoid darting your eyes back and forth restlessly.
- Try making eye contact with one person on the left side of the room, then one person on the right side of the room. Shift across the room, but in a controlled way that feels natural and relaxed. [20] X Research source
- Aim for a comfortable, conversational pace of dialogue. [21] X Research source
- Practicing your speech in front of other people, or recording it and listening back are great ways to judge the tempo of your speech.
- Self-deprecating humor can help you come across as humble and likable. For example, if you've accidentally skipped forward in your speech and have to circle back, you could say something like, "And now I'm going to cycle back and tell you something I forgot before. If you wanted to get to know the "real me," you're seeing it now!" [23] X Research source
- You can also make a quick, humorous nod to your mistake and move on. For example, if you come out and you mess up the very first line, you could say something like, "Wow, excuse me. Here I am so excited to tell you about myself that I've mixed up all my words. Let me try that again."
- Don't be too self-deprecating, however. You are still trying to ensure people remember you for your strengths and competencies. Move on quickly.
Expert Q&A
Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.
- Do not be afraid to make yourself sound good. After all, this is an introduction, and the first impression you will make. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 18 Not Helpful 4
- Improve eye contact with the audience. Be direct and move confidently during the speech. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3
- However, you do not want to brag or boast, as this may turn your audience off to what you have to say. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://courses.p2pu.org/en/groups/public-speaking-2/content/icebreaker-introduce-yourself/
- ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/12/11/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-yourself-in-an-interview
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2012/06/08/how-to-sell-yourself/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2012/06/08/how-to-sell-yourself/3/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/keep-it-short/
- ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/speeches/
- ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/practice-beforehand/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/dont-read-your-speech/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/
- ↑ http://pac.org/content/speechwriting-101-writing-effective-speech
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/prepare-with-relaxation-/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/use-body-language-that-m/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/stand-up-straight/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/work-the-room/
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeeg45fjil/slow-down/
- ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/toastmasters-speech-1-ice-breaker-icebreaker/
- ↑ http://christopherwitt.com/recovering-after-making-a-mistake-during-a-speech/
About This Article
To write a speech introducing yourself, start by organizing the information you want to include. When writing content, consider the purpose of the speech, your intended audience, and your goals for the introduction. You can speak about your education, professional background, career/career goals, and outside interests, but keep things brief and to the point. Only include information that is important and relevant to your listeners. Don't forget to state your name in the first sentence of the speech. To learn more from our English Ph.D. co-author, such as how to practice and memorize your speech, continue reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No
- Send fan mail to authors
Reader Success Stories
Rebecca Steudeman
Feb 27, 2017
Did this article help you?
Rose Martinez
Oct 26, 2018
May 26, 2017
Kutmanai Kutia
Jul 17, 2018
Joseph Johnson
May 16, 2017
Featured Articles
Trending Articles
Watch Articles
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do Not Sell or Share My Info
- Not Selling Info
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Develop the tech skills you need for work and life
How to Write an Introduction Speech for Public Speaking
by Nicole LaMarco
Published on 2 Nov 2018
The first 30 seconds of any introduction speech seem like the scariest. It doesn’t take long, however, for the fire of the speech to take hold and you get absorbed in the words along with your audience. The first step is to write an intro that caters to your audience while setting the tone you wish to convey. The idea is to open strong in a way that will have you feeling confident and your audience riveted.
Start with a Question
Presenting a rhetorical question is a welcoming way to write an introductory speech. It allows for your audience to feel included in what you have to say, building a sort of rapport. For example, “Have you ever wanted to pack up your house, quit your job and move to the other side of the world? I did. Then I found this technique for applying business principles to happiness.” By starting your intro speech with a question you allow for a lead-in to present what you want to talk about all while engaging your audience.
Start with a Story
A well-recited story draws the audience in and incites compassion. People remember personal stories far more easily than other facets of public speeches. Think back to a touching story someone told you. You can probably remember not just the details of the story but who told you, where you were when you heard it and even small details like the colors of the clothes each of you were wearing. For example, “When I was a child we had a huge dog that protected me from a stranger coming into our yard.” It paints an immediate visual your audience can relate to. That is how impactful a story can be and that is why it is an excellent introduction speech example. Relate the story to the point of your speech for an easy segue into the rest of your talk.
" class="title"> Start with a Shock
Begin your introduction speech with an attention-grabbing statement that shocks the audience into focusing on what you have to say. Sometimes called the pace and lead approach, you issue a startling statement and then lead your audience to how such a statement can be resolved. “When I was 15 I was in an auto accident that left me unable to walk unassisted for two years.” That sort of thing grabs an audience by the hand and pulls them closer. Public speaking is about being able to focus the attention spans of dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of people at the same time. Beginning your intro speech with a shocking statistic, anecdote or piece of news will have them wondering what else you might say in the rest of your speech.
When writing an introduction speech for public speaking, consider first what tone you are trying to convey and to what type of audience. That will allow you present a speech that people will not only listen to with rapt attention but also remember long after you’ve left the stage.
How to Write a Good Introduction for Your Speech
Your intro can make or break your entire speech.
The starting part of your speech does more than introducing the topic.
It also sets the tone for how the audience will perceive you and what you have to say.
In fact, many speakers believe that if you don't connect with your audience at the beginning of your speech, it's unlikely they will follow through till the end.
So, how do you write an introduction that hooks your audience into your speech and sets the stage for what's coming?
We have put together this in-depth guide to simplify the process of writing a speech introduction that compels your audience.
Let us start learning about crafting an introduction speech to improve your public speaking.
Steps to writing a solid introduction for your speech
We break down the entire process of writing a compelling introduction to open a speech into a series of actionable steps. Each step is explained in detail for you to understand and implement.
Determine the objective of the speech
Before you start writing your speech, you need to think about what you want to communicate to your audience.
The purpose of your talk will guide the entire speech writing process from starting to finishing and help keep you on track.
As you continue to write your speech outline, keep checking in with yourself as to whether or not each step you're taking helps accomplish this goal.
If you're unsure what your purpose is, ask yourself, "What am I trying to accomplish with this speech?" and then write down the answer. This will help keep your focus on what you want your audience to walk away from hearing.
For example, if your goal is to teach people a new skill entertainingly, then you must create a structure that moves logically through what they need to know and how they should learn it while also keeping them entertained along the way.
Understand your audience
The next step is to spend time understanding your audience.
Conduct your research to learn more about their backgrounds, interests, and concerns.
Make yourself as acquainted as possible with the people listening to your speech.
The more you know about your target audience, the better you'll be able to tailor the introduction. This is especially important if you are speaking about a new or unfamiliar topic for those in attendance.
When speaking to a large audience, it's also valuable to understand their interests and concerns by conducting research.
If possible, talk with an audience member who will be at your speech ahead of time so you can get an idea about what they know about the subject and what questions they might have.
For example, if your speech is about the importance of recycling and addressing a group of local government officials, speak about cost savings and helping the environment.
If your speech is about reducing energy use at home and addressing homeowners, emphasize that saving money on utility bills is an easy way to have more money in their pockets.
Use an attention-grabber
Hooking your audience's attention in the first few seconds of your speech introduction can distinguish between an unforgettable and forgettable talk.
A strong hook will create interest and curiosity, encouraging audiences to listen closely to what you have to say.
In fact, scientists believe we have the attention of about 9 seconds , the same as a goldfish. This is why it’s important to nail an attention-getter to have an effective speech.
Here are some ideas to create a strong attention-grabber for your speech's introduction.
Start with a question
Asking a question at the beginning of your speech can be a great way to grab the audience's attention.
There are many ways to do this, but one of the best is to ask a question that makes the audience think about a problem.
This will make the audience feel like they're part of the solution and can get them invested in your speech.
A good question will also get the audience thinking about what they know about the subject and how much they'll need to learn to solve the problem. In this way, you're giving them a reason why they should listen carefully for the rest of your speech.
For example, in this video , the speaker directly opens up with a question to the audience.
You can also use a rhetorical question that does not require an answer.
For example, what's the meaning of life?
Such questions are powerful speech elements and add humor or drama to your narrative.
Pro Tip: Use AI to generate exciting questions with CopyAI's free-to-try Question Generator tool .
Start with an anecdote or personal story
An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a key point.
Anecdotes are a great way to open a speech. They're personal, make the audience feel like they know you, and get everyone paying attention immediately.
They're also a great way to start a successful speech because they can be used to transition from the introduction into your main message or thesis statement.
Anecdotes are particularly useful when you want to get the audience laughing or at least smiling, as they make people feel good and more receptive.
For example, if you're giving an inspiring motivational speech about how to succeed in life, one way to use this technique is by telling an anecdote about a time when you failed at something but learned from it and then turned things around. This sets up the idea that failure isn't so scary and shows how people can overcome their challenges by learning from them.
Start with a shocking statement
At the beginning of your speech, there are a few different ways to grab your audience's attention. One way is by using a shocking statement that will shock the audience and make them think, "What?!"
When you use a shocking statement, it should be relevant to your speech topic.
For example, if you're giving an informative speech about improving customer service at restaurants, then saying, "I hate when people don't tip their waiters," is an intelligent way to start because it shows that you're passionate about this subject.
