Introduce yourself by establishing the connection between you, the audience and your speech subject. Methods of introduction include anecdotes or surprising statistics within a relevant context. For instance, during a speech to donors of a college scholarship foundation, give a brief anecdote about a past scholarship recipient. For example, tell how a particular recipient, Anna, "originally doubted whether she could afford her college application fees, let alone pay four years of tuition."
Preview the upcoming talking points during the introduction. This outline creates a flow between talking points and lets the audience know what to expect. For example, "During our time today, I'd like to discuss the three main obstacles facing first-generation college students, including limited high school guidance, a lack of financial resources and family obligations."
Introduce each subtopic in the beginning of the paragraph. For example, "We've covered the challenges of minimal college guidance and financial resources, and now I'm going to discuss the types of family obligations that affect college attendance."
Explain statistical information using real-life examples instead of citing numbers throughout your speech. For example, "Ben, a past scholarship recipient, never dreamed of being among the 15 percent of first-generation college students who graduate in four years."
Summarize the main points of your speech by restating the information without repeating yourself. For example, instead of repeating that, "poverty is a major barrier to college access," say, "a lack of financial resources hinders college attendance among underprivileged students."
Speak slowly, clearly and with conviction about the subject. Make eye contact during your speech to reaffirm the connection between yourself and the audience members. Maintain upright posture and lift your chin to avoid stooping over the podium. Practice delivering your speech in the mirror and to your friends.