"The average man thinks about what he has said; the above average man about what he is going to say."
- Anonymous
The opening seconds of a television commercial are carefully crafted to get your attention. The closing seconds rename the product or service, summarize its virtues, and often suggest where you can purchase it. The person who designed that message knows something you should know, too: The introduction and conclusion of a message are vital to achieving your communication goal. Just as a trumpet fanfare signals the appearance of an important person, your speech introduction signals the arrival of your message to your listeners. And just as most fireworks displays end with a grand finale, your speech should end, not necessarily with fireworks, but with a conclusion worthy of your well-crafted message.
Although they make up only about 20 percent of the total speech you deliver, the introduction and conclusion provide audiences with important first and final impressions of speaker and speech. These elements are too important to the overall success of your speech to be left to change or last-minute preparation.
Many speakers think the first task in preparing a speech is to start drafting your introduction. Actually, the introduction is more often the last part of the speech you develop. A key purpose of your introduction is to provide an overview of your message. How can you do that until you know what the message is going to be?
Your introduction creates an important first impression; your conclusion leaves an equally important final impression. Long after you finish speaking, your audience is likely to remember the effect, if not the content, of your closing remarks.
Unfortunately, many speakers pay less attention to their conclusions than to any other part of their speeches. They believe that if they can get through the first 90 percent of a speech, they can think of some way to conclude it. Perhaps you have had the experience of listening to a speaker who failed to plan a conclusion. Awkward final seconds of stumbling for words may be followed by hesitant applause from an audience that is not even sure the speech is over.
Although they make up only about 20 percent of the total speech you deliver, the introduction and conclusion provide audiences with important first and final impressions of speaker and speech. These elements are too important to the overall success of your speech to be left to change or last-minute preparation.
Many speakers think the first task in preparing a speech is to start drafting your introduction. Actually, the introduction is more often the last part of the speech you develop. A key purpose of your introduction is to provide an overview of your message. How can you do that until you know what the message is going to be?
Your introduction creates an important first impression; your conclusion leaves an equally important final impression. Long after you finish speaking, your audience is likely to remember the effect, if not the content, of your closing remarks.
Unfortunately, many speakers pay less attention to their conclusions than to any other part of their speeches. They believe that if they can get through the first 90 percent of a speech, they can think of some way to conclude it. Perhaps you have had the experience of listening to a speaker who failed to plan a conclusion. Awkward final seconds of stumbling for words may be followed by hesitant applause from an audience that is not even sure the speech is over.
Purposes of Introductions
As a speaker, your task is to ensure that your introduction convinces your audience to listen to you. Specifically, a good introduction must perform five important functions:
1. Get the audience’s attention.
2. Introduce the subject.
3. Give the audience a reason to listen.
4. Establish your credibility
5. Preview your main ideas.
1. Get the audience’s attention.
2. Introduce the subject.
3. Give the audience a reason to listen.
4. Establish your credibility
5. Preview your main ideas.
Purposes of a Conclusion
Your introduction creates an important first impression; your conclusion leaves an equally important final impression. Long after you finish speaking, your audience is likely to remember the effect, if not the content, of your closing remarks.
Unfortunately, many speakers pay less attention to their conclusions than to any other part of their speeches.
An effective conclusion will serve four purposes. It will
1. cue the audience that the presentation is ending,
2. reemphasize the main idea in a memorable way,
3. motivate the audience to respond or simply remember the message, and
4. unify the message.
Unfortunately, many speakers pay less attention to their conclusions than to any other part of their speeches.
An effective conclusion will serve four purposes. It will
1. cue the audience that the presentation is ending,
2. reemphasize the main idea in a memorable way,
3. motivate the audience to respond or simply remember the message, and
4. unify the message.
Drafting an Introduction and ConclusionDownload the file to draft an introduction and conclusion for your Informative Speech
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