COMM 101 - Fundamentals of Communication

Dr. Lee McGaan  

  Office:  WH 308  (ph. 309-457-2155);  email lee@monmouthcollege.edu
  Home:  418 North Sunny Lane (ph. 309-734-5431, cell 309-333-5447)

Fall 2016 Office Hours:   MWF:  9:30 - 10am, 11am - Noon & 1 -2pm TTh:  2-3pm & by apt.  |  copyright (c) by Lee McGaan, 2006-2016


Introductions and Conclusions
Last updated 10/8/2014

Ideas for Attention Material

  • A surprising or shocking example or fact

  • Humor

  • An Audience Reference or Interaction

  • An Insightful Quotation

  • An Appropriate Narrative (story)

Ideas for Motivation Material

  • Reference to how the audience can use the information

  • Reference to how the audience benefit from the information

  • Reference to how the audience may be affected by your topic

  • Providing the audience with a context for your presentation

Ideas for Overview Material (always include both of these)

  • The THESIS statement

  • A Preview of the main points

Ideas for the Conclusion

  • A summary (in the Underview)

  • A (more sophisticated) restatement of the thesis in new words (in the Underview)

  • Material of the sort used for attention

  • A clincher line (in the Last Thought)

  • A call for specific action

Common Errors in Introductions

  • Irrelevant Attention Material

  • An Apology

  • Misdirection (of thesis or purpose)

  • New Ideas (in the conclusion)

  • Dilution of the Main Point (in the conclusion)

  • Lack of "closure" (in the conclusion)

Common Errors on Outlines

  • Failure to use complete sentences for Attention, Motivation, Overview and Main points

  • Failure to use labels on the left side for AMOBUL and internal summaries and transitions

  • Failure to indent properly and use a consistent outline style (Numbers for main points starting with 1, letters for sub-points, etc.

  • Failure to use complete citations for all reference material in "Works Cited"