27.  Introduce the topic:  Training in public speaking is valuable for all men and women.

28.  In a genial manner suitable to the season’s feelings introduce some statement concerning New Year’s resolutions.

29.  Frame some statement concerning aviation.  Introduce it.

30.  Introduce topics or statements related to the following: 

The eight-hour day. 
The principles of Socialism. 
Legitimate methods of conducting strikes. 
Extending the Monroe Doctrine. 
Studying the classics, or modern languages. 
Private fortunes. 
College education for girls. 
Direct presidential vote. 
A good magazine. 
Some great woman. 
Sensible amusements. 
Fashions. 
Agriculture. 
Business practice. 
Minimum wages. 
Equal pay for men and women.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUDING THE SPEECH

Preparing the Conclusion.  No architect would attempt to plan a building unless he knew the purpose for which it was to be used.  No writer of a story would start to put down words until he knew exactly how his story was to end.  He must plan to bring about a certain conclusion.  The hero and heroine must be united in marriage.  The scheming villain must be brought to justice.  Or if he scorn the usual ending of the “lived happily ever after” kind of fiction, he can plan to kill his hero and heroine, or both; or he can decide for once that his story shall be more like real life than is usually the case, and have wickedness triumph over virtue.  Whatever he elects to do at the conclusion of his story, whether it be long or short, the principle of his planning is the same—­he must know what he is going to do and adequately prepare for it during the course of, previous events.

One other thing every writer must secure.  The ending of a book must be the most interesting part of it.  It must rise highest in interest.  It must be surest of appeal.  Otherwise the author runs the risk of not having people read his book through to its conclusion, and as every book is written in the hope and expectation that it will be read through, a book which fails to hold the attention of its readers defeats its own purpose.

The foregoing statements are self-evident but they are set down because their underlying principles can be transferred to a consideration of the preparation of conclusions for speeches.

Is a Conclusion Necessary?  But before we use them let us ask whether all speeches require conclusions.

There are some people—­thoughtless, if nothing worse—­who habitually end letters by adding some such expression as “Having nothing more to say, I shall now close.”  Is there any sense in writing such a sentence?  If the letter comes only so far and the signature follows, do not those items indicate that the writer has nothing more to say and is actually closing?  Why then, when a speaker has said all he has to say, should he not simply stop and sit down?  Will that not indicate quite clearly that he has finished his speech?  What effect would such an ending have?