But saying, "I hate when people don't tip their waiters because I'm going through a divorce right now and need the extra money," would not be appropriate since it doesn't have anything to do with customer service.
Start with a humorous joke
A humorous joke is an excellent way to start a great speech because it can make the audience smile or laugh and get them in a good mood before you tell them what you have to say.
If you use humor in your speech opener, make sure it is relevant to your subject.
Another critical thing to remember when using humor in your speech opener is that it should be clean and appropriate for the audience's age group. If possible, ask someone who knows about public speaking if it would be okay before using it during your presentation.
Start with a powerful quote
A great way to hook the audience is to begin your speech with an attention-grabbing quote.
When people hear a quote from a famous person or someone they admire, they feel connected to that person's ideas and message.
Quotes can be compelling because they give people something to think about before the rest of your speech begins.
So how do you choose which quote will best grab your audience's attention?
You should choose quotes that mean something to you personally. You should also pick quotes that resonate with the audience and speak to them on an emotional level.
If you don't have a quote that works for you, don't worry. There are plenty of websites where you can find quotes to use in your speech. Consider asking friends and family members for advice on a good opening quote or famous speeches to research for your talk.
Start with requesting your audience to "imagine”
Another powerful attention-grabbing idea is to ask your audience to "imagine" something.
The idea is that they will engage their minds and think about what you are saying.
For example, if you were giving a speech on how polluted our oceans are, you could start by saying, "Imagine that you are sitting at the beach on a beautiful summer day and suddenly see a large oil spill coming towards shore. What do you do?"
The audience will likely think about what they would do if this happened and then listen keenly as you move onto your main topic on pollution of our oceans because they will want to hear what else happens next.
Reveal your topic
After you have captured your audience's attention, it is time to get down to the business of your speech.
The first thing you should do is to reveal your topic. You can make sure your audience knows what to expect by doing this.
If you do not reveal your topic, the audience will have no idea what they are listening to and will probably tune out.
You want them engaged in what you say, not lost in their thoughts or wondering why they are there.
An effective way to reveal your topic is by telling a story that illustrates it. You can use this story as a hook at the beginning of your introductory speech and then use it again when revealing your topic.
Motivate your audience to listen
One of the most important aspects of giving a speech is making sure that your audience is listening to you attentively.
The best way to do this is by giving them enough reasons to be convinced that it is worth their time.
Emphasize the importance of your topic. Tell them why it's important and how it will affect their lives. If you can make them feel that there's something in it for them, they'll be more inclined to pay attention.
To do this, you have to speak about your subject in a way that makes it interesting for your audience. You need to make them see how your words are relevant to them and their goals.
This can be accomplished by focusing on the people in front of you instead of on yourself or your topic.
Provide a roadmap for the speech
A good speech is not just about telling people what you know. It's about telling them what they need to know. That means that you have to be able to organize your information so that it is relevant, engaging, and easy to follow.
It's a good idea to provide a clear outline or speech structure for what you will cover in your speech after revealing the topic. An organized speech will help your audience know what to expect, and it will also help you stay on track.
You don't want your audience to get lost in a confusing maze of information. It's vital to have transitions between ideas and supporting points so listeners can follow along easily.
Tease into your first point
Closing in on your main point is a great way to keep your audience engaged.
You've already built up some suspense, so teasing your main idea will make people want to listen more closely.
Here are some ideas for how you can tease your main point.
Mention what it is not. For example, "This is not an exhaustive list of all the reasons why we should invest in clean water technologies."
Give a hint about what it consists of or why it matters. For example, "I'm going to talk about how we can reduce our carbon footprint today by implementing simple changes at home, and I will even offer some free resources to help you get started right away."
Tell a story that prepares your audience for what you're about to say. For example, "When I was traveling in India last year, I met an entrepreneur who had started up his own solar-powered water filtration system company. He told me how this technology has helped provide clean drinking water for over 600 families in rural areas without the need for government infrastructure.”
Ultimately, you have to create a smooth transition from the introduction part to the body of your speech.
Closing remarks on introduction speech writing
A great introduction shows potential listeners why they should continue listening to you.
Investing additional time in crafting one can be the difference between your speech landing on deaf ears and getting big applause from the crowd.
The best ones are personal, relevant, and brief. They connect with the audience by establishing a shared context and creating curiosity about what comes next.
We hope this guide helps to improve your presentation skills and has given you many points on how to write an attention-grabbing introduction to your upcoming speech.
If you need more help writing persuasive speech content, give CopyAI's ai writing assistant tools a spin.
Related Reading
How to Write a Student Recommendation Letter
How To Write Taglines
How to Write a White Paper
More articles
Ai for sales teams: how it works, and how to get started, 11 sales automation tools (+ how to get started), ready to level-up.
Write 10x faster, engage your audience, & never struggle with the blank page again.
5 Ideas To Write An Introductory Speech
📅 Updated on January 16th, 2023
How to start a speech? Writing an introductory speech is far more difficult than presenting your thoughts orally. That is why good speakers find it painful to pen down their speeches. It is because their actual thoughts and ideas bear only little resemblance to what they are writing. As a result they fail to convey the exact message to their target audience.
If speech structure is the only problem with the speakers than there is a solution with which they can make their PowerPoint presentation simple, catchy and valuable. They just need to include 5 elements in their opening speech. These five steps below will not only keep your listeners engaged but will also present you as a good speaker. As any other speech, starting your speech with an introduction is a must.
1. Use Quotes in the Introductory Speech
Open your speech with some quote, short story or some statistics. You can even start with a question. All these things will help you in catching your audience’s attention. Starting it with some real life example in the speech introduction is a good way to keep your listeners’ fully engaged.
2. Connect with your Audience
Try to make a connection with your audience. Use ‘you’ or ‘we’ while delivering a speech. This will motivate your listeners and will make them think that you really care for them. Connect the topic with them and their lives by making it more interesting.
3. Tell a Story, provide Relevant Examples
Don’t start your topic right away. Begin with some relevant examples. Landing into the topic directly will make your presentation boring. Always begin with some related examples first and then bind up your speech’s topic in just two or three lines.
4. Keep it Simple
Always present the main idea of your speech in one sentence only but it must be done in such a way that the theme and angle of your presentation is clear. This is actually the thesis step on which your whole seminar depends.
5. Convey the Message of your Introductory Speech
This is the last step of your introductory speech writing where you must go through what actually your speech body contains. Simply check out what all is there which you want to convey and arrange them in proper order. This will indicate a well structured speech.
Follow these easy steps and make your speech interesting for your listeners.
Browse Templates
- Best PowerPoint Templates
- Accounting & Finance
- Corporate Strategy
- Health & Medical Services
- Entertainment
Popular Topics
Related Blog Posts
DAF Pro: App for People with Speech Impairment to Improve Presentation Skills
- Theater-Based Techniques
- Dr. Gary Genard
- What Our Clients Say
- Client List
- Dr. Genard in the Media
- Leadership Communication
- Fearless Speaking
- Voice and Speech Improvement
- Presentation Coaching
- Speaking Virtually
- Presentation Skills
- Executive Speech Coaching
- The Benefits of Deep Breathing
- How to Calm Your Nerves Before Speaking
- Leadership Skills: The 5 Essential Speaking Techniques
- 5 Ways to Captivate an Audience
- The Body Language Rules: 12 Ways to be a More Powerful Speaker
- 4 Characteristics of an Influential Speaker
- 6 Skills Building Exercises for Effective Body Language
- 7 Tips for Overcoming Audience Resistance
- 5 Rules for Succeeding with PowerPoint
- Great Speaking? – It's About Performance Over Content!
- 5 Key Tools of Vocal Dynamics
- 5 Secrets of Powerful Body Language
- 10 Ways to Stay Fully Focused when Speaking
- 25 Words or Phrases to Avoid in Speeches and Presentations
- 6 Rules of Effective Public Speaking
- 7 Key Components of Successful Presentations
- 12 Easy Ways to Achieve Presence and Charisma
- 6 Skills Building Exercises Video
Gary Genard's
Speak for success.
"Be a voice not an echo." - Albert Einstein
Your Speech's Introduction: How to Make It Powerful
There's a moment of high drama when you give a speech or presentation—and it occurs before you've even said a word. It's the first few seconds when the "curtain" goes up.
In other words, it's all about anticipation. Your audience at that instant is paying maximum attention . . . they're primed for whatever they're about to experience. Often, these audience members will have no idea of your speaking ability. Oh, they may know they're interested in the topic. But they are almost surely filled with hope that the next half-hour or hour will be interesting and exciting.
Great speakers understand how to engage and move audiences at moments like this. You should too! Learn how in my Free Guide , "Six Rules of Effective Public Speaking."
What happens in the next 60 seconds will help determine whether your speech is successful or not. So here are four key elements you should always include in your speech's introduction. If you want listeners to pay attention, become intrigued, and tell themselves they're in good company, do these four things, in the following order:
1) Grab 'Em from the Moment You Begin Speaking
Consider how most presenters begin. Nearly always, it's along the lines of, "Good afternoon. It's so nice to see you all. Today I'll be talking about . ." followed by a slide with the word "Agenda" and 5 bullet points. If we can't hear you screaming as an audience member, it's probably only because you're too polite to be doing it in public.
