EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTIONS 

These are guidelines for preparing an effective introduction.
The introduction should usually be relatively brief relative to the length of the speech.
Note potential introductory material as you research your speech topic. Speakers should be creative when devising their introductions, particularly the attention getting opening. Consider the use of an attention getting prop — always useful as long as it is appropriate to your audience, topic and occasion. In your How To Speech, for example, you must have at least one prop that could be part of your opening.

Speakers should not be concerned with the exact wording of the introduction until the body of the speech is finished. Think about this.  How can you introduce a speech until you have a speech to introduce?  The most effective way to write your introduction is to write it AFTER you have drafted the major points and supported those main points with your findings. The introduction should be worked out in detail so it can be delivered effectively.

An effective introduction gets the speaker off on the right foot.
It creates a favorable first impression with the audience.
It boosts a speaker’s self-confidence for the rest of the speech.

There are four objectives of a speech introduction:

The first objective is to gain the attention and interest of the audience.
One method of gaining attention is to relate the topic to the audience.

People pay attention to things that affect them directly. No matter what other interest-arousing lures speakers choose, always relate the topic to the audience.

A second method of gaining attention is to state the importance of the topic.
An audience is not likely to be interested in a topic they regard as unimportant.
Whenever a speaker discusses a topic whose importance may not be clear to the audience,
the speaker should think about ways to demonstrate its importance in the introduction.

A third method of gaining attention is to startle the audience.
This method can be highly effective. It is important, however, that the startling material be directly related to the speech; otherwise its use may be considered gratuitous or as a “cheap” way to get attention.

A fourth method of gaining attention is to arouse the curiosity of the audience.
People are curious. Their interest can be engaged with a series of statements that
whet their curiosity about the subject of the speech.

A fifth method of gaining attention is to question the audience.
A speaker can use either a single question or a series of questions.
You risk credibility with this choice as you momentarily give up control of the forum and invite a response that can undermine your entire speech. Effective lawyers never ask a question in court that they do not already know the answer. Asking  the rhetorical question can also work against you. In any event, your question or questions should be firmly related to the content of the speech.

A sixth method of gaining attention is to begin with a quotation.
A well-chosen quotation can add depth, human interest, or humor to an introduction.
The quotation will be most effective if it is no longer than a sentence or two.
Quotations of interest here.

A seventh method of gaining attention is to tell a story.
Because most people enjoy stories, this may be the most effective method of beginning a speech. For this method to work, the story must be delivered well.

An eighth method of gaining attention (and to set an appropriate tone )is to explore the background and etymology of a key term in your speech. For example, a speech on the topic of war could introduce the issue by describing how the term, “war” as an Indo-European root word originating in the Sanskrit word, pronounced as “varren,” that means “desire for more cattle.” Other methods of gaining attention include referring to the occasion, inviting audience participation, using audio equipment or visual aids, relating to a previous speaker, and beginning with humor. All of these methods can be effective depending on the audience, the topic, and the occasion. Unlike the first eight methods of gaining attention, these additional methods are used more frequently in speeches outside the classroom than in the classroom.

The second objective of a speech introduction is to reveal the topic of your speech.
An effective introduction clearly states the speech topic to avoid confusing the audience.
Even if the audience already knows the topic, a speaker should usually restate it during the introduction.

The third objective of a speech introduction is to establish your credibility.
Credibility is a matter of being perceived by the audience as qualified to speak on a particular topic. Credibility can be based on the results of your thorough research or it can be based on your own firsthand experience. Whatever the source of your credibility as a speaker, you should let the audience know explicitly. This is not bragging as long as it is true.  Do not assume an audience member will infer your credibility from a vague statement. Also, while it is a cultural norm unrelated to valid inference, eye contact is the major way we infer credibility from a speaker. Of course, the first thing an unethical speaker learns is that gullible people believe eye contact signifies sincerity.

The fourth objective of a speech introduction is to establish your goodwill.  Establishing goodwill is a matter of showing that the speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind. “What’s in for me to accept whatever it is you are “selling”. “What benefits can I expect from accepting your proposal.” are questions your audience should be thinking. Tell them.

“ABC” is the acronym to remember, because n a sense you will “Always be “closing” when you conclude your speech. Set up the closing in your introduction. Creating good will is especially crucial for speakers outside the classroom who may be identified with causes that arouse hostility among the audience. Creating good will can also be a concern for students who advocate highly unpopular positions in their classroom speeches.

The fifth objective of a speech introduction is to preview the body of your speech.
A preview statement tells an audience what to listen for in the rest of the speech. For example,
“Before elaborating on my proposal, allow me to describe the context (or background, or history,
etc.) for our analysis.”Because they generally occur at the end of the introduction, preview statements
provide a smooth lead-in (or transition ) to the body of your speech.

Previews, or overviews, are also an opportunity to present special information,
such as definitions of terms that the audience will need to understand the rest of speech, relevant historical or background information. [“But before we begin our detailed analysis of …. let’s look
at a few terms of art  in this discipline useful for our understanding the solution I will propose.”
Or “Let’s first note the long rivalry between the two firms before before assessing the terms
proposed for a merger.”
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Following are four complete introductions from classroom speeches.
Each has at least one flaw that keeps it from fulfilling all the functions of a
good introduction. In each case identify the flaw (or flaws) and make specific
suggestions for improving the introduction.

a. What tiny crystal fortified the coffers of many ancient empires and laid waste to others? What mineral has the power to create and the power to destroy? What is  “good as gold” when scarce and “cheap as dirt” when abundant?

The answer to all of these questions is salt, the spice of life. Today I would like to look at the
importance of salt in history, at how we spice up our lives with salt today, and at the role salt will probably play in the future.

b. We have so much unused human potential. By improving the use of your time, you can have much more time for social activities. You can use your mental processes more fully, thereby improving your grades. You can also increase your physical stamina and improve your health. We must learn to know
our bodies.

c. A six-year-old collie lay battered and helpless by the side of the road. The car that hit her had broken her pelvis, dislocated her hip, and smashed her jaw. It had also blinded her, and she whimpered in pain and fear. Unfortunately, this true story happens much too frequently because of the growing problem of pet overpopulation. Having grown up on a farm with animals of all kinds, I care deeply about their welfare, and I have become aware through my veterinary courses of how serious the problem of pet overpopulation is.

d. Every problem has at least two sides. When one side is right, and the other side is wrong, the problem is easy to solve. But what if both sides have merit in their arguments? How do you solve these problems?Balancing the rights of everyone in an adoption is one of these problems. The parents who give up the child have a right that all the information they disclose be kept confidential, while the adopted child has a right to know about the identity of his or her natural parents. Today I’d like to explore this problem with you and look at one approach to solving it.

Discussion: This is a useful exercise because it gets students to focus on all four objectives of a speech introduction. Here is a brief analysis of each of the introductions in the exercise.

a. This introduction uses a series of questions to get attention, introduces the topic clearly, and has a concise preview statement. Its most obvious flaw is a lack of material establishing the speaker’s credibility. It might also be improved by relating the topic of salt directly to the audience at the outset.

b. By relating to the audience, this introduction does a fair job of capturing attention, but that is all. It does not reveal the topic of the speech, establish the credibility of the speaker, or preview the main points of the speech.

c. This introduction does an excellent job of gaining attention, of introducing the topic of pet overpopulation, and of establishing the speaker’s credibility. It is flawed, however, by its lack of a preview statement. As with the introduction on salt, it also could be strengthened if it related the topic directly to the audience.

d. This introduction does a good job of revealing the topic and previewing the main points of the speech. It does nothing to establish the speaker’s credibility, and it is weak as an attention-getter.