Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 35

THE CONCLUSION OF A TALK

Two crucial parts of a speech are the introduction and conclusion. In the introduction one must gain the audience's attention; in the conclusion one reaps the desired harvest. After the speaker has built the body of his talk he must do something to round it out, give it a note of finality, to bring the matter to a rest. Otherwise the audience will be left mentally stranded off somewhere in the body of the talk. The proofs in the body may have been quite involved and the points numerous. Many minor ideas may have bedimmed the major ones. The audience may have lost perspective. Isolate the main points for them. Moreover, listeners may not know what they are expected or required to do. Even if they know what to do, they may feel no impulse to do it; they may have responded mentally but not emotionally. For all these reasons and others a conclusion is needed.

What different types of conclusion may be used to accomplish these purposes? Most conclusions fall into three classes: those that summarize the ideas; those that apply them; and those that move the audience to action. Often the conclusion is all three types in one.

The simplest type is the FORMAL SUMMARY. The main ideas are merely restated. It is suitable when the address is complex and difficult to follow and when the sole object is exposition. It is also used in argument; but argument generally requires more. A summary leaves the audience with a bird's-eye view; but this is seldom sufficient. To most people mere repetition is dull and lifeless and seems wooden. Usually one can frame a conclusion that not only summarizes but does much more.

A conclusion of APPLICATION shows the audience what they are expected to do as a result of the information given. Apply the subject theme to the audience by proposing definite procedures. Bring it home to them. Show the general

principle of the talk to be a practical, workable proposition, for them. The body of the talk may have convinced them of the truth of one's contentions and they may be willing to do something about it; by a conclusion of application one shows them how they can apply the ideas.

Conclusions of MOTIVATION are used to stir the audience to action. By application one may have shown what they should do, but they may feel no impulse to do it. To motivate to action, a summary conclusion is not sufficient, neither is one of application. Argument and logic may convince, but it does not motivate. One must do more. One must find the driving force in human wants and desires. One must make an appeal to emotion to supply the spark, to give impetus to action. Avoid making such conclusions too long. Frequent use of the words "let us do this" and "let us do that" is characteristic of such endings, and should be avoided for the very reason that it is overused. The closing paragraph of the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" uses application by showing the reader that he must do as Christ Jesus did to have freedom, and then follow a few forceful sentences designed to move the reader to action.

Another style of conclusion that motivates action is called climactic. It requires skillful execution, and the subject material must be adaptable to it. The success of the entire talk hinges upon it. If it doesn't "click" the whole speech suffers. It is one where one saves his best and most striking point for the finale. Rise to the highest peak of persuasive force and thus conclude. No summary, no application, no further appeal. This final point should have enough weight and power in itself to sweep aside any hesitancy to act. Make it forcefully, and then quit. It is an abrupt ending, and is used generally when immediate action is desired.

Though conclusions will generally fall within one of the three above broad classifications given, there are other varieties. Three will be mentioned that might be useful for our purposes.

One is by the use of an ILLUSTRATION, incident or experience, quotation, or perhaps by brief reference to a familiar prophetic picture or drama that sweeps up the burden of the speech and presents it in a nutshell. By this means the central theme may be dramatized or aptly illustrated. The illustration should hit the nail of the speech on the head and clinch it without the necessity of summarizing, although this might be done also. Jesus used the conclusion of illustration to good effect in his famous sermon on the mount. In the body of the discourse he had presented many truths to guide one's feet in the right path. Then in a brief conclusion he likens those who hear and do these sayings unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock. Rain and flood and storm winds could not shake it from its firm foundation. Those who heard but did not do his sayings he likened unto a foolish man building on sand, and with the coming rains and floods and winds the house fell in a great destruction.

QUOTATION. The WATCHTOWER publications often conclude by quoting a Scripture text. In the closing paragraph of "The Kingdom Is at Hand" a divine command is quoted which admonishes all to praise Jehovah. Thus the conclusion motivates to action by using a Scripture quotation.

The last type of conclusion to be mentioned is that of CONDITION —the necessity of making a decision by virtue of the information presented. It shows what courses are open and which one should be chosen. To illustrate: Joshua in his old age assembled all Israel and exhorted them in the right way. The conclusion of his speech reads: "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye

dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  —Josh. 24:14,15.

The conclusion should be short, stated with conviction and in pithy phrase. As one writer on the subject quaintly put it, "Don't let the tail wag the dog." It should be well prepared. It is the crisis, the supreme moment for driving home the vitals of the talk. An audience senses when the body ends and the conclusion begins. The climax has been passed, so end quickly but not abruptly. Do not circle round and round for a place to light. Do not end a half a dozen times; one talk should have but one ending. Conclude with a paragraph that vitally restates the central idea. Draw all the threads of the thought together, and for a brief moment focus all attention on the speech as a whole, and then sit down.