These first few seconds are such valuable real estate, it's shocking that speakers don't spend any time working up an inviting treatment. In fact, it's not overstating things to say that if you want to succeed as a speaker, you have to know how to start a speech . There are rhetorical devices ready and waiting for you to use to kick off in a much more interesting way. Here for instance are 12 foolproof ways to open a speech .
It's not good enough to take three or four minutes to settle into your groove. Remember that moment of drama, and how everyone is anticipating what you're about to reveal. You need to burn rubber as soon as your tires hit the road, not spin them unnecessarily in the gravel. It's infinitely easier to keep an audience with you if you engage them from the start.
This is the time your natural talent is on display! To build credibility and earn trust, download my Free e-book , "12 Easy Ways to Achieve Presence and Charisma."
2) Reveal Your Topic (and Make It Sound Interesting)
At this point, without going any further into your speech, reveal your topic.
You may be thinking, "Well, yeah, of course!" Yet haven't you sat through speeches where, five minutes in, you're saying to yourself, "What's the topic here, anyway?" It one of the ways we as speakers may take things for granted, believing that the subject matter is perfectly obvious. (The phrase 'perfectly obvious' should not be part of your public speaking thought process!)
Even if the topic of your speech is emblazoned on posters and flyers beforehand, you lose nothing by reminding the audience about it in your intro. Besides, this is an opportunity to make it sound interesting. You could say, "My topic today is migrating birds of the Northeast." OR you could offer this instead: "Today, you'll be meeting some of the most eccentric characters you could ever run into . . . who just happen to be sitting outside your window right now."
Which talk sounds more interesting?
Just be sure to use language that helps rather than hurts your cause. Learn more in my Free White Paper , "25 Words or Phrases to Avoid in Speeches and Presentations."
3) Tell Them Why They Need to Listen
Here's the most neglected family member of speech introductions—the relative too many speakers kept hidden away in the attic, never to see the light of day. It's the moment you tell everyone why your topic is something they really need to pay attention to.
This is a huge part of engaging audiences and getting them to be present. And as I say, many presenters never even give it a thought. But consider this: every member of your audience is in a "What's-in-it-for-me" frame of mind every time they listen to a speech. They're wondering if this is going to be worth their presence and the effort it took to get here (and the time it's taking them away from their work.)
If you answer those questions in a way that relates to their lives and makes the payoff to them clear, they will pay attention. "I want to talk about this with you today, because it's going to make your life much easier," is a great way, for instance, to address a new procedure that everyone in the department would otherwise be bored to death to hear about. So tell them specifically what's in it for them. Believe me, their ears will perk up.
4) Give Them a Roadmap of Your Journey Together
So let's review. You've hooked your listeners' attention, made your topic sound intriguing, and told them how it's going to improve their lives. You're ready for the final part of your introduction: giving them a roadmap of where you'll be going together.
Call it a blueprint if you like that metaphor. (I prefer roadmap because it presupposes that you will be providing signposts along the way.) Partly, this is a way to make your subject manageable. Whatever that subject is, it's too big to talk about in its entirety. So you have to clue listeners in to the sub-topic areas you'll be addressing in this speech. It may sound something like this:
"I'll be talking about three specific elements of [reaching this goal, gaining this proficiency, understanding what you're looking at, etc.]. First, we'll examine [your first main point]. Once we have that information, we'll be able to [discuss your second item]. Finally, we'll add the third ingredient which will [give us a functioning model, repair the breach, head off the problem in the future . . . whatever the particulars are in your talk]." To me, this is already sounding more interesting than: "Here are the five parts of today's agenda for this speech."
As the great salesman Dale Carnegie once advised (and as I wrote about here ): "Tell the audience what you're going to say, say it; then tell them what you've said." To translate that into today's public speaking: Entice them with the journey you'll be going on together, take them there; then remind them of what an enlightening trip it's been.
You should follow me on Twitter here .
Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in theater-based public speaking training. His company, Boston-based The Genard Method offers in-person and online training to help executives and teams become extraordinary communicators. In 2020 for the seventh consecutive year, Gary has been ranked by Global Gurus as One of The World's Top 30 Communication Professionals . He is the author of How to Give a Speech . His second book, Fearless Speaking , was recently named as " One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time ." Contact Gary here .
Tags: public speaking training , presentation skills , public speaking , public speaking tips , how to start a speech , video conferencing , sales training , speech introduction , presence , leadership , keynote speaker , online meetings , how to write a speech , motivational speaker , public speaker , leadership training , audiences , keynote speaker training , how to start a presentation , motivational speaker training , sales , online coaching , Zoom , online classes , online learning , online training , speaking tips , zoom meetings , virtual meetings , videoconferencing , video conferences , introduction , how to write an introduction
Subscribe to the blog
Follow gary genard.
- Training Techniques
Main Office - Boston
93 Concord Avenue Suite 3 Belmont, MA 02478 617-993-3410
- Executive Presentation Skills
- Rehearsal & Preparation
- Group Presentation Skills
This is “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively”, chapter 9 from the book Public Speaking: Practice and Ethics (v. 1.0). For details on it (including licensing), click here .
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons by-nc-sa 3.0 license. See the license for more details, but that basically means you can share this book as long as you credit the author (but see below), don't make money from it, and do make it available to everyone else under the same terms.
This content was accessible as of December 29, 2012, and it was downloaded then by Andy Schmitz in an effort to preserve the availability of this book.
Normally, the author and publisher would be credited here. However, the publisher has asked for the customary Creative Commons attribution to the original publisher, authors, title, and book URI to be removed. Additionally, per the publisher's request, their name has been removed in some passages. More information is available on this project's attribution page .
For more information on the source of this book, or why it is available for free, please see the project's home page . You can browse or download additional books there. To download a .zip file containing this book to use offline, simply click here .
Chapter 9 Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively
© Thinkstock
One of the most common complaints novice public speakers have is that they simply don’t know how to start a speech. Many times speakers get ideas for how to begin their speeches as they go through the process of researching and organizing ideas. In this chapter, we will explore why introductions are important and various ways speakers can create memorable introductions. There may not be any one “best” way to start a speech, but we can provide some helpful guidelines that will make starting a speech much easier.
9.1 The Importance of an Introduction
Learning objectives.
- Explain the general length of an introduction.
- List and explain the five basic functions of an introduction.
- Understand how to use three factors of credibility in an introduction.
The introduction for a speech is generally only 10 to 15 percent of the entire time the speaker will spend speaking. This means that if your speech is to be five minutes long, your introduction should be no more than forty-five seconds. If your speech is to be ten minutes long, then your introduction should be no more than a minute and a half. Unfortunately, that 10 to 15 percent of your speech can either make your audience interested in what you have to say or cause them to tune out before you’ve really gotten started. Overall, a good introduction should serve five functions. Let’s examine each of these.
Gain Audience Attention and Interest
The first major purpose of an introduction is to gain your audience’s attention and make them interested in what you have to say. One of the biggest mistakes that novice speakers make is to assume that people will naturally listen because the speaker is speaking. While many audiences may be polite and not talk while you’re speaking, actually getting them to listen to what you are saying is a completely different challenge. Let’s face it—we’ve all tuned someone out at some point because we weren’t interested in what they had to say. If you do not get the audience’s attention at the outset, it will only become more difficult to do so as you continue speaking. We’ll talk about some strategies for grabbing an audience’s attention later on in this chapter.
State the Purpose of Your Speech
The second major function of an introduction is to reveal the purpose of your speech to your audience. Have you ever sat through a speech wondering what the basic point was? Have you ever come away after a speech and had no idea what the speaker was talking about? An introduction is important because it forces the speaker to be mindfully aware of explaining the topic of the speech to the audience. If the speaker doesn’t know what her or his topic is and cannot convey that topic to the audience, then we’ve got really big problems! Robert Cavett, the founder of the National Speaker’s Association, used the analogy of a preacher giving a sermon when he noted, “When it’s foggy in the pulpit, it’s cloudy in the pews.”
As we discussed in Chapter 6 "Finding a Purpose and Selecting a Topic" , the specific purpose is the one idea you want your audience to remember when you are finished with your speech. Your specific purpose is the rudder that guides your research, organization, and development of main points. The more clearly focused your purpose is, the easier your task will be in developing your speech. In addition, a clear purpose provides the audience with a single, simple idea to remember even if they daydream during the body of your speech. To develop a specific purpose, you should complete the following sentence: “I want my audience to understand that…” Notice that your specific speech purpose is phrased in terms of expected audience responses, not in terms of your own perspective.
Establish Credibility
One of the most researched areas within the field of communication has been Aristotle’s concept of ethos or credibility. First, and foremost, the concept of credibility must be understood as a perception of receivers. You may be the most competent, caring, and trustworthy speaker in the world on a given topic, but if your audience does not perceive you as credible, then your expertise and passion will not matter. As public speakers, we need to make sure that we explain to our audiences why we are credible speakers on a given topic.
