Make an Impact
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Your conclusion, a culmination of all your efforts to develop your points and share your research, should be memorable and interesting for your audience members. Several techniques discussed in the section on introductions can be useful for memorable conclusions as well.
Quotations. To wrap up a speech, speakers often use quotes from historical figures, writers, philosophers, or celebrities. Take care in choosing a quote so that you leave the audience with something to think about. For example, if you are concluding a speech that illustrates the importance of friendships, you might quote the writer Edna Buchanan: “Friends are the family you choose for yourself.” A strong quotation helps make an unforgettable impression.
Ethics and You
Have you ever heard a speech in which you felt that the speaker sacrificed ethics in order to make a greater impact at the end of the speech? What was ethically suspect about the speech’s conclusion?
Statements and Questions. In some types of speeches, it can be especially effective to end with a statement or question that drives home your main point. This rhetorical device is important for conclusions because you want to emphasize the points you made during your speech and have the audience feel connected to your ideas. For example, you might end a speech explaining how to change the oil in your car with a simple statement that sums up your thesis: “Remember, the best way to protect your car is to change the oil every three thousand miles—and it’s something you can do yourself.”
A Final Story. NOW do you see the advantage of a second language?’”