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Sample Great Speech Introductions

Here are some speech introductions I've copied from student speeches. They each use creative techniques to get the audience's attention and in some cases devices to prepare the audience for the speech body. The first four use startling statements. Each of the startling statements is relevant to the speech topic and none of them damage the speaker's ethos. They do, however, do a very good job of surprising the audience and getting them to listen.

"Vampires and sex! One of these is probably something you want to avoid. The other is something you do not want to avoid. Contained within this speech is the one simple rule that will allow you to keep bloodsucking creatures of the night at bay while enjoying a busy love life: Eat more garlic." (With thanks to Sarah Metivier)

"Full beards are risky! So is wearing more than one ring on each hand. Wearing a sports watch or a shoe with open toes or heels can cause you a headache. It is extremely important that you look professional when you go to an interview (for a job). If you don't have a good image, you can lose a great opportunity and that can cause you plenty of headaches." (With thanks to Honoria Palacios)

"It's time we faced the facts of the matter. They have been gassed, poisoned, starved and sterilized. Yet, they still thrive today in vast numbers and are multiplying at alarming rates. If we do not fight back, they could take over the world! I deeply regret to inform you the Orkin man did not accomplish his mission. I'm talking cockroaches." (With thanks to Robert Johnson)

"'Lesbian Cross-Dressers Who Shop in Thrift Stores!' on the next Jenny Jones! 'Surprise! I'm Pregnant by my Father's Stepson from his Fourth Marriage!' on the next Ricki Lake. 'I was Abducted and Impregnated by Aliens' on the next Geraldo. For the past five years, I have viewed talk show after talk show involving no-name hosts with ignorant and more-than-trashy topics. In the jungle of garbage presented by out-of-work actors and obnoxious busy bodies, it is refreshing to see a married father of two, once an Admiral in the Navy, present such topics as, 'Runaway Teens who Want to Come Home,' and 'Dedicated Friends of Children Who Have AIDS.' Montel Williams has the best talk show on the air." (With thanks to Renee Donaldson)

Rhetorical Questions are similar to startling statements. The difference is startling statements say something shocking and rhetorical questions ask something in a surprising and suspenseful way. The next nine introductions use rhetorical questions. Angela Ratkowski follows her rhetorical question by establishing her expertise. Angi Cable follows her rhetorical question by using a personal illustration and establishing her expertise.

"Would you put your mouth on the end of a car's muffler and inhale? Then why would you continue to smoke?" (With thanks to Regina Testa)

"Do your friends have beady, red eyes, or are they always ending up headless? If so, you could use instruction in photography. I have studied photography for two years at Columbia College, and I am going to tell you about a few rules for helping your photos turn out better." (With thanks to Angela Ratkowski)

"Acne, baldness, sterility. Sound attractive, fellas? Or ladies, how about a deep voice, facial hair and kidney damage? All of these appealing attributes, along with many others, are side effects of using anabolic steroids, yet people continue to use them." (With thanks to Amy Dewhirst)

"Would you consider getting your brains removed through your nostrils to be a spiritual experience? Imagine if the removal of all of your vital organs signified a new life. The strange yet fascinating ancient Egyptian ritual of mummification is based on many religious beliefs." (With thanks to Tim Martinek)

"Have you ever wanted to shoot someone? How about your best friend? Well, if you come out to Challenge Park to play paintball, you can shoot your friends and people you don't even know all day long." (With thanks to Ron Colnar)

"If you could save the lives of fifty people at one time, without lifting finger, would you do it? Does that sound impossible? It's not. All you have to do is sign a little piece of paper and become an organ and tissue donor." (With thanks to Libbie Elliott)

"Do you want to spend the next fifteen years paying dearly for one mistake that you've made? How about the next thirty years? Well, then there are a couple of things you may want to consider before you buy your first home." (With thanks to Victor Melgoza from whom it was abridged)

"Do you know where you can find a diamond made of mud and grass? Where could you see wingless bats that are almost three feet long? They are at the same place that you can see a battery made of people and a plate that food will never touch. All these are found at any baseball game you go to. The terminology used is only one of the many things that make baseball what it is." (With thanks to Jeremiah Pearce)

"Can you imagine waking up one morning and not knowing who you are or who anyone you love is? Then being told it's all a result of a guy out with his friends celebrating and not knowing 'when to say when'. Well take it from someone who knows. After spending six days of my life in a coma, going through thirteen plastic surgeries, having my nose and front tooth reconstructed, I still have to live with the fact that I have brain damage and will never remember my childhood memories. People don't think about the innocent people they can hurt when getting into a car and driving after drinking." (With thanks to Angi Cable)

The next two introductions begin by using quotations as attention-getting devices. Quotations in introductions and conclusions should be chosen for emotional impact. Karen Williams follow up her quotation with a startling statement.

