Public Speaking Chapter 9

Brief cues

"In conclusion,"; "One last thought"; "Let me end by saying..."

Four objectives the introduction accomplishes

1) Get the attention and interest of your audience 2) Reveal the topic of the speech 3) Establish your credibility and goodwill 4) Preview the body of the speech

Tips for preparing the conclusion

1) Keep eye out for material 2) Conclude with a BANG, not a whimper 3) Don't be long-winded 5-10% of speech 4) Practice!

Tips for Preparing the Intro

1) Keep it brief. 10-20% of speech 2) Be on lookout for material 3) Experiment with 2-3 openings 4) Practice so you can deliver it with strong eye contact

7 ways to get attention and interest

1) Relate the topic to the audience 2) State the importance of your topic (easy to use when discussing social and political issues) 3) Startle the audience 4) Arouse the curiosity of the audience 5) Question the audience (rhetorical question); can also pose series of questions 6) Begin with a quotation (does not have to be a well-known or famous quotation; needs to be short; can be humorous) 7) Tell a story (must be relevant to topic; delivery of story is important!)

The 2 Major Functions of the Conclusion

1) Signal the end of the speech 2) Reinforce the central idea

How to reinforce the central idea

1) Summarize your speech 2) End with a quotation 3) Make a dramatic statement 4) Refer to the introduction (Speakers often combine two or more)

Crescendo ending

Builds to a zenith of power and intensity

Dissolve ending

Generates emotional appeal by fading step-by-step to a dramatic final statement

Preview the Body of the Speech

Helps listeners know what to listen for; provide a smooth lead-in to the body of the speech; can be used to explain specialized info./terms

Other methods

Referring to the occasion; inviting audience participation; using audio equipment/visuals; relating to previous speaker; beginning with humor

Credibility

The audience's perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic (First-hand knowledge, experience, readings, classes, interview, etc.)

Goodwill

The audience's perception of whether the speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind (If you advocate a highly unpopular position)