Organizing Your Speech
Part 1
The Introduction
The Introduction
Your speech should be divided into three
distinct parts.
 When presented effectively, will make a
positive impression.
 Part 1- Introduction
 Part 2- Body
 Part 3- Conclusion
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The Introduction
Important to get off to a good start
 Supplies momentum and confidence to
complete task
 Psychologically, some speakers say Intro
is the toughest part of speech
 Find out whether audience accepts you
 Sets the tone for remainder of speech
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Function of an Introduction
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1. Have you ever heard the saying, “Let a smile be your
umbrella”? What about the observation, “Laugh and the
world laughs with you”? Both of these statements deal
with how a positive attitude and a sense of humor can
make a bad situation a little bit better for both of you and
the people around you.
2. However, did you know that your ability to laugh can
mean a great deal more than a pleasant smile or
momentary delight? As a matter of fact, laughter can be
very beneficial in many ways.
3. Consequently, I would like to discuss the various
areas in your lives where laughter can play a significantly
positive role.
4. Let’s take a look at how laughter can help you on the
job, with your friends and family, and with your health.
Function of an Introduction
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1. Have you ever heard the saying, “Let a smile be your
umbrella”? What about the observation, “Laugh and the
world laughs with you”? Both of these statements deal
with how a positive attitude and a sense of humor can
make a bad situation a little bit better for both of you and
the people around you.

This information might encourage an
audience to listen
Function of an Introduction
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2. However, did you know that your ability to laugh can
mean a great deal more than a pleasant smile or
momentary delight? As a matter of fact, laughter can be
very beneficial in many ways.

There is a clear connection made between
the introductory material and the speech
topic.
Function of an Introduction
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3. Consequently, I would like to discuss the various
areas in your lives where laughter can play a significantly
positive role.
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Clearly defines what the speech will be
about.
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4. Let’s take a look at how laughter can help you on the
job, with your friends and family, and with your health.

Clear statement of the areas that will be
discussed in the speech.
Function of an Introduction

An introduction does four things
Gets the attention of the audience
 Provides a clear link from your attention-getter
to your speech topic, or thesis statement
 Gives your specific thesis statement
 Presents a preview of the major areas that will
be discussed.
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Attention-Getters
The first words you say to an audience
must make them want to listen to you.
 Your attention-getter should match your
personality and purpose/tone of speech
 Q’s to ask:
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What works for me
 What do I feel comfortable presenting
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Attention-Getters
Asking Questions
Get audience members directly involved in
what you are saying.
 A Q or series of Q’s fires up their curiosity
about topic and makes them active
participants.
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Attention-Getters
Asking Questions
“The Power of Word Building”
How many of you know the meaning of the word
verisimilitude? Do you know what veracity
means? What about the word verity? Well, all
three of these words have something to do with
the word truth, and I wouldn’t be telling you the
truth if I didn’t confess that I had to look these
words up in a dictionary. However, building
vocabulary is a challenge that each of us should
accept if…
Attention-Getters
Asking Questions
“Shifting the Blame”
Have you ever heard someone say, “The devil
made me do it”? Have you ever heard the
expression “Don’t blame me. It’s not my fault”?
If you answered yes to one or both of these
questions, then you would probably agree with
me that many people in today’s society find it
easy to make excuses and blame someone or
something else for their problems. I would like
to talk about…
Attention-Getters
Asking Questions
Q’s can provide an attention-getting spark.
 If you ask audience members to respond
by raising hands or speaking out loud,
beware!
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Promotes an involved/spirited audience
 Can lead to chaos and loss of concentration if
responses don’t turn out as expected.
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Attention-Getters
Asking Questions
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Rhetorical Questions are best
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Don’t demand a verbal response
Asking to answer silently in head
“Safe” Q’s = Answer themselves
“Do any of you like to get your feelings hurt?”
“Do any of us in this room want our friends or
families to join the thousands who die each year
because of people who drink and drive?”
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These don’t demand a response, but challenge
audience to think.
Attention-Getters
Making References
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Allow you to work well with your audience,
physical surroundings, other speakers who are
on the program, or the significance of the
occasion.
Allows you to be comfortable, congenial, and
conversational with audience by including in
your opening remarks.
Audiences like to be included, and including
them provides a speaker-audience unity that
says, “You and I are in this speech together!”
Attention-Getters
Making References
Example
I see that John and Ina are in the audience.