"'One time, I can remember him playing and I said to myself, 'Wow, man.' I thought this man was a god with the body of Santa Claus. He was the magic man with his power of music which no one could decipher. We'll miss you, Jerry. Always fly high, sing sweet, and always remember your loving Heds. This anonymous inscription was found at Jerry Garcia's grave.'" (With thanks to Dallas Kuykendall)

"'I came here today to ask that this nation with all its resources and compassion not let my epitaph read, 'He died of red tape.' This is what Roger Gail Lyon said to a congressional committee in August of 1983. Roger died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) while the Congress was discussing whether or not the virus actually existed." (With thanks to Karen Williams from whom this was abridged)

The next six introductions use illustrations go get attention. They all create a mood by giving enough details for the audience to picture the scene they are describing. These illustrations range from the tragic to the comic. Anne Allen establishes her expertise in her introduction. Debbie DeBoer establishes her expertise indirectly. Karrie Lindee uses a startling statement in the middle of her introduction. Jaimee Nicole Blackburn ends her introduction with a startling statement. Finally, Sharon Bauch's illustration undeniably gets the audience's attention from the first line. Her introduction may read to some as being in bad taste, but the way she delivered it was really cute and she stayed clear of any ethos-damaging impressions.

"Johnny walked into the cold, white room on April 23, 1992. The beeping of the machines echoed immensely in his head and he knew that noise would haunt him for the rest of his life. He walked in further to join the group that stood beside a solitary bed. He hung his head in grief and through misty tears got one last look. Johnny bent over and gently whispered, "Good-bye Grandma, I love you." It was then the nurse made the machines make a more painful sound-silence. This is the act of euthanasia which is the hardest decision for a family to make when the choice is suffering life or death." (With thanks to Heather Vasilopulos)

"It's a warm Friday night. There's moderate traffic on Interstate 88 as two friends and I drive home for the weekend from college. The radio's playing and a car passes and pulls back into our lane. My friends are talking excitedly about out weekend plans. Suddenly, the car in front of us swerves and puts on its brakes. I brake and swerve to miss hitting it and our car skids out of control. We hit the steep ditch and begin to roll. 'This isn't happening,' is all I can think as we turn over and over. The car finally lands on its side 100 feet from the road. The windows are gone, the hatchback open, and all of our bags litter the side of the road. We survived this accident with only bumps and bruises for one reason and one reason only: We had our seat belts on. As a survivor of a high speed rollover accident, I'm happy to be here to encourage you and your passengers to wear seat belts each and every time you are in a motor vehicle." (With thanks to Anne Allen)

"There I was, all alone and walking down a long, empty road in the woods in the middle of the night. Feeling a bit scared, I looked all around me. When I looked behind me I saw a car coming in the distance. Was it them? I was all by myself this time. What was I going to do? Before they could reach me I ran into my house and locked all the windows and doors. Then, I heard a noise in the other room. Shaking in fear I peered around the corner. In an instant a man with a mask jumped in front of me and slashed my throat. I fell to the ground and died. This is only one of the many bizarre dreams I've had. What on earth does all that mean? The interpretation of dreams can be easily done." (With thanks to Karrie Lindee)

"Danielle and I were eight years old and the best of friends. On this hot summer day I decided we should put on our bathing suits and run through the sprinkler. Danielle hesitated but said, 'Okay.' Unlike all my other friends she always went into the bathroom to change her clothes. Having forgot my manners I opened the door. We both started screaming at the same time. She was telling me to shut the door. I was asking what the gross dots were all over her back. Hearing all the commotion my mom approached and asked what was the matter. Danielle fell to the ground in tears. 'He'll hurt me if I tell you.' Grabbing both Danielle and I, since now we both were crying, my mom suggested we talk. We did. Danielle's dots were burns from cigars. Cigars which her dad smoked. That day Danielle wasn't picked up by her mom. Instead, an ugly lady and two policemen came to our house. The ugly lady kept whispering to my mom. She thought we couldn't hear her but we could. This wasn't the first time she visited Danielle. The lady worked for DCFS and she had a file on Danielle's family from her previous visit two years earlier. Today, I would like to discuss ways in which we could improve the DCFS system." (With thanks to Debbie DeBoer)

"Today, we are going to go on a chemical scavenger hunt. Here's the list of chemicals we need to find: powdered activated carbon, chlorine, hydrated lime, alum, benzene, atrazine and cyanizine. Does anybody have an idea where we could find these? Some might be in a chemistry lab; some are in weed killers, and some were used for chemical warfare in World War I. But there's an easier place to find them; in the water fountain around the corner. (With thanks to Jamie Nicole Blackburn)

"As I slowly undress, the coolness of the air hits every inch of my body, and I start to shiver. With the toss of a bra, I climb onto the table and lie under the thin white sheets waiting. Still cold but getting warmer. Just relax, I say to myself. The dimness of the lights starts to comfort me as I begin to relax. A knock at the door. I remain silent. The door slowly opens, and I try to see if the stranger is a man or a woman. It's a woman, about thirty, with a short, boy-like haircut and large biceps. I greet her softly and close my eyes. The music is low and soothing. My body is warm now. I can hear her getting ready for me. Jumping slightly as she first touches me, I soon meet her rhythm. I love the way she makes me feel. It's definitely worth the fifty bucks. Professional massages are a relaxing way of benefiting a person's health. This is a subject that I have not only done extensive research on for the last six months but about which I am also practicing what I preach. Massage not only increases circulation and rids the body of nasty toxins, but it has also been medically documented to aid in the healing of cancer patients." (With thanks to Sharon Bauch)