INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION: Due Wednesday, April 22

I. Introduction
             A.  Attention-Getter: The attention-getter is designed to intrigue the audience members
                   and to motivate them to listen attentively for the next several minutes. There are infinite
                   possibilities for attention-getting devices. Some of the more common devices include
                   using a story, a rhetorical question, or a quotation. While any of these devices can be
                   effective, it is important for you to spend time strategizing, creating, and practicing the
                   attention-getter. Most importantly, an attention-getter should create curiosity in the minds
                   of your listeners and convince them that the speech will be interesting and useful.

             B.  Audience Adaptation: To keep audience members interested, tell them why your topic is
                   important to them. 

             C.  Thesis Statement: The thesis statement is crucial for clearly communicating your topic  

                   and purpose to the audience. Be sure to make the statement clear, concise, and easy to

                   remember. Deliver it to the audience and use verbal and nonverbal illustrations to make
                   it stand out.

              D.  Credibility Statement: The credibility statement establishes your qualifications as a

                    speaker. You should come up with reasons why you are someone to listen to on this
                    topic. Why do you have special knowledge or understanding of this topic? What can the
                    audience learn from you that they couldn't learn from someone else? Credibility
                    statements can refer to your extensive research on a topic, your life-long interest in an
                    issue, your personal experience with a thing, or your desire to better the lives of your
                    listeners by sifting through the topic and providing the crucial information.

              E.  Preview of Main Points: The preview informs the audience about the speech's main

                    points. You should preview every main body point and identify each as a separate piece
                    of the body. The purpose of this preview is to let the audience members prepare
                    themselves for the flow of the speech; therefore, you should word the preview clearly
                    and concisely.

II. Body

III. Conclusion

             A. Review of Main Points: Within the conclusion, re-state the main points of the

                  speech. Since you have used parallel wording for your main points in the introduction

                  and body, don't break that consistency in the conclusion. Frame the review so the

                  audience will be reminded of the preview and the developed discussion of each main

                  point. After the review, you may want to create a statement about why those main

                  points fulfilled the goals of the speech.

             B. Restate/Reinforce Thesis: When making the transition to the conclusion, attempt to

                  make clear distinctions (verbally and nonverbally) that you are now wrapping up the

                  information and providing final comments about the topic. Refer back to the thesis

                  from the introduction with wording that calls the original thesis into memory. Assert

                  that you have accomplished the goals of your thesis statement and create the feeling

                  that audience members who actively considered your information are now equipped

                  with an understanding of your topic. Reinforce whatever mood/tone you chose for

                  the speech and attempt to create a big picture of the speech.

            C. Closure: Finish strongly. When you close your speech, craft statements that reinforce

                 the message and leave the audience with a clear feeling about what was accomplished

                 with your speech. You might finalize the adaptation by discussing the benefits of

                 listening to the speech and explaining what you think audience members can do with

                 the information.