When we first started this class project over
two months ago, they were the ones who
provided the leadership and enthusiasm
that the rest of us needed at that time. The
word leadership is exactly what I wish to
talk about tonight because…
Attention-Getters
Making References
Another Example
For some reason, every time that we are in
this auditorium, the air-conditioning is out.
Maybe we should all bring our own fans next
time. However, the temperature might not be
the only thing that is “sticky” tonight. My
topic, “Why AIDS Needs to Be Talked about
in Schools,” could also make some people
warm and uncomfortable. I have confidence,
nevertheless, that if we work together…
Attention-Getters
Making References
Use good taste and common sense
 Might be risky to make a casual reference
to someone in the audience whom you
barely know.
 In general, audiences appreciate a
speaker who shows that he or she is
aware of and in tune with what is
happening.
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Attention-Getters
Making a Startling Statement
Sometimes the best attention-getter is one
that jolts your audience into paying
attention.
 The following example is from a student
who spoke to a high school about the
problems associated with violence in
society. While she spoke, she comfortably
moved her right hand as if she were
“keeping the beat” to a song she heard.
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Attention-Getters
Making a Startling Statement
I love music. I love dancing. I love how
men and women, young and old, rich and
poor, can move and smile and laugh and
keep the rhythm to their favorite songs.
However, today I’m not here to talk about
music—because, ironically, every time that
my hand comes down to “keep the beat,” a
young child is physically or sexually
abused in this country. And the violence is
real…
Attention-Getters
Making a Startling Statement
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If you were in that audience, you would
probably be immediately drawn in by the
speaker and the tremendous power of her
message.
Attention-Getters
Making a Startling Statement
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Startling Statistics
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While conducting your research, notice any
data or studies that might surprise the
listeners and make them even more
interested in the topic.
1
in 10 families will be victims of drunk driving
incident.
 1 in 5 people will be victim of violent crime
Use the numbers to quantify the extent of
the issue in our lives and to grab the
audience’s attention.
 Don’t provide offensive material to startle
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Attention-Getters
Giving a Quotation
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Quotation = repeat the exact words that someone
else has said.
Add a degree of style and sophistication to speech
presentations.
Abundant and fairly easy to find one that fits your
needs.
Choose quotations that are clear and appropriate
for topic.
Select authors who are reliable and can be trusted.
Good practice to give audience some idea of who
your author is and what he or she has done that is
noteworthy. Audiences are more likely to be
impressed if the sources that you are quoting are
impressive.
Attention-Getters
Giving a Quotation
“What Has Happened to Friendship”
“First in war—first in peace—and first in the
hearts of his countrymen.” These are the words
that began Revolutionary War General Henry
Lee’s famous funeral oration for George
Washington. The quotation shows us a man of
conscience and a man who cared for his fellow
man. However, do we care for our fellow man
today the same as Washington did in his day? I
would like to take a look at…
Attention-Getters
Giving a Quotation
This example immediately gives the
speech an academic and historical flavor.
 Henry Lee’s words say to the audience,
“Take this speech seriously and give it
your attention, please!”
 Next example starts with a similar
historical quotation.
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Attention-Getters
Giving a Quotation
“Americans—Why Are We So Gullible?”
“You can fool all of the people some of the time
and you can fool some of the people all of the
time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of
the time.” Abraham Lincoln, the author of this
quotation, might have added the words “except
in America,” because Americans are often easy
prey for those wishing to make a fast buck.
Let’s examine why Americans are so gullible
and take a look…
Attention-Getters
Giving a Quotation
Quotes don’t have to be serious
 Doesn’t have to have been delivered by
someone who lived centuries ago
 Take the time to search through your
resources so that you can find the
quotation that will be the perfect attentiongetter for your speech.
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Attention-Getters
Telling a Story
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One of the most popular: The Narrative, or the
telling of a story
Everyone loves a story, especially one that is
told well
Illustrations and personal accounts can give you
a quick “in” with audience
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Gives your personality a chance to work
Short and to the point
Don’t lose sight of purpose of speech
Best hold interest of audience yet lead clearly
into your speech topic
Attention-Getters
Telling a Story
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Ask yourself:
Have you had a “special” experience?
 Have you gone through a heart-stopping
ordeal that you would like to share?
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Such experiences make good stories.
Attention-Getters
Telling a Story
Example
A few weeks ago, my mom and dad had
gone out for the evening and I was alone
at home. About 2:00 a.m. I heard a noise
by the downstairs window. Even though I
hoped that the sounds would go away,
they didn’t. As a matter of fact, they got
louder. It sounded as if someone were
struggling to reach the latch of the window
(cont.)
