The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write It * How to Deliver It

Some do's and don'ts

Now, here are some do's and don'ts for you as an introducer or a writer of introductions:

• Don't try to upstage the speaker. Remember that the introduction is the appetizer, not the main course.

• Don't make the introduction too long. Two or three minutes ought to be long enough for most occasions. On the other hand, take whatever time is necessary to do a proper job. It's not so much the length that's important; it's the content.

• Be sure you know how to pronounce the speaker's name . If you're writing an introduction for someone else to deliver, and if the speaker has an unusual name, double-check the pronunciation and write it phonetically for the speaker's benefit.

• Be sure your information is up-to-date. If you get information ...