Chapter 69 Chapter Nine gives the audience a perfect ending

In the speech, what places can best reflect the level of a speaker?We think of it as the beginning and the end of the speech.In the drama world, there is also a comment about actors that illustrates the same truth: "By the appearance and exit of actors, you can get a good idea of ​​their level." indeed so!In almost any activity, the beginning and the end are always the most difficult parts to deal with.Don't you see, in all kinds of major social celebrations, do the opening and ending scenes always strive for grandeur?Isn't the hardest part of a business meeting to create the atmosphere for a successful start and a successful end?

Undoubtedly, the end of the speech is the most comprehensive part of the whole speech. When the speech is over, the speaker's concluding remarks will remain in the hearts of the audience for a long time.However, novice speakers rarely realize the importance of this link, and they have too much homework to do. So, in general, what mistakes do these novice speakers make?Let us try to analyze it and find out the corresponding countermeasures.First, some novice speakers end by saying, "I've got everything I've said, and I think it's time for me to end my speech." This is not really an ending, but a mistake.It just reflects a novice speaker's flaw, and that flaw is unforgivable in speaking.So, if you know everything you want to say, you might as well sit back in your seat right away. There is no need to tell everyone that you have finished speaking. In fact, in this silent action, the audience has clearly known that the speech is over.

Secondly, there are also some speakers who have said that it is time to end the speech, but they don't know how to end it.I remember George Billings advising people to stop a cow by pulling its tail instead of grabbing its horns.Therefore, these speakers are just like those who grab the horns. Although they spend a lot of effort, they can't stop. They have to turn around in circles, leaving a very bad impression on everyone. What remedial measures should we take?One thing is certain: we must prepare carefully for the closing part, but do it after the speech, through the nervousness and frustration of the speech process, and always be careful about our words?Or do you quietly prepare a perfect plan before the speech?

We know that even some great speakers like Webster, Brant, Glatterstone, etc., despite their superb language skills, will write out the ending verbatim and know it well. in the heart. A beginner, if he can prepare carefully in advance like these excellent speakers, and has a good idea of ​​​​the end of his speech, then he will not leave any regrets about his speech.In order to be safe, beginners may carefully rehearse several times before the speech. Of course, we don't have to require the exact same wording and diction in each rehearsal, but we must ensure that the meaning is accurate and complete.

In the process of impromptu speeches, in order to cope with unexpected changes and adapt to the requirements of the audience, we should have two to three plans for the end of the speech in case of emergency. Unfortunately, however, there are some speakers who never actually deliver a full speech.In the middle of the conversation, they became incoherent and incomprehensible, as if the machine had run out of fuel, and after a struggle, they had to end it hastily.These speakers certainly required more preparation and more diligent practice. There are also many beginners who are too abrupt at the end of the speech, lacking a sense of smoothness and smoothness.To be more precise, their speeches did not have a clear ending, and they just stopped suddenly, giving people a very uncomfortable feeling and appearing very unprofessional.It's like at a friend's gathering, a person suddenly leaves without saying goodbye.

Lincoln, in drafting his first inaugural address, made the same mistake as above.The domestic situation was so tense, and resentment hung over the hearts of the people, that a few weeks after the speech, a bloody storm fell on the country.Lincoln's draft address to the southern provinces of the United States concluded with the following: Friends full of grievances, whether to start a civil war is not in our hands but in yours.We will not attack you, as long as you do not invade us, there will be no war.As the staunchest defender of my country, I tell you that no one has the power to overthrow the government.You may impose upon her the scourge of war, but I will never back down in this war to preserve her.Now, it's time for you to decide "War or Peace".

After the speech was drafted, Lincoln gave it to Secretary Seward.After reading it, Seward quite rightly pointed out that the ending of the draft was too blunt, abrupt, and provocative.So Seward himself wrote two endings for Lincoln for his reference.In the end, Lincoln took one of them and slightly modified it to replace the last three sentences of his own draft.Lincoln's first inaugural address, therefore, was no longer abrupt and provocative, but one of unmatched friendliness, pure beauty, and poetic language: Now, I am about to end this speech. Although I am so reluctant, there is nothing I can do.I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that we are not enemies but friends, and we must never become enemies.Although our enthusiasm has faded now, no one can cut off the flesh and blood connection between us.Today the cries of peace and solidarity with one another ring from every battlefield, from the grave of the fallen, and from the hearts of the people who live in this great nation of ours, and tomorrow, guided by the virtues of the American people, that peace will Unity will be ours again.

