An+Awesome+Introduction

**Writing an Excellent Speech Introduction.** Writing an introduction which demands the attention of the audience is really important for an effective speech. A good introduction should grab the attention of its hearers, state the speech’s purpose and set the ‘tone’ for the rest of the speech. If the introduction doesn’t convince the audience why they need to listen to the speech, then don’t expect them to hang around to find out. They might physically still be there but they have long since tuned you out - they're no longer paying you any attention. In addition, the introduction should conclude with a sentence that smoothly moves the listener to the first main point of the body of the speech. It should also let the audience know who you are and what you’re going to talk about. Your introduction is what really decides whether your audience is going to pay attention to your speech or not. An excellent speech introduction will ‘hook’ your audience in.

=Some tips for effective speech introductions are……...=

1.Use dialogue (conversation)
e.g. “Muuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm?! Have you seen my homework?” “It’s on the table where you left it” “I looked there but it’s not!” “Well then, it’s in the lounge!” “I looked there too but it’s not there either” “Well, I don’t know - How many times have I told you to take care of your stuff?” (to the audience) How many times have you been told to take care of your ‘stuff’? Hi! I’m Nigella Hoosenheffer and I’m here to talk to you about how you can organise your things so you never again have to deal with last minute panic sessions, grumpy teachers or even grumpier mums.

2. Using Humour
What’s brown, long and sticky? A stick insect silly. Good Morning! I’m Reginald Ramsbottom and I know what you were thinking my speech was going to be about!! Well….my speech is not about long, brown and sticky things. My speech is about insects. Insects...love em, hate em, from them or run after them….you can’t deny - they sure are weird and wonderful creatures.

3. Asking Questions
Do you have a brother? Do you have a little brother? Do you have a little brother who insists on going in your room? Do you have a little brother who insists on going in your room and opening your special, secret, treasures drawer and taking out all your things? Do you have a little brother who always cries to Mum when you tell him off for taking your special things and your Mum TAKES HIS SIDE? Well…...if you do, I know what you’re going through because I do too! Hi I’m Penelope Purtinroy and I’m here to tell you about annoying little brothers.

4. Setting the Scene - using descriptions.
Imagine you are sitting on the lush green grass in clearing of a cool, native forest of ferns. You look up and see blue sky and fluffy white clouds peeking at you between the gently arching branches. From close by, you hear the gentle trilling of a Tui celebrating the warm sunshine. Your nostrils are filled with the earthy aroma of nature in perfect harmony………………… Now imagine the loud, bossy, interruption of a smokey, angry chainsaw as it crashes through the stillness, eating the trees one by one, destroying bird and insect life. Hi! I’m Xanthe Hershwhite and I am here to talk to you about our beautiful native forests, how important they are and how we need to protect them.