Beginning and Ending:The Primacy and Recency Effects
• People tend to remember
the beginning (primacy
effect) and the end (recency
effect) of a speech more
than the middle,
• Ensure to make the
introduction and conclusion
crucial for capturing
attention, shaping
perceptions, and
reinforcing key messages.
5.
Introduction
• The introduction’s
fourelements work
together to prepare
your audience to
listen to the main
ideas you’ll present
in the body of your
speech.
6.
Get Your Audience’sAttention
Purpose
• Aligns with the general and specific purpose of your
speech.
• Shows why the topic matters to the audience.
• Sparks interest and curiosity.
• Builds speaker-audience connection.
• Eases speaker nervousness.
• Introduces a unifying theme.
Time
• Should be brief and to the point.
• Must not take time away from the main body of the
speech.
• Can range from 15 seconds to over a minute, depending
on context.
Creativity
• Requires imagination and originality.
• Helps engage the audience effectively.
• Can include humour, storytelling, or relevant commentary.
• The introduction’s first element is the attention
getter, a device used to create interest in your
speech.
7.
Strategy Description Tipsfor Effectiveness
Surprising Fact or Statistic Share an unexpected or alarming fact to
instantly grab attention.
Ensure it's accurate, relevant, and truly
surprising. Avoid overused or stale
statistics.
Emotionally Arousing Story Tell a brief, touching human-interest story to
appeal to the audience's emotions.
Keep it concise, topic-appropriate, and
respectful to the setting.
Humour or Joke
Use humour to build rapport and put the
audience at ease.
Make sure it’s relevant and inoffensive.
Test it beforehand if unsure.
Audience-Specific Information Reference data or opinions gathered from your
audience to personalise your opening.
Must be intriguing and directly
connected to your topic.
Direct Question Ask a question that requires audience response
or reflection to engage them actively.
Choose questions that are easy to relate
to and stimulate interest or curiosity.
Rhetorical Question Pose a thought-provoking question that you
plan to answer later in your speech.
Use it to lead into your topic or
highlight its importance.
Common Techniques of Attention Getters
8.
Attention Getters: PresentationMedia
Start your speech with a brief audio or
visual clip, photograph, or other media to
capture interest.
o For example, display a detailed image of
muscle tissue to introduce a speech on MRI
technology.
Keep media brief and clearly relevant to
your topic.
9.
Indicating Purpose andThesis
Once you have the audience’s attention, clearly communicate the purpose of
your speech and its central message (thesis) in a few concise sentences,
helping listeners understand what you want them to think, feel, or do.
10.
Establishing Credibility
o Brieflyexplain your relevant
experience or research to show that
you are knowledgeable and
trustworthy, which encourages your
audience to take your message
seriously.
o For example: "In my five years as a
lifeguard, I've successfully applied three
basic techniques to save someone who's
drowning."
11.
Preview Your MainPoints
Successful speakers keep audiences
focused throughout the speech by
describing the speech’s structure and
repeating main points.
Thus, the speaker
• Previews in the introduction what will be said
in the body of the speech.
• Presents the main points and subpoints in
the body.
• Reviews the main points in the conclusion.
12.
Introduction
Element
Example 1: Informative
SpeechExample 2: Persuasive Speech Example 3: Entertaining Speech
Indicate Thesis
Growing a simple indoor herb
garden is easy and enjoyable
Incorporating meditation into our daily lives
reduces stress and can even increase our
longevity
Some people claim they learned everything they
needed to know in kindergarten, but I learned
everything I needed to know my first year of high
school
Indicate Purpose
Today, you’ll learn how to set up
your own garden
As part of a balanced lifestyle, you should take
the necessary steps to make meditation part of
your daily routine
I think you’ll appreciate all the lessons I learned in
spite of what my teachers were trying to tell me
Establish Credibility
I will explain the basic equipment
you’ll need that I’ve found in my
many years of herb gardening
I meditate regularly—and did so this morning as
part of my preparation for this speech
I admit this may sound odd, but I was an unusual
teenager, recording my first year of high school like I
was writing a documentary
Use of Transitions
To begin (transition), I will explain
the basic equipment… Next
(transition), I will show you how to
plant… Finally (transition), I’ll give
you some tips…
To make clear how to start meditating, I will first
(transition) explain the positive effects… I will
then (transition) describe several different
kinds… After (transition) describing the types, I
will explain how you can begin meditating…
Before I regale you with my many brilliant insights
(transition), I will give you some background…
Second, (transition) I’ll explain the three most
important lessons… Finally (transition), I’ll tell you
how I’ve applied those lessons recently, even for this
class
Preview Main Points
I will explain the basic equipment
you’ll need… I will show you how
to plant… I’ll give you some tips on
keeping your herbs happy and
healthy
I will first explain the positive effects meditation
can give you… I will then describe several
different kinds of meditation… After describing
the types, I will explain how you can begin
meditating on a daily basis
I will give you some background on my high school…
I’ll explain the three most important lessons I
learned… I’ll tell you how I’ve applied those lessons
recently, even for this class
Examples
13.
