{"id":434,"date":"2025-05-12T20:28:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T20:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom1150publicspeaking\/?post_type=chapter&p=434"},"modified":"2025-07-13T19:48:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T19:48:38","slug":"structuring-the-introduction","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom1150publicspeaking\/chapter\/structuring-the-introduction\/","title":{"raw":"Structuring the Introduction","rendered":"Structuring the Introduction"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n\r\nA common concern many students have as the date of their first major speech approaches is \u201cI don\u2019t know how I should start my speech.\u201d What they are really saying is they aren\u2019t sure what words will be memorable, attention-capturing, and clever enough to get their audience interested or, on a more basic level, sound good. This is a problem most speakers have, since the first words you say, in many ways, set the tone for the rest of your speech. There may not be any one \u201cbest\u201d way to start a speech, but we can provide some helpful guidelines that will make starting a speech much easier.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nWith that in mind, there are five basic elements that you will want to incorporate into your introduction. And while you have some leeway to structure your introduction in a way that best fits with your speech and you wouldn\u2019t necessarily always do all of these in the order below, the following order of these five elements is fairly standard. Unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise, it is probably a pretty good order for you to use.\r\n

Element 1: Get the Audience\u2019s Attention<\/h2>\r\nThe first major purpose of an introduction is to gain your audience\u2019s attention and make them interested in what you have to say. While many audiences may be polite and not talk while you\u2019re speaking, actually getting them to listen to what you are saying is a completely different challenge. Let\u2019s face it\u2014we\u2019ve all tuned someone out at some point because we weren\u2019t interested in what they had to say. If you do not get the audience\u2019s attention at the outset, it will only become more difficult to do so as you continue speaking.\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s why every speech should start with an attention getter<\/strong>, or some sort of statement or question that piques the audience\u2019s interest in what you have to say at the very start of a speech. Sometimes these are called \u201cgrabbers.\u201d The first words out of your mouth should be something that will perk up the audience\u2019s ears. Starting a speech with \u201cHey everybody. I\u2019m going to talk to you today about soccer\u201d already sounds boring and has not tried to engage the individuals in the audience who don\u2019t care about soccer. Once your audience has deemed your speech to be boring, trying to inform, persuade, or entertain them becomes exponentially more difficult. So let\u2019s briefly discuss what you can do to capture your audience\u2019s attention from the onset.\r\n
\r\n\r\nAttention getter<\/strong>\r\n\r\nthe statement or question that piques the audience\u2019s interest in what you have to say at the very beginning of a speech\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nFirst, when selecting an attention-getting device, you want to make sure that the option you choose is actually appropriate and relevant to your specific audience. Different audiences will have different backgrounds and knowledge, so you should use your audience analysis to determine whether specific information you plan on using would be appropriate for a specific audience. For example, if you\u2019re giving a speech on family units to\r\n\r\na group of individuals over the age of sixty-five, starting your speech with a reference to the television show Stranger Things <\/em>may not be the best idea because the audience may be unfamiliar with that show.\r\n\r\nYou will also want to choose an attention-getting device appropriate for your speech topic. Ideally, your attention-getting device should have a relevant connection to your speech. Imagine if a speaker pulled condoms out of his pocket, yelled \u201cFree sex!\u201d and threw the condoms at the audience in the beginning of a speech about the economy. While this may clearly get the audience\u2019s attention, this isn\u2019t really a good way to prepare an audience for a speech about t<\/span>he stock market, or really much else. To help you out, below we have listed a number of different attention getters that you may find useful for opening your speech.<\/span>\r\n

