130 CHAPTER 10^ Introductions and Conclusions
Start with Startling Numbers
Numbers and statistics can be dry; however, they can also capture and hold listeners’
attention if they are shocking enough or if you put them into an understandable context,
as this example illustrates:
Globally, water-related deaths are responsible for 2.2 million deaths annually.^12 That’s
equivalent to the population of Paris, France. Every year. In Africa, unsafe water and
sanitation cause an average of 115 deaths every minute. Speech classes on campus are
limited to 24 students. Imagine an equivalent of almost five speech classes disappear-
ing. Every minute. Of every day.Refer to a Current Event
Another way to identify with your listeners and establish common ground is to begin
with well-known current happenings—airplane crashes, campus controversies, weather
disasters, well-publicized trials, elections, and the like. Referring to media events is one
way to introduce a disaster-preparedness speech:
Both the Zombie Apocalypse movie and The Walking Dead series show the struggles of
survivors who must stay alive in a devastated world. Now the chances are low that a
zombie plague will wipe out 90 percent of the world; however, in community after
community across the nation and world, survivors of large quakes, hurricanes, floods,
and other disasters face huge challenges in rebuilding their devastated communities.
The government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using the theme
“How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse” to promote disaster preparedness.^13Involve the Audience Physically
Some topics lend themselves well to physical actions by the audience. For instance,
Hannah chose this strategy to begin her speech on the pros and cons of yoga:^14
Please relax and close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose [pause]... and out
through your mouth [pause]... in through your nose [pause]... out through your
mouth [pause].... Do it one more time [longer pause].... Now open your eyes. So did
any of you feel more relaxed or a little less tense after doing that? [pause for feedback].
That’s a simple example of the effect yoga can have on you.Use Humor
If the audience, the occasion, and the topic seem appropriate, and if you have good
comedic skills, you might try using humor to gain attention and create a more informal
atmosphere. Consider telling a joke or riddle, relating a funny story, displaying a rel-
evant cartoon, or showing a humorous video clip.
Humor has its risks, however. You can embarrass yourself and make your listeners
uncomfortable if the joke flops, and you’ll create an overall negative image if your joke
is offensive. And of course, many subjects are not joking matters. To avoid humiliation,
test your attempt at humor in advance on some friends, and let them decide if it’s really
funny or appropriate. Also, make sure the joke relates to your topic. Otherwise, you
might gain attention, but it won’t focus on your subject.
Although this is not an exhaustive list of successful opening strategies, these are
common approaches used by speakers in a variety of settings. Remember that your
opening should not simply gain attention; it must also draw attention to your topic.
Furthermore, these strategies are good for maintaining or regaining attention through-
out your speech.Copyright 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
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