What do the presenters try to achieve with the different endings?

Task 26

Unscramble the sentences to make typical sentences from a conclusion.

1. Well, /the end of/today/brings me/to/my talk/that

2. Before l/key issues/go over/the/stop./let me/again

3. As a/means/let me say/for us/what this/final point,

4. Finally, /like to/issue/highlight/I would /one/key

5. To sum/looked at/product range/up then, /the new/first/we

6. That/logistics/just about/to say/about/l wanted/everything/covers

Task 27

Complete the sentences with words from the box.

come back • figures we have • final point • briefly summarize • my opinion • now approaching • suggest that • to highlight

1. If I may ______________ the pros and cons.

2. Based on the ______________, it is clear that we must act quickly.

3. Well, I am _________________ the end of my talk.

4. OK, I would now like _________________ the key figures.

5. Let me make one _____________________.

6. In ________________we need a new sales strategy.

7. Let me ___________________ to the key issue.

8. I __________________ we work together with our French partners.

Task 28

Match the two parts to make final statements from conclusions.

1. To put it in the words of Albert Einstein, 2. 1 would like to finish my talk 3. Let me go back to 4. So, now it’s 5. Remember that story 1 told y 6. As the famous basketball coach Pat Riley said: 7. OK, and now let’s

a) look for your choices, pick the best one, then go with it. b) with an important question. c) about the new branch in Tokyo? d) get down to work! e) what I said at the start of this talk. f) the important thing is not to stop questioning.’ g) up to you.

Task 29

Complete the sentences with prepositions from the box.

about • by • for • in • on • out • through • to

1. Based____ what we know, we can optimize our procedures.

2. ____ my opinion, we should go ahead with the project.

3. OK, this brings me ____the end of my talk.

4. What does this mean ____our business?

5. Let me just go ____the key issues again.

6. We found ____that our sales force needs more support.

7. Well, that is all I wanted to say ____ strategic planning.

8. We saw that the delays were caused ____ technical problems

Task 30

On his website, the American presentations guru Charlie F. Elroy, talks about his strategies for good conclusions.

Make a good last impression!

Do not forget that last impressions are just as important as first impressions.

I personally think the end of your talk is even more important than the beginning because people tend to remember most the last thing that they are told.

Make them listen!

When you move from the main part to the conclusion, use a sentence that signals to the audience that now they really have to sit up and listen!

Make a lasting impression!

Your conclusion is the place to make sure that you have planted the key ideas of your talk in your listeners’ minds. Do not miss this opportunity!

Here are some of my strategies for effective conclusions:

Summarize the main points

This the most widely used method but borrrrrring!!!!!! However, sometimes you will find it is the best strategy. Just sum up the main points you have covered in the middle section.

Quote a famous person

Quote something from a famous person that fits the content of your talk and use it as a final statement. You can find many quotations on the Internet. If you cannot find one, make it up. As long as it fits, no one will ever know.

Ask a provocative question or make a surprising statement

Ask a question which surprises, shocks or provokes your audience - anything to make them think and to make a lasting impression. Or you can just say something unusual, unexpected, or even shocking to help support your key points.

4. Use the ‘sandwich’ technique

Think of your presentation as a sandwich with two slices of bread (introduction + conclusion) and the cheese in the middle (main part). The ‘sandwich’ strategy means that you have a connection between the beginning and the end of your talk. If, for example, you start telling a joke or (funny) story in the introduction, stop at an exciting moment and move on to the main part. Then finish the story/joke in the conclusion.

Thank the audience

Fugeddabowdit!* Forget standard phrases such as 'Thank you very much for your attention’ or ‘Thank you for listening’. After a good presentation, it is the audience who should be thanking you!

* = Forget about it.

OVER TO YOU

Which tips do you think are the most useful? Which are not useful at all? Why do you think that?

Can you think of any other strategies for making good conclusions?

How might cultural differences between you and the audience affect the way you end a presentation? Do you remember a conclusion you found particularly effective? What did the presenter do?

Task 31