Speech 1: Introductory Speech

LA101H – Robin Kramer

During this 3-4 minute speech you will introduce yourself to your audience by sharing a text that relates to who you are in some important way. The main objectives of this ungraded but required speech are:

  • to help you and your fellow students and instructor become acquainted
  • to give you a low-stakes opportunity to practice your public speaking skills

For this speech, you will select a text (a piece of oral or written material) that has special significance for you. The text you select might be a passage from a book, poem, article, or song; it could be an excerpted quote from a speech or memorable conversation. The text you choose should express or relate to who you are in some important way. You will then summarize the text and explain how it illustrates something about your character, beliefs, values, or goals.

Introductory Speech Requirements

  • Your introduction should contain an engaging attention getter that goes beyond a predictable introduction of your name. Additionally, the intro should contain a vivid central claim (thesis) that serves as the guiding idea for your speech and a preview that outlines the main points you will cover.
  • The text should be quoted, paraphrased, summarized, or described early in the speech, and the speech should then provide reasons why the text says something important about you.
  • In terms of organization, the body of your speech should be well organized with clear transitions between supporting points. The audience should be able to follow along with your ideas at all times, knowing where you are in the speech.
  • The speech should end with a focused and definite conclusion in which you revisit the main points and end with thoughtfulness and impact.
  • Even though this speech is primarily about you, it should nevertheless engage your audience.
  • Delivery should be extemporaneous and engaging; that is, deliver the speech in a conversational manner, using only a brief notes or speaking outline. You should not read your speech from a manuscript, nor should you recite it from memory. This class will encourage you to begin thinking of public speaking as conversational and audience-appropriate, but not too informal. In other words, extemporaneous does not mean “on the fly.”
  • In addition to whatever notes you may use while speaking, please bring a second typed copy of your notes or outline. You will submit this to me at the start of class. Your submitted notes/outline should abide by the following standards:
  • Write out the introduction, transitions, and conclusion in complete sentences. (These areas tend to be difficult for speakers to navigate, so precisely thinking about how you will start, move between ideas, and close the speech is important.)
  • The body of the speech does not need to be written in complete sentences, but make sure that the concepts areunderstandable to someone who has not yet heard the presentation if they read your notes/outline.
  • Don’t forget to include a citation of your text at the end of your notes/outline.
  • This speech will be ungraded, but I will provide feedback for you after your performance.