THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT 313
There’s an App for That
1 A Portuguese dictionary? There’s an app for that. How to cook so she’s impressed? Yeah,
there’s an app for that. A game to play when class gets boring? There’s an app for that, too. But is
there an app for me, Michael Taylor? I’d like to think there are a few. Some of the things that
make me who I am can be found by looking at the Photobucket, ESPN, and Pandora apps on my
iPhone.
2 The first app you’d find would be Photobucket, which my little sister made me download.
It holds the newest photos of life back home and allows my sister to share her photography talents
3 Because I’m an athlete, I’d be lost without my ESPN ScoreCenter app. It gives me up–to–
the–minute scores on any sport. I played football, baseball, and basketball in high school, and I
would rather be on a team than compete by myself. Through sports, I have learned the importance
of being part of something bigger than myself. I’ve also learned how to lose with dignity and how
to win with class.
4 Finally, there’s the Pandora app, which makes it super easy to explore new songs and
groups. I’ve been involved with music ever since I started playing piano as a kid. Now I play jazz
314 INTRODUCTORY SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
There’s an App for That
Commentary
Creative, effectively structured, and confidently delivered, “There’s an App for That” is a speech of self–
introduction that uses iPhone applications to explain aspects of the speaker’s life and personality. By ana-
lyzing this speech—and any of the introductory speeches in this manual—students will get a better idea of
how to construct their own speeches. “There’s an App for That” is available online and on the DVD of
student speeches that accompanies this edition of The Art of Public Speaking. Below is a synopsis.
Specific Purpose: To introduce myself to the audience by explaining how applications on my iPhone
reveals important aspects of my life and personality.
Central Idea: The Photobucket, ESPN, and Pandora apps on my iPhone provide a glimpse into my
family life, my interest in sports, and my musical abilities.
Method of Organization: Topical
Introduction: The introduction gains the audience’s attention by asking brief questions and answering
them with the familiar tagline “There’s an App for That.” This widely recognized phrase not only
Body: Each main point in the body of the speech is organized around a different app. Notice, however,
that the purpose of the main points is not to discuss the apps, but to use them to reveal different
aspects of the speaker’s life. The first main point uses the Photobucket app to discuss the speak-
er’s family. The second main point uses the ESPN ScoreCenter app to discuss the speaker’s ath-