Writing a Strong Conclusion

Page 272

There’s a reason why courtroom dramas like TV’s Law and Order almost always include footage of the hero lawyer’s closing statements. When a wealth of evidence, testimony, and facts have been presented, it’s easy for juries (and television audiences) to get bogged down in the details and lose track of the bigger, more dramatic picture. For any speaker, it is important to end a presentation with a compelling and pointed conclusion. Once again, the recency effect reminds us that the conclusion is the last thing the audience will hear in your speech, and it is likely what they will remember most. As such, a speech conclusion must address a number of functions.