136 CHAPTER 10^ Introductions and Conclusions
CRitical thinKing QueStionS- Outline a speech given by one of your classmates. Evaluate the effectiveness of the
introduction and conclusion. What suggestions, if any, would you give the speaker to
improve the beginning or the ending? - Review the section on credibility—what your audience thinks of you—in Chapter 6.
How and why do a good introduction and conclusion affect your audience’s perception
of your credibility? How and why do a poor start or finish influence their perception? - Read the introductions and conclusions of some speeches you find on your online
resources. Evaluate them using the criteria in the text. Does the introduction gain
attention, link to the audience, establish credibility, and preview the major points?
Does the speaker provide a transition to the conclusion? Review the major points?
Provide psychological closure? End memorably? What improvements, if any, would
you suggest? - Search the Internet for the exact phrase “introductions and conclusions.” You should
find many sites that were created by both writing and speech instructors. Go to a site
for writers, and compare and contrast the guidelines there with the guidelines for
speakers that you find in this text. What are the similarities? The differences? How do
you account for the differences?
application QueStionS- Before your next speech, partner with someone in your class. Trade outlines and, using
the guidelines in this chapter, evaluate each other’s introduction and conclusion. Advise
your partner on what you think is effective and what could be improved. When you get
your own outline and suggestions back, make adjustments that would improve these
sections of your speech. - Work with a small group of your classmates and create several ways to gain attention
for one of the following topics: The most student-friendly restaurants in your town,
student loan debt, prescription drug overdose, or ocean pollution. - With a small group of students, plan a way to gain attention, relate to the audience, and
establish your credibility on one of these topics: the drawbacks of competitive sports
for children, eating disorders, vaccinations, how to write a résumé.
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