Lesson 5: Advanced Techniques
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Scenario
Imagine that your school has decided to cut funding for arts programs, including music, theater, and visual arts.
You decide to write a speech that will change their minds.
At the end of this workshop, you will create a persuasive speech that effectively communicates your thoughts and ideas on the importance of arts programs in schools, using various public speaking skills.
In the past lesson: you learned about public speaking delivery techniques, including vocal variety, body language, and how to use visual aids.
In this lesson: you will learn about advanced public speaking techniques, including using examples to support a persuasive argument in a speech.
As you read this lesson: think about how you will create an impactful call to action that will help motivate your audience to act. Think about what you want your listeners to think and do at the end of your presentation.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, participants will be able to
Use storytelling, humor, and audience interaction techniques to create a persuasive speech that appeals to emotions.
Use evidence, statistics, expert opinions, personal anecdotes, and examples to support a persuasive argument in a speech.
Use techniques such as citing sources, demonstrating expertise, and establishing trust with the audience to enhance a persuasive argument in a speech.
Important Questions to Answer While Reading:
In order to be successful in this lesson, you must be able to answer these important questions.
How can you establish your credibility and authority as a speaker when presenting on a topic you may not have much experience with? Can you use specific strategies or techniques to increase your ethos?
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in public speaking. How can you build your strengths and address your weaknesses to become a better speaker?
Emotional Appeal Techniques
Pathos: This technique involves appealing to the audience's emotions. You can use storytelling, humor, or powerful language to elicit an emotional response from your listeners.
Storytelling: Stories are a powerful tool in public speaking. Your audience will generally like this personal touch in a speech.
Try to use vivid visual imagery and emotions. Viswanath Parameswaran from the Institute of Transformational Coaching says, “The story must be simple, relatable, and must present a point of view for it to be most effective. Personal stories are often the best since they are more credible and hence inspire action.”
Donald Hatter from Donald Hatter Inc says, “…make it crystal clear why, and how, your story can help the audience. That way your message will be more than entertaining, it will also be empowering and inspirational!”
Audience interaction: Engaging your audience can make your speech more interactive and memorable. Advanced speakers use techniques like asking questions, using humor, and involving the audience in demonstrations to create a more engaging experience.
Ask questions: Pose questions to your audience about your speech topic. This encourages the audience to think and participate in the presentation.
Polling: You can use polling tools to get quick feedback from the audience. For example, you can ask the audience to raise their hands if they agree or disagree with a statement or use an online polling tool.
Group activities: Incorporate group activities or exercises that involve the audience. This can help to break up the presentation and keep the audience engaged.
North says, “Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible.”
Regan Hillyer from Regan Hillyer International recommends connecting with your audience before your speech. Hillyer says, ”Go up to people individually, introduce yourself if you need to, let them know what you’re speaking about, and ask them what they’d love to learn.”
Use of Humor: Humor can be an effective tool to grab your audience’s attention. A well-timed joke or humorous anecdote can help to break the tension and build rapport with your audience. However, using humor appropriately and avoiding offensive or insensitive jokes is essential.
Logical Appeal Techniques
Logos: This technique uses logic and reason to make a persuasive argument. You can use statistics, facts, or examples to support your claims and appeal to your audience's rational side.
Be yourself. Let your personality shine through. This will help you build credibility because your audience will likely see you as real.
Use of evidence: Evidence is essential to making a persuasive speech. When incorporating evidence, it's important to consider the evidence's quality and the source's credibility. Be sure to cite your sources and explain how the evidence supports your argument. A well-supported argument is more likely to persuade your audience.
Use statistics: Statistics can be a powerful tool to support your claims. You can use data from reputable sources to support your argument. Be sure to cite the sources of your data to establish credibility.
Use expert opinions: Quoting experts in the field can add credibility to your argument. Be sure to cite their credentials, so your audience knows they are credible sources.
Use personal anecdotes: Personal anecdotes can add a human element to your argument and make it more relatable to your audience. They can also help illustrate your point and make it more memorable.
Use examples: Examples are a great way to illustrate your point and help your audience understand your argument. Use relevant, specific examples to help your audience relate to your message.
Use research: Conducting your own research or citing research from credible sources can add depth to your argument. Explain how the research supports your argument and cite the sources.
Use of rhetorical devices: Rhetorical devices are techniques used to enhance the effectiveness of a speaker's message. They can add impact, emphasize key points, and engage the audience in a speech. Using them sparingly and appropriately is essential to avoid sounding overdone or insincere. Here are some examples of rhetorical devices commonly used in public speaking:
Alliteration: Repeating the same sound or letter at the beginning of multiple words in a sentence.
For example, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
Repetition: Repeating the same word or phrase multiple times to emphasize a point.
For example, "Yes we can" was a famous repetition in President Obama's campaign speeches.
Metaphors and similes: Comparing two things to make a point.
For example, "Life is a journey, not a destination."
Analogies: Drawing comparisons between two things to help explain complex ideas.
For example, "Just as a captain navigates a ship through stormy waters, we must navigate through the challenges of life."
Hyperbole: Exaggerating a statement for emphasis.
For example, "I've told you a million times not to interrupt me!"
Irony: Using language that means the opposite of what is expected.
For example, "It's a beautiful day for a funeral."
Parallelism: Using similar sentence structure to emphasize a point.
For example, "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Rhetorical questions: Asking a question that does not require an answer but makes the audience think.
For example, "If we don't take action now, when will we?"
Anaphora: Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of multiple sentences or clauses.
For example, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills."
Persuasive Techniques
Ethos: This involves establishing your credibility and expertise on the topic. You can share personal experiences, qualifications, or research you've conducted to establish your ethos.
Call-to-Action: A call to action is a powerful tool to motivate your audience to take action or change based on your speech. By making it specific, achievable, urgent, relevant, repeating it, and providing a plan, you can effectively incorporate a call to action into your speech.
Make it specific: Your call to action should be clear and specific, so your audience knows exactly what you are asking them to do.
For example, instead of saying "make a difference," say "sign up for our volunteer program."
Make it achievable: Your call to action should be something your audience can realistically do.
For example, if you are asking for donations, make sure the amount you are asking for is reasonable and within their means.
Make it urgent: If you want your audience to take action, create a sense of urgency. Give them a deadline or a reason why they should act now.
Make it relevant: Your call to action should be relevant to your speech and the topic you are discussing. Ensure your audience understands how their action will contribute to the overall goal.
Repeat it: It's important to repeat your call to action several times throughout your speech to stick in your audience's minds.
Provide a plan: Give your audience a clear plan of action, so they know exactly how to follow through on your call to action. Provide any necessary resources or instructions to help them take action.
Closing Assessment
How can you establish your credibility and authority as a speaker when presenting on a topic you may not have much experience with? Can you use specific strategies or techniques to increase your ethos?
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in public speaking. How can you build your strengths and address your weaknesses to become a better speaker?
Discussion Question
Directions: Please answer the following question in the comment section below and interact with learners from around the world.
Design a specific, achievable, urgent, and relevant call to action. Provide a plan to motivate the audience to take action or change based on a persuasive speech.
Please read and reply to other learners’ answers in the forum by stating if you agree or disagree with their answers and why. Your replies should offer new substantiated ideas or thoughtful questions.
Workshop created by Darcy Rice
or try a prompt below!
