As discussed in Chapter 12, anecdotes can be useful illustrations for your speech. Real-world stories can be particularly effective when worked into your opening, where they can make audiences feel invested in a person before they even know what your thesis is. For example, Miriam thinks her audience will tune out if she simply informs them that she’s going to discuss the secret costs of credit cards. But what if she opens with a story? For example:

A few months ago, my friend Monica—not her real name—decided that she positively needed to own a pair of Jimmy Choo boots. Now, I’ll admit, these were some amazing boots: black leather, calf-high, four-inch heels. But they cost—are you sitting down?—$895.00. Like most of us, she didn’t have that kind of cash lying around, so she bought the boots on credit and figured that she would pay them off month by month. Despite the fact that she diligently puts $50 toward her payment each and every month, it’s going to take Monica 102 months—more than eight years—to pay for those boots. In addition, she’ll pay over $750 in interest, which is almost as much as the boots cost in the first place!

By telling a story, Miriam puts a familiar face on her subject; she’s also caught the attention of anyone who’s ever had the experience of really wanting something they couldn’t afford—which is pretty much anyone!