How to Write an Introduction Speech for a Candidate
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Contact the campaign for background information and suggestions.telephone 1 image by Aussiebloke from Fotolia.com
Check with the candidate or the campaign manager. A well-organized campaign will be able to give you "talking points" -- the topics the candidate would like you to mention -- or biographical highlights. - 2
Tailor your talk to your audience.rows of seats image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
Learn about the audience you'll be addressing. Introducing a candidate at a political convention is very different from introducing one at a small local gathering. At a large political rally, you might be called on to generate enthusiasm. If that's the case, you'll be writing a very partisan speech -- emphasize the subjects where the candidate and audience are most likely to have the same opinion. Be absolutely certain that you are sharing the candidate's position, not your own. Don't assume that you know where the candidate stands -- ask her. If you are introducing a candidate to a smaller, less formal gathering -- a local chamber of commerce or civic organization -- it's a good idea to stick to biographical information. Let the audience judge the candidate's views as she presents them. If you are introducing more than one candidate, perhaps at a debate or forum, make sure that each introduction is neutral and roughly the same length. - 3
No one has ever complained that a speech was too short.Pas de temps image by Palindra from Fotolia.com
Determine the correct length. This is often dictated by the setting. If you're speaking at a convention, you are in effect speaking "for" the candidate and your introduction can be a bit longer. If you're introducing a candidate to a lunchtime Kiwanis meeting, keep it short. And if you ever want to be asked to introduce a candidate again, be absolutely certain that your introduction is shorter than the candidate's speech. - 4
Get information from the candidate, but do your own research as well.newspaper image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
Research the candidate. Read newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs. If the candidate has a website, read it thoroughly. If time permits, talk to people who know the candidate. Ask them to tell you stories about the candidate that you can repeat. Don't ask, "What is he like?" You'll get bland generalities -- "He's really nice" -- that won't help your introduction. - 5
Understand the issues, but set your opinion aside.argumentation image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com
Research the election. What are the key issues? Where does the candidate stand, and how does that differ from her opponent? - 6
Get organized first, then start writing.legal pad and mechanical pencil image by alpy7 from Fotolia.com
Write the introduction. A fair estimate is that you will speak at 60 words a minute, so if you're writing a five-minute introduction, aim for 300 words. Start with a short outline -- a list of points you want to cover -- then arrange those points in the most effective order. Start with something that will catch the audience's attention -- a story about the candidate, perhaps. Follow that with background information -- the candidate's biographical highlights or, for a longer introduction, some of the candidate's talking points. Be certain to include the position the candidate is running for. Conclude with the candidate's name. - 7
Reciting the speech into a mirror will help you identify the weak spots.mirror image by Lars Christensen from Fotolia.com
Practice your introduction several times, speaking out loud and using a stopwatch. Speak into a mirror. Test the speech on your friends or family and ask for feedback. Be very comfortable with your introduction before you try to deliver it to a group of people. Confidence in your speech will greatly reduce any anxiety you might have about public speaking.
