Speech
Introductions and Conclusions
Introductions: Should secure audience
attention and interest, orient listeners to
the plan and content of the speech, and
set expectations.
Speech - Introductions
Get the audience’s attention with a story,
quotation, personal experience, etc.
Identify the topic and indicate why it is relevant,
important, or interesting.
Establish your credibility through words or
behavior.
Provide context, background, and definitions
listeners might need.
State your purpose, thesis, or research question.
Preview the body of your speech.
Make a transition to the first point in the body of
the speech.
Do
Ask a series of rhetorical questions
Read from literature
Refer to a recent event
Ideas for Intros
Start with “um” or “okay.”
Apologize for weaknesses in your content,
preparation, or speaking ability.
Use “humor” that might disparage,
offend, or alienate your listeners.
Use cheap tricks to get attention.
Go on about how hard it was to choose a
topic.
Don’t
The title of your speech
A single word sentence that forecasts the
topic
My name is _____." or "I'm _____ and . .
.”
"I'm going to talk about . . .”
"My speech is on . . ."
Intros to avoid
Conclusions: Should reinforce the
message and give the speech unity and
closure.
Speech - Conclusions
Summarize the main points of your
speech.
Restate your purpose or thesis.
Create closure, a sense of finality.
Leave the audience thinking
In persuasive speeches, make a final call
for commitment or action.
Do
Open new areas of discussion or
argument.
Change position or viewpoint.
Resort to feeble closing phrases like “and
that’s all I have to say.”
Say “thank you” just because the
audience doesn’t seem to realize that
your speech is over.
Don’t
Never begin your conclusion by saying,
"In conclusion," or "To sum up," or similar
phrases.
"That's all.”
"I'm done.”
"Any questions?”
"Thank you."
Conclusions to avoid
A Quote: Tie into subject and come from
a recognized authority; helps convince
audience to listen
Startling Fact: shocks, horrifies, angers,
or amused your audience
Surprising Statistic: shocks, horrifies,
angers, or amused your audience
Intros – Attention Getter
Rhetorical Question: Provokes thought
and helps get audience involved in
speech; you need to provide answer to
question in your speech somewhere
Anecdote: A short story; involves
audience, helps tell a point or tell a moral
Intros – Attention Getter
Old Introduction:
Drunk Driving is very dangerous. It
can cause accidents that kill or injure
thousands of people every year. In fact,
last year over 25,000 people died because
people drink and drive.
Intros - Examples
“Drinking kills more young drivers than
any other cause,” said John Smith, head
of Highway Safety. “Their corpses scatter
the highways of America every night.”
Intro - Quotes
Imagine a line of dead and mangled
bodies stretching for twenty-five miles---
25,000 corpses. That is the number of
victims of drunk driving every year.
Intros – Startling Fact or Stat
What’s the number-one killder of young
people between the ages of 18 and 21?
Cancer? Heart Disease? No. The main
cause of dead young adults is alcohol—
alcohol mixed with automobiles—a deadly
combination.
Intro – Rhetorical Question
The young driver turns the stereo up
louder and smiles as he dreams of the fun
he had at the party—plenty of good music
and beer. Suddenly a tree appears from
out of nowhere. He grabs at the wheel to
turn the car. Headlights swerve in the
darkness. But it’s too late. A patrol car
screams to find the twisted body of
another young student who drank and
drove.
Intro - Anecdote
Attention Getter
◦ Quote, Fact, Stat, Rhetorical Question,
Anecdote
Bridge
◦ Explain the attention getter
Thesis
Preview
Intro - Format
Thesis
Review Main Points
Closing Statement
◦ Tie to attention getter if possible
Conclusion - Format