Chapter 13 Organizing, Writing, and Outlining Presentations 385Statements and Questions
In some types of speeches, it can be especially effective to end with a statement or
question that drives home your main point. This rhetorical device is important
for conclusions because you want to emphasize the points you made during your
speech and have the audience feel connected to your ideas. For example, you
might end a speech explaining how to change the oil in your car with a simple
statement that sums up your thesis: “Remember, the best way to protect your
car is to change the oil every three thousand miles—and it’s something you can
do yourself.”
A Final Story
Stories can be as effective for conclusions as they are for introductions. Sto-
ries should always tie in to your speech topic, be relatively short, and make a
related point. For example, if you are advocating a college-level foreign-language
requirement for your college, you might tell this well-known tale: “Mother
Mouse was crossing the street with her three children. She got about halfway
across when she saw a cat, ready to pounce upon them. The cat and Mother
Mouse eyeballed each other for several minutes. Finally, Mother Mouse let out
an enormous ‘WOOF!’ The cat ran away. Mother Mouse turned to her children
and said, ‘NOW do you see the advantage of a second language?’”
Reference the Introduction
A final suggestion for creating a strong conclusion is to remind the audience
of how you began the speech. If you told a dramatic, powerful story in the
introduction, finish it or add a new insight in the conclusion; if you asked a
question, answer it. For example, if you began your persuasive speech about
cyberbullying with a story about the tragic suicide of Tyler Clemente (who
jumped from New York City’s George Washington Bridge after being bullied
in September 2010), you might say: “We must never forget Tyler Clemente
and the other young lives cut short by senseless bullying. Who knows? Your
best friend, your younger brother, or your son could just have easily been on
that bridge that fateful September evening.”
Challenge the Audience to Respond
Whether you are giving an informative or persuasive speech, as the speaker you
must consider what you want your audience to do with the information you
are providing. According to O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein (2012), in an
informative speech, you should challenge your audience members to make use
of the information. You may extend an invitation to your listeners: “Please join
me on Wednesday evening for a town hall meeting on this subject. Our local
congressperson will be there to listen to our concerns. I will have the sign-up
sheet in the back of the room for you at the end of my presentation.”
In most persuasive speeches, the challenge will come through a call to action
that asks listeners to act in response to the speech, see the problem in a new way,
or change their beliefs, actions, and behavior (O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein,
2012). For example, “Sign this petition. In doing so, you will make a difference in
someone’s life and make our voices heard” or “Don’t forget to vote next Tuesday!”
What kind of impression
would you want to leave
your audience with? What
is the one thing you’d like
people to remember about
you and your speech?AND YOU?