Which of the following is recommended in your text as a way to reinforce the central idea in a speech conclusion?

Introductions

Introductions should secure audience attention and interest, orient listeners to the plan and content of the speech and set expectations.

Do:

• Get the audience’s attention with a story, quotation, personal experience, etc.
• Identify the topic and indicate why it is relevant, important, or interesting.
• Establish your credibility through words or behavior.
• Provide context, background, and definitions listeners might need.
• State your purpose, thesis, or research question.
• Preview the body of your speech.
• Make a transition to the first point in the body of the speech.

Don't:

• Start with “um" or "OK.”
• Apologize for weaknesses in your content, preparation or speaking ability.
• Complain about food, accommodations, equipment, facilities or other speakers.
• Use “humor” that might disparage, offend or alienate your listeners.
• Use cheap tricks to get attention.
• Go on about how hard it was to choose a topic.

Conclusions

Conclusions should reinforce the message and give the speech unity and closure.

Do:

• Summarize the main points of your speech.
• Restate your purpose or thesis.
• Create closure, a sense of finality.
• In persuasive speeches, make a final call for commitment or action.

Don't:

• Open new areas of discussion or argument.
• Change position or viewpoint.
• Resort to feeble closing phrases like “and that's all I have to say.”
• Say “thank you” just because the audience doesn't seem to realize that your speech is over.

Test Bank for 

The Art of Public Speaking

 FLTRP Book Development Project  

Stephen Lucas & Suya Yin 

1 

Chapter 8 Beginning and Ending the Speech 

True-False Questions 

Students are to indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false by 

circling the appropriate letter. 

1.

T 

F 

Regardless of what other methods you use to gain attention, you should always 

relate the topic to your audience in the introduction of a speech.

2.

T 

F 

Establishing goodwill is more likely to be necessary in the introduction of a 

persuasive speech than in the introduction of an informative speech. 

3.

T 

F 

Under normal circumstances, the introduction should comprise about 10-20 

percent of a speech. 

4.

T 

F 

The only way to convey that your speech is ending is through the use of 

words such as “In conclusion.”

5.

T 

F 

The preview statement in a speech introduction identifies the main points 

to be discussed in the body. 

6.

T 

F 

Under normal circumstances the introduction should constitute about 30

-

40 

percent of a speech. 

7.

T 

F 

A “rhetorical question” is a question 

that the audience answers mentally rather 

than out loud. 

8.

T 

F 

As your textbook explains, working out a speech introduction in detail can boost a 

speaker’s confidence.

9.

T 

F 

Referring back to the introduction in your conclusion is a good way to give the 

speech psychological unity 

10.

T 

F 

A speech conclusion that builds in power and intensity as it moves toward the 

closing line is known as a dissolve ending. 

Multiple Choice Questions

Students are to indicate the best answer for each question by circling the correct letter.

1.

All of the following are basic objectives of a speech introduction EXCEPT __________.  

a.

establishing credibility and goodwill 

b.

supporting your main points 

c.

revealing the topic of the speech 

d.

previewing the body of the speech 

How can you reinforce the central idea at the end of your speech?

Which of the following are reasons to use the conclusion to reinforce your speech's central idea?

Which of the following would be an effective technique to use when concluding your speech?

What is most appropriate in the conclusion of a persuasive speech?