Find a professional speech that interests you. Try a TED talk (available at www.ted.com/talks), or search databases like Gifts of Speech (http://gos.sbc.edu) or American Rhetoric (www.americanrhetoric.com). In a brief paper, identify the speech thesis, its main points, and the organizational pattern. Additionally, analyze how well the speaker engages listeners through novelty, humor, stories, and presentation media.

Review the attention-getter used in the speech outline for “Protect the Largest Organ in Your Life” by Jessica Bordonaro on page 364. Working with a group of classmates, brainstorm additional ways to gain the listeners' attention if you were giving this speech. Choose one of the alternatives and present it to the class, explaining why you selected that one over other ideas.