I need help getting a speech started...?

Question

I am writing an intro speech for my class about alcoholisim. I only have to introduce the subject for 1-2 min's and make sure that I have an attention grabber. I was thinking about using some kind of crazy statistic like "14 million americans suffer from alcoholism..." as my attention grabber but I can't think of anything else after that. Any suggestions????

Answer 1

Do you want a real attention grabber? Yes, I am serious, I do a lot of public speaking. Here it is:

Come in the door (or get up from your seat), stumble up there with an empty bottle. No doubt you'll hear laughter and that's okay, it's what you want. Now you have their attention and you can begin your speech. Slur your opening line: "hay everbody ma name is joe and I don't think I'm an alcoholic" THAT is your attention grabber. Then cut the act, get serious by starting: "A lot of people laugh at drunks, but alcholism is nothing to joke about. Over 14 million Americans summer from alcoholism. Of that, ___% are under the legal drinking age" try going to MAAD SITE, you can find stats for underage drinking etc.
This is a good starter and I hope you like it. Good luck.

Answer 2

people can't relate to the number 14 million...so it doesn't really have that big of an impact.

Think about it, if you're listening to a speech, does 14 million make any difference between 4 million or 40 million? They're all large numbers, larger than we've ever seen at one time...so it's hard to understand the significance of the statistic.

It'd be better to tell some story, even if you have to make it up, about your grandpa or uncle or someone who suffered with alcoholism and ultimately ended up losing their life, or something else dramatic. Everyone has someone they love, and if they can relate your story to someone in their life, it'll be more personal and grab their attention better.

Answer 3

Start with a provocative statement. Something ironic and/or outrageous that makes it personal. This engages your speakers.

For example, an opening statement against tobacco might start with some of the PR statements big tobacco has made about how safe cigarettes are. Maybe you could find statements that shock your audience.

Also, you could start with an individual story of someone who got in a car crash and was disfigured. Then talk about this persons story and set it against a backdrop of statistics that attempt to drive the point across on how widespread it is.

Answer 4

Never write a speech! Just get up there and start talking! This is where the education system has failed, because the system is ruled by intellectuals instead of people with sense!

Don't be like them and don't go through life planning speeches and trying to figure out what you're going to say.

Look... if you write a speech, there's point whatseover in speaking it. You should SIMPLY BE MORE HONEST and pass it out in print to people. That is the purpose for writing, but the purpose for speaking is expressing yourself from your heart.

Mostly insincere people (like the majority of the politicians) write out speeches. It's actually rather dishonest, in my opinion. I think that if it's going to be done, then the speaker should hold the paper with his speech high in the air, so that everyone can see that he's reading, for certain.

Again, they're not going to teach you that in school, because they don't have a clue.

Answer 5

I say start off with a sad and tragic story about someone who lost their life to alcoholism.

Answer 6

write an anecdote and use that....that is tell about a story
maybe interview and recovered alcoholic and tell about their struggles
you want to connect with your audience through emotion

Answer 7

Once upon a time...