1.5 Following a Model
Learning Objective
Visualize how starting with a model gives you an initial experience of success.
“Okay, that’s all well and good,” you might say. “But how can I even get started with a short speech introduction when I haven’t actually seen many public speeches, never paid much attention to public speeches, and never really noticed how they’re introduced? If I have no idea what makes a good introduction, how am I supposed to come up with one?”
If that’s what you were thinking (right?), then you’d be quite correct. You can’t produce a “good” speech introduction if you don’t know what a “good” introduction is supposed to be like. Now, your instructor could (and, in fact, will) tell you what makes a good speech introduction. But there’s no substitute for having the experience of actually hearing yourself, in your own voice, speak a good introduction—and for that matter, a good conclusion.
So, to get you started, for your first speech you’ll be provided a two-minute model An example for purposes of emulation or imitation. introduction and two-minute model conclusion to use. As explained previously, first you’ll read them to your small group, then read them to the class, then practice delivering them from notecards in your small group, and finally deliver them from notecards to the class. When we get to Chapter 2 “Best Foot Forward: Introducing Your Speech” and Chapter 3 “All’s Well That Ends Well: Concluding Your Speech”, you’ll see the versions of model introductions and conclusions you can choose.
These models will give you the experience of hearing yourself speaking an effective attention-getter, establishing your topic’s importance and your own credibility, stating your thesis and main points, and then transitioning to the body of your speech (and for your conclusion, the experience of transitioning from the body, then restating your thesis and main points, providing a memorable closure, and calling your audience to action). Then, having not only read an effective introduction and conclusion in a book, but having experienced vocalizing them yourself, you can use these as models for your speeches over the rest of the semester.
Key Takeaway
Models are an essential beginning because you can’t produce something “good” if you don’t know what “good” looks like.
Exercise
Discuss possible errors someone might make by attempting to produce something—a speech, a craft, a recipe, or anything—without a model or even having seen one before.