Anecdotes and Narratives<\/h3>\r\nAn anecdote <\/strong>is a brief account or story of an interesting or humorous event. Notice the emphasis here is on the word \u201cbrief.\u201d A common mistake speakers make when telling an anecdote is to make the anecdote too long. An example of an anecdote used in a speech about the pervasiveness of technology might look something like this:\r\n
\r\n\r\nIn July 2009, a high school student named Miranda Becker was walking along a main boulevard near her home on Staten Island, New York, typing in a message on her cell phone. Not paying attention to the world around her, she took a step and fell right into an open manhole.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nNotice that the anecdote is short and has a clear point. From here the speaker can begin to make their point about how technology is controlling our lives.\r\n
\r\n\r\nAnecdote<\/strong>\r\n\r\na brief account or story of an interesting or humorous event\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nA second type of anecdote is a parable or fable. A parable or fable is an allegorical anecdote designed to teach general life lessons. The most widely known parables for some Americans are those given in the Bible and the best-known fables are Aesop\u2019s Fables<\/a>. So if you decide your speech will focus on the benefits of remaining in college for more than four years in order to obtain multiple degrees, you may want to adapt some version of \u201cThe Tortoise and The Hare\u201d as your attention getter.\r\n\r\nIt is sometimes helpful to begin your speech in a way that your audience finds familiar, since this can make them feel more connected to your speech. This may be particularly helpful for topics with which your audience is unfamiliar. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to begin with a story that your audience is likely to have heard before. These types of stories come in a number of forms, but the most common ones include fables, tall tales, ghost stories, parables, fairy tales, myths, and legends.\r\n\r\nTwo primary issues that you should be aware of often arise with using stories as attention getters. First, you shouldn\u2019t let your story go on for too long. If you are going to use a story to begin your speech, you need to think of it more in terms of summarizing the story rather than actually reciting the entire thing. Even a relatively simple story like \u201cThe Tortoise and the Hare\u201d can take a couple of minutes to get through in its entirety, so you\u2019ll need to cut it down to the main points or highlights. The second issue with using stories as attention getters is that the story must in some way relate to your speech. If you begin your speech by recounting the events in \u201cGoldilocks and the Three Bears,\u201d your speech will in some way need to address such topics as finding balance or coming to a compromise. If your story doesn\u2019t relate to your topic, you will likely confuse your audience and they may spend the remainder of your speech trying to figure out the connection rather than listening to what you have to say.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nA personal story is another option here. You may consider starting your speech with a story about yourself that is relevant to your topic. Some of the best speeches are ones that come from personal knowledge and experience. If you are an expert or have firsthand experience related to your topic, sharing this information with the audience is a great way to show that you are credible during your attention getter. For example, if you had a gastric bypass surgery and you wanted to give an informative speech about the procedure, you could introduce your speech in this way:\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nIn the fall of 2015, I decided that it was time that I took my life into my own hands. After suffering for years with the disease of obesity, I decided to take a leap of faith and get a gastric bypass in an attempt to finally beat the disease.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nIf you use a personal example, don\u2019t get carried away with the focus on yourself and your own life. Your speech topic is the purpose of the attention getter, not the other way around. Another pitfall in using a personal example is that it may be too personal for you to maintain your composure. For example, a student once started a speech about her grandmother by stating, \u201cMy grandmother died of cancer at 3:30 this morning.\u201d The student then proceeded to burst into uncontrollable tears. While this is\r\n\r\nan extreme example, we strongly recommend that you avoid any material that could get you upset while speaking. When speakers have an emotional breakdown during their speech, audience members stop listening to the message and become very uncomfortable. They may empathize with the distraught speaker, but the effectiveness has been diminished in other ways.\r\n

Startling Statement\/Statistic\/Fact<\/h3>\r\nAnother way to start your speech is to surprise your audience with startling information about your topic. Often, startling statements come in the form of statistics and strange facts. The goal of a good startling statistic is that it surprises the audience and gets them engaged in your topic. For example, if you\u2019re giving a speech about oil conservation, you could start by say-\r\n\r\ning, \u201cA Boeing 747 airliner holds 57,285 gallons of fuel.\u201d You could start a speech on the psychology of dreams by noting, \u201cThe average person has over 1,460 dreams a year.\u201d\r\n\r\nA strange fact, on the other hand, is a statement that does not involve numbers but is equally surprising to most audiences. For example, you could start a speech on the gambling industry by saying, \u201cThere are no clocks in any casinos in Las Vegas.\u201d You could start a speech on the Harlem Globetrotters by saying, \u201cIn 2000, Pope John Paul II became the most famous honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters.\u201d All four of these examples come from websites about strange and interesting facts.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nAlthough startling statements are fun, it is important to use them ethically. First, make sure that your startling statement is factual. The Internet is full of startling statements and claims that are simply not factual, so when you find a statement you\u2019d like to use, you have an ethical duty to ascertain its truth before you use it and to provide a reliable citation. Second, make sure that your startling statement is relevant to your speech and not just thrown in for shock value. We\u2019ve all heard startling claims made in the media that are clearly made for purposes of shock or fear-mongering, such as \u201cDo you know what common household appliance could kill you? Film at 11:00.\u201d As speakers, we have an ethical obligation to avoid playing on people\u2019s emotions in this way.\r\n

