TYPES of ATTENTION GETTERS
for your SPEECH
Personal Story
A story from your own life that connects your topic to
your own experience
Example:
One time when I was about four years old, the family dog
bit me on the finger. It hurt, but I realized that the reason
the dog did it was because he was scared of me. I had
been chasing the dog with a broom and had him
cornered. He viewed me as a threat. Even at a young
age, I was in tune to what this dog was feeling. From that
point on, I’ve made it my mission to take care of animals
…
Rhetorical Question
A question that you don’t expect an answer to, but that
causes your audience to think.
Example:
Think about it: When you were four, did you know what
you wanted to be when you grew up? Has it changed at
all since then? By the time I was four, I already knew
that I wanted to be a veterinarian. I’m fifteen now, and I
can’t imagine that my mind will ever change …
Humor
A little joke or short anecdote that ties in to your topic.
Example:
Q: What does a turtle do on it's birthday?
A: It shellebrates!
Q: What kind of photos does a turtle take?
A: Shellfies.
Q: What happens when you bring a turtle to a party?
A: It becomes a shellebration.
Today, I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself,
including how I ended up with a 150 piece turtle
collection …
Morgenson 2015
TYPES of ATTENTION GETTERS
for your SPEECH
Quotation
A quote from someone well-known (celebrity, expert) or
someone known to you (a parent, friend, grandparent)
that pertains to your topic.
Example:
The actor, Audrey Hepburn once said, “The most
important
thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that
matters.” I can’t agree more. The things I’m sharing
with you today are things that make me very happy …
Startling Statistic
One to three shocking or surprising facts about your
topic.
Example:
Did you know that turtles have been on the earth for
more than 200 million years? That a turtle’s shell is made
up of more than 60 interconnected bones? That turtles
have nerve endings in their shells? It’s no wonder I’ve
developed a fascination for these shelled beasts …
NOTE: There are OTHER ATTENTION-GETTERS that you can use, BUT here are a few to start
you off right. If you want to try a technique that is not presented on this sheet and you’re not
sure about your choice, talk to me about it.
Morgenson 2015