So, as a beginner, how can you find the feeling at the end of the speech?Is there a mechanical and fixed way?of course not.Just like culture, because it is too complicated and subtle, it is difficult to find a certain rule to master it.As a speaker, when giving a speech, you have to rely on your own understanding, that is, your own inspiration and perception.These things, you will only find when you can speak proficiently. However, these things can be cultivated, and we can gain some experience by studying the growth paths of successful speakers.For your reference, here are excerpts from the concluding speeches given by previous Princes of Wales at the Empire Club in Toronto.

Gentlemen, I am afraid I have strayed too far in my speech today, for I have said too much about myself.However, what I want to say is that I feel a great responsibility in front of the largest audience I have ever spoken in Canada.Only in this way can I feel that I have lived up to everyone's expectations and have not evaded my responsibilities. This concluding remark, even a blind person can hear that the speech is over, because it does not give people a feeling of being lost or hesitant to speak, but it has been completed satisfactorily. The eminent Dr. Harry Emerson Fusdick attended the opening of the Sixth National Conference of Societies at the Geneva Catholic Church in Peel.It was a wonderful Sunday because Dr. Harley gave us a wonderful lecture on "Whoever has Military Power Uses His Power Carefully".The conclusion of this speech is as follows, and everyone should pay attention to his beautifully written, skillful, and sonorous expression:

Between peace and war, we have no other choice. This is the essence of the problem, and it is also the challenge to Christians with a conscience today.War is indeed one of the most destructive social evils for human beings, a total and irreparable tragic loss, and as such, it is completely alien to the teaching of Christ, and it is hitherto regarded as the most destructive social evil. The greatest blasphemy of Christianity.It is our earnest desire that the holy temple of Christianity shall recover and flourish the great spirit of the present day; that a new line of defense shall be erected against the heretics; Firmly position God-given human freedom above nationalism; call on the world to embrace peace.All of this is not a negation of patriotism, but a promotion of noble patriotism.

Here today, as an American and a Christian, in the midst of joy and peace, I will say nothing for my country, but I will say it again and again on behalf of my fellow countrymen: We eagerly await The Christian Church takes on a sacred mission to make our entire world enjoy peace.This is the ultimate goal we strive for, and any tampering with it will be a huge disaster for mankind.Just like the meaning and status of gravitation in mechanics, the following sentence is the unchanging will of God: Those who have military power should use their power with caution. But no concluding speech would be perfect without grandiose intonation and organ-like notes, as was the case with Lincoln's second inaugural address.The recently deceased President of Harvard, Mr. Earle of Kedlestern, has called the following speech "a great part of the honor and fortune of mankind—the purest and brightest jewel in the history of human speech." For a long time, we have hoped to eliminate the root cause of war.However, God believes that as long as the serf exploitation system that has existed for more than 250 years continues, as long as the blood and sweat of the poor are still being extracted, then our wishes will not be realized.In this regard, we can quote the famous saying 3,000 years ago: "God's judgment is extremely wise and just." With benevolent love, compassion, faith, and God-given opportunities, let us come together to dedicate ourselves to what we do, to heal our own wounds, to care for war-torn people and their loved ones, in short, For the peace of all mankind, we are willing to give everything. In my mind, the beauty of the concluding remarks of the above speech is unrivaled.Do you feel the same way?If you don't think so, of all the speeches, can you find one that is more human, engaging, compassionate? William Patton commented on the above speech in "Lincoln's Life": "Grand and noble as it is, the Gettysburg Address is even more important than the Gettysburg Address - it is Lincoln's many speeches. A splendid one, which marks the intellectual and spiritual peak of Abraham Lincoln." Carl Skelwoods also wrote: "This speech is like a poem. Before this, no American president has delivered such a wonderful speech to his people. None of them has reached the level of Abraham Lincoln. Depth of thought." But, for you, it doesn't take the president of the United States or the prime ministers of Canada or Australia to deliver an epic speech.Your question may be how to end a simple speech in front of a group of ordinary social workers.So how exactly do you go about it?Let's explore together and see if we can come up with some meaningful suggestions.