The Hamburger
Method of Writing
Speeches
Three Parts of a Speech
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
•Tell them what
you’re going to tell
them. (Preview)
•Then Tell Them
(View)
•Then Tell Them
What You Told
Them. (Review)
The Introduction
1. The purpose of a good
introduction is to:
Get the Audience’s
Attention
Set the Tone for the
Speech
Introduction
2. Relate the
topic to the
audience–
BRIDGE
Introduction
3.
State the
topic:
Thesis
Statement
Introduction
4. Move smoothly into the
BODY of the speech:
TRANSITION
Introduction
• Should contain a:
PREVIEW of the main
points/divisions
Techniques for Getting the
Audience’s Attention
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Startling Statement
Illustration
Hypothetical Illustration
Rhetorical Questions
Quotation
Humor
Action
Startling Statement
• An unexpected fact,
statistic, or unusual
information.
Hypothetical Illustration
• A made up
story; “what
if” story.
Illustration
• A story,
description,
anecdote, or
imagery.
Rhetorical Questions
• A series of questions to get the
audience to ponder or think. No
answer required.
Quotation
• Using someone else’s
words:
Famous/give credit
Universally known
Humor
• Funny story
or joke appropriate,
politically
correct, and
relates to
topic.
Action
• An actual physical
demonstration or
act.
Example of Introduction
for Gameboard Project
• “Life is like a photograph; we use the negatives
to develop.” As I put my game board together
for “The Game of Your Life” project I had the
chance to reflect on all the positive as well as
negative experiences that I have had in my life.
This quote from motivateus.com made me think
of how my self concept has formed through the
years. I have selected three significant
experiences in my life, some positive and some
negative, that I will talk about today. You will see
how these experiences have helped to form my
self concept. Those experiences are ______,
_______, and______. To begin…..
Example 2
• Forest Gump once said that “Life is like a box of
chocolates. You never know what you’re going
to get.” My life has been like a box of chocolates
– lots of variety, met some nuts, and bitten off
more than I could chew at times. Although it has
never been dull, predictable, or boring, some
events have been more memorable than others.
There are three events that have had a
significant impact in my life and you will hear the
details of those experiences today. I will share
______, ______ and ______ with you. First…..
Body
• Contains the largest portion
of information. Elaboration
and details.
• Contains the main points or
divisions of the speech.
• Contains SIGNPOSTS.
What’s a Signpost??
• A MAJOR transition between
main points/divisions in a
speech.
• Tells the audience “where you
have been” and “where you are
going”.
Signposts
Where you’ve been;
where you are going.
Templates for Signposts
Example:
Now that we have discussed ______,
we will move on to ______.
Example:
You’ve seen the different parts of the
___, now let’s learn how to play the
various chords.
Conclusions
• A good conclusion should:
1. Have transition.
2. Include a summary or
recap.
3. Frame your speech.
Conclusions
Frame:
Links back to the attention
step.
Brings speech full circle.
Give a sense of completion.
• You can end a speech
with a question asking
the audience to do
something or present a
challenge to the
audience.
Example 1
• In my speech today I have shared with you
some positive and negative experiences
that have helped me to develop my self
concept. Our lives are made of many
“photographs”. Some are positive, and the
negative ones we can use to develop
ourselves if we have a good outlook on
life. All in all, they form the scrapbook
called “me”.
Examples 2
• Each of us has many important
experiences that make up who we are. I
have shared several with you today that
have affected my self concept. All in all,
I’ve had a lot of variety, faced some nuts,
and bitten off more than I could chew at
times. As I close, I leave you with this
thought: How’s your box of chocolates?