James C. McCroskey and Jason J. Teven have conducted extensive research on credibility and have determined that an individual’s credibility is composed of three factors: competence, trustworthiness, and caring/goodwill. McCroskey, J. C., & Teven, J. J. (1999). Goodwill: A reexamination of the construct and its measurement. Communication Monographs, 66 , 90–103. Competence The degree to which an audience member perceives a speaker as being knowledgeable or expert on a given topic. is the degree to which a speaker is perceived to be knowledgeable or expert in a given subject by an audience member. Some individuals are given expert status because of positions they hold in society. For example, Dr. Regina Benjamin, the US Surgeon General, is expected to be competent in matters related to health and wellness as a result of being the United States’ top physician.
Figure 9.1 Regina Benjamin
Source: Photo by Lawrence Jackson, White House photographer, http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/images/surgeon_general-0075.jpg .
But what if you do not possess a fancy title that lends itself to established competence? You need to explain to the audience why you are competent to speak on your topic. Keep in mind that even well-known speakers are not perceived as universally credible. US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin may be seen as competent on health and wellness issues, but may not be seen as a competent speaker on trends in Latin American music or different ways to cook summer squash. Like well-known speakers, you will need to establish your credibility on each topic you address, so establishing your competence about the energy efficiency of furnace systems during your informative speech does not automatically mean you will be seen as competent on the topic of organ donation for your persuasive speech.
The second factor of credibility noted by McCroskey and Teven is trustworthiness The degree to which an audience member perceives a speaker as being honest. , or the degree to which an audience member perceives a speaker as honest. Nothing will turn an audience against a speaker faster than if the audience believes the speaker is lying. When an audience does not perceive a speaker as trustworthy, the information coming out of the speaker’s mouth is automatically perceived as deceitful. The speaker could be 100 percent honest, but the audience will still find the information suspect. For example, in the summer of 2009, many Democratic members of Congress attempted to hold public town-hall meetings about health care. For a range of reasons, many of the people who attended these town-hall meetings refused to let their elected officials actually speak because the audiences were convinced that the Congressmen and Congresswomen were lying.
In these situations, where a speaker is in front of a very hostile audience, there is little a speaker can do to reestablish that sense of trustworthiness. These public town-hall meetings became screaming matches between the riled-up audiences and the congressional representatives. Some police departments actually ended up having to escort the representatives from the buildings because they feared for their safety. Check out this video from CNN.com to see what some of these events actually looked like: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/08/07/ldt.sylvester.town.hall.cnn?iref=videosearch . We hope that you will not be in physical danger when you speak to your classmates or in other settings, but these incidents serve to underscore how important speaker trustworthiness is across speaking contexts.
Caring/goodwill is the final factor of credibility noted by McCroskey and Teven. Caring/goodwill The degree to which an audience member believes that a speaker has the audience member’s best interests at heart. refers to the degree to which an audience member perceives a speaker as caring about the audience member. As noted by Wrench, McCroskey, and Richmond, “If a receiver does not believe that a source has the best intentions in mind for the receiver, the receiver will not see the source as credible. Simply put, we are going to listen to people who we think truly care for us and are looking out for our welfare.” Wrench, J. S., McCroskey, J. C., & Richmond, V. P. (2008). Human communication in everyday life: Explanations and applications . Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, pp. 33–34. As a speaker, then, you need to establish that your information is being presented because you care about your audience and are not just trying to manipulate them. We should note that research has indicated that caring/goodwill is the most important factor of credibility. This means that if an audience believes that a speaker truly cares about the audience’s best interests, the audience may overlook some competence and trust issues.
Provide Reasons to Listen
The fourth major function of an introduction is to establish a connection between the speaker and the audience, and one of the most effective means of establishing a connection with your audience is to provide them with reasons why they should listen to your speech. The idea of establishing a connection is an extension of the notion of caring/goodwill. In the chapters on Language and Speech Delivery, we’ll spend a lot more time talking about how you can establish a good relationship with your audience. However, this relationship starts the moment you step to the front of the room to start speaking.
Instead of assuming the audience will make their own connections to your material, you should explicitly state how your information might be useful to your audience. Tell them directly how they might use your information themselves. It is not enough for you alone to be interested in your topic. You need to build a bridge to the audience by explicitly connecting your topic to their possible needs.
Preview Main Ideas
The last major function of an introduction is to preview the main ideas that your speech will discuss. A preview establishes the direction your speech will take. We sometimes call this process signposting because you’re establishing signs for audience members to look for while you’re speaking. In the most basic speech format, speakers generally have three to five major points they plan on making. During the preview, a speaker outlines what these points will be, which demonstrates to the audience that the speaker is organized.
A study by Baker found that individuals who were unorganized while speaking were perceived as less credible than those individuals who were organized. Baker, E. E. (1965). The immediate effects of perceived speaker disorganization on speaker credibility and audience attitude change in persuasive speaking. Western Speech, 29 , 148–161. Having a solid preview of the information contained within one’s speech and then following that preview will definitely help a speaker’s credibility. It also helps your audience keep track of where you are if they momentarily daydream or get distracted.
Key Takeaways
- Introductions are only 10–15 percent of one’s speech, so speakers need to make sure they think through the entire introduction to ensure that they will capture an audience. During an introduction, speakers attempt to impart the general and specific purpose of a speech while making their audience members interested in the speech topic, establishing their own credibility, and providing the audience with a preview of the speech structure.
- A speaker’s perceived credibility is a combination of competence, trustworthiness, and caring/goodwill. Research has shown that caring/goodwill is probably the most important factor of credibility because audiences want to know that a speaker has their best interests at heart. At the same time, speakers should strive to be both competent and honest while speaking.
- What are the five basic functions of an introduction? Discuss with your classmates which purpose you think is the most important. Why?
- Why is establishing a relationship with one’s audience important? How do you plan on establishing a relationship with your audience during your next speech?
- Of the three factors of credibility, which do you think is going to be hardest to establish with your peers during your next speech? Why? What can you do to enhance your peers’ perception of your credibility?
9.2 The Attention-Getter: The First Step of an Introduction
- Understand the different tools speakers can use to gain their audience’s attention.
- Name some common mistakes speakers make in trying to gain attention.
As you know by now, a good introduction will capture an audience’s attention, while a bad introduction can turn an audience against a speaker. An attention-getter The device a speaker uses at the beginning of a speech to capture an audience’s interest and make them interested in the speech’s topic. is the device a speaker uses at the beginning of a speech to capture an audience’s interest and make them interested in the speech’s topic. Typically, there are four things to consider in choosing a specific attention-getting device:
- Appropriateness or relevance to audience
- Purpose of speech
First, when selecting an attention-getting device, you want to make sure that the option you choose is actually appropriate and relevant to your specific audience. Different audiences will have different backgrounds and knowledge, so you should use your audience analysis to determine whether specific information you plan on using would be appropriate for a specific audience. For example, if you’re giving a speech on family units to a group of individuals over the age of sixty-five, starting your speech with a reference to the television show Gossip Girl may not be the best idea because the television show may not be relevant to that audience.
Second, you need to consider the basic purpose of your speech. As discussed earlier in this text, there are three basic purposes you can have for giving a speech: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain. When selecting an attention-getter, you want to make sure that you select one that corresponds with your basic purpose. If your goal is to entertain an audience, then starting a speech with a quotation about how many people are dying in Africa each day from malnutrition may not be the best way to get your audience’s attention. Remember, one of the basic goals of an introduction is to prepare your audience for your speech. If your attention-getter differs drastically in tone from the rest of your speech (e.g., dying in Africa when you want your audience to laugh), the disjointedness may cause your audience to become confused or tune you out completely.
Your third basic consideration when picking an attention-getting device is your speech topic. Ideally, your attention-getting device should have a relevant connection to your speech. Imagine if a speaker pulled condoms out of his pocket, yelled “Free sex!” and threw the condoms at the audience in the beginning of a speech about the economy. While this may clearly get the audience’s attention, this isn’t really a good way to prepare an audience for a speech about bull and bear markets. Not every attention-getter is appropriate for a given topic. Instead, a speaker could start this speech by explaining that “according to a 2004 episode of 60 Minutes, adults in the United States spend approximately $10 billion annually on adult entertainment, which is roughly the equivalent to the amounts they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music, or going out to the movies.” Leung, R. (2004, September 5). Porn in the U.S.A.: Steve Kroft reports on a $10 billion industry. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com Notice how effective the shocking statistic is in clearly introducing the monetary value of the adult entertainment industry.
The last consideration when picking an attention-getting device involves the speech occasion. Different occasions will necessitate different tones, or particular styles or manners of speaking. For example, a persuasive speech about death and dying shouldn’t be happy and hilarious. An informative speech on the benefits of laughing shouldn’t be dull, dreary, and depressing. When selecting an attention-getter, you want to make sure that the attention-getter sets the tone for the speech.
Now that we’ve explored the four major considerations you must think of when selecting an attention-getter, let’s look at a range of different attention-getters you may employ. Miller (1946) Miller, E. (1946). Speech introductions and conclusions. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 32 , 181–183. discovered that speakers tend to use one of eleven attention-getting devices when starting a speech. The rest of this section is going to examine these eleven attention-getting devices.