Attention-Getters
Telling a Story
Example cont.
I was petrified, but somehow I managed to
go downstairs. Slowly, I moved the curtain
to see what was outside. You can imagine
my fear when I saw two eyes looking right
back at me! It was a raccoon. The good
news is that, in this instance, I was able to
deal with my fear. The bad news is that I
almost collapsed in the process. What
does fear mean and how can we…
Attention-Getters
Telling a Story
Stories can be insightful
 Fun to deliver and for your audience to
hear
 Don’t have to be personal
 Can be interesting accounts about other
people, places, events, etc.
 Any story can be effective if it sets the
mood you are after and creates an
effective picture in the minds of your
listeners that relates to your speech thesis.
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The Link
Most often overlooked aspect of
Introduction.
 Purposes
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Statement b/n attention-getter and thesis and
logically connects the two (does little good to
have a clever attention-getter if audience sees
no relation b/n it and focus of speech)
 Develops a “bridge” b/n audience and topic
(want to connect to audience so they are
motivated to listen to topic)
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The Link
Like the attention-getter, you are
continuing to draw in their interest by
helping them to understand the value of
the topic.
 Helps audience feel listening will be
worthwhile.
 Motivation may stem from showing
audience how speech has common
ground—or relevance to their lives.
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The Link
Example
“I’m going to let you in on a secret that
will change your lives. Girls, for just $10,
you can learn what makes a guy fall in
love and how to make him want you!
The right way to flirt! If you act now, we’ll
rush you our best-seller, Secrets of
Kissing. You see, it’s all part of the ‘Get
Him System,’ G.H.—a no-fail love guide
that tells you the truth. No more oldfashioned advice that you already
know.”
The Link
Example
Believe it or not, this is more than a mere
attention-getter for my speech. This is
taken from an actual ad found in the
February edition of Young Miss magazine.
(LINK TO TOPIC) My speech for today will
deal with one of the words in the last
sentence of the ad. old-fashioned; for it is
my opinion that, contrary to what is stated
in the Get Him ad, maybe a sense of oldfashioned tradition is exactly what we
need in today’s society.
The Link
Example
(LINK TO AUDIENCE) According to
William Bennett, former Secretary of
education and noted author, “Increasingly,
Americans are lacking a solid grounding in
traditional values.”
Therefore, I would specifically like to
examine some traditional American
values…
The Link
Example
Attention-getter is clearly explained
 Ad & old-fashioned linked to speech thesis
 Step further, pointed out significance of
topic (more and more Americans not
receiving an adequate “values education”)
 Credibility gained by using noted author
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The Link
Can be more than one sentence
 Usually one sentence can do the job
 Effectiveness & Impact of attention-getter
and speech thesis enhanced when link
statement connects
 Stand a better chance of connecting with
your audience.
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The Thesis Statement
Tells your audience exaclty what you will
be speaking about.
 A catchy attention-getter and smooth link
to a vague thesis statement may cause
your speech to be unclear.
 Purpose of speech is to tell audience
something worthwhile, that is your thesis
statement.
 Never want audience to wonder, “What is
this speech about?”
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Thesis Statement
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How to make your audience aware of
thesis
Say it
 “This leads me to my thesis, which is…”
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Should clarify the overall goal of your
speech (to inform, to persuade, or to
entertain) and state your specific topic
Thesis Statement
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Inform
Today, I will inform you about…
 My goal is to explain…
 With this information, I hope you will better
understand…
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Persuade
I want to persuade you that…
 My goal is to convince you that…
 It is my belief that each of you should…
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Thesis Statement
Should also clarify the angle or slant of
your topic.
 Music vs. Different types of summer music
programs offered by your community vs.
Distinct benefits to joining the school’s
marching band
 Audience deserves to know exact point of
your speech
 Keeps you focused and your information
on target.
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The Preview Statement
Usually one sentence at the end of the
introduction that gives the audience an
overview of the major areas that will be
discussed in the body of the speech.
 Examples
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Negative effects of alcohol
 Preview:
alcohol’s physical, mental, and societal
effects.
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Success Stories in the Olympics
 Preview:
physical and mental preparation
Preview Statement
Major areas mentioned will be repeated
later in the body of your speech with
specific examples.
 Not all speeches have a preview
statement.
 Audience members can’t catch everything
the first time; might miss main points when
said within body.
 Preview tells audience where speech is
heading, and makes the body easier for
listeners to follow.
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