exordium
Speech's first part
An exordium is the opening section of a formal speech or written work—the part that introduces the subject and establishes the speaker's approach.
The term belongs to classical rhetoric, where orators followed prescribed structures.
In modern use, exordium appears mainly in academic discussions of persuasive writing: The exordium sets the tone for everything that follows.
Introductory literary section
- prefaceIntroductory book section
- forewordIntroductory book section
- proemIntroductory section of writing
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
introduction · lead-in · overture · opener · commencement · beginning · outset · threshold
Formal public speech
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
- addressSpeak to formally
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- speechOral communication ability
declamation · elocution · oratory · delivery · persuasion · argumentation · exposition · narration
Greek founder of formal logic
- CiceroAncient Rome's greatest speaker
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
- deliberativeCharacterized by careful consideration
canons · invention · disposition · oratory · declamation · roman · classical · antiquity
prologue
Introductory literary section
- prefaceIntroductory book section
- forewordIntroductory book section
- proemIntroductory section of writing
preamble · introduction · lead-in · overture · opener · commencement · beginning · outset · threshold · inauguration
oration
Formal public speech
speech · declamation · elocution · oratory · delivery · persuasion · argumentation · exposition · narration · partition
Aristotle
Greek founder of formal logic
- CiceroAncient Rome's greatest speaker
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
deliberative · canons · invention · disposition · oratory · declamation · roman · classical · antiquity · scholastic
exordiumperoration
Concluding part of discourse
conclusion · epilogue · finale · ending · close
exordiumperoration
Concluding part of discourse
epilog · recapitulation · summation · envoi · coda