This document provides tips and guidelines for effectively structuring introductions, bodies, and conclusions of speeches. It begins by outlining the key components of an introduction: getting the audience's attention with an attention-getting device, revealing the topic and purpose with a thesis statement, and establishing credibility. The document then discusses how to establish credibility by drawing from personal experience, research, or expertise. It also notes that the introduction should preview the main points that will be covered in the body. Finally, it provides tips for writing an effective conclusion such as signaling the end, summarizing main points, and restating the thesis in a memorable way.

1. Kelly Soczka Steidinger
MSTC Communication Instructor

2. 1. Get the attention of the audience
 By using an Attention Getting Device (AGD)
2. Reveal the topic & purpose of the
speech
 By using a Thesis Statement
3. Establish your credibility
4. Preview the main points of your speech
O’Hair, D., Stewart, R. & Rubenstein, H. (2012). A speaker’s guidebook: Text and
reference. (5th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s
Lucas, S. (2020). The art of public speaking. (13th ed.). McGraw Hill.

4. 1. Use a statistic or example
2. Rhetorical question
3. Use a quote
4. Tell a story
5. Use an analogy/metaphor
6. Refer to the occasion
7. Address audience needs

5. A speaker’s credibility can come from:
 Personal experience
 Discuss your experience with the topic
 From research and reading
Provide an oral citation with information from your
research
 Expertise in the topic area
Refer to your from formal educational or occupational
experience

6. “Volunteering is something that has been
a huge part of my life for about 5 years.”
- From Personal Experience
“An article on global warming that
appeared in the February 22, 2018 issue
of USA Today sounded the alarm …”
- From Research and Reading
Examples of Establishing Credibility

7. How?
By listing the main points of the speech that
you will discuss
Why?
It tells the listener what to listen for during
the speech
It provides a smooth transition into the
body of the speech

8. “First I am going to tell you
about George Washington’s
personal qualities and
behaviors. Then, I will
discuss the leadership roles
that made him an effective
politician. Finally, I will
explore the events in
history that made him a
respected leader and “The
Father of his Country.”

9. 1. While researching main points, look for
potential introduction information.
2. Be creative, but still stay on topic.
3. Write introduction & conclusion after the body
of your speech.
4. Write it out in detail for smooth delivery
5. Practice, practice, practice!

10. (AGD) One night Mary Ann Kanzius awoke to a horrendous clamor
coming from downstairs, upon investigation she found her husband
John sitting on the kitchen floor cutting up her good aluminum pie
pans with a pair of shears. When asked why he was wiring the pans
to his ham radio, he told her to go back to bed. So off she went
know that John wasn't kind of person to quit until he was satisfied,
but what she didn't know is that John was developing a way to use
radio waves to kill the cancer he'd recently been diagnosed with and
his midnight tinkering may soon give hope to the 1.4 million (Est.
Credibility) Americans diagnosed with cancer every year according
to the 2006 American Cancer Society facts and figures. (Thesis) For
John Kanzius inadvertently refined a current cancer treatment called
radio frequency ablation, he made it more effective and less
invasive. (Preview of the Body) To understand how this came to be,
we will explore first the current procedure, second, John's new
approach and finally the implications of this new hope for treating
cancer. O’Hair, D., Stewart, R. & Rubenstein, H. (2012). A speaker’s guidebook: Text and
reference. (5th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s

12. 1. Signal to the audience that you are ending your
speech using a transition.
1. Examples: In summation, To wrap this up, Finally…..
2. Summarize your main points by reviewing what
was discussed in your presentation.
3. Restate your thesis using different words then
you used in the introduction to remind the
listener of main point you want them to
remember after the speech has concluded.

13. Tips for Writing
a Conclusion
1. Develop the conclusion
last
2. Keep it brief (5 to 10%)
3. Make it memorable
4. Write it out in detail
and practice

14. Overused phrases such as:
 “In conclusion”
Stating the thesis for the first
time in the conclusion
Introducing a new idea or
subtopic
Restating the thesis using the
exact same wording
Including evidence (that
should be in the body)

15. (Signal) In summation, Washington had balance and
devotion, which convinced the American people to
follow this cautious central authority. (Summary of
MP) George Washington had great moral and
character, which made American people love him.
He didn’t have the intelligence that other leaders
had, but he used the traits and skills that were best
known to him to fight many battles and defeat many
enemies. (Restatement of Thesis) His life
experiences molded him not only into a great leader,
but also severed as the “Father” of our country.