Conclusion
• While yourintroduction captures attention (primacy effect),
• your conclusion benefits from the recency effect, meaning
an audience is more likely to remember what speakers
present at the end of a speech than what they present in the
speech body.
• Your conclusion is the last chance to make an
impression, so make it count.
14.
Conclusion
• Review YourMain Points
• Use a brief summary to remind your audience of the key
ideas from your speech.
• This typically follows a transition and avoids repeating
details.
• Reinforce Your Purpose
• Highlight the importance of your message—whether to
inform, persuade, or entertain—so your audience
remembers the value of what you've shared.
• Provide Closure
• End with confidence and clarity.
• Avoid vague endings; instead, leave a strong final
impression that signals your speech has purposefully
concluded.
15.
Speech Purpose ExampleConclusion
To Inform • In a speech to inform: In summary (transition), today you’ve learned how to get
started windsurfing. I described the history of windsurfing, the equipment you’ll
need, and where you can try out this fun sport (review main points).
To Persuade
• In a speech to persuade: Let’s review (transition) what I covered in my speech. I
told you about how you can improve your study habits and get better grades
almost immediately. I’ve described the most common problems students create
for themselves, how those mistakes lead to poor results in the classroom, and
what to do about it to improve your grades (review main points).
To Entertain
• In a speech to entertain: Now (transition) you know my secrets of backpacking
in style: Treat your backpacking guide very, very well; bring the proper
equipment; and make backup reservations at a nearby resort hotel (review
main points).
Examples of Speech Conclusions: Review Your Main Points
16.
Examples of ConclusionStatements: Reinforce Your Purpose
Speech Type Conclusion Statement
Informative
• “We’ve finally got the evidence that proves what scientists had long
suspected: Humans are evolved apes.” (informative speech reporting new
DNA evidence)
Informative
• “The three aspects of matching you to the right profession are identifying
what you ideally want in a job or profession, what you must have, and what
you absolutely don’t want.” (informative speech on how to choose a job or
profession)
Persuasive
• “Now’s the time to decide: Are you going to give up or shape up?”
(persuasive speech promoting exercise program for college students)
• “You will be the ones who will have to pay for that new football stadium!”
(persuasive speech against constructing a new stadium)
17.
Technique Description ExampleSpeech Type
Quotation Conclude with a memorable quote that
supports your message.
“As author Rita Mae Brown once said... If
they’re okay, then it’s you.”
Entertaining speech on mental
health
Presentation Media
Use a powerful visual or audio element to
reinforce your message.
Jacqueline Novogratz showed a slide and
emphasized the desire for self-reliance in
developing countries.
Persuasive speech on global
poverty solutions
Dramatic Statement End with a striking fact or statistic to leave a
strong impression.
“And in the ten minutes I’ve been talking,
twenty people in Africa have died of
malaria.”
Informative speech on malaria
Refer to the Introduction Circle back to your opening story or point to
bring the speech full circle.
“Now I’ll finish the story I started in the
introduction... I found a great summer job...”
Informative speech on summer job
search
Refer to Subsequent Events Mention follow-up developments or future
implications.
“Later, in coordination with the U.S.
Department of Justice, AMBER Alert plans
were passed in all fifty states.”
Informative speech on AMBER
Alert
Reinforce Speaker-Audience
Bond
Acknowledge shared values or experiences
to strengthen connection.
“Now that I’ve learned how people in other
cultures view freedom... we all realize that
there are many different ways to think of this
common word.”
Informative speech on defining
freedom
Thank the Audience
End respectfully by thanking listeners for
their time and attention.
“Thank you for considering my proposal to
increase the number of elective courses...”
Persuasive speech on graduation
requirements
Effective Techniques for Closure
18.
Summary
• A strongspeech begins by grabbing
attention, stating your purpose and thesis,
showing credibility, and previewing key
points.
• End by reviewing those points, reinforcing
your purpose, and providing clear closure
—perhaps with a quote, dramatic
statement, or callback to your
introduction.