L5 speech trophy model

The arrangement of the speech is referred to as the "Canon of Arrangement.” As the 7-step
Cicero's Classical Oratorical Model is presented in this unit are as follows: Introduction and
presentation, Narration situations necessary to comprehend the topic, Proposition, general
or global thesis, Division, briefing listing of planned point of coverage, Confirmation body of
proof, Confutation or rebuttal, and Conclusion. Furthermore, discovering the role of the
modern speech organization model used by orators today has educated me well enough
and that both Cicero's and the Trophy Model's first sections include the AGD, or "Attention
Getting Device." To conclude, both models are of significance as they assist a writer in
organizing and crafting their speech or discourse.

Speech
The pandemic was such a cruel challenge to every single living being in this world. An
unprecedented tragedy we thought we could overlook but couldn’t avoid in the end.
Something we could only see in movies but surprisingly, happened also in real life. The
panic, the worry, the fear was clearly evident in each person’s face during the first wave of
the pandemic. A tragic dream none of us had foreseen. The Covid-19 outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and
presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of
work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens
of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of
undernourished people could exceed drastically. Filipinos and every people all over the
world were stunned upon this virus outbreak which later on killed millions of people.
Every living being was affected, humans, animals and plants. Everything dropped
during the pandemic. Fear consumed people, anxiousness was prevalent and nothing
could be done to alleviate the feeling of fear, the thought of death.

As COVID-19 strikes the Philippine nation, people rise together to counter it. At the forefront of
the fight against the virus are our healthcare workers and various frontliners. Daily, they face the
hazard of infection with their mantra: “We go to work for you. Please stay at home for us.”

We all have been affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of the
pandemic and its consequences are felt differently depending on our status as individuals
and as members of society. While some try to adapt to working online, homeschooling their
children and ordering food via door-to-door deliveries, others have no choice but to be
exposed to the virus while keeping society functioning. Our different social identities and
the social groups we belong to determine our inclusion within society and, by extension, our
vulnerability to epidemics.

ASYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITY: UNIT FRUTHER READINGS

Evidence plays an important role in speech writing. Analysis, statistics, and information from
credible sources are required in order for us to develop and improve our credibility as speakers
and make our words and arguments more persuasive. The very first thing to do in writing a
speech or an argument is to look for proof to back up our conclusions and statements. Facts are
frequently used as primary evidence to support our claims however, we must keep in mind that
facts are frequently subjective in a manner. Analytic evidence, which usually offers reasons for
why events occur and attempts to draw inferences about the causes and effects from the facts
provided, is another approach to support our claims along with analysis. Evidence from an expert
or a reliable source is a good example of this, and using it will improve our arguments and give
our statements more credibility. “Every word serves a purpose in an effective speech” and by
this the speaker must choose the speech's main argument, identify the audience or listeners,
gather supporting facts through research, provide structure, and appropriately personalize
the speech.

L6 SPEECH PRESENTATION AND DELIVERY

The speaker, Roberto Monaco said that exact words can have different meanings by having different
emotions and delivery. The main focus of the video is how to use emotional range to improve the
persuasiveness of presentations. Emotional range is the speaker's intensity of expression or portrayal
of the emotion that conveys the intended emotion. Emotional Range, according to Roberto, has a
zero to ten emotional scale that runs from joy, appreciation, freedom, love, and empowerment (the
highest) to fear, desperation, grief, and powerlessness (the lowest). The finest speakers, in his
opinion, reach ten and zero, which means they don't stay in the so-called "safe zone," but instead take
a roller coaster ride with unpredictable ups and downs, which keeps the audience engaged. People, he
believes, like a wide spectrum of emotions. There are three ways in creating emotional range in
presentations namely: be authentic or be who you are; relieve it before you tell it; and get associated
with your audience and practice the law of familiarity.

L6 Rhetorical Analysis
Reaction and rejoinder on the Virtual Discussion No. 4
Rhetoric is, that big word in "rhetorical analysis." It is as "the art of effective communication."
And understanding that stands on the shoulders of understanding the choices communicators
make and the effects those choices have on different audiences.

