Page 261 - Essentials of Human Communication

240 Chapter 12 Public Speaking Preparation and Delivery (Steps 7–10)

● Use active rather than passive sentences. Active sentences are easier
to understand. They also make your speech livelier and more vivid.
Instead of saying, “The lower court’s original decision was reversed
by the Supreme Court,” say, “The Supreme Court reversed the
lower court’s decision.” Instead of saying, “The change was favored
by management,” say, “Management favored the change.”
● Use positive rather than negative sentences. Positive sentences are
easier to comprehend and to remember (DeVito, 1976; Clark,
1974). Notice how sentences A and C are easier to understand than
B and D.

positive sentences negative sentences
A. The committee rejected B. The committee did not
the proposal. accept the proposal.
C. This committee works D. This committee does not
ViewpOints outside the normal com- work within the normal
pany hierarchy. company hierarchy.
wording the speech for different audiences
You’re scheduled to give two speeches, one to a predomi- ● Vary the type and length of sentences. The advice to use short,
nantly female audience of health professionals and one to a
predominantly male audience of small business owners. Your direct, active, and positive sentences is valid most of the time. But
topic for both groups is the same: neighborhood violence too many sentences of the same type or length will make your speech
and how it must be confronted. In what major ways (identify sound boring. Use variety but generally follow the guidelines.
two or three) would these speeches need to be different?

Objectives self-Check
● Can you word your speech to achieve clarity, vividness, appropriateness, personal style,
and power?
● Can you construct sentences that are short, direct, active, positive, and varied?

Step 8: Construct Your Conclusion, Introduction,
transitions, and Outlines

Your conclusion and introduction need special care, because they will determine, in large
part, the effectiveness of your speech. Because you’ve just finished the body of the speech, and
the major function of the conclusion is to summarize, it will probably be easier to work first
on your conclusion and then on the introduction.

the COnClusiOn
Devote particular attention to this brief but crucial part of your speech. In your conclusion,
Watch the Video “Tips summarize your main points and make closing remarks.
for an Effective Conclusion” at
MyCommunicationLab
summarize You may summarize your speech in a variety of ways:

● Restate your thesis. Present again the essential thrust of your speech—your thesis, or per-
haps the purpose you hoped to achieve.
● Restate the importance of your thesis. Tell the audience again why your topic or thesis is so
important.
● Restate your main points. Reiterate your two, three, or four main points.

Close The conclusion’s second function is to provide closure—to give the speech a crisp
and definite end. Don’t leave your audience wondering whether you’ve finished.