Not Real

Chapter 9: Beginning and Ending the Speech

I. The Introduction

Four objectives: Get the attention and interest of your audience,

reveal the topic of your speech, establish your credibility and goodwill,

and preview the body of the speech.

A. Get Attention and Interest

1. Relate the topic to the audience

a) If you can relate the topic to your listeners, they are much

more likely to be interested in it.

b) By using vivid language to describe something all your classmates have in common, you as the speaker can make sure of an attentive audience.

2. State the importance of your topic

a) Citing statistics often emphasizes the importance

b) Whenever you discuss a topic whose importance may not be

clear to the audience, you should think about ways to

demonstrate its significance in the introduction.

3. Question the Audience

a) Asking a rhetorical question is another way to get your listeners

thinking about your speech.

b) Example: How would you respond if a loved one was the victim

of terrorism? Or.. Do you know how many small businesses are

started each year in the U.S?

c) Works most effectively when you pause for a moment after

each question. Adds a dramatic impact.

4. Tell a story

a) They should be clearly relevant to the main point of the

speech.

b) When used the right way, stories can be the most effective way

to begin a speech.

c) The effectiveness of any story depends as much on the speakers

delivery as on the content of the story.

B. Reveal the topic

1. In the process of gaining attention be sure to state clearly the topic of

your speech. If you do not, your listeners will be confused.

2. If you beat around the bush in your introduction, you may lose your

listeners. Even if they already know your topic, you should restate it

clearly and concisely at some point in the intro.

C. Establish Credibility and Goodwill

1. Credibility is mostly a matter of being qualified to speak on a given

topic- and of being perceived as qualified by your listeners.

2. Your credibility need not be based on firsthand knowledge and

experience. It can come from reading, classes, interviews, or friends.

3. Goodwill is defined as the audience's perception of whether the

speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind and is often

crucial outside the classroom.

D. Preview