Assignment: Revolutionary Thinking,”Assignment: Revolutionary ThinkingAssignment: Revolutionary ThinkingAssignment: Revolutionary Thinking I won’t be revealing priceless treasures. I promise not to overthrow any- one, or generate any 9-1-1 calls. But I do hope to reveal a few speechwriting se- crets, provide a little revolutionary thinking and a sense of urgency about the speeches you ought to be giving.**How do you discover anniversaries of historic events? You could consult “This Day in History” online (www.history.com/this-day-in-history) or download a “This Day in History” app for the iPhone or iPad.References to Recent Events If your topic is timely, a reference to a recent event can be a good way to begin your speech. An opening taken from a recent news story can take the form of an illustration, a startling statistic, or even a quotation, gaining the additional advantages discussed under each of those methods of introduction. Moreover, referring to a recent event in- creases your credibility by showing that you are knowledgeable about current affairs.“Recent” does not necessarily mean a story that broke just last week or even last month. An event that occurred within the past year or so can be considered recent. Even a particularly significant event that is slightly older can qualify. The key, says one speaker,is to avoid being your grandfather. No more stories about walking up hill both ways to school with a musket on your back and seventeen Redcoats chasing you. Be in the now, and connect with your audience.17Personal References A reference to yourself can take several forms. You might express appreciation or pleasure at having been asked to speak, as did this speaker:I would like, if I may, to start on a brief personal note. It is a great pleasure for me to be speaking in Cleveland, Ohio. This is where I grew up. Since then, I have trav- eled all over the world, but I have never stopped missing Ohio.18Or you might share a personal experience, as did this speaker:Like some of you in the audience, I’ve held many jobs before finding my true call- ing, from washing cars to waiting tables and taking care of animals. . . .19Although personal references take a variety of forms, what they do best, in all cir- cumstances, is to establish a bond between you and your audience.References to the Occasion References to the occasion are often made at weddings, birthday parties, dedication cer- emonies, and other such events. For example, when former first lady Laura Bush spoke at a White House Salute to America’s Authors, she opened her remarks this way:Good afternoon. Welcome to the “White House Salute to America’s Authors.” This program, the second in a series on American authors, celebrates one of the richest literary periods in American history, the Harlem Renaissance, and the authors whose genius brought it to life.20CONSIDER THEAUDIENCE** From “How to Write a Speech,” February 16, 2010. Reprinted by permission of Cynthia J. Starks.Purposes of Conclusions 193The reference to the occasion can also be combined with other methods of introduc- tion, such as an illustration or a rhetorical question.References to Preceding Speeches If your speech is one of several being presented on the same occasion, such as in a speech class, at a symposium, or as part of a lecture series, you will usually not know until shortly before your own speech what other speakers will say. Few experiences will make your stomach sink faster than hearing a speaker just ahead of you speak on your topic. Worse still, that speaker may even use some of the same supporting ma- terials you had planned to use. When this happens, you must decide on the spot whether referring to one of those previous speeches will be better than using the introduction you originally prepared. It may be wise to refer to a preceding speech when another speaker has spoken on a topic so related to your own that you can draw an analogy. In a sense, your introduction then becomes a transition from that earlier speech to yours. Here is an example of an introduction delivered by a fast-thinking student speaker under those circumstances:When Juli talked to us about her experiences as a lifeguard, she stressed that the job was not as glamorous as many of us imagine. Today I want to tell you about another job that appears to be more glamorous than it is—a job that I have held for two years. I am a bar- tender at the Rathskeller.21As you plan your introduction, remember that any combination of the methods just discussed is possible. With a little practice, you will become confident at choosing from several good possibilities as you prepare your introduction.Purposes of Conclusions Your introduction creates an important first impression