Page 70 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 2 Your First Speech 37

Exhibit 2.1
Open with impact Organizing
Focus on your thesis statement INTRODUCTION Your Speech
Connect with your audience This seven-step organi-
Preview main points
zational pattern relates
closely to the traditional
introduction–body–
Main point 1 conclusion pattern.
(Transition)
Main point 2 BODY
(Transition)
Main point 3

Summarize your main points
Close with impact CONCLUSION

Focus on Your Thesis Statement

As we noted earlier, the thesis statement captures the central point of your
speech. For example, if you are opposed to a planned tuition hike on your cam-
pus, you should state clearly, “The students of this campus should not be forced
to pay more for less.” On the other hand, you might want to inform your audi-
ence about the types of fi nancial assistance available to them: “With effort and
persistence, you can obtain a student loan or scholarship to help meet your col-
lege expenses.”

Connect With Your Audience
Answer the questions “What’s in this for my audience?” and “Why is it in their
personal or professional interest to listen to me?” For example, will the proposed
tuition hike keep some in your audience from completing their degrees? Make
the connection to your specific audience clear in the introduction to the speech.

This is also a good place to build your credibility as a speaker. Let the audience
know you understand their concerns and have their best interests at heart. If you
have expertise on the topic, let your audience know this now so that they can ap-
preciate what is to come.
preview
A forecast of the main
Preview points of a speech.

Generally, people like a map of the territory they’re entering. The preview
main points
provides your audience with a map to where you are taking them. It forecasts the
The key ideas that sup-
main points of a speech. Although a preview of points is generally a good idea,
port the thesis statement
there may be exceptions. Had Montana Kellmer previewed the main points of of a speech.
his storytelling speech, for example it would have destroyed the impact of his