General directions for delivery:

• Deliver the speech when assigned in class.
• 3–5 minutes. Time your speech for 4 minutes.
• Limit notes to three note cards with keywords only. No written speeches are allowed. No reading or heavy note use is allowed. The speaking style should be extemporaneous.
• No sources are needed for this speech.
• An effective introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Please avoid selecting topics that require a significant amount of set-up time, numerous objects or props, or extensive room rearrangement. Pets are always welcome.

The Speech of Self-Introduction is your chance to develop ethos or credibility when giving a short introductory speech about yourself. People frequently have to introduce themselves before a group. The speech developed as a result of this assignment is one you should keep and develop for specific situations later on in life. It is useful for job or scholarship interviews, an organization meeting where you are new, or even the first day of class. You want to isolate a few aspects of your life, personality, or beliefs that reflect favorably on you. This is often called impression management. By managing the impressions you make you want to convey competence, integrity, attractiveness (likable, easy to identify with), and natural or conferred power.

The Speech of Self-Introduction requires a general theme or purpose. The student should consider some of the following question areas for developing the speech. A “scatter shot” approach of discussing them all is not recommended:

• Geographic locations: Have you been shaped by where you grew up or by your culture?
• Important people: Who has made a great impact on you?
• Experience: Has some unique experience shaped your life?
• Activities: Do you enjoy an activity or hobby that is meaningful?
• Career or work: Are you largely defined by what you do for an occupation?
• Values: Do you have some values that are important in your life?
• Goals: Do you an overwhelming purpose in your life that defines what you do?

The speaker needs to make certain that an effective introduction and conclusion have been developed. The Speech of Self-Introduction should begin with an introduction that introduces the speech, not list the speaker’s biographical information. The conclusion should summarize the speech, not just bring general biographical information to an end.