Chapter 9.2: The Attention Getter

A good introduction captures audience attention, while a bad one can alienate them.
An attention getter is a device used at the beginning of a speech to capture audience interest in the topic.

Four key considerations:
- Appropriateness/relevance to the audience.
- Purpose of the speech.
- Topic.
- Occasion.

Ensure the attention getter is appropriate and relevant to the specific audience.
Use audience analysis to determine suitability.
Example: A reference to "Gossip Girl" might not be suitable for an audience over 65 when giving a speech about family units.

Consider the basic purpose: to inform, persuade, or entertain.
The attention getter should align with the speech's purpose.
Example: Starting an entertaining speech with a grim statistic about malnutrition in Africa is contradictory.
The attention getter should prepare the audience for the speech's tone and content.

The attention getter should have a relevant connection to the speech topic.
Example: Yelling "free sex" and throwing condoms is not appropriate for a speech about the economy.
Alternative: Start with a shocking statistic to introduce the monetary value of the adult entertainment industry.
- Example Statistic: Adults in the US spend approximately $10,000,000,000$ annually on adult entertainment, equivalent to spending on professional sporting events, music, or movies (Leung, 2004).

Different occasions necessitate different tones and styles.
A persuasive speech about death should not be happy, and an informative speech about laughter should not be dreary.
The attention getter should set the appropriate tone for the speech.

Miller (1946) identified 11 common attention-getting devices used by speakers.
- Miller, E. (1946). Speech introductions and conclusions. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 32, 181-183.

Directly state the subject of your speech.
It is a clear and direct approach, but possibly the least interesting.
Example: "We are surrounded by statistical information in today's world, so understanding statistics is becoming paramount to citizenship in the 21st century."

A direct reference to the audience, highlighting something unique about them that makes the speech content relevant.
Example: "As human resource professionals, you and I know the importance of talent management. In today's competitive world, we need to invest in getting and keeping the best talent for our organization to succeed."

Use the words of another person that relate to your topic.
Sources include research articles, books, or quotation compilations (e.g., Bartlett's Familiar Quotations).
Example: For a speech on deception, use Oliver Goldsmith's quote: "The true use of speech is not so much to express our wants as to conceal them."

Refer to a current news event related to the topic to highlight its relevance.
Example: For a speech on frivolous lawsuits, reference a news story about an inmate suing a jail after injuring himself during an escape attempt (Gomez, 2007).

Refer to a historical event related to your topic.
Example: When giving a speech on the Iraq War (began 2/2003), compare it to the Vietnam War.
Historical context: "During the nineteen sixties and seventies, The United States intervened in the civil strife between North And South Vietnam… Today, we see a similar war being waged in Iraq."

Surprise the audience with startling information, statistics, or strange facts about the topic.
Examples:
- Statistic: "A Boeing 747 airliner holds $57,285$ gallons of fuel."
- Statistic: "The average person has over $1,460$ dreams a year."
- Fact: "There are no clocks in any casinos in Las Vegas."
- Fact: "In February, Pope John Paul II became the most famous honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters."
Ethical considerations:
- Ensure the statement is factual.
- Ensure the statement is relevant to the speech.

Ask the audience a question.
Types of questions:
- Response Questions: The audience is expected to answer.
  - Example: "Raise your hand if you have ever thought about backpacking in Europe."
- Rhetorical Questions: No reply is expected; intended to make the audience think.
  - Example: For a speech on HIV testing: "How many students on this campus have had sexual intercourse? Of those who have had sex, how many have been tested for HIV?"

Use humor to focus the audience, but be cautious.
Know your audience to avoid offensive or unfunny humor.
Test out humor on a sample of potential audience members.
Incorporate humor into anecdotes, quotations, or current events.
Ensure humor is relevant to the topic.
Example: A humorous quotation from Nicholas Chamford: "The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the one was useless." (Potentially offensive to religious audiences).

Refer to a relevant story about yourself.
Share personal knowledge or experience to build credibility.
Example: If giving a speech about gastric bypass surgery, share your own experience with the procedure.
Avoid excessive focus on yourself; keep the speech topic central.
Avoid overly emotional topics that could cause you to lose composure.

Begin by deciding on a statement to capture the audience's attention.
Attention getters include references to the audience, quotations, references to current events, historical references, anecdotes, startling statements, questions, humor, personal references, and references to the occasion.