Reference to Subject
The first attention-getting method to consider is to tell your audience the subject of your speech. This device is probably the most direct, but it may also be the least interesting of the possible attention-getters. Here’s an example:
We are surrounded by statistical information in today’s world, so understanding statistics is becoming paramount to citizenship in the twenty-first century.
This sentence explicitly tells an audience that the speech they are about to hear is about the importance of understanding statistics. While this isn’t the most entertaining or interesting attention-getter, it is very clear and direct.
Reference to Audience
The second attention-getting device to consider is a direct reference to the audience. In this case, the speaker has a clear understanding of the audience and points out that there is something unique about the audience that should make them interested in the speech’s content. Here’s an example:
As human resource professionals, you and I know the importance of talent management. In today’s competitive world, we need to invest in getting and keeping the best talent for our organizations to succeed.
In this example, the speaker reminds the audience of their shared status as human resource professionals and uses the common ground to acknowledge the importance of talent management in human resources.
Another way to capture your listeners’ attention is to use the words of another person that relate directly to your topic. Maybe you’ve found a really great quotation in one of the articles or books you read while researching your speech. If not, you can also use a number of sources that compile useful quotations from noted individuals. Probably the most famous quotation book of all time is Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations ( http://www.bartleby.com/100 ), now in its seventeenth edition. Here are some other websites that contain useful databases of quotations for almost any topic:
- http://www.quotationspage.com
- http://www.bartleby.com/quotations
- http://www.quotationreference.com
- http://www.moviequotes.com
- http://www.quotesandsayings.com
- http://www.quoteland.com
Quotations are a great way to start a speech, so let’s look at an example that could be used for a speech on deception:
Oliver Goldsmith, a sixteenth-century writer, poet, and physician, once noted that “the true use of speech is not so much to express our wants as to conceal them.”
Reference to Current Events
Referring to a current news event that relates to your topic is often an effective way to capture attention, as it immediately makes the audience aware of how relevant the topic is in today’s world. For example, consider this attention-getter for a persuasive speech on frivolous lawsuits:
On January 10, 2007, Scott Anthony Gomez Jr. and a fellow inmate escaped from a Pueblo, Colorado, jail. During their escape the duo attempted to rappel from the roof of the jail using a makeshift ladder of bed sheets. During Gomez’s attempt to scale the building, he slipped, fell forty feet, and injured his back. After being quickly apprehended, Gomez filed a lawsuit against the jail for making it too easy for him to escape.
In this case, the speaker is highlighting a news event that illustrates what a frivolous lawsuit is, setting up the speech topic of a need for change in how such lawsuits are handled.
Historical Reference
You may also capture your listeners’ attention by referring to a historical event related to your topic. Obviously, this strategy is closely related to the previous one, except that instead of a recent news event you are reaching further back in history to find a relevant reference. For example, if you are giving a speech on the Iraq War that began in 2003, you could refer back to the Vietnam War as way of making a comparison:
During the 1960s and ’70s, the United States intervened in the civil strife between North and South Vietnam. The result was a long-running war of attrition in which many American lives were lost and the country of Vietnam suffered tremendous damage and destruction. Today, we see a similar war being waged in Iraq. American lives are being lost, and stability has not yet returned to the region.
In this example, the speaker is evoking the audience’s memories of the Vietnam War to raise awareness of similarities to the war in Iraq.
Another device you can use to start a speech is to tell an anecdote related to the speech’s topic. An anecdote A brief account or story of an interesting or humorous event. is a brief account or story of an interesting or humorous event. Notice the emphasis here is on the word “brief.” A common mistake speakers make when telling an anecdote is to make the anecdote too long. Remember, your entire introduction should only be 10 to 15 percent of your speech, so your attention-getter must be very short.
One type of anecdote is a real story that emphasizes a speech’s basic message. For example, here is an anecdote a speaker could use to begin a speech on how disconnected people are from the real world because of technology:
In July 2009, a high school girl named Alexa Longueira was walking along a main boulevard near her home on Staten Island, New York, typing in a message on her cell phone. Not paying attention to the world around her, she took a step and fell right into an open manhole. Whitney, L. (2009, July 13). Don’t text while walking? Girl learns the hard way. CNET News Wireless . Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10285466-94.html
A second type of anecdote is a parable or fable. A parable or fable An allegorical anecdote designed to teach general life lessons. is an allegorical anecdote designed to teach general life lessons. The most widely known parables for most Americans are those given in the Bible and the best-known fables are Aesop’s Fables ( http://www.aesopfables.com ). For the same speech on how disconnected people are with the real world because of technology, the speaker could have used the Fable of The Boy and the Filberts:
The ancient Greek writer Aesop told a fable about a boy who put his hand into a pitcher of filberts. The boy grabbed as many of the delicious nuts as he possibly could. But when he tried to pull them out, his hand wouldn’t fit through the neck of the pitcher because he was grasping so many filberts. Instead of dropping some of them so that his hand would fit, he burst into tears and cried about his predicament. The moral of the story? “Don’t try to do too much at once.” Aesop (1881). Aesop’s fables . New York, NY: Wm. L. Allison. Retrieved from http://www.litscape.com/author/Aesop/The_Boy_and_the_Filberts.html
After recounting this anecdote, the speaker could easily relate the fable to the notion that the technology in our society leads us to try to do too many things at once.
While parables and fables are short and entertaining, their application to your speech topic should be clear. We’ll talk about this idea in more detail later in this chapter when we discuss how to link your attention-getter explicitly to your topic.
Startling Statement
The eighth device you can use to start a speech is to surprise your audience with startling information about your topic. Often, startling statements come in the form of statistics and strange facts. The goal of a good startling statistic is that it surprises the audience and gets them engaged in your topic. For example, if you’re giving a speech about oil conservation, you could start by saying, “A Boeing 747 airliner holds 57,285 gallons of fuel.” You could start a speech on the psychology of dreams by noting, “The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year.” A strange fact, on the other hand, is a statement that does not involve numbers but is equally surprising to most audiences. For example, you could start a speech on the gambling industry by saying, “There are no clocks in any casinos in Las Vegas.” You could start a speech on the Harlem Globetrotters by saying, “In 2000, Pope John Paul II became the most famous honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters.” All four of these examples came from a great website for strange facts ( http://www.strangefacts.com ).
Although startling statements are fun, it is important to use them ethically. First, make sure that your startling statement is factual. The Internet is full of startling statements and claims that are simply not factual, so when you find a statement you’d like to use, you have an ethical duty to ascertain its truth before you use it. Second, make sure that your startling statement is relevant to your speech and not just thrown in for shock value. We’ve all heard startling claims made in the media that are clearly made for purposes of shock or fear mongering. As speakers, we have an ethical obligation to avoid playing on people’s emotions in this way.
Another strategy for getting your audience’s attention is to ask them a question. There are two types of questions commonly used as attention-getters: response questions and rhetorical questions. A response question A question that the audience is expected to answer in some manner. is a question that the audience is expected to answer in some manner. For example, you could ask your audience, “Please raise your hand if you have ever thought about backpacking in Europe” or “Have you ever voted for the Electoral College? If so, stand up.” In both of these cases, the speaker wants her or his audience to respond. A rhetorical question A question for which no actual response is expected. , on the other hand, is a question to which no actual reply is expected. For example, a speaker talking about the importance of HIV testing could start by asking the audience, “I have two questions that I’d like you to think about. How many students on this campus have had sexual intercourse? Of those who have had sex, how many have been tested for HIV?” In this case, the speaker does not expect the audience to give an estimate of the numbers of students that fit into each category but rather to think about the questions as the speech goes on.
Humor is another effective method for gaining an audience’s attention. Humor is an amazing tool when used properly. We cannot begin to explain all the amazing facets of humor within this text, but we can say that humor is a great way of focusing an audience on what you are saying. However, humor is a double-edged sword. If you do not wield the sword carefully, you can turn your audience against you very quickly. When using humor, you really need to know your audience and understand what they will find humorous. One of the biggest mistakes a speaker can make is to use some form of humor that the audience either doesn’t find funny or finds offensive. Think about how incompetent the character of Michael Scott seems on the television program The Office , in large part because of his ineffective use of humor. We always recommend that you test out humor of any kind on a sample of potential audience members prior to actually using it during a speech.
Now that we’ve warned you about the perils of using humor, let’s talk about how to use humor as an attention-getter. Humor can be incorporated into several of the attention-getting devices mentioned. You could use a humorous anecdote, quotation, or current event. As with other attention-getting devices, you need to make sure your humor is relevant to your topic, as one of the biggest mistakes some novices make when using humor is to add humor that really doesn’t support the overall goal of the speech. So when looking for humorous attention-getters you want to make sure that the humor is nonoffensive to your audiences and relevant to your speech. For example, here’s a humorous quotation from Nicolas Chamfort, a French author during the sixteenth century, “The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.” While this quotation could be great for some audiences, other audiences may find this humorous quotation offensive (e.g., religious audiences). The Chamfort quotation could be great for a speech on the ills of modern society, but probably not for a speech on the state of modern religious conflict. You want to make sure that the leap from your attention-getter to your topic isn’t too complicated for your audience, or the attention-getter will backfire.
