[ocimbote]

The anecdote doesn't strike me because your friend the pastor said it, but because it's a rule as old as times that every high-schooler was taught.

- The introduction should announce the thesis and its development - walk your way towards your thesis - The conclusion should summarize your thesis (and hint at openings towards new grounds)

But somehow, everyone seems to forget it and is in awe whenever someone recaps it.

[groby_b]

And every high schooler, TedX speaker, and Malcom Gladwell impersonator gets this wrong: It only works if intro and conclusion present a different view on the information, otherwise it's simply boring the audience to death.