Hey, DMO. I've thought about your intro since earlier, when I read this thread while I was at school. Before going back to school several months back, I worked as an executive speechwriter and marketing copywriter for many years at a big corporation.

I liked Afghooey's idea about asking questions a lot. That be a good way to grab your listeners' attention. But I might think about going for some real drama if you want to strongly persuade people. One or another of these ideas may work with your speech's content better, so think about the angle of the rest of your message. If it's about legalization for recreational use, that is, or medical use. (Or if it's about both.)

What about an intro where you paint a very dramatic scenario: "Imagine you're a 26-year-old with an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer. You have pain all over your body. You're nauseated and vomiting from heavy doses of chemotherapy. You don't have any appetite at all. And you're having trouble sleeping."

"Now imagine that there's a single, medically beneficial, natural substance that can alleviate each of these miserable symptoms better than all the various prescribed, factory-made pharmaceuticals available from a doctor. . . . "

"And yet imagine that that substance is illegal and unavailable to you and to all the others who need it. That's the case with cannabis. . . ."

I got a little carried away there. And I wrote like I'd talk rather than the way you would, I'm sure. But that's the general idea . . . I love homework questions. Especially when they deal wtih writing.
birdgirl73 Reviewed by birdgirl73 on . attention getters (need some help please) ok, wedndesday of next week i will be presenting my persuasive speech on why the cannabis prohibition should be lifted. i have good research and i good speech outline but im having problems with my introduction. I want to really get everyones attention, so if you come up with something post it and i will definately appreciate it. the intro could be any of the following story startling statement quotation or anything else you all could think of that will really get my classmates Rating: 5