End Purpose of a Speech
Every speech should have a clear end purpose — what you want the audience to think, feel, or do by the time you finish. Knowing this goal guides every choice you make in writing the speech.
Questions you may have include:
- What is the end purpose of a speech?
- Why define it first?
- What kinds of purpose are there?
Defining the goal
The end purpose is the single result you want from the speech. Stating it plainly — in one sentence — keeps the whole speech focused.
Types of purpose
Common purposes are to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to inspire, or to move the audience to a specific action. Most speeches lean mainly on one of these.
How it guides the speech
Once the purpose is clear, everything in the speech should serve it; anything that does not can be cut. A speech with a clear purpose ends with a clear takeaway or a direct call to action.
Summary
A speech’s end purpose is the one result you want — to inform, persuade, entertain, inspire, or prompt action. Defining it in a single sentence keeps the speech focused and lets you end with a clear takeaway or call to action.