Introducing & Concluding Your Speech

“Make sure you have stopped speaking before your audience has stopped listening.” 

- Dorothy Sarnoff.

Purpose of Introductions 

A good introduction serves 5 important functions:

• Get the audience's attention

• Introduce the subject

• Give the audience a reason to listen

• Establish your credibility 

• Preview the main ideas

Ten Ways of Introducing a Speech

• Illustrations

• Startling facts or statistics

• Quotations

• Humor

• Questions

• References to historical events 

• References to recent events

• Personal references

• References to the occasion

• References to preceding speeches

Purpose of Conclusions

An effective conclusion serves 4 purposes:

• • Summaries the speech

  • Reemphasize the main idea in a memorable way

  • Motivate the audience to respond

  • Provide closure

3 Additional Methods of Conclusion

• References to the Introduction

• Inspirational Appeals or Challenges

• Appeals to Action