Writing the Introduction of the Speech | Speech Writing Lesson

In the previous speech writing lesson, you learned outlining. The parts of a written speech were mentioned. After organizing the data, it is now time to write them down.

A speech starts with an introduction. It is where you write your main idea. As it is what you start to deliver to your audience, it must capture the attention of the audience. The following are some ways of writing a powerful, attention-grabbing statement for your introduction.

1. Pose a question.

Example: How many schools around the world were shut down by the deadly COVID-19 in 2020?

2. Write surprising facts or statistics/ figures.

Example: UNICEF reported last September 2020 that more than 1 billion schoolchildren are at risk of falling behind due to school closures as a step toward stopping the spread of COVID-19.

3. Use current events.

Example: The Department of Education gladly shared last November that there were no cases of COVID-19 recorded during the first week of the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in some schools in the country.

4. Share your experience or personal story.

Example: Being a senior high school learner in the new normal is not easy. I need to study remotely. My brother and I share a cellphone to attend online classes.

5. Use a quote, song lyrics, lines from fiction, and poems.

Example: “Education must continue even in times of crisis, whether it may be a calamity, disaster, emergency, quarantine, or even war.” This is what DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis- Briones said regarding the department's plan to continue offering basic education during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After writing attention grabber you need to write your thesis statement. A thesis statement is a one-sentence statement of what your speech is all about. Below is an example of a thesis statement.

Example: Education must be given importance at all times, especially during a pandemic.

Now that you have learned how to write an introduction, it is now your turn. Write your greetings to your audience, attention grabber, and thesis statement.

Sources:

Domingo, M. et al. (2020). Oral communication in context quarter 2 – module 3: principles of effective speech writing and delivery. Department of Education- Region IV-A CALABARZON: Rizal

Sipacio, P. J. & Balgos, A. R. (2016). Oral communication in context for senior high school. C & E Publishing, Inc.: Quezon City

Waguey, L. Personal communication, February 5, 2018

This is originally posted on Commpany Facebook page. Visit the page for graphical presentation of this lesson.