Parts of a Speech, Essay Example

An effective speech must have several main components that are critical to grabbing the attention of the audience and conveying a strong message. There are three main sections to a good speech. The first section is the introduction.  This is perhaps the most important section because it must have an attention-grabbing opening that draws the audience into the speech. A speaker can use the introduction to convey a sense of authority on the topic of the speech. A thesis statement is critical to keeping the speech organized and informing the audience of the road map that the speech is going to travel.

Following the introduction, the second part of a speech is the body.  This is where the bulk of the information is conveyed to the audience. An effective transitional statement or phrase is necessary to move from the introduction section to the beginning of the body of the speech.  The body of the speech must follow the road map that the thesis statement has created. In the body, the speaker’s main points should be made in a well-organized format. Many speakers make the mistake of including unnecessary jargon and rhetoric that can confuse the audience and distract from the main point and overall purpose of the speech.  Instead, the main points should be clearly identified throughout the body of the speech.

Finally, the conclusion is the third section of the speech in which everything is summarized and comes to a close.  Similar to the introduction and body, there must be a transition between the body of the speech and the concluding section.  The main points should be restated and re-emphasized. At the end of the conclusion a final closing statement should be made in which the speaker is able to draw the speech to an effective close. This may mean that the audience is called to action or persuaded to think a particular way on the main topic of the speech.  Regardless of the purpose, the closing statement should leave the audience with a lasting impression of the topic, the speaker and the time spent listening.