A good speech is carefully planned so that it carries you through an orderly progression of ideas, making it easy for you to follow. Without a good design, a speech may seem to consist of random ideas that have been thrown together willy-nilly. A worthwhile message can get lost in the confusion. There are three main parts to every message: an introduction, the body of the speech, and a conclusion. The introduction should arouse interest in the topic and preview the message to follow. The body of the speech presents a speaker’s main ideas and the supporting material needed to develop them. The conclusion should summarize the main points, reflect upon the meaning of the message, and provide a sense of closure.
The introduction may begin with an example, a quotation, or a question that draws you into the topic, such as “So you think there’s no need to worry about global warming?” Once speakers gain their listeners’ attention, they will usually prepare the listeners for what is to come by focusing on their purpose and previewing the main points.