336 INTRODUCTORY SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Brooklyn Roads
1 As the poet E. E. Cummings once said, “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is
doing its best, day and night, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which
any human being can fight.” As a young boy, your classmate Danny made a promise to himself to
fight for his individuality, and to this day he has not given up on that promise.
2 Growing up in a poverty-stricken Brooklyn neighborhood, Danny had hopes of making his
individual mark in the world. He saw the struggles his parents endured because they didn’t have
the same opportunities as kids today. With his parents’ support, he ventured outside Brooklyn to
Manhattan, where he attended grammar school and high school. While in high school, Danny de-
cided that he wanted to attend college, something that neither of his parents had the chance to do.
3 When choosing a school, Danny again showed his individuality. While most of his friends
BROOKLYN ROADS 337
Brooklyn Roads
Commentary
Organized around the theme of individuality, “Brooklyn Roads” is a 2–minute speech introducing a class-
mate. Video of the speech is available online and on the DVD of student speeches that accompanies this
edition of The Art of Public Speaking. Here is a brief synopsis.
Specific Purpose: To introduce my classmate Danny to the audience.
Central Idea: Throughout his life Danny has demonstrated his individuality.
Method of Organization: Topical
Introduction: Paragraph 1 serves as the speaker’s introduction. The opening quotation gains the audi-