Question

Please please please help me with this....

Read the introductions and conclusions of some speeches you find on your online resources. Evaluate them using the criteria given in the bullet point.
• Does the introduction gain attention, link to the audience, establish credibility, and preview the major points?
• Does the speaker provide a transition to the conclusion? Review the major points?
• Provide psychological closure? End memorably? What improvements, if any, would you suggest?​​

Answer 1

When evaluating the introductions of speeches, it is important to consider whether they gain the audience's attention, establish credibility, link to the audience, and preview the major points. For example, a good introduction might begin with a powerful quote or a surprising statistic, establish the speaker's expertise and experience on the topic, and preview the main points of the speech to come. As for the conclusions of speeches, it is important to consider whether the speaker provides a clear transition from the main points to the conclusion, reviews the major points in a concise and memorable way, provides psychological closure, and ends on a memorable note. An effective conclusion might summarize the key takeaways from the speech, leave the audience with a call to action or a memorable quote, and provide a sense of closure and completeness to the presentation. To illustrate these principles, let us consider an example speech on the topic of climate change. The introduction might begin with a powerful quote from a climate scientist or environmental activist, establish the speaker's credentials as an expert on the topic, and preview the main points of the speech, such as the causes and effects of climate change, potential solutions, and the role of individual action.

Answer 2

When evaluating the introductions and conclusions of speeches found online, we can use the following criteria:

1. Introduction:

- Does the introduction gain attention? This means that it should grab the audience's interest right from the beginning, perhaps by using a compelling story, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising fact.

- Does it link to the audience? The speaker should make a connection with the audience by addressing their interests, concerns, or experiences.

- Does it establish credibility? The speaker should establish their expertise or authority on the topic, which helps to build trust with the audience.

- Does it preview the major points? The introduction should provide a clear overview of what the speech will cover.

2. Conclusion:

- Does the speaker provide a transition to the conclusion? The speaker should smoothly transition from the body of the speech to the conclusion, signaling that the speech is coming to an end.

- Do they review the major points? The speaker should briefly summarize the main ideas or arguments presented in the speech, reminding the audience of what was discussed.

3. Does the conclusion provide psychological closure? This means that it should provide a sense of completeness and finality to the speech.

- Does it end memorably? A memorable conclusion leaves a lasting impact on the audience, perhaps by using a powerful quote, a call to action, or a strong closing statement.

To evaluate the speeches, read their introductions and conclusions carefully, considering the criteria mentioned above. Look for examples where the speeches successfully gain attention, establish credibility, and preview the major points in the introduction. Also, check if the speakers provide a smooth transition to the conclusion, review the major points, and end the speech memorably while providing psychological closure.

If you come across any improvements that could be made, note them down and suggest how the speaker could enhance their introduction or conclusion. Remember to provide specific examples and explanations to support your evaluation.