Speech 101
Professor Griffin
Speech # 1: Introduction
The purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity for an experience in public speaking at
the very beginning of this course.
In your first speech, you will introduce yourself to the rest of the class. Begin by telling us your name,
and then whatever information you think we should have in order to get to know you. However, you
should do more than simply tell us facts about yourself (such as your name, age, birthplace, marital
status, where you live, and where you work).
A good idea would be to tell us a story about yourself. You could describe an unusual experience (for
example, the funniest, most embarrassing, most exciting, or most frightening thing that’s ever
happened to you). See the section in Chapter 1 called “Speech Introducing Yourself or a Classmate”
(Pages 15-16) for ideas and examples of this kind of speech. Make your presentation interesting and
informative. We should all want to get to know you better after hearing your speech!
The best way to prepare for this assignment is to read the section in Chapter 1 of your book called
“Quick Guide to Public Speaking” (pages 16-20), where you will find an overview of ideas about how
to prepare and deliver a speech.
In completing this assignment, you should:
1. Conform to the time limit: no less than one minute, no more than two. (Note: if you fall short of
the 1:00 minimum, I will ask you questions to keep you talking. Of course, it’s better if you plan
your speech so it’s at least one minute long!) Practice your speech aloud and time yourself.
2. Plan to deliver the presentation in an extemporaneous manner. Be conversational and direct
in your delivery, as if you were just talking to one or two of your friends. Do not use any
written notes while giving this speech.
3. Feel free to use humor, suspense, etc. to make you presentation more interesting.
4. Make certain the experience you describe reflects something about YOU, not a story about
what happened to someone else.
Visual aids are not required for this speech, but you might find them helpful and useful. For example,
you could bring pictures of family members, friends, or a recent trip (large photos, at least 8x10 work
best). Or you could bring in an object that represents a hobby or something you love to do. Doing
anything that’s creative or different will help you make a good, strong impression on the audience.
When you come to class next period I will randomly choose your name; this will determine your
speaking order for this speech.
If you feel nervous, go ahead and read Chapter 2, “Controlling Nervousness”, and remember this
assignment will NOT be graded. My expectations are simple: just get in front of the class and move
your mouth for one minute! Most students really enjoy listening to these introduction speeches, since
it helps everyone get to know each other right away. So try to relax and enjoy yourself!