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Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Lecture Notes
Chapter 12: Concluding Your Speech
Learning Objectives
1-1 Describe the purposes conclusions serve
1-2 Identify at least five ways to conclude a speech
1-3 Avoid conclusion pitfalls
1-4 Develop conclusions that achieve multiple goals
Outline
I. Make sure to end your speech on a strong note.
A. The conclusion should not be lengthy.
1. The average conclusion makes up less than 5% of a speech.
B. The conclusion should not take the audience by surprise.
1. Be sure to forecast the “finish line” for your audience
C. The conclusion will restate the central idea or thesis.
1. The conclusion should not introduce new ideas.
2. Reinforce the main points you want audience members to remember.
3. Recap central idea or thesis and main points one final time
4. Use a quote
5. Make a dramatic statement
6. Refer back to intro
D. An effective conclusion should motivate audience members to respond
accordingly.
1. Create a striking end that supports and sustains your speech’s theme.
E. The conclusion will achieve closure by exploring the ideas in the introduction.
1. Reusing a theme that was introduced at the beginning of a speech can
give the audience a sense of logical and emotional closure.
2. Ask a rhetorical question
Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
3. Refer to an opening story
4. Restate an initial quote
II. Make sure to avoid common concluding pitfalls
A. The conclusion should not end abruptly.
1. Let your audience know you’re wrapping up
B. The conclusion should not be long winded.
1. Build your conclusion, but keep it tight.
C. The conclusion will not introduce new ideas but only restate in a fresh way the
ideas that were covered in the speech.
1. Last time to drive home important points, not to time to make new
ones.
D. The conclusion should not end with a thud.
1. Should stick in the minds of the listeners
