I'm telling you, it might have been the most painful experience of my life.
No, not talking about my kidney stone or torn MCL. I'm talking that cringy-type, can't-look-but-can't-look-away pain.
He didn't know how to end it.
I was at my best friend's wedding, sitting at the table for the wedding party, and trying to listen to the best man's speech.
"Well, uh, I, uh, didn't remember I had to do this."
I winced slightly. It got worse.
"But here's a story about my brother." He rambled through a very strange story about the groom. It was odd. And it kept going, even though somehow the story was also over.
And kept going. And going.
Eventually, he just mumbled a few lines and put down the microphone and the audience breathed a silent sigh of relief.
It is painful for a speaker who doesn't know how to start and finish a speech, but it might be even more painful for your audience.
How can we teach our students good introductions and conclusions when speaking?
1. Think about a plane. (tell them the WHY!)
This is my FAVORITE illustration for the importance of introductions and conclusions. Would you enjoy a plane ride that jerked and bulleted into the air for take-off and shot back down to earth for the landing? Doubtful. Most of us would be terrified of flying for years.
Why do we rocket into the topic of our speech (with no understanding of the speaker's connection to the topic or the importance of it) and end abruptly with no call or action or helpful wrap-up? That smooth take-off and gentle landing add so much to the pleasure of a plane ride. Even if your information is SOLID, your introduction and conclusion add SO much to the overall message of the speech!
2. Show them what goes into a good introduction and conclusion.
After walking through illustrations on the importance of a good introduction and conclusion, you may have students nodding their heads in agreement. They may align with your opinion on it, but do they know what makes a good intro and how to structure a good, solid introduction? Can they put together a call of action for a satisfying conclusion
Your students need ideas for that good lift-off! They need examples! They need guidance! How can you provide that for them?
3. Get them started. (How)
Give your students a runway. Start laying the groundwork and let them bounce ideas off of you and their peers. Give them ideas on how to craft attention-grabbing statements and explain how to find the information they'll need. Discuss definitive statements and then have students chime in with their own examples. Have them read and write examples and exchange ideas. Make sure they're grasping it!
There's a worksheet included in one of my TeachersPayTeachers resources that I use to walk students through the process of building introductions and conclusions. Students need to see the pieces that go into a good introduction and conclusion and how to put it together for themselves.
Tell me below, what else should students know about writing and speaking introductions and conclusions? Do you think I missed any important elements?
If you want more guidance on this topic, check out my Introductions and Conclusions in Public Speaking resource!
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