Introductions & Conclusions

Introductions

Do:

• 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.

Don't:

• Start with “um" or "OK.”
• Apologize for weaknesses in your content, preparation or speaking ability.
• Complain about food, accommodations, equipment, facilities or other speakers.
• 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.

Conclusions

Conclusions should reinforce the message and give the speech unity and closure.

Do:

• Summarize the main points of your speech.
• Restate your purpose or thesis.
• Create closure, a sense of finality.
• In persuasive speeches, make a final call for commitment or action.

Don't:

• 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.