Personal Reference
The tenth device you may consider to start a speech is to refer to a story about yourself that is relevant for your topic. Some of the best speeches are ones that come from personal knowledge and experience. If you are an expert or have firsthand experience related to your topic, sharing this information with the audience is a great way to show that you are credible during your attention-getter. For example, if you had a gastric bypass surgery and you wanted to give an informative speech about the procedure, you could introduce your speech in this way:
In the fall of 2008, I decided that it was time that I took my life into my own hands. After suffering for years with the disease of obesity, I decided to take a leap of faith and get a gastric bypass in an attempt to finally beat the disease.
If you use a personal example, don’t get carried away with the focus on yourself and your own life. Your speech topic is the purpose of the attention-getter, not the other way around. Another pitfall in using a personal example is that it may be too personal for you to maintain your composure. For example, a student once started a speech about her grandmother by stating, “My grandmother died of cancer at 3:30 this morning.” The student then proceeded to cry nonstop for ten minutes. While this is an extreme example, we strongly recommend that you avoid any material that could get you overly choked up while speaking. When speakers have an emotional breakdown during their speech, audience members stop listening to the message and become very uncomfortable.
Reference to Occasion
The last device we mention for starting a speech is to refer directly to the speaking occasion. This attention-getter is only useful if the speech is being delivered for a specific occasion. Many toasts, for example, start with the following statement: “Today we are here to honor X.” In this case, the “X” could be a retirement, a marriage, a graduation, or any number of other special occasions. Because of its specific nature, this attention-getter is the least likely to be used for speeches being delivered for college courses.
- In developing the introduction to your speech, begin by deciding upon a statement to capture the audience’s attention.
- Attention-getters can include references to the audience, quotations, references to current events, historical references, anecdotes, startling statements, questions, humor, personal references, and references to the occasion.
- Make a list of the attention-getting devices you might use to give a speech on the importance of recycling. Which do you think would be most effective? Why?
- You’ve been asked to deliver a speech on the use of advertising in children’s media. Out of the list of ten different possible attention-getting devices discussed in the chapter, how could you use four of them to start your speech?
9.3 Putting It Together: Steps to Complete Your Introduction
- Clearly identify why an audience should listen to a speaker.
- Discuss how you can build your credibility during a speech.
- Understand how to write a clear thesis statement.
- Design an effective preview of your speech’s content for your audience.
Once you have captured your audience’s attention, it’s important to make the rest of your introduction interesting, and use it to lay out the rest of the speech. In this section, we are going to explore the five remaining parts of an effective introduction: linking to your topic, reasons to listen, stating credibility, thesis statement, and preview.
Link to Topic
After the attention-getter, the second major part of an introduction is called the link to topic. The link to topic is the shortest part of an introduction and occurs when a speaker demonstrates how an attention-getting device relates to the topic of a speech. Often the attention-getter and the link to topic are very clear. For example, if you look at the attention-getting device example under historical reference above, you’ll see that the first sentence brings up the history of the Vietnam War and then shows us how that war can help us understand the Iraq War. In this case, the attention-getter clearly flows directly to the topic. However, some attention-getters need further explanation to get to the topic of the speech. For example, both of the anecdote examples (the girl falling into the manhole while texting and the boy and the filberts) need further explanation to connect clearly to the speech topic (i.e., problems of multitasking in today’s society).
Let’s look at the first anecdote example to demonstrate how we could go from the attention-getter to the topic.
In July 2009, a high school girl named Alexa Longueira was walking along a main boulevard near her home on Staten Island, New York, typing in a message on her cell phone. Not paying attention to the world around her, she took a step and fell right into an open manhole. This anecdote illustrates the problem that many people are facing in today’s world. We are so wired into our technology that we forget to see what’s going on around us—like a big hole in front of us.
In this example, the third sentence here explains that the attention-getter was an anecdote that illustrates a real issue. The fourth sentence then introduces the actual topic of the speech.
Let’s now examine how we can make the transition from the parable or fable attention-getter to the topic:
The ancient Greek writer Aesop told a fable about a boy who put his hand into a pitcher of filberts. The boy grabbed as many of the delicious nuts as he possibly could. But when he tried to pull them out, his hand wouldn’t fit through the neck of the pitcher because he was grasping so many filberts. Instead of dropping some of them so that his hand would fit, he burst into tears and cried about his predicament. The moral of the story? “Don’t try to do too much at once.” In today’s world, many of us are us are just like the boy putting his hand into the pitcher. We are constantly trying to grab so much or do so much that it prevents us from accomplishing our goals. I would like to show you three simple techniques to manage your time so that you don’t try to pull too many filberts from your pitcher.
In this example, we added three new sentences to the attention-getter to connect it to the speech topic.
Reasons to Listen
Once you have linked an attention-getter to the topic of your speech, you need to explain to your audience why your topic is important. We call this the “why should I care?” part of your speech because it tells your audience why the topic is directly important to them. Sometimes you can include the significance of your topic in the same sentence as your link to the topic, but other times you may need to spell out in one or two sentences why your specific topic is important.
People in today’s world are very busy, and they do not like their time wasted. Nothing is worse than having to sit through a speech that has nothing to do with you. Imagine sitting through a speech about a new software package you don’t own and you will never hear of again. How would you react to the speaker? Most of us would be pretty annoyed at having had our time wasted in this way. Obviously, this particular speaker didn’t do a great job of analyzing her or his audience if the audience isn’t going to use the software package—but even when speaking on a topic that is highly relevant to the audience, speakers often totally forget to explain how and why it is important.
Appearing Credible
The next part of a speech is not so much a specific “part” as an important characteristic that needs to be pervasive throughout your introduction and your entire speech. As a speaker, you want to be seen as credible (competent, trustworthy, and caring/having goodwill). As mentioned earlier in this chapter, credibility is ultimately a perception that is made by your audience. While your audience determines whether they perceive you as competent, trustworthy, and caring/having goodwill, there are some strategies you can employ to make yourself appear more credible.
First, to make yourself appear competent, you can either clearly explain to your audience why you are competent about a given subject or demonstrate your competence by showing that you have thoroughly researched a topic by including relevant references within your introduction. The first method of demonstrating competence—saying it directly—is only effective if you are actually a competent person on a given subject. If you are an undergraduate student and you are delivering a speech about the importance of string theory in physics, unless you are a prodigy of some kind, you are probably not a recognized expert on the subject. Conversely, if your number one hobby in life is collecting memorabilia about the Three Stooges, then you may be an expert about the Three Stooges. However, you would need to explain to your audience your passion for collecting Three Stooges memorabilia and how this has made you an expert on the topic.
If, on the other hand, you are not actually a recognized expert on a topic, you need to demonstrate that you have done your homework to become more knowledgeable than your audience about your topic. The easiest way to demonstrate your competence is through the use of appropriate references from leading thinkers and researchers on your topic. When you demonstrate to your audience that you have done your homework, they are more likely to view you as competent.
The second characteristic of credibility, trustworthiness, is a little more complicated than competence, for it ultimately relies on audience perceptions. One way to increase the likelihood that a speaker will be perceived as trustworthy is to use reputable sources. If you’re quoting Dr. John Smith, you need to explain who Dr. John Smith is so your audience will see the quotation as being more trustworthy. As speakers we can easily manipulate our sources into appearing more credible than they actually are, which would be unethical. When you are honest about your sources with your audience, they will trust you and your information more so than when you are ambiguous. The worst thing you can do is to out-and-out lie about information during your speech. Not only is lying highly unethical, but if you are caught lying, your audience will deem you untrustworthy and perceive everything you are saying as untrustworthy. Many speakers have attempted to lie to an audience because it will serve their own purposes or even because they believe their message is in their audience’s best interest, but lying is one of the fastest ways to turn off an audience and get them to distrust both the speaker and the message.
The third characteristic of credibility to establish during the introduction is the sense of caring/goodwill. While some unethical speakers can attempt to manipulate an audience’s perception that the speaker cares, ethical speakers truly do care about their audiences and have their audience’s best interests in mind while speaking. Often speakers must speak in front of audiences that may be hostile toward the speaker’s message. In these cases, it is very important for the speaker to explain that he or she really does believe her or his message is in the audience’s best interest. One way to show that you have your audience’s best interests in mind is to acknowledge disagreement from the start:
Today I’m going to talk about why I believe we should enforce stricter immigration laws in the United States. I realize that many of you will disagree with me on this topic. I used to believe that open immigration was a necessity for the United States to survive and thrive, but after researching this topic, I’ve changed my mind. While I may not change all of your minds today, I do ask that you listen with an open mind, set your personal feelings on this topic aside, and judge my arguments on their merits.
While clearly not all audience members will be open or receptive to opening their minds and listening to your arguments, by establishing that there is known disagreement, you are telling the audience that you understand their possible views and are not trying to attack their intellect or their opinions.
