Ending strongly is important. It will make your G.B.C. test answers more effective (so long as you aren't interrupted), and in meetings, it will make your points clearer.
We remember the ending more clearly than the rest, so a memorable conclusion is a key aspect to a strong answer.
One winning framework is an axe-point ending. In this, the body of your answer can be heavy and complex, but then the conclusion is as simple and narrow as possible. In short, end simply.
Many excellent speakers do this. Here are three examples from popular TED talks.
Don't worry about understanding the full meaning of what the speakers are saying; just catch the gist and focus on the last sentence. If you'd like to see the full TED talk, click the link.
1. Olivier Scalabre: The next manufacturing revolution is here
You can use a very short sentence.
This is scary because when the economy doesn't grow, our children don't get better lives. What's even scarier is that when the pie does not grow, each of us gets a smaller piece. We're then ready to fight for a bigger one. This creates tensions and serious conflicts. Growth matters a lot.
2. Julia Dhar: How to disagree productively and find common ground
You can use a directive. In this case, stop verb+ing or start verb+ing.
The principles of debate can transform the way that we talk to one another, to empower us to stop talking and to start listening. To stop dismissing and to start persuading. To stop shutting down and to start opening our minds.
3. Judson Brewer: A simple way to break a bad habit
You can even just say the keywords individually.
We eat the food, we taste it—it tastes good. And especially with sugar, our bodies send a signal to our brain that says, "Remember what you're eating and where you found it." We lay down this context-dependent memory and learn to repeat the process next time. See food, eat food, feel good, repeat. Trigger, behavior, reward. Simple, right?
Key takeaways
Ending strongly takes practice. Like most things, if you focus and practice your skill will improve. Remember, for strong endings, the grammar is very simple, and the vocabulary should just relate to what you've been talking about. The main thing is just this: end simply.
Simple, right?
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trigger [noun or verb, negative]—start a chain of events.
