Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe

1. Get the audience’s attention.2. Give the audience a reason to

listen.3. Introduce the subject.4. Establish credibility – Speaker

Ethos.5. Preview main ideas.

Get the audience’s attention1. Use an illustration.2. Give a startling fact or statistic.3. Give a quotation.4. Use appropriate humor.5. Pose a rhetorical question.6. Refer to historic/recent events.7. Give a personal reference.8. Refer to the occasion.9. Refer to a preceding speech.

Gives the audience a reason to listen

• Explain how the topic relates to them.• The topic might affect them now.• The topic might affect

them in the future.

Introduce the subject

• Present your central idea.• Remember: a complete statement.• Makes subject come real.

Establishes your credibility (Ethos)

• Be prepared.• Show confidence.• Reveal any experiences, training,

education, etc.

Preview main ideas• Tell the audience what you will discuss.• Signposted previews are better

(“first…second…third…”)

Ask yourself:1. How does the speaker capture the

attention of the listeners?2. How does the speaker motivate the

audience to listen; i.e., how does the speaker relate the topic to thelisteners’ lives?

3. Does the speaker establish credibility?4. How well does the speaker preview

the main ideas?

1.Summarize the speech.

2.Provide closure.

Methods of summarizing the speech

• Restate the main ideas.• Remind listeners of the

central theme.

Ways to provide closure• Verbal “alert” that the end is near. (“Finally,” “in closing,” etc.)• A nonverbal “signal” that the closing is

approaching.(Pause, slow down, move away, etc.)

• Motivate listeners to respond.• Refer to an idea from the introduction.• Inspire or challenge your audience.