For example, someone is giving a speech, and you think about all the choices that go into that
speech: about how she can choose how to say something, and also what to say. How she's going
to present herself standing there, and also how she's going to present her ideas.

All of those choices, every single one, is going to have a different effect on different members of
the audience. Writing in the newspaper, online, in college essays, etc. And writing is so full of
choices--how what you say, how you organize it, what kind of voice you use, every one of those
single choices will have a different sort of effect, helping you be effective in the way you want to
be.

The effectiveness of a piece of writing, a piece of communication, no matter whether it's a sound,
paint color, shirt, clothing, speech, writing--all of that can be judged and really, this study is the
study of rhetoric: the study of how effective someone's choices were in a different situation.
Now I'm going to assume that you're writing your rhetorical analysis, as an essay, but of course
that's not necessary. You could analyze one of these texts through making a video, through
making audio. All sorts of ways you could analyze something, right? But let's assume right now
it's an essay. What I would do, is I would start by explaining the text's rhetorical situation. Now
there's some big words there. You might say, "Well, wait a minute, what do you mean by text?"
Well, you remember all those situations we're talking about: the music, the paint, the writing, the
speech. I'm going to call all of those "texts" that could be analyzed for rhetorical situation.
Obviously if you're writing this for a class, your professor might say that you have to analyze a
certain kind of text. Obviously, that makes sense.

So if I were talking about the rhetorical situation of any of those texts, we're talking about, "What
is the overall context of when that communication was delivered?" So for instance, if we're
talking about the speech, and we think about how that speech was delivered in a context, with a
certain kind of audience, with a certain purpose in mind that the person giving the speech had.
And even, the speech was given in a certain of genre, right? Maybe it's a "Hey, get everyone
riled up!" speech, or maybe it's a political speech, "I'm running for this office." All of those
questions, all of those parts of the context change the nature of how we're going to judge the
effectiveness of this speech, right? Think about the offensive slogan on the shirt in the restaurant.
In that fancy restaurant, it was SO inappropriate to wear that t-shirt. But if that t-shirt were in a
rock concert, it might seem, in that context, a little less out of place. (Still not really great, but a
little more in place.)

So what we're seeing is that the effectiveness of communication depends in part on the situation
in which it's delivered. So if I were writing an analysis, I would want to say something about
that! "Hey, this is where this was, this is where I found it, this is where it was designed to be read
or experienced or whatever." After that I can get into--no surprise--some of the choices made by
the text's composers. So again, if we're talking about the speech, think of all the choices she had.
She could think to herself, "You know, how do I want my voice to sound? Loud? Quiet? Angry?
Forceful? Kind?" Whatever. She also can organize her speech however she wants to. She can
also decide, "Am I going to persuade people using logic? Persuade them using emotion?" All of
these choices--there are so many of them, right?

My rhetorical analysis is going to get into every single one of those that I think is worthwhile,
especially the ones that I think are interesting to my audience, as someone who is writing a
rhetorical analysis. Maybe I want to especially talk about choices that someone might not have
noticed! Then, of course, very logically, I want to discuss "What are the effects of those
choices?" Especially the effects they might have on an audience. So when she makes the choice
to make her voice sound a certain way, I might think, "You know what? That decision on an
audience might have a really positive effect!" And I think, "Well you know, she also made that
decision about how to organize things, and that might have had more of a negative effect on the
sort of people in the audience."

And when she made another choice about how much to use logic, how much to use emotions,
that might have worked really well for some people--but remember that people aren't completely
predictable. So some people might have had more of a negative emotion or might have been so
bored that they didn't pay attention at all. This is the nature of rhetoric! This is the nature of
rhetorical communication! People make choices all the time that sometimes work for some
audiences more than others. So obviously, number 2 and 3 won't necessarily happen in the same
order.

