What is one reason transitions are important in a speech?

Transitions are crucial in a speech because they help maintain audience engagement. As speakers move from one idea to the next, transitions serve as signposts, guiding listeners through the progression of thoughts and arguments. Without clear transitions, an audience might become confused or lose interest as they struggle to follow the speaker's logic. Effective transitions connect the points seamlessly, reinforcing the relationships between ideas and ensuring a smooth flow that keeps the audience attentive and involved in the presentation. This clarity helps the audience absorb the information being presented, making it more likely that they will stay engaged throughout the entire speech.

While increasing the speech's length, emphasizing background information, and providing supporting evidence are all aspects of speech writing, they do not capture the primary function of transitions, which is to maintain a coherent narrative and sustain the audience's attention.