CHAPTER ELEVEN
SELECTING THE INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION
OBJECTIVES
After reading this chapter students should be able to:
2. Describe strategies for beginning a speech;
4. Describe strategies for ending a speech;
6. Construct effective speaking notes for the introduction and conclusion;
7. Develop a comprehensive speech outline.
Additional Skill Builder Exercises
3. Creating different strategies. Once students have developed the body of their speeches, have
them write 3 different introductions and 3 different conclusions. Have students deliver just the
introductions and conclusions for the exercise. Stress the need for creativity and audience
analysis as students develop the exercise. When they deliver their introductions and
conclusions, have the class evaluate and rate the success of each strategy: Did the technique fit
logically into the specific purpose and thesis? Was the approach appropriate to the individuals in
the class? Was the strategy appropriate to the topic? Did the speaker seem comfortable with the
technique?
4. Thinking critically about different strategies. Divide the class into small groups. Ask
students to read the persuasive speech, “Practice, Practice, Practice:…” by Thomas C. Stewart in
Chapter 6. Ask them to develop different introductions geared to the following audiences:
a. an audience of high school teenagers
5. Famous speakers. Have students go to the library and do some research in Representative
American Speeches. Tell them to look at a number of speeches and find an example of several
types of introductions and conclusions that have been discussed in this chapter.
InfoTrac/Library Database Exercises
1. Ask your students to use their library database to search for the article in Vital Speeches titled,
“How to Stop Boring Your Audience to Death: Databases, Anecdotes, and Humor,” by Charles
Francis. After reading they have read the article, have them answer the following questions:
a. The author uses the term “MYGLO.” What is he referring to? According to the
author, how much do we retain of what we hear?
b. Francis describes “three magic talismans” in a speech. What is he talking
about? Do you agree with him? Does the author present too few strategies for
introducing, concluding, or supporting a speech? Why or why not?
2. Using their library databases, have students research several speeches in Vital Speeches and
3. Ask students to locate the following articles in Vital Speeches:
a. “Speakers and the Bottom Line,” by Rex Kelly , November 1, 1987 and
b. “The Art of Speech Writing,” by Robert B. Rackleff, March 1, 1988.