Exercise: Beginning of the Sentence
1. By a rapid historical survey introduce the discussion that women will be allowed to vote in the United States.
2. By a historical survey introduce the topic that war will cease upon the earth.
3. Using the same method introduce the opposite.
4. Using some history introduce the topic that equality for all men is approaching.
5. Using the same method introduce the opposite.
6. Starting with the amount used introduce an explanation of the manufacture of cotton goods. Any other manufactured article may be used.
7. Starting with an incident to illustrate its novelty, or speed, or convenience, or unusualness, lead up to the description or explanation of some mechanical contrivance.
Dictaphone
Adding machine
Comptometer
Wireless telegraph
Knitting machine
Moving picture camera
Moving picture machine
Self-starter
Egg boiler
Newspaper printing press
Power churn
Bottle-making machine
Voting machine
Storm in a play
Pneumatic tube
Periscope, etc.
8. Describe some finished product (as a cup of tea, a copper cent) as introduction to an explanation of its various processes of development.
9. Start with the opinion that reading should produce pleasure to introduce a recommendation of a book.
10. Start with the opinion that reading should impart information to introduce a recommendation of a book.
11. Start with the money return a business or profession offers to introduce a discussion advising a person to follow it or not.
12. Beginning with the recent war lead up to the topic that military training should be a part of all regular education.
13. Beginning from the same point introduce the opposite.
14. Beginning with an item—or a fictitious item—from a newspaper recounting an accident lead up to workmen's compensation laws, or preventive protective measures in factories, or some similar topic.
15. Using a personal or known experience introduce some topic dealing with the survival of superstitions.
16. Choosing your own material and treatment introduce some theme related to the government, or betterment of your community.
17. Introduce a topic dealing with the future policy of your city, county, state, or nation.
18. Lead up to the statement of a change you would like to recommend strongly for your school.
19. In as interesting a manner as possible lead up to a statement of the business or profession you would like to follow.
20. Introduce a speech in which you intend to condemn something, by dealing with your introductory material ironically.
21. Imagine that you are presiding at a meeting of some club, society, or organization which has been called to discuss a definite topic. Choose the topic for discussion and deliver the speech bringing it before the session.
22. You have received a letter from a member of some organization who suggests that a society to which you belong join with it in some kind of contest or undertaking. Present the suggestion to your society.
23. You believe that soma memorial to the memory of some person should be established in your school, lodge, church, club. Introduce the subject to a group of members so that they may discuss it intelligently.
24. Introduce some topic to the class, but so phrase your material that the announcement of the topic will be a complete surprise to the members. Try to lead them away from the topic, yet so word your remarks that later they will realize that everything you said applies exactly to the topic you introduce.
25. Lead up to the recital of some mystery, or ghostly adventure.
26. Lead up to these facts. "For each 10,000 American-born workmen in a steel plant in eight years, 21 were killed; and for each non-English speaking foreign born, 26 were killed. Non-English speaking show 65 permanently disabled as compared with 28 who spoke English. Of temporarily disabled only 856 spoke English as compared with 2035 who did not."
27. Introduce the topic: Training in public speaking is valuable for all men and women.
28. In a genial manner suitable to the season's feelings introduce some statement concerning New Year's resolutions.
29. Frame some statement concerning aviation. Introduce it.
30. Introduce topics or statements related to the following:
The eight-hour day.
The principles of Socialism.
Legitimate methods of conducting strikes.
Extending the Monroe Doctrine.
Studying the classics, or modern languages.
Private fortunes.
College education for girls.
Direct presidential vote.
A good magazine.
Some great woman.
Sensible amusements.
Fashions.
Agriculture.
Business practice.
Minimum wages.
Equal pay for men and women.