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Introduction Speech Worksheet
This worksheet sure does come with a lot of instructions, doesn’t it? Yep. That’s
because this is our first official speech assignment and I want to provide you with all of
the information you need to successfully draft your first speech of the semester!
Assignment Checklist:
Be sure to include all of required elements of this worksheet before you submit it. Below
is a list of the required items for this assignment that you can reference:
o I wrote an author’s note in the space provided that includes the information
required
o I included all of the information in my speech as noted in the example outline
provided below (reminder that while all of the information from the outline needs
to be included, it does not have to appear in the same order as is outlined
below).
o My speech is written in full sentences, but is also an outline that follows the
formatting as shown below with Roman numerals, numbers, and letters properly
o I cited a minimum of three web-based resources using APA format and have
titled the list of citations with the word “References.” (Reminder to mention your
sources out loud when you present the information found from the sources. This
is called verbal or oral citations).
Introduction Speech Worksheet Instructions:
There are three pieces to this worksheet including the author’s note, your full-sentence
outline, and your references.
1. The Author’s Note:
As you saw in the checklist, an author’s note is required for writing. It’s not meant to
give you more to do, but actually benefit you. You will include an author’s note above
your outline so your peers and me can read it before reviewing the draft of your
introduction speech.
What an author’s note is:
This is likely the first time you’ve written an “author’s note.” The purpose is for you to lay
the groundwork for response from your peers and me. It’s literally a note from you to us
so we have some context before reviewing your work. It also points us to specific areas
you most want us to review. Information you can include in your author’s note for this
assignment varies depending by student. The author’s note should be a paragraph but
no more than two and be specific to this assignment only. For example, you might
include a comment about something that were unsure about such as formatting
expectations, how to transition from the introduction to the first paragraph, or whether a
certain sentence says what you actually mean. This targeted commentary will lead to
targeted peer and instructor feedback. The goal is for all of us to work together to
improve you’re the overall product – the outline and speech.
What an author’s note is not:
The author’s note is meant to be constructive and not destructive in nature. To that end,
do not feel the need to apologize about your work, air complaints about having to
complete the assignment, comment about (in)adequate time to complete your
assignment, or merely summarize what we are about to read. Rather, it’s more
productive if you use the author’s note to help shed light on areas that we should help
you improve upon. Below are some examples of information you can include. Your
comments can vary from the ones below.
Author’s note examples:
Here are some example comments and questions that could be found in an author’s
note:
Ask questions to the instructor as a reader and/or to your peers
• I am trying to scare the audience a bit with my attention-getter. I want them to
understand just how serious this issue is. Did it have that impact on you?
• I wasn’t sure about my third paragraph. I don’t know if I should keep it or not — it
seems like a lot of extra stuff that I don’t need, but maybe the audience finds it
helpful? I timed my speech and have enough time to keep it but don’t know if I
should.
• Do you think this transition ties the 2nd body paragraph together well with the 3rd
or should I include more information from the 2nd body paragraph to make it more
cohesive?
Discuss your process
• I thought I was going to conduct research on just basic preparation skills, but the
more I searched online, the more I found it helpful to include specific strategies
for improving certain side effects that most students mentioned they experience
(including me).
• This might seem a bit unorthodox, but I want to try something new and see how
my peers respond to this approach.
• The assignment asked me to do X, and here’s how I interpreted that in my
writing.
• I found a ton of articles on this part of my speech, but not so much on the other. I
think it led to too much focus on one area versus the other.
2. Full-Sentence Outline:
This course will familiarize you with how to outline a speech if you are not already.
Some outlines for this course will be brief, using short phrases while others will be full
sentence. It’s important, especially for less experienced speech writers to outline their
talking points. The outline can be used for a lot of purposes including to aid in you with
practicing your speech to act as a reminder of what to say next. Additionally, the
phrases from the outline can be used on your note cards and added to PowerPoint
slides or other visual aids.
For this speech your outline should be written in full sentences. The outline below can,
but is not required to, include every single sentence of your speech draft but can. You
might find that several sentences are included for a single Roman numeral, letter, or
number.
Below is the outline format (when to use a Roman numeral versus, a capital letter, or
number. It also includes the information you must incorporate into your first speech. Be
sure to review the details below before you start drafting your speech. While each
paragraph must include the listed information as outlined, the order in which you
structure it in within the paragraph is up to you. You can review additional information
on outlining from Purdue’s Online Writing Labe (OWL) on their site.
If you want, you can replace the text below as a template to follow and just the words
with your sentences. You can delete any of the extra and also add more information as
you see fit.
Follow the template below. Your speech should have an introduction, body (with two-
three main points), and a conclusion.
I. Introduction
A. Attention-getter (this should be something to grab the audience’s attention like a
quotation, joke, brief story, etc.)
