Untitled Notes

Once the body of the speech is planned and organized in a logical pattern, focus on the introduction and conclusion.
Do not start with the introduction before knowing the content of the body of your speech.
Three primary parts of a speech: Introduction, Body, Conclusion.

Purpose: The introduction must contain five essential elements:
- Gain Audience Attention: Capture interest effectively.
- Introduce the Topic: Clearly state what the speech is about.
- Importance of the Topic: Explain why the audience should care about the topic.
- Establish Speaker Credibility: Convey why you are qualified to speak on the topic.
- Preview the Speech Content: Outline the main points that will be discussed.
Attention Getter: The initial part of the introduction where the speaker captures the audience's interest.
Flexibility in Elements: The order of "importance" and "credibility" can vary as long as the attention and topic are prioritized.

10-80-10 Rule:
- 10% for Introduction: Spend this percentage of total speech time on captivating the audience.
- 80% for Body: The majority of the speech should focus on elaborating key points.
- 10% for Conclusion: A brief wrap-up to encapsulate the main ideas.

Example arranged by five parts:
- Attention Getter: "I will never forget the day my dad came home and announced he had bought a boat."
- Topic: "But this isn't a story about a boat. It's about a friendship."
- Credibility: "As I tell my story… it's my story."
- Importance: "I hope you will think of friends you have and how important they are to you."
- Preview Statement: "…the story of a boat, a dock boy, and the friendship that spans more than thirty-five years."
This introduction serves to engage the audience and prepare them for the content of the speech while taking about ten to fifteen seconds.

Consider what matters to the audience and how your topic benefits them, as this should be reflected in your introduction.
Establishing Credibility: Why should the audience believe you? For a narrative speech, it's your personal experience. For informative speeches, mention research, relevant experiences, or expertise.

The preview represents a concise summary of the speech’s main points rather than a traditional thesis statement, often focusing on three main points outlined as the speech progresses.

Various methods for grabbing attention include:
- Asking a thought-provoking question.
- Creating hypothetical scenarios (e.g., "Imagine something…").
- Using humor appropriately (caution advised).
- Offering a compliment to the audience.
- Starting in the middle of a story to pique curiosity.
- Presenting startling facts or quotes.
Humor Caution: Use humor judiciously. Serious topics should avoid jokes unless relevant.
Avoid banal openings such as "Today, I am going to talk about…" which do not engage the audience.

Organization: Clearly laid out with signal words, transitions, and summaries to guide the audience through the main points.

Signal the End of the Speech: Indicate it’s time to conclude.
Recap Main Points: Briefly summarize what was covered, avoiding the introduction of new information.
Final Statement: Like the attention getter, an impactful closing remark that leaves the audience with a memorable thought or feeling of enthusiasm.
- Example closing statement: "…so you just never know what an announcement over the dinner table can do to the rest of your life."
For most speeches, particularly narrative or informative genres, audience action is not typically required; this is reserved more for persuasive speeches.

Remind the audience of the key components of the speech:
- Grab attention in the introduction.
- Clearly reveal the topic.
- Establish importance and credibility.
- Provide a preview of the main points.
- Transition into the body of the speech seamlessly.
- Signal and recap in the conclusion while leaving them with a strong final impression.
Aim for engaging introductions, a solid body, and impactful conclusions that together create a memorable presentation experience.