Which of the following aspects of a speech, if well crafted, will capture your listeners’ interest
in your topic and preview the points you plan to make?
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 12-02 Describe the goals of a speech introduction.
Topic: Speech Introductions
Levi is giving a persuasive speech on drunk driving. He knows that he must generate interest
in the topic during his introduction, so he wants to make an impact with his opening
statement. Which of the following opening statements would be the LEAST effective for Levi’s
speech?
Every 39 minutes, one person dies as a result of drunk driving. That means that by the end
of our class today, two people will have lost their lives because of drunk drivers.
Ever been at a party? Had a drink, maybe two, three? But you’re fine to drive, right? We’ve
all done it. And yet … did you know that it takes only three martinis to reach the legal
limit? Or two frozen daiquiris? That’s not much, is it?
I’d like to show you a picture of Suzanne. At three years old, Suzanne was vivacious, full of
life, and ready to take on the world-until, that is, her mother decided to drive drunk with
Suzanne in the car. Now Suzanne is in a coma, and doctors are not optimistic she will ever
wake up.
Drunk driving is a serious problem in our country. I will share some stories with you today,