How to End a Speech
You have grabbed the attention of your audience with the introduction. Using examples and personal anecdotes, you have elaborated on the key themes of your speech. There is just one more step left: the conclusion. Your audience might forget the rest of your speech, but make sure they remember the closing sentences. End the speech by summarizing the main points, calling for action or doing both. Keep your speech ending concise and simple.
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Instructions
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Signal the start of the conclusion, especially if it has been a long presentation. Examples include "To sum up," "In conclusion" and "Let me leave you with these closing thoughts." Sometimes a pause is sufficient to signal a transition to the conclusion. However, do not end a speech abruptly. For example, do not say, "That is it, folks," and leave the stage.
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Reinforce the key themes by referring to the introduction. Use this technique for informative speeches and technical presentations. Do not introduce new facts in the conclusion. For example, say, "To wrap up, the two most important characteristics are speed and quality. The product achieves superior performance without sacrificing quality." For slide presentations, prepare a conclusion slide with the key points listed in bullet form.
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Call for action. Persuasive speeches usually end with a specific request. A company president may ask his employees to work harder to meet customer demand. A political candidate asks citizens for their votes. You can also combine a call for action with the reinforcement of key ideas. For example, end a product sales pitch with something like, "Our product offers you a combination of value and quality. Order online or call our customer support center now."
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Lift your audience to a higher plane. The ending of an inspirational speech motivates listeners to imagine a better world. End an inspirational speech with a quotation, a call for action, a strong statement of beliefs or a combination of the three. Martin Luther King Jr. ended his Aug. 28, 1963, "I Have a Dream" speech by quoting from an old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last." President John F. Kennedy ended his Jan. 20, 1961, speech in two parts. First, a call for action: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Second, a spiritually uplifting statement: "Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on Earth God's work must truly be our own."
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Remember the technical elements in your conclusion. Make eye contact. Use vocal variety to emphasize key points, but do not shout or yell.
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Thank the audience for listening and turn the floor back over to your host. If there is a question-and-answer session, proceed to it immediately or wait for the moderator to issue instructions. During the Q&A, refer to your speech and repeat the key points.
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