Organizing the Introduction to a Speech
Building with Care
• Many speeches fail to communicate effectively because they
have not been built with care
• Clear organization is a crucial step in constructing your
speech with care and precision
• Organization is the grouping together and ordering of like
parts
• Organized speeches are easier for an audience to listen
to…and easier for you to deliver
Three Main Parts of a Speech
When preparing a speech we should break it up, or ORGANIZE it,
into three parts:
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
Introduction
• The intro should grab your audience’s attention and let them
know what you will be talking about
• You must begin your speech with a well thought out
introduction, or in other words a well thought out START to
your speech
• A good start to your speech gives you the momentum to finish
strong
• The introduction is thought by some to be the most important
and difficult part of the speech
• First impressions are SO IMPORTANT
SPEECH TIP!!!
Your introduction can either make or break you as it sets the tone
for the rest of your speech
An Effective Introduction Must:
• Get the attention of your audience
• Provide a clear link from your attention getter to your speech
topic (thesis statement)
• Give a specific thesis statement
• Include a preview statement of your main points
In other words, your Introduction must contain:
• An attention getter
• A linking statement (links attention getter & thesis)
• A thesis statement
• A preview statement of main points
Getting Their Attention
• Your first words must make the audience want to listen to you
• The first words out of your mouth should “grab” your
audience’s attention
• Humor is good, but not for everyone and should be used only
when appropriate to the topic
• Choose an attention getter that you’re comfortable with
Types of Attention Getters
• Asking Questions
• Making References
• Making a Startling Statement!!
• Giving a Quotation
• Telling a Story
Asking Questions
• Immediately asking a question gets your audience thinking
and fires up their curiosity about your topic
• You may get your audience to participate by actually asking
them to raise their hands, but it is best and safest to use
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
• Rhetorical questions do not demand a verbal response and
allow the audience to think of the answer in their heads
Making References
You might refer to people in the audience, your physical
surroundings, other speakers who have spoken, or will speak,
or the significance of the occasion
• This method builds comfort with your audience and makes
them feel included
• Be tasteful and make sure the person your are referencing is
okay with you doing so
Making a Startling Statement
• You can jolt your audience into attention with a startling
statement/statistic
• Startling statistics are great and can be found while you are
researching
• May backfire and offend your audience
• Consider your audience when using startling statements
• If in doubt…ASK MR. WEBB
Giving a Quotation
• This is giving the EXACT words that someone else has said…
• DO NOT misquote!
• Quotes add style and sophistication to your speech and are
easy to find
• Choose quotes that are clear, concise, and appropriate for your
speech
• Select authors who are reputable and that can be trusted
Telling a Story
• A narrative, or a story, is one of the best ways to get your
audience’s attention
• Everyone loves a WELL told story
• By using personal stories and illustrations you are given an
“in” with your audience
• Stories should be short and to the point
• The best stories are the ones that grab your audience’s
attention and lead nicely into what you want to talk about in
your speech
Linking it all Together
• The link is 2nd section of the introduction that
bridges/connects the attention getter and the thesis together
• Usually the link is one or two sentences long, but may also be
incorporated into the attention getter or the thesis
• When your link connects as it should, then your attention
getter and your thesis are made stronger
The Thesis Statement
• Defined as: 1.a proposition stated or put forward for
consideration, esp. one to be discussed and proved or to be
maintained against objections: He vigorously defended his
thesis on the causes of war. 2.a subject for a composition or
essay. (www.dictionary.com)
• This is the third part of your introduction that tells your
audience exactly what you will be talking about
• A thesis makes it crystal clear to your audience what your
specific topic is for your speech
• The Thesis keeps your audience from asking the question,
“what is this speech about?” ex: “There are many different
types of volunteer programs in Frisco.”
The Preview Statement
• This tells your audience what main points they can expect
from your speech THAT WILL SUPPORT YOUR THESIS!
• This is one sentence at the end of your introduction that gives
an overview of the main points you will cover in your speech
• Thesis: There are various places in Frisco where you can earn
community service hours.
• Preview statement: These include Frisco Family Services, the
Frisco YMCA, and the Frisco Education Foundation.
•