8.3  Creating Effective Speech Introductions

8.3 Creating Effective Speech Introductions

The first words you use when starting a speech create an impression that either encourages the audience to listen or causes them to tune out. Although the introduction is usually a short part of your presentation, it is important to take time developing it because you are creating a first impression of yourself and your topic. The introduction sets the tone for the speech and lets the audience know what to expect and what type of information they will receive.

There are four important tasks that must be accomplished during the first few minutes of a speech. You must:

1. Capture the audience’s attention and give them a reason to listen.
2. Introduce yourself and establish your credibility or ethos.
3. Reveal the topic of the speech through a clear thesis and relate it to the audience.
4. Preview the body of the speech by specifically outlining the main points you will cover.

Capture the Audience’s Attention

Audience members do not attend a presentation with the intention of losing interest or being bored. However, they may not give a speaker much time to win them over. You may have only several sentences and a chance to introduce your topic before the audience mentally decides, “Yes, I want to listen further,” or “No, I am tuning out and thinking about lunch.” When a speech does not connect with the audience or give them a reason to listen, it is easy for them to lose interest.

This opening statement is known as an attention-getter. It is your opportunity to capture the audience’s attention and help audience members understand how the speech relates to them.

Depending on the overall time limit of a presentation, an ideal introduction should last no more than 30 seconds to one minute, including the thesis and preview of the main points. Although that may seem like a long time, it is not. You have a short but valuable opportunity to draw in your audience and encourage them to continue listening. The following are attention-getting strategies to try in your upcoming speeches.

Ask a Question

Ask an insightful, meaningful question. Better yet, ask a series of questions designed to draw the audience further into your speech.

When you ask your audience a question, they must think. During that process, they are paying attention. Ideally, your question should be rhetorical. You usually do not want audience members to answer aloud because doing so can distract from your planned introduction and interfere with the timing of the speech.

Asking a rhetorical question allows audience members to connect with your topic. When they agree with your question or recognize themselves in it, they understand that the topic is relevant to them. When they do not immediately connect, they may become interested in learning what they are missing. Asking a question draws the audience into your topic and helps make it important to them.

“How many of you would categorize yourselves as ‘givers’? How many of you search for the perfect Christmas or birthday gift each year for your best friend or perhaps your mom? You go all out, right? Then, how many of you have signed up to be an organ donor? Isn’t that the ultimate gift—the gift of life?”

Find a Quotation

You might use a historical quotation, a humorous statement, or even a brief song lyric. Always credit the person or source responsible for the quotation and make sure it is relevant to your topic. An effective quotation should be brief, memorable, directly connected to the topic, and powerful enough to make your audience want to hear more.

“Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.” —Dorothy Sarnoff

“Courage is being scared to death—but saddling up anyway.” —John Wayne

Use a Startling Statistic

Use a startling statistic or a surprising statement. Most topics have statistics that audience members do not know or that they may find meaningful. Audiences often remember startling information even after a speech ends, making this strategy an effective way to capture attention.

A statistic that directly connects the audience to the topic can be especially impactful. Always identify and accurately cite the source when presenting statistical information.

“According to HIV.gov, 34,800 new HIV infections occurred in 2019. Although we do not hear as much about this disease today, it continues to disproportionately affect people in the South.”

“According to the FBI, statistics show that one in every four women will be assaulted during her lifetime. As I look around this room, that could mean that five of us will become victims of assault. Could that be you?”

Reference a Recent Event

Reference a local event, place, or activity. You can also use a recent news story, tragedy, or occurrence that your audience is likely to remember. A recent event can make your topic more meaningful because it demonstrates that the issue is happening now and that it matters.

Whether you connect your topic to Hispanic Heritage Month, a recent news report, or a local event, the goal is to help the audience recognize the topic’s current relevance.

“I am sure many of you recall the recent news story in which a car went over the Buckman Bridge after being sideswiped by a drunk driver. Today, I want to discuss how you can become a defensive driver and potentially prevent yourself from becoming the next headline.”

Tell a Story

A story can engage your audience, draw them into your topic, and make the details vivid and meaningful.

“How many of you would categorize yourselves as ‘givers’? How many of you search for the perfect Christmas or birthday gift each year for your best friend or perhaps your mom? You go all out, right? Then, how many of you have signed up to be an organ donor? Isn’t that the ultimate gift—the gift of life?”

If you have ever listened to a scary story told by a camp counselor while sitting near a campfire, you understand the power of a good story. Plan your story carefully, and your audience may listen as attentively as campers listening to a counselor’s tale.

Use vivid details and paint a mental picture in the minds of your listeners. Help them imagine the smell of cookies baking, see the tears in a grandparent’s eyes, or feel the softness of a baby in their arms. Make sure the story is brief and directly related to your topic. The introduction should move the audience into the body of the speech. A longer story may be more appropriate as a main point.

Sometimes a story may be too personal or difficult to tell. In that case, you can use a brief personal reference instead. Rather than sharing the entire story, explain your connection to the topic.

“According to FBI statistics, one in four women will experience assault during her lifetime. I became one of those women because of a frightening and harmful romantic relationship.”

