Communications Merit Badge: Sample Guest-Speaker Introductions

Friday, March 9, 2012

Sample Guest-Speaker Introductions

In writing your introduction, you will want to be fairly brief. You will share with the audience important details about the person's life, background, and accomplishments. You may want to mention what the speaker will be talking about, why he or she is an expert on that topic, or why you invited the speaker to come. The more interesting your introduction is, the more likely the audience is to pay close attention.

Here is a sample introduction from the Communications merit badge book:

Thanks for coming today. We have a special guest speaker today, Detective Tom Jackson with the Minneapolis Police Department. Detective Jackson is a 10-year veteran of the police department and has solved many puzzling crimes in our area. He has a bachelor's degree in law enforcement from Iowa State University. When he is not working, he teaches karate and coaches Little League baseball. Detective Jackson has graciously agreed to speak to us today about his position and other career opportunities in law enforcement. Please welcome Detective Jackson.

And here is another sample introduction for a Scout group (found on the Internet):

Careers in corporate law are of great interest to our Explorer post. Tonight, we are honored to have a speaker whose experience and background will highlight these careers. After graduating from the Georgetown University School of Law, our speaker was assistant U.S. attorney for Ohio for three years before joining the legal staff of the General Foods Corporation. She belongs to the American Bar Association, Corporate Lawyers League, and United Fund Board, and chairs our County Legal Aid Society. She received the Governor’s Medal for Juvenile Justice and was elected to the Georgetown University Outstanding Alumni. Currently, she is the director of General Foods’ legal department, serves as counsel to the board of directors, and has extensive legal experience in copyright law, patents, and product liability. Leisure time is spent with her husband and sons either restoring their Victorian home or skiing in Colorado. “It is a pleasure to present . . . Jane Smith.

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Requirements / Course Syllabus

Notes: Three requirements (1, 2, and 7) offer various options. For simplicity, we will focus in class on the options listed below. If you want to do a different option, that's fine; just tell me (the full requirements [with all of the options] are listed on this Web site). Some requirements are beyond the scope of this class (attend a public meeting, give a speech, conduct a Court of Honor or campfire program). You will need to report to me when you have completed those requirements independently.

Week 1

1. Do ONE of the following: [option d:] List as many ways as you can think of to communicate with others. For each type of communication, discuss with your counselor an instance when that method might not be appropriate or effective.

We will do this in class together.

2. Do ONE of the following: [option a:] Think of a creative way to describe yourself, using, for example, a collage, short story or autobiography, drawing or series of photographs, or a song or skit. Using the aid you created, make a presentation to your counselor about yourself.

You will need to come to the first class prepared with a brief (2-3 minutes) introduction.

Week 2

4. Interview someone you know fairly well, like, or respect because of his or her position, talent, career or life experiences. Listen actively to learn as much as you can about the person. Then prepare and deliver to your counselor an introduction of the person as though this person were to be a guest speaker, and include reasons why the audience would want to hear this person speak. Show how you would call to invite this person to speak.

You should come to class having interviewed someone already and prepared to introduce him or her to the class (in 2-3 minutes); the person being introduced does not need to come to class. We will discuss interviewing and introductions in the first class session.

7. Do ONE of the following: [option a:] Write to the editor of a magazine or your local newspaper to express your opinion or share information on any subject you choose. Send your message by fax, e-mail or regular mail.

We will start this in class together. I will have some issues and publications for you to respond to, but you will be welcome to choose your own if there is a different issue about which you feel strongly. We will talk about how to write a letter and discuss the issues you could talk about. You may begin to write your letter in class, but you will need to complete it (including typing it up and sending it) at home before the next class.

Week 3

6. With your counselor's approval, develop a plan to teach a skill or inform someone about something. Prepare teaching aids for your plan. Carry out your plan. With your counselor, determine whether the person has learned what you intended.

You should come to class prepared to teach something to another boy. We will briefly discuss teaching methods during week 2.

9. Learn about opportunities in the field of communication. Choose one career in which you are interested and discuss with your counselor the major responsibilities of that position and the qualifications, education, and preparation it requires.

We will do this in class together.

Independent Work

3. Write a five-minute speech. Give it at a meeting of a group.

A sacrament meeting talk or other five-minute speech in a large group setting can fulfill this requirement. Note that the requirement says to write a speech. If possible, I would like to see your written talk when I sign off this requirement.

5. Attend a public meeting (city council, school board, debate) approved by your counselor where several points of view are given on a single issue. Practice active listening skills and take careful notes of each point of view. Present an objective report that includes all points of view that were expressed, and share this with your counselor.

I will provide schedules of a few upcoming meetings that could qualify. After attending a meeting, you will need to report to me about your observations of the meeting.

8. Plan a troop court of honor or campfire program. Have the patrol leaders' council approve it, then write the script and prepare the program. Serve as master of ceremonies.

I will provide help and guidance in class on how to plan such events. You will need to create a plan and conduct the event on your own.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Sample Guest-Speaker Introductions

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