Beginning and Ending the Speech

1. The four objectives of a speech introduction.

A. Get the attention and interest of your audience.

1)relate the topic to the audience.

2)state the importance of your topic.

3)startle the audience.

4)arouse the curiosity of the audience.

5)question the audience.

6)begin with a quotation.

7)tell a story.

B. Reveal the topic of your speech.

C. Establish your credibility and good will.

D. Preview the body of the speech.

1)state your Central idea or the main points you will be talking about.

2. Tips for preparing the Introduction.

A. Keep the intro brief (about 10% to 20% of your speech).

B. Look for possible introductory materials.

C. Practice your introduction and experiment with different openings.

D. Don't worry about the exact wording of intro until you have finished preparing the body of the speech.

E. Work out your intro in detail. A good start will boost your confidence.

3. The Conclusion of the Speech

A. Reason for a Conclusion

1)to let the audience know you are ending.

2)to reinforce your ideas. (reinforce the Central Idea)

4. Tips for Conclusion

A. Conclude with a bang Be creative. End with a quotation, or dramatic statement.

B. Don't be long-winded. Keep it short (5-10% of speech)

C. Practice delivering it.