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement A short, declarative sentence that states the purpose, intent, or main idea of a speech. is a short, declarative sentence that states the purpose, intent, or main idea of a speech. A strong, clear thesis statement is very valuable within an introduction because it lays out the basic goal of the entire speech. We strongly believe that it is worthwhile to invest some time in framing and writing a good thesis statement. You may even want to write your thesis statement before you even begin conducting research for your speech. While you may end up rewriting your thesis statement later, having a clear idea of your purpose, intent, or main idea before you start searching for research will help you focus on the most appropriate material. To help us understand thesis statements, we will first explore their basic functions and then discuss how to write a thesis statement.
Basic Functions of a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement helps your audience by letting them know “in a nutshell” what you are going to talk about. With a good thesis statement you will fulfill four basic functions: you express your specific purpose, provide a way to organize your main points, make your research more effective, and enhance your delivery.
Express Your Specific Purpose
To orient your audience, you need to be as clear as possible about your meaning. A strong thesis will prepare your audience effectively for the points that will follow. Here are two examples:
- “Today, I want to discuss academic cheating.” (weak example)
- “Today, I will clarify exactly what plagiarism is and give examples of its different types so that you can see how it leads to a loss of creative learning interaction.” (strong example)
The weak statement will probably give the impression that you have no clear position about your topic because you haven’t said what that position is. Additionally, the term “academic cheating” can refer to many behaviors—acquiring test questions ahead of time, copying answers, changing grades, or allowing others to do your coursework—so the specific topic of the speech is still not clear to the audience.
The strong statement not only specifies plagiarism but also states your specific concern (loss of creative learning interaction).
Provide a Way to Organize Your Main Points
A thesis statement should appear, almost verbatim, toward the end of the introduction to a speech. A thesis statement helps the audience get ready to listen to the arrangement of points that follow. Many speakers say that if they can create a strong thesis sentence, the rest of the speech tends to develop with relative ease. On the other hand, when the thesis statement is not very clear, creating a speech is an uphill battle.
When your thesis statement is sufficiently clear and decisive, you will know where you stand about your topic and where you intend to go with your speech. Having a clear thesis statement is especially important if you know a great deal about your topic or you have strong feelings about it. If this is the case for you, you need to know exactly what you are planning on talking about in order to fit within specified time limitations. Knowing where you are and where you are going is the entire point in establishing a thesis statement; it makes your speech much easier to prepare and to present.
Let’s say you have a fairly strong thesis statement, and that you’ve already brainstormed a list of information that you know about the topic. Chances are your list is too long and has no focus. Using your thesis statement, you can select only the information that (1) is directly related to the thesis and (2) can be arranged in a sequence that will make sense to the audience and will support the thesis. In essence, a strong thesis statement helps you keep useful information and weed out less useful information.
Make Your Research More Effective
If you begin your research with only a general topic in mind, you run the risk of spending hours reading mountains of excellent literature about your topic. However, mountains of literature do not always make coherent speeches. You may have little or no idea of how to tie your research all together, or even whether you should tie it together. If, on the other hand, you conduct your research with a clear thesis statement in mind, you will be better able to zero in only on material that directly relates to your chosen thesis statement. Let’s look at an example that illustrates this point:
Many traffic accidents involve drivers older than fifty-five.
While this statement may be true, you could find industrial, medical, insurance literature that can drone on ad infinitum about the details of all such accidents in just one year. Instead, focusing your thesis statement will help you narrow the scope of information you will be searching for while gathering information. Here’s an example of a more focused thesis statement:
Three factors contribute to most accidents involving drivers over fifty-five years of age: failing eyesight, slower reflexes, and rapidly changing traffic conditions.
This framing is somewhat better. This thesis statement at least provides three possible main points and some keywords for your electronic catalog search. However, if you want your audience to understand the context of older people at the wheel, consider something like:
Mature drivers over fifty-five years of age must cope with more challenging driving conditions than existed only one generation ago: more traffic moving at higher speeds, the increased imperative for quick driving decisions, and rapidly changing ramp and cloverleaf systems. Because of these challenges, I want my audience to believe that drivers over the age of sixty-five should be required to pass a driving test every five years.
This framing of the thesis provides some interesting choices. First, several terms need to be defined, and these definitions might function surprisingly well in setting the tone of the speech. Your definitions of words like “generation,” “quick driving decisions,” and “cloverleaf systems” could jolt your audience out of assumptions they have taken for granted as truth.
Second, the framing of the thesis provides you with a way to describe the specific changes as they have occurred between, say, 1970 and 2010. How much, and in what ways, have the volume and speed of traffic changed? Why are quick decisions more critical now? What is a “cloverleaf,” and how does any driver deal cognitively with exiting in the direction seemingly opposite to the desired one? Questions like this, suggested by your own thesis statement, can lead to a strong, memorable speech.
Enhance Your Delivery
When your thesis is not clear to you, your listeners will be even more clueless than you are—but if you have a good clear thesis statement, your speech becomes clear to your listeners. When you stand in front of your audience presenting your introduction, you can vocally emphasize the essence of your speech, expressed as your thesis statement. Many speakers pause for a half second, lower their vocal pitch slightly, slow down a little, and deliberately present the thesis statement, the one sentence that encapsulates its purpose. When this is done effectively, the purpose, intent, or main idea of a speech is driven home for an audience.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Now that we’ve looked at why a thesis statement is crucial in a speech, let’s switch gears and talk about how we go about writing a solid thesis statement. A thesis statement is related to the general and specific purposes of a speech as we discussed them in Chapter 6 "Finding a Purpose and Selecting a Topic" .
Choose Your Topic
The first step in writing a good thesis statement was originally discussed in Chapter 6 "Finding a Purpose and Selecting a Topic" when we discussed how to find topics. Once you have a general topic, you are ready to go to the second step of creating a thesis statement.
Narrow Your Topic
One of the hardest parts of writing a thesis statement is narrowing a speech from a broad topic to one that can be easily covered during a five- to ten-minute speech. While five to ten minutes may sound like a long time to new public speakers, the time flies by very quickly when you are speaking. You can easily run out of time if your topic is too broad. To ascertain if your topic is narrow enough for a specific time frame, ask yourself three questions.
First, is your thesis statement narrow or is it a broad overgeneralization of a topic? An overgeneralization occurs when we classify everyone in a specific group as having a specific characteristic. For example, a speaker’s thesis statement that “all members of the National Council of La Raza are militant” is an overgeneralization of all members of the organization. Furthermore, a speaker would have to correctly demonstrate that all members of the organization are militant for the thesis statement to be proven, which is a very difficult task since the National Council of La Raza consists of millions of Hispanic Americans. A more appropriate thesis related to this topic could be, “Since the creation of the National Council of La Raza [NCLR] in 1968, the NCLR has become increasingly militant in addressing the causes of Hispanics in the United States.”
The second question to ask yourself when narrowing a topic is whether your speech’s topic is one clear topic or multiple topics. A strong thesis statement consists of only a single topic. The following is an example of a thesis statement that contains too many topics: “Medical marijuana, prostitution, and gay marriage should all be legalized in the United States.” Not only are all three fairly broad, but you also have three completely unrelated topics thrown into a single thesis statement. Instead of a thesis statement that has multiple topics, limit yourself to only one topic. Here’s an example of a thesis statement examining only one topic: “Today we’re going to examine the legalization and regulation of the oldest profession in the state of Nevada.” In this case, we’re focusing our topic to how one state has handled the legalization and regulation of prostitution.
The last question a speaker should ask when making sure a topic is sufficiently narrow is whether the topic has direction. If your basic topic is too broad, you will never have a solid thesis statement or a coherent speech. For example, if you start off with the topic “Barack Obama is a role model for everyone,” what do you mean by this statement? Do you think President Obama is a role model because of his dedication to civic service? Do you think he’s a role model because he’s a good basketball player? Do you think he’s a good role model because he’s an excellent public speaker? When your topic is too broad, almost anything can become part of the topic. This ultimately leads to a lack of direction and coherence within the speech itself. To make a cleaner topic, a speaker needs to narrow her or his topic to one specific area. For example, you may want to examine why President Obama is a good speaker.
Put Your Topic into a Sentence
Once you’ve narrowed your topic to something that is reasonably manageable given the constraints placed on your speech, you can then formalize that topic as a complete sentence. For example, you could turn the topic of President Obama’s public speaking skills into the following sentence: “Because of his unique sense of lyricism and his well-developed presentational skills, President Barack Obama is a modern symbol of the power of public speaking.” Once you have a clear topic sentence, you can start tweaking the thesis statement to help set up the purpose of your speech.
Add Your Argument, Viewpoint, or Opinion
This function only applies if you are giving a speech to persuade. If your topic is informative, your job is to make sure that the thesis statement is nonargumentative and focuses on facts. For example, in the preceding thesis statement we have a couple of opinion-oriented terms that should be avoided for informative speeches: “unique sense,” “well-developed,” and “power.” All three of these terms are laced with an individual’s opinion, which is fine for a persuasive speech but not for an informative speech. For informative speeches, the goal of a thesis statement is to explain what the speech will be informing the audience about, not attempting to add the speaker’s opinion about the speech’s topic. For an informative speech, you could rewrite the thesis statement to read, “This speech is going to analyze Barack Obama’s use of lyricism in his speech, ‘A World That Stands as One,’ delivered July 2008 in Berlin.”
