Gain the Attention of Your Audience

The first few sentences of your speech should serve to gain the attention of your

listeners.

Instead of saying “Today, I will speak about... “ or “My topic is...,”

begin with one of the following openers.

• A rhetorical question (no answer expected)

• A participatory question (wait for answers from the audience or a show of

hands)

• A colorful description

• A quotation (from a famous person or from a piece of literature or music—

you can find quotations arranged by subject matter in quotation dictionaries in

any library or bookstore)

• An audiovisual aid

• A suspenseful story

• A joke or funny anecdote

• A reference to a current event

• Surprising statistics

2. Motivate Your Audience. Point out how the topic relates to your listeners and why it is relevant for them.This part of your introduction should answer the question: “Why should theaudience listen?”

3. Establish Your Credibility. Tell the audience what makes you knowledgeable on the subject. You may listclasses you have taken, professional training, research projects, or personalexperiences that make you a credible speaker. This part of your introductionshould answer the question: “Why should the audience listen to you?”

4. Preview Your Main Points. There is a saying: “Tell them what you are going to say; say it; then tell themwhat you said” (Jaffe, 1998,). To list your main points briefly before youmove to the body of your speech (where you mention them again and elaborateon them) may seem like overkill to you; however, for your audience, this previewprovides invaluable guidance that helps them focus on each point with more easeand follow your train of thought throughout the speech.

Conclusion. While the introduction leads into the body, the conclusion leads out

of it and provides closure. Introductions and conclusions should be about equal in length and significantly shorter than the body. As a rule of thumb, the introduction and conclusion together should be about one fifth of the total speech (i.e., in a five-minute speech, the introduction and conclusion should be about half a minute each).

How to Create an Effective Conclusion

1. Signal the End. Pause slightly before you start your conclusion. Use a term like to conclude or inconclusion to show your listeners that you have completed the main part of yourpresentation.

2. Review Your Main Points. Just as you listed your major points during the introduction, list them again inyour conclusion. This will help your audience recall your major ideas and resultin a sense of accomplishment.

3. Refer to the Introduction. Referring to the introduction will provide your audience with a sense of closure.For example, if you started with a suspenseful story, provide the conclusion now.Or if you mentioned some surprising statistics, repeat them again and relate themto your overall presentation.

4. End with an Impact. Use the last few sentences of your speech to ensure that you leave a good andmemorable impression. The following are a few techniques useful in ending withan impact.

• Humor

• A thought-provoking question

• A quotation

• A call for action

• A connection to a larger context

Question-and-Answer Sessions. After your speech, you may want to invite questions from the audience. Even though youwon’t know precisely what the listeners will ask, many questions can be predicted.Prepare answer for the most likely questions in advance and use your general knowledgeabout the subject to respond to the rest.

 

Language Use

Spoken language is more informal than written language and often more vivid andintense. Because listeners cannot go back and re-read what a speaker says, effective orallanguage is also simpler and more repetitious. In addition, it contains plentiful examplesand illustrations to assist listeners in understanding the message. The followingguidelines provide tips for effective language use.

To be effective, language should be correct. Use correct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. When in doubt, consult reference books or ask for help. Avoid unnecessary jargon and define any technical vocabulary you must use.Use specific rather than vague language (e.g., change “for asmall amount of money” to “for three dollars”).Eliminate unnecessary verbiage (e.g., change “what you do is

you push this button” to “push this button”). Use the language suitable for your setting and the audience (e.g.,avoid slang terms in educational and professional settings). Avoid sexist language (e.g., change “he” to “he or she” or “they”

and “chairman” to “chairperson”), ageist stereotypes (e.g., “set in her ways,” “over the hill”), any terms that could potentially offend racial, ethnic, religious, or gender groups.

If you come from a culture where public speaking is a formal event, remember

that U.S. culture allows for a fair amount of informality. Try to adjust to this speaking style to connect with your audience effectively. Make sure you observe American speakers in their use of informality before you speak to get a sense of how much informality is appropriate. Don’t become too informal.

Ethics and Plagiarism

The Romans described an effective orator as “a good man, skilled in speaking” (virbonus, dicendi peritus).The governing principle of ethics is a sincere concern for the audience. This concernshows itself through a speaker’s attitude of respect and appreciation of the listeners aswell as through the speaker’s responsible handling of the information he or she presents.