A Rhetorical Question<\/h3>\r\nA rhetorical question <\/strong>is a question to which no actual reply is expected. For example, a speaker talking about the history of Mother\u2019s Day could start by asking the audience, \u201cDo you remember the last time you told your mom you loved her?\u201d In this case, the speaker does not expect the audience to shout out an answer, but rather to think about the question as the speech goes on.\r\n
\r\n\r\nRhetorical Question<\/strong>\r\n\r\nA question to which no actual reply is expected\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Immediate Reference to Subject<\/h3>\r\nThe most direct (but probably the least interesting of the possible attention getters) is to tell your audience the subject of your speech. Here\u2019s an example:\r\n
We are surrounded by statistical information in today\u2019s world, so understanding statistics is becoming paramount to citizenship in the twenty-first century.<\/div>\r\nThis sentence explicitly tells an audience that the speech they are about to hear is about the importance of understanding statistics. While this isn\u2019t the most entertaining or interesting attention getter, it is very clear and direct. And note that it justifies the importance of the audience paying attention while avoiding being completely snooze-inducing, as it would have been if it were reworded as, \u201cI want to talk to you about statistics.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Reference to Audience or Appeal to Self-Interest<\/h3>\r\nAs we have tried to emphasize throughout this book, your audience is the single most important factor is crafting your speech, so it makes sense that one approach to opening your speech is to make a direct reference to the audience. In this case, the speaker has a clear understanding of the audience and points out that there is something unique about the audience that should make them interested in the speech\u2019s content. Here\u2019s an example:\r\n
As students at State College, you and I know the importance of selecting a major that will benefit us in the future. In today\u2019s competitive world, we need to study a topic that will help us be desirable to employers and provide us with lucrative and fulfilling careers. That\u2019s why I want you all to consider majoring in communication.<\/div>\r\nIn this example, the speaker reminds the audience of their shared status as students and uses the common ground to acknowledge the importance of selecting a major that will benefit them in the future. Earlier in the textbook (Chapter 4) we used the expression WIIFM <\/strong>(\u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d) to remind you that your topic and approach should appeal to the self-interests and needs of the audience members.\r\n

Quotation<\/h3>\r\nAnother way to capture your listeners\u2019 attention is to use the words of another person that relate directly to your topic. Maybe you\u2019ve found a really great quotation in one of the articles or books you read while researching your speech. If not, you can also use a number of Internet or library sources that compile useful quotations from noted individuals. Quotations are a great way to start a speech, so let\u2019s look at an example that could be used during the opening of a commencement address (a type of special occasion speech discussed later in Chapter 15):\r\n
The late actress, fashion icon, and social activist Audrey Hepburn once noted that, \u201cNothing is impossible. The word itself says \u2018I\u2019m possible\u2019!\u201d<\/div>\r\nIf you use a quotation as your attention getter, be sure to give the source first (as in this example) so that it isn\u2019t mistaken as your own wording.\r\n

