INTRODUCING YOUR SPEECH
Printed Page 280
In public speaking, as in many other situations in life, first impressions are vital. Your introduction creates a first impression both of you as a speaker and of your message. Scholars have recognized the importance of the introduction for as long as people have discussed speechmaking: Cicero included the introduction as one of six essential parts of a speech,1 and contemporary scholars note that the introduction is a key opportunity for the speaker to build a bond with the audience.2
A good introduction thus accomplishes a number of important purposes. Specifically, it does the following:
- Gains your audience’s attention
- Signals your thesis
- Shows the relevance of the topic for your audience
- Establishes your credibility
- Previews your main points
Your introduction must accomplish all this in a brief period of time. For example, in a five- to ten-minute speech, the introduction should take up no more than one minute. With these kinds of time constraints, there’s no doubt about it: your introduction needs to be efficient and effective. Let’s look more closely at each of the objectives your introduction must achieve.