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Beginning the Speech
A. Relate the Topic to the Audience Improved:
It’s Saturday morning, and you are helping clean out your grandmother’s house. After working a while, you stumble upon a trunk, open it, and discover inside hundreds of old postcards. Thinking about getting to the football game on time, you start tossing the cards into the trash can. Congratulations! You have just thrown away a year’s tuition.
speech
2
Beginning the Speech
1. The Introduction First impressions are important. Well-begun is half done.
In most speech situations, there are four purposes you need to accomplish at the outset:
English Public Speaking
Lecture Five
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Strategic Order to Organize the Speech
• Chronological order • ---used in informative speeches • Spatial order • ---used in informative speeches • Problem-solution order • ---appropriate for persuasive speeches • Topical order • ---applicable to any subject and to any kind of
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Beginning the Speech
Sample beginnings:
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Beginning the Speech
A. Relate the Topic to the Audience
Poor beginning: Today I am going to talk about collecting postcards—a hobby that is both fascinating and financially rewarding. I would like to explain the basic kinds of collectible postcards, why they are so valuable, and how collectors buy and sell their cards.
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Watch and Discuss 1
• Questions: • 1. what do you know about TED? Why is TED
such a popular website right now?
• 2. Why was the speaker, Adora Svitak, a thirteen-year old, invited to speak at such an important occasion? What’s so unique about her?
3Leabharlann et Attention and Interest
• Relate the topic to the audience • State the importance of your topic • Startle the audience • Arouse the curiosity of the audience • Question the audience • Begin with a quotation • Tell a story
1) Get the attention and interest of your audience. 2) Create a positive relationship with the audience. 3) Establish your credibility. 4) Preview the body of the speech.
• 3. How does the speaker start her speech?
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Watch and Discuss 2
• What method does the speaker use in beginning his speech?
• What about the ending of the speech? Do you think it is effective and impressive? Why?
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Beginning the Speech
B. State the Importance of Your Topic
Example:
Traffic jams are more than a nuisance. They are a worldwide economic problem. In Guangzhou alone, they cost 12 billion yuan each year. In major U.S. cities, they are responsible for more than 21 billion liters of wasted fuel and 68 billion dollars in lost productivity. Traffic jams will soon cost the British economy more than 20 billion pounds a year.