Page 270 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 9 Organizing Messages 237

It is not always necessary, however, to be so explicit. There are often subtler
ways of previewing a speech. For example, “All computer owners need to know
what computer viruses are, how they are transmitted, and how to detect and
prevent them.”

Tips and Tactics
Ways to Open With Impact

Effective ways to open a speech with impact include:

• Story
• Quotation
• Startling statement
• Reference to the audience, occasion, or current events
• Appropriate humor
• Personal experience
• Thought-provoking question

Concluding the Speech

The conclusion of a speech should be brief and memorable. The last thing an
audience wants to hear after “In conclusion . . .” is a 10-minute dissertation on
some new aspect of the topic. When we say those magic words “in conclusion”
or “to wrap up,” we should be prepared to conclude. Avoid introducing points
that were not covered in the body of the speech. If we have another main point
to cover, then it belongs in the body of the speech, not the conclusion. There are,
consequently, only two basic things to do in concluding a speech: summarize
and close with impact.

Summarize

The summary tells the audience, very briefl y, what we have told them in the
speech. This is where clear, concisely developed main points pay off. Sometimes
we may wish to explicitly number the main points in the summary. For example,
“Remember, there are three types of bikes you’ll see on campus. First, there are
cruisers; second, there are mountain bikes; and third, there are touring bikes.”

Close With Impact

The fi nal words of a speech should be memorable. The close is our last chance
to make a lasting impression on the audience. As with the opening, it should be
relevant to the main thesis of the speech. A few of the common techniques for
closing are a short, memorable quotation, an anecdote or a brief story, a direct