Explain why your topic matters to them. Relate the topic to something that listeners already know and care about. Define any terms that listeners might not know. Acknowledge this fact at the beginning of your speech. Find a narrow aspect of the topic that may be new to listeners. Offer a new perspective on the topic, or connect it to an unfamiliar topic. Tactfully admit your differences of opinion. Reinforce points on which you and your audience agree. Build credibility by explaining your qualifications to speak on your topic. Quote expert figures that agree with your thesis—people whom your audience is likely to admire. Explain that their current viewpoint has costs for them, and that a slight adjustment in their thinking will bring significant benefits. Explain how listening to your speech can help them gain something that matters deeply to them. Explain ways to apply your ideas in daily life.
use your browser to find some TED Talks from expert presenters. Think about how they hook the audience into their topic and how they present their material. There are typically three sections to a speech similar to an essay, there is an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Write the introduction Rambling speeches with no clear point or organization put audiences to sleep. Solve this problem with your introduction. The following introduction, for example, reveals the thesis and exactly what’s coming. The speech will have three distinct parts, each in logical order: Dogfighting is a cruel sport. I intend to describe exactly what happens to the animals, tell you who is doing this, and show you how you can stop this inhumane practice. Whenever possible, talk about things that hold your interest. Include your personal experiences and start with a hook! Consider this introduction to a speech on the subject of world hunger: I’m very honoured to be here with you today. I intend to talk about malnutrition and starvation. First, I want to outline the extent of these problems, then I will discuss some basic assumptions concerning world hunger, and finally I will propose some solutions. You can almost hear the snores from the audience. Following is a rewrite: More people have died from hunger in the past five years than have been killed in all of the wars, revolu-tions, and murders in the past 150 years. Yet there is
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