B. Your Name
C. Program of study, potential program of study, and/or career path
D. School you are currently attending
E. Reason(s) you registered for this course
Transition: Use a transitional word or phrase to connect your introduction paragraph
with your first body paragraph. Here’s a great website from UNC on transitions. You can
keep your transitional word, phrase or sentence(s) separate from the outline by deleting
this information out and replacing it with your own transitional word or phrase.
Alternatively, you can include your transitional word or phrase directly in sentences of
your paragraphs.
II. Body Paragraph #1 (Main Point I) – Replace this text with a word or phrase
that summarizes your first body paragraph
A. Career plan(s)
B. Three reasons why becoming a more effective speaker is important to your
career and/or life and why.
C. What kind of speaking experience(s) have you had in classes, jobs,
extracurricular activities, organizations, etc.? If none, explain why or if you feel
that will change.
D. What are your greatest strengths as a public speaker and/or communicator? Be
specific.
E. What are three goals you have for improving your public speaking and overall
communication in this course? Be specific.
Transition: Use a transitional word or phrase to connect your introduction paragraph
with your first body paragraph. Here’s a great website from UNC on transitions. You can
keep your transitional word, phrase or sentence(s) separate from the outline by deleting
this information out and replacing it with your own transitional word or phrase.
Alternatively, you can include your transitional word or phrase directly in sentences of
your paragraphs.
III. Body Paragraph #2 (Main Point II) – Replace this text with a word or phrase
that summarizes your first body paragraph
A. You can use the research and information you gathered yourself and information
from your peers to complete this paragraph (and potentially a third paragraph).
B. Tell us about what you experience when you are nervous or anxious as it relates
to public speaking or thinking about public speaking(e.g., sweaty palms, negative
self-talk, procrastination, red face, shaky voice, fidgety movements, negative self-
talk, blanking out, procrastination, etc.).
C. Review the information from last assignment that you and your peers provided
and/or do additional research for this part of the speech.
D. Tell us about what side effects you experience. Discuss and describe three tips,
techniques, strategies, etc. that directly address the side effects you encounter.
This advice is critical for you and helpful to your peers.
1. For example, you might tell your peers to be sure to give enough time to
prepare his/her speech. Experts suggest that for each minute of a speech,
a speaker should practice and prepare for one hour. If a speaker prepares
as such, it will reduce stage fright by 75%. Notice how the tip/technique is
substantive and can be helpful to your peers. You can find information for
this response online as well as pull some suggestions from the tips and
techniques videos provided in this module.
2. The tips, techniques, and/or strategies you present *must be something
you will try. For example, do not suggest Botox injections in your palms if
they get sweaty (unless you really will get them…).
E. Then, provide at least three tips, techniques, strategies, etc. that are beneficial
for all speakers. They do not have to be directly related to anxiety. Rather, they
can address improving as a speaker (e.g., preparation, delivery, organization,
practice).
F. When you include the information in your speech from other sources, be sure to
orally tell us which website/resource you are pulling this information from. For
example, you might say something like, “Per the Toastmaster’s International
website, a speaker should always (state the tip or strategy) …” This is called
citing your sources verbally.
Transition: Use a transitional word or phrase to connect your first body paragraph with
your second body paragraph. Here’s a great website from UNC on transitions.
IV. Conclusion
A. What is your plan to include these techniques, strategies, and/or tips in your
planning, preparation, and while you present? Tell us your
B. What other efforts might you employ to improve your success this semester (time
management, practice multiple times over several days)?
3. Citing your Sources Using APA format
In this module, you should have done some web-based research to find information on
best practices relating to public speaking as well as tips and strategies for overcoming
physical and emotional side effects commonly encountered when speaking in public or
at the thought of speaking in public. You can incorporate some of that research in this
speech and/or do some additional research for this speech. Regardless, you must
include information found from at least *three websites and cite any websites used to
write this speech using APA format.
Information in this module also provided you information on how to format your web-
based resources in APA format. You will include the three or more cited sources below
on this worksheet. Be sure to title the list of resources with the word “References.” I also
expect to hear a verbal citation when you present your speech each time you include
information from one of your sources. This module includes information on how to cite
your sources verbally. Finally, be sure to alphabetize your references by either the
author’s last name or the website title. Below is an example of what a References list
might look like.
References
Manzer, J. A. (2016, February 3). Citations guidelines. Retrieved from
www.speechclass.com
Manzer, J. A., & Hellbusch, L. S. (2018, April 4). Citations guidelines. Retrieved from
www.speechclass.com
Speech class. (2017). Retrieved from www.cccneb.edu
Next Steps:
You can approach preparing the draft of your introduction speech, which in this case, is
a full-sentence outline, in a variety of ways. One way might include copying and pasting
the outline above into a new document and filling in the information with your own and
deleting anything that is extra – using it as a template. You can also start your outline on
this document and submit this entire worksheet in Canvas. Regardless of your
approach, be sure to revisit the checklist above to ensure you’ve included the author’s
note, full-sentence outline, and references. Once you are ready, attach your completed
introduction speech outline to the link listed in Canvas.
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