Although the complete story may be difficult to share, briefly stating your personal connection to the topic can still be impactful.

Use Humor

When your topic is lighthearted, you might begin with a funny story or a humorous admission that connects the subject to the audience. Not every topic is serious or intended to solve a major problem. Some topics are entertaining, and the introduction may reflect that tone.

Always consider your audience. Not every humorous story is appropriate for every group. In a classroom setting, humor should be academically appropriate. In a workplace setting, it should be professionally appropriate.

Humor also does not work equally well for every speaker. When humor does not fit your personality or you are not confident using it, another attention-getting strategy may be more effective.

Find a Compelling Visual Aid

A compelling visual can communicate an idea quickly and powerfully. Consider using a poignant, surprising, humorous, or charming image to gain your audience’s attention. Examples include:

• A photograph illustrating housing insecurity or homelessness.
• A photograph of a clear lake surrounded by a mountain range.
• A political cartoon addressing a recent news story.

Make sure any visual aid is relevant to the topic, accessible to the audience, and legally permitted for your intended use.

Introduce Yourself and Establish Your Credibility

An audience may or may not have a preconceived idea about you when you stand before them, but audience members will form an impression quickly. People often make judgments about a speaker within the first 30 seconds. Therefore, after capturing the audience’s attention, it is important to introduce yourself and establish your credibility.

Although some audience members may initially react to your clothing, facial expression, or demeanor, most will evaluate your credibility based on two important factors: your perceived competence and character.

Competence reassures your audience that you understand your subject. You have a strong foundation of knowledge and are prepared to share information with your listeners. When you have a personal, professional, academic, or organizational connection to the topic, explain that connection in your introduction.

When you do not already have extensive knowledge of the topic, conduct research and consult credible experts. Through careful preparation, you can develop substantial knowledge of most subjects. Make sure your audience understands that your information is based on credible research.

A second component of credibility comes from the audience’s assessment of your character. Audience members may ask themselves whether you can be trusted, whether you have their best interests in mind, and whether the information will be useful and relevant to their lives. This aspect of credibility is often called ethos, a Greek term associated with character.

Consider the common stereotype of a used-car salesperson. You need a car, but you are unsure which one is right for you and which one you can afford. The salesperson may know the necessary information about the vehicles, including fuel consumption, mileage, and available features. However, you may question whether that person has your best interests in mind.

You may wonder whether the salesperson is attempting to dispose of a particular car or earn a larger commission. Although you may be confident in the salesperson’s competence, you may question the person’s character. Effective speakers must demonstrate credibility in both areas.

Some attention-getting strategies can also help establish credibility. A personal story can show how the topic has affected you. A rhetorical question followed by a brief explanation of your experience can also establish a meaningful connection.

“How many people here have watched someone important in their lives suffer through an illness? I watched my sister struggle with breast cancer, and today I will explain what breast cancer is.”

Sometimes you may not have a direct personal connection to the topic. In that situation, your research and sustained interest can demonstrate your knowledge.

“Ever since my grandfather gave me a telescope, I have been fascinated by the stars. Astronomy has become a topic that I research and read about whenever I have the opportunity.”

Whatever topic you choose, establish a meaningful reason for speaking about it. Your audience needs a reason to view you as a credible source. It would be unfair to ask audience members to take an action that you are unwilling to take or to accept a position that you have not thoughtfully examined.

Thesis Statement

After capturing your audience’s attention and before beginning the body of the speech, present your thesis statement.

A thesis statement is a single thought that tells the audience what the speech is about. It should be a strong, complete, declarative sentence that captures the main idea of your presentation.

For example, when delivering an informative speech about properly using a fire extinguisher, your thesis might be:

“Knowing how to operate a fire extinguisher by following four simple steps can be beneficial and potentially lifesaving.”

Another possible thesis is:

“A fire extinguisher can be operated by following four simple steps.”

Preview of Main Points

A preview statement is another important component of the introduction. Although many speakers combine the thesis and preview, presenting them as separate statements can make the organization clearer.

The preview statement is usually the final sentence of the introduction. It functions like a map for a trip by giving the audience an overview of where the speech will take them. This framework makes it easier for audience members to follow the presentation and retain its main points.

Using the fire-extinguisher topic, a preview statement might be:

“Today, we will cover four specific steps for using a fire extinguisher. I will explain the PASS acronym: pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep.”

Another version might be:

“Today, we will discuss how to use a fire extinguisher properly. During an emergency, you should pull the pin, aim the nozzle, squeeze the trigger, and move the nozzle in a sweeping motion.”

In each example, the speaker provides a roadmap for the presentation. The audience receives a framework that can be filled in as the supporting material is presented.

To prepare your preview statement, review the main points you intend to cover and write a sentence that briefly identifies each point. You may separate the points with commas or present them in several short sentences.

Avoid including details that belong in the body of the speech. Too much information in the preview can confuse the audience and leave listeners wondering what remains to be discussed. Remember that the introduction should be brief and should move the audience smoothly into the body of the speech.

How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers: AI Audio Described Version (note AI can make mistakes)