Chapter 9: Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively

Theunquietlibrarian – 21st Century Research Tool – CC BY-NC 2.0.

One of the most common complaints novice public speakers have is that they simply don’t know how to start a speech. Many times speakers get ideas for how to begin their speeches as they go through the process of researching and organizing ideas. In this chapter, we will explore why introductions are important and various ways speakers can create memorable introductions. There may not be any one “best” way to start a speech, but we can provide some helpful guidelines that will make starting a speech much easier.