On the other hand, if your topic is persuasive, you want to make sure that your argument, viewpoint, or opinion is clearly indicated within the thesis statement. If you are going to argue that Barack Obama is a great speaker, then you should set up this argument within your thesis statement.
Use the Thesis Checklist
Once you have written a first draft of your thesis statement, you’re probably going to end up revising your thesis statement a number of times prior to delivering your actual speech. A thesis statement is something that is constantly tweaked until the speech is given. As your speech develops, often your thesis will need to be rewritten to whatever direction the speech itself has taken. We often start with a speech going in one direction, and find out through our research that we should have gone in a different direction. When you think you finally have a thesis statement that is good to go for your speech, take a second and make sure it adheres to the criteria shown in Table 9.1 "Thesis Checklist"
Table 9.1 Thesis Checklist
Preview of Speech
The final part of an introduction contains a preview of the major points to be covered within your speech. I’m sure we’ve all seen signs that have three cities listed on them with the mileage to reach each city. This mileage sign is an indication of what is to come. A preview works the same way. A preview foreshadows what the main body points will be in the speech. For example, to preview a speech on bullying in the workplace, one could say, “To understand the nature of bullying in the modern workplace, I will first define what workplace bullying is and the types of bullying, I will then discuss the common characteristics of both workplace bullies and their targets, and lastly, I will explore some possible solutions to workplace bullying.” In this case, each of the phrases mentioned in the preview would be a single distinct point made in the speech itself. In other words, the first major body point in this speech would examine what workplace bullying is and the types of bullying; the second major body point in this speech would discuss the common characteristics of both workplace bullies and their targets; and lastly, the third body point in this speech would explore some possible solutions to workplace bullying.
- Linking the attention-getter to the speech topic is essential so that you maintain audience attention and so that the relevance of the attention-getter is clear to your audience.
- Establishing how your speech topic is relevant and important shows the audience why they should listen to your speech.
- To be an effective speaker, you should convey all three components of credibility, competence, trustworthiness, and caring/goodwill, by the content and delivery of your introduction.
- A clear thesis statement is essential to provide structure for a speaker and clarity for an audience.
- An effective preview identifies the specific main points that will be present in the speech body.
- Create a thesis statement for a speech related to the topic of collegiate athletics. Make sure that your thesis statement is narrow enough to be adequately covered in a five- to six-minute speech.
- Discuss with a partner three possible body points you could utilize for the speech on the topic of volunteerism.
- Fill out the introduction worksheet to help work through your introduction for your next speech. Please make sure that you answer all the questions clearly and concisely.
9.4 Analyzing an Introduction
- See what a full introduction section looks like.
- Distinguish among the six parts of an introduction.
Thus far, this chapter has focused on how to create a clear introduction. We discussed why introductions are important and the six important functions of effective introductions. In this section we’re going to examine an actual introduction to a speech. Before we start analyzing the introduction, please read the introduction paragraph that follows.
Smart Dust Introduction
In 2002, the famed science fiction writer Michael Crichton released his book Prey , which was about a swarm of nanomachines that were feeding off living tissue. The nanomachines were solar-powered, self-sufficient, and intelligent. Most disturbingly, the nanomachines could work together as a swarm as it overtook and killed its prey in its need for new resources. The technology for this level of sophistication in nanotechnology is surprisingly more science fact than science fiction. In 2000, three professors of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley, Professors Kahn, Katz, and Pister, hypothesized in the Journal of Communications and Networks that wireless networks of tiny microelectromechanical sensors, or MEMS: sensors, robots, or devices could detect phenomena including light, temperature, or vibration. By 2004, Fortune Magazine listed “smart dust” as the first in their “Top 10 Tech Trends to Bet On.” Thus far researchers have hypothesized that smart dust could be used for everything from tracking patients in hospitals to early warnings of natural disasters and as a defense against bioterrorism. Today I’m going to explain what smart dust is and the various applications smart dust has in the near future. To help us understand the small of it all, we will first examine what smart dust is and how it works, we will then examine some military applications of smart dust, and we will end by discussing some nonmilitary applications of smart dust.
Now that you’ve had a chance to read the introduction to the speech on smart dust, read it over a second time and look for the six parts of the speech introduction as discussed earlier in this chapter. Once you’re done analyzing this introduction, Table 9.2 "Smart Dust Introduction" shows you how the speech was broken down into the various parts of an introduction.
Table 9.2 Smart Dust Introduction
Need More Speech Examples?
The following YouTube videos will show you a wide range of different speeches. While watching these videos, ask yourself the following questions: How have they utilized various attention-getting devices? Have they clearly used all aspects of an introduction? Do they have a strong thesis and preview? How could you have made the introduction stronger?
Animal Experimentation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4yYDt4di0o
Life after Having a Child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7-DhSLsk1U
Pros and Cons of Cholesterol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7VIOs6aiAc
On Being a Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYtm8uEo5vU
LASIK Eye Surgery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0YWy8CXoYk
9.5 Chapter Exercises
Speaking ethically.
Imagine that you are preparing a speech on the benefits of a new drug, and you find a direct quotation that clearly establishes your argument. Unfortunately, you soon realize that the source of your quotation is actually a lobbyist who works for the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug. You really want to use this quotation as your attention-getter, but you realize that the source is clearly biased. Which of the following options do you think is the most ethical? Why?
- Disregard the quotation and find another way to start your speech.
- Use the quotation, but acknowledge that the source comes from a paid lobbyist of the pharmaceutical company who manufactures the drug.
- Use the quotation and just give the name of the source. If your audience is interested in your topic, they’ll do their own research and make informed decisions for themselves.
End-of-Chapter Assessment
During a keynote presentation, the speaker mentions that she is the head of neurology at a major medical center. The speaker then goes on to discuss why wearing helmets is important for bicyclists of all ages. What factor of credibility has the speaker attempted to establish?
- caring/goodwill
- extroversion
- trustworthiness
A kid perched on the roof of his house one day notices a wolf walking by. The kid yells at the wolf, “Evil, vile creature! Why have you come near honest folks’ homes?” The wolf quickly replied, “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” What type of attention-getting device does this represent?
- personal reference
- personal anecdote
- parable or fable
During an introduction, a speaker says, “I realize that many of us disagree on the use of corporal punishment in public schools. I just ask that you listen to my arguments with an open mind.” Which aspect of credibility is the speaker attempting to enhance?
Which of the following is a function of a thesis statement?
- It provides a clear ending point for your speech.
- It helps to organize your introduction.
- It enhances your language usage.
- It expresses the body points in your speech.
- It clarifies your perspective about your topic.
What part of an introduction does the following sentence represent? “Today we’re going to examine the video gaming industry by first discussing the history of video games, then by examining the current trends in video gaming, and lastly, by discussing the future of video games.”
- attention-getter
- link to topic
- significance of topic
Introduction Worksheet
Directions: Use this worksheet to map out the introduction to your next speech. A copy of this worksheet suitable for editing in a word processing program can be downloaded from http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/sites/all/files/wrench_1.0-09ws.doc .
What is your general purpose? (circle one)
What is your specific purpose?
____________________________________________
Which attention-getting device do you plan on using?
How will you link your attention-getting device to your actual topic?
Why should your audience listen to your speech?
How will you establish your credibility during speech?
Trustworthiness
Caring/goodwill
What is your thesis statement?
What are your three main body points?
Body point 1
Body point 2
Body point 3
Write a preview of your three main body points.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Writing a dedication speech requires the writer to be both inspiring and celebratory, helping to unite the audience in admiration for the subject the speech addresses. Before beginning the process of writing the speech, first learn as much ...
According to the Gellis website, the key to writing and delivering a good manuscript speech is to focus on the speech formatting and to practice delivery. These two aspects are related because a properly formatted speech will ultimately hel...
To write an effective nomination speech, the candidate needs to outline what kind of person is right for the office and why he or she has those characteristics. If the candidate has experience or skills that give him or her an advantage, th...
A good introduction needs to get the audience's attention, state the topic, make the topic relatable, establish credibility, and preview the
Do you want to get paid to speak?https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-paid-to-speak-training/Want to be an unforgettable
An introduction speech is simply a way to introduce yourself, or the guest speaker, to a crowd of people. The main purpose is to gain the
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me. My name is ______ ______, and I am going to be speaking to you today about ______. To begin, ______
How to write a speech introduction · What's on this page: how to choose the right opener for your speech · 1. Use imagination to create mind
Preparing Your Speech · State your name in the very first sentence of your speech. · If the introduction is work-related, mention your interests and your career
Start with a Question. Presenting a rhetorical question is a welcoming way to write an introductory speech. · Start with a Story. A well-recited
Start with a shocking statement · Start with a humorous joke · Start with a powerful quote · Start with requesting your audience to "imagine”.
5 Ideas To Write An Introductory Speech · 1. Use Quotes in the Introductory Speech · 2. Connect with your Audience · 3. Tell a Story, provide
Your Speech's Introduction: How to Make It Powerful · 1) Grab 'Em from the Moment You Begin Speaking · 2) Reveal Your Topic (and Make It Sound
The introduction for a speech is generally only 10 to 15 percent of the entire time the speaker will spend speaking. This means that if your speech is to be