Developing the Conclusion 15
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. A conclusion gives the speaker the opportunity to drive home his or her
purpose and a final chance to make the kind of impression that will accomplish
the goals of the speech.
2. A conclusion signals the end of the speech and provides closure.
3. The conclusion of a speech should be prepared before the speech body.
4. As a general rule, the conclusion should comprise about one-third of the entire
speech.
5. You should outline the conclusion in both full-sentence and key-word form.
6. A transition statement or phrase, such as finally or in summary, is one way to
alert the audience that a speech is coming to an end.
7. A speaker can effectively signal closure by adjusting the manner of delivery.
8. In the conclusion, it isn
speech purpose.
9. A strong conclusion challenges audience members to put to use what the
speaker has taught them.
10. In informative speeches, the concluding challenge comes in the form of a call to
action.
11. Quotations, stories, and questions are appropriate ways to conclude a speech.
12. Using a quotation that captures the essence of the speech can be a very effective
way to close a speech.
13. Speakers should avoid using quotations from poetry during conclusions.
14. A short concluding story, or anecdote, can bring the entire speech into focus
and can help the audience visualize the speech.
15. Bookending is a conclusion technique in which the speaker comes back to a
story or idea mentioned in the introduction.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
16. Conclusions provide
A) the speaker the opportunity to drive home the speech purpose.
B) the speaker a final chance to make an impression that accomplishes the
goals of the speech.
C) the audience with a sense of logical and emotional closure.
D) All of the options are correct.
17. Speech conclusions fulfill which of the following functions?
A) provides a question-and-answer session for the audience
B) summarizes the key points and goals of the speech
C) provides speaker opportunity to make up for a bad speech
D) gives speaker opportunity to disclose his/her qualifications
18. The conclusion should comprise about ______ of the speech.
A) one-half C) one-sixth
B) one-third D) one-eighth
19. When the speaker reiterates each main point in the conclusion, audience
members
A) mentally check off what they have heard during the speech.
B) secretly hope that the speech will hurry up and end.
C) ask the speaker to review the supporting points.
D) can fill out a speech evaluation form.
20. The summary portion of the speech conclusion should not
A)
B) summarize each main point of the speech.
C) be a rote recounting.
D) give the audience a sense of completion.
21. A concluding challenge by a speaker that asks an audience to act in response to
the speech or change their beliefs or actions is termed a
A) persuasive attempt. C) reiteration.
B) call to action. D) signpost.
22. Speakers can bring a speech full circle by
A) talking in circular logic.
B)
C) asking audience members to share personal stories.
D) picking up on a story mentioned in the introduction.
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK QUESTIONS
23. The ______ provides the speaker a final opportunity to leave the desired
impression and further build a relationship with the audience.
24. Speakers should prepare the conclusion __________ writing the speech body.
25. Phrases such as finally or looking back serve to _______ the close of the speech to
the audience.
26.
memory.
27. A call to ______
response to the speech or see the problem in a new way.
28. In a(n) ______ speech, the speaker challenges audience members to use what
29. To make the speech memorable, conclusions rely on the same devices as
__________, such as quotations, stories, startling statements, and rhetorical
questions.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
30. List three functions of a conclusion.
31. Name three guidelines for preparing a conclusion.
32. How can a speaker signal the close of a speech and provide closure?
33. How can a conclusion effectively summarize the main points and goals of a
speech?
34. Explain how a challenge issued during a conclusion varies for an informative
and a persuasive speech.
35. Discuss three ways that a speaker can make a conclusion memorable.
36. What types of devices can speakers utilize in the conclusion of a speech?
37. What are three things a speaker can assess to determine whether the
conclusion is effective?
ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER 15