1. A SPEAKER’S GUIDEBOOK 4TH EDITION CHAPTER 15
Developing the Conclusion

2. Writing the Conclusion
Write the conclusion after the body and introduction, so that you will be able to tie it all together.
Planning and practicing helps you make a good impression and finish your speech with a bang.

3. Functions of the Conclusion
Signals to the audience that the speech is coming to an end
Provides closure on the topic
Challenges the audience to respond
Summarizes the main points
Reiterates the most important idea of your speech

4. Question What is the first step of the conclusion?
A. Challenges the audience to respond
B. Reviews main points
C. Repeats the thesis or central idea
D. Signals the ending of the speech
E. Provides closure to the topic

5. Order of the Conclusion
Forewarning and review (thesis restated)
Indicate most important idea
Relate back to introduction story if appropriate
Strong closing statement

6. Signal the Close of Speech
A forewarning is a type of signpost that demonstrates to the audience that the speech is coming to an end.
Common signpost phrases are:
“In conclusion,”
“As I end my speech,”
“Let me conclude with this…”
Once you signal the close, say your last few sentences and Audiences do not like it when speakers talk long after the forewarning.

7. Ways to Make the Conclusion Memorable
End with a quotation, poem, or song lyric
Tell a story that finishes the opening story
Pose a rhetorical question
Make a startling closing statement
Issue a challenge or call to action
Link back to the introduction to give the feeling of coming full circle with your topic

8. Summarizing Your Main Points
A good conclusion completes the last step of the speech process by summarizing the main points. The speaker should reiterate the main points to help the audience remember the parts, and then should emphasize the most important concept.
REVIEW – Take your preview sentence from your introduction and rewrite it as a summary by changing the verb tense.

9. Challenge the Audience to Respond
An informative speech challenges the audience to put the knowledge gained to use in their daily lives.
Persuasive speeches demand audiences to take action or to change their beliefs on the topic.
The conclusion should demonstrate the relevance of the topic to the audience to motivate the audience to respond.

10. Guidelines for Preparing the Conclusion
Complete a full-sentence and key-word outline of your conclusion.
Look through your research for material you can use in your conclusion.
Keep the conclusion brief. The general rule is no more than 15% of the time allotted for the entire speech.
Time your conclusion when practicing.
Revise the conclusion until you get the delivery right.

11. Question
If your required speech time limit is 5 minutes, approximately how long should your conclusion be?
A seconds
B seconds
C seconds
D seconds
E seconds

12. Chapter 15 Key Terms for Review
call to action