Reference to Current Events<\/h3>\r\nReferring to a current news event that relates to your topic is often an effective way to capture attention, as it immediately makes the audience aware of how relevant the topic is in today\u2019s world. For example, consider this attention getter for a persuasive speech on frivolous lawsuits:\r\n
On January 10 of this year, Scott Anthony Gomez, Jr., and a fellow inmate escaped from a Pueblo, Colorado, jail. During their <\/em>escape the duo attempted to rappel from the roof of the jail using a makeshift ladder of bed sheets. During Gomez\u2019s attempt to scale the building, he slipped, fell forty feet, and injured his back. After being quickly apprehended, Gomez filed a lawsuit against the jail for making it too easy for him to escape.<\/em><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn this case, the speaker is highlighting a news event that illustrates what a frivolous lawsuit is, setting up the speech topic of a need for change in how such lawsuits are handled.\r\n

Historical Reference<\/h3>\r\nYou may also capture your listeners\u2019 attention by referring to a historical event related to your topic. Obviously, this strategy is closely related to the previous one, except that instead of a recent news event you are reaching further back in history to find a relevant reference. For example, if you are giving a speech on the perception of modern music as crass or having no redeeming values, you could refer back to Elvis Presley and his musical breakout in the 1950s as a way of making a comparison:\r\n
During the mid-1950s, Elvis Presley introduced the United States to a new genre of music: rock and roll. Initially viewed as distasteful, and Presley was himself chastised for his gyrating dance moves and flashy style. Today he is revered as \u201cThe King of Rock \u2018n Roll.\u201d So when we criticize modern artists for being flamboyant or over the top, we may be ridiculing some of the most important musical innovators we will know in our lifetimes.<\/div>\r\nIn this example, the speaker is evoking the audience\u2019s knowledge of Elvis to raise awareness of similarities to current artists that may be viewed today as he was in the 1950s.\r\n

Humor<\/h3>\r\nHumor is another effective method for gaining an audience\u2019s attention. Humor is an amazing tool when used properly. We cannot begin to explain all the facets of humor within this chapter, but we can say that humor is a great way of focusing an audience on what you are saying. However, humor is a double-edged sword. If you do not wield the sword carefully, you can turn your audience against you very quickly.\r\n
\r\n\r\nWhen using humor, you really need to know your audience and understand what they will find humorous. One of the biggest mistakes a speaker can make is to use some form of humor that the audience either doesn\u2019t find funny or, worse, finds offensive. Think about how incompetent the character of Michael Scott seems on the television program The Office<\/em>, in large part because of his ineffective use of humor. We always recommend that you test out humor of any kind on a sample of potential audience members prior to actually using it during a speech. If you do use a typical narrative \u201cjoke,\u201d don\u2019t say it happened to you. Anyone who heard the joke before will think you are less than truthful!\r\n\r\nNow that we\u2019ve warned you about the perils of using humor, let\u2019s talk about how to use humor as an attention getter. Humor can be incorporated into several of the attention-getting devices mentioned. You could use a humorous anecdote, quotation, or current event. As with other attention-getting devices, you need to make sure your humor is relevant to your topic, as one of the biggest mistakes some novices make when using humor is to add humor that really doesn\u2019t support the overall goal of the\u00a0speech. So when looking for humorous attention getters, you want to make sure that the humor is not going to be offensive to your audience and relevant to your speech.\r\n\r\nFor example, here\u2019s a humorous quotation from Nicolas Chamfort, a French author during the sixteenth century: \u201cThe only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.\u201d While this quotation could be effective for some audiences, other audiences may find this humorous quotation offensive. The Chamfort quotation could be appropriate for a speech on the ills of modern society, but probably not for a speech on the state of modern religious conflict. It also would not be appropriate in an area that had just experienced damaging floods. You want to make sure that the leap from your attention getter to your topic isn\u2019t too complicated for your audience, or the attention getter will backfire.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nThis list of attention-getting devices represents a thorough, but not necessarily exhaustive, range of ways that you can begin your speech. Certain- ly these would be the more common attention getters that most people employ. Again, as mentioned earlier, your selection of attention getter is not only dependent on your audience, your topic, and the occasion, but also on your preferences and skills as a speaker. If you know that you are a bad storyteller, you might elect not to start your speech with a story. If you tend to tell jokes that no one laughs at, avoid starting your speech off with humor.\r\n\r\nTo review, think back to the factors of attention in Chapter 7. The best attention getters are\r\n
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