10.3: Sample Conclusion Analysis
Tiffany Petricini
Learning Objectives
- See what a full conclusion section looks like.
- Distinguish among the three parts of a conclusion.
Let’s take what we’ve learned and apply it to a real-world example. The following conclusion was written for an informative speech about sleep and student success.
Sleep and Student Success
“Today, we’ve explored how consistent sleep impacts students’ academic performance by examining the science of sleep cycles, the effects of sleep deprivation, and practical strategies for better rest. While it’s tempting to cut sleep to make time for more study or socializing, the evidence is clear: sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool for success. As sleep scientist Matthew Walker (2017) warns, “The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life span.” So tonight, choose rest—not just for yourself, but for your future.”
Let’s Break It Down
This brief paragraph includes the three essential parts of a strong conclusion:
Breakdown:
- Restated Thesis: The speaker reiterates that sleep is vital to student success.
“…how consistent sleep impacts students’ academic performance…” - Review of Main Points: Summarizes the body: science of sleep, consequences of deprivation, and strategies.
“…the science of sleep cycles, the effects of sleep deprivation, and practical strategies…” - Concluding Device: Uses a powerful quotation from a sleep researcher and a call for reflection.
“‘The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life.’”
Why This Works
This conclusion is effective because it mirrors the structure of the speech, reaffirms its relevance, and leaves the audience thinking. Even though it’s an informative speech, the speaker builds ethical awareness and future-thinking into the close—without stepping into persuasion.
Ethical Speaking Reflection
Not all conclusions are created equal and not all are ethical.
Strong conclusions often appeal to audience emotions, but emotional content should never substitute for substance. It’s one thing to move an audience with a story that reinforces your message. It’s another to shock or manipulate them in order to make up for weak content or poor preparation.
Scenario: Emotional Manipulation or Ethical Impact?
AI Insight: Check for Emotional Accuracy
If you use AI to help draft emotional content, ask yourself: Is the appeal grounded in evidence and message clarity? Emotion can be powerful, but only when it supports understanding. Avoid using AI-generated emotion to mask weak preparation or disorganized content.
Imagine this situation:
Tika is delivering a speech on humanitarian crises. She admits that her research is rushed, and the speech itself is disorganized. But she has a plan: she ends the speech by showing a graphic video of mass graves, knowing it will horrify the audience. Her logic? “Who cares if the rest was weak—as long as I hit them hard at the end!”
Is this an effective use of emotional appeal? More importantly, is it ethical?
Why Ethics Matter in Conclusions
In public speaking, the end of your speech is powerful, but that power should be used responsibly. Emotional content is not inherently unethical. It becomes problematic when it is:
- Disproportionate to the speech’s purpose or tone
- Used to bypass thoughtful reasoning or evidence
- Intended to coerce rather than inspire or inform
Use Emotion—Don’t Abuse It
Ethical conclusions should be rooted in truth, aligned with the speech’s content, and respectful of the audience. If you’re informing, inspire curiosity or reflection. If you’re persuading, move people through reason and emotion together. Emotional impact should deepen understanding, not replace it.