You might talk about choices and then talk about some of the effects of those choices and you
might go back and talk about some more choices--it really depends on how you want to organize
your essay. The main thing here is that you are the one (with the creepy hands) who is in control
of the essay. You're the one saying, "This is how I judge the effectiveness of this rhetorical
communication." Whether it's paint, or clothing, or writing, or a speech, or whatever. You're
stepping in and saying, "I've found the most interesting things that I want you to know about, and
I want to share them." And that is how you write a rhetorical analysis

Learning Activity No. 8: Analyze and reflect on the effectiveness of Martin Luther King Jr. “I
have a Dream” speech

‘I have a dream’ by Martin Luther King Jr. is a powerful rhetorical call for equal
rights for all American people regardless of their race. It is a continual source
of inspiration for those fighting to continue what the Civil Rights movement
began.
In the first lines of this famed speech, King discusses the Emancipation
Proclamation. That is the speech that freed the slaves in 1863, one hundred
years in the past. Now, he stated, still, “the Negro is…not free.” He also
references the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, reminding
all those listening that America is supposed to be the land of the free. But, in
American today, freedom hasn’t been achieved. The phrase “I have a dream” is
used numerous times throughout the piece. He says that the United States
needs to make immediate changes, or the protests will only heighten. He also
says that the Black community will never be satisfied until they are granted full
and equal rights with white Americans.

Throughout this piece, King engages with themes of freedom, justice, and the
future. He acknowledges the past and present as a way of alluding to the
promise of the future. His determination that no one rest until all people are
truly equal comes through in his calls for justice and freedom.
‘I have a dream’ by Martin Luther King Jr. is an incredibly important text to
study for those interested in understanding the Civil Rights movement and
this specific pivotal moment. It was delivered in around seventeen minutes,
using numerous rhetorical devices that are noted below. King uses repetition,
seen through instances of anaphora and epistrophe, to drive home his poems.
In this analysis, the speech has been separated into six sections. These are not
sections created or noted by King. Instead, they’re used in this analysis to
make the poem easier to analyze and understand.

Throughout the speech, King uses numerous literary and rhetorical devices in
order to deliver the most effective speech possible. For example:

 Ethos: used in an argument by appealing to the audience through the

speaker’s credibility. King, as a Black man living in the United States, and
working within the Civil Rights Movement, is in an ideal position in order
to speak about what the contemporary American experience is like. King
also uses the other modes of persuasion, logos, and pathos.
 Anaphora: the use of the same word or words at the beginning of
multiple lines, in succession. Throughout the speech, King repeats “I
have a dream” eight times, successively, at the beginning of lines. “One
hundred years later” is another example, appearing at the beginning of
numerous phrases early on in the speech. “Now is the time,” “Go back
to,” “With this faith,” and “We can never (or cannot) be satisfied” are all
other phrases that begin multiple lines.
 Allusion: throughout this piece, King alludes to prior American history,
important political moments, and contemporary events. The latter
includes protests that he was famously a part of. He uses phrases like
“Five score years ago” as a reference to the Gettysburg Address and
“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is an allusion to the Lincoln
Memorial. There are also biblical allusions scattered throughout the
speech. Such as “It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of
their captivity” which comes from Psalms 30:5
  Repetition: in addition to examples of anaphora, there are other kinds
of repetition in King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech. For example, repeated
phrases, references, and calls to action. He also repeats common
themes. These include: freedom, justice, and the power of dreams.
 Imagery: another powerful rhetorical and literary device. It occurs when
the speaker uses phrases that appeal to and trigger the listener’s senses.
For example, “slums and ghettos of our northern cities,” a phrase that
also alludes to the contemporary moment King is living through.
 Metaphor: comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things that do
not use “like” or “as.” For example, in the second paragraph of the
speech, King uses the phrase “joyous daybreak to end the long night of
their captivity.” Here, he’s connecting Black American’s social and
political restrictions and the racisms that still plagues the country to a
“long night of captivity.” When freedom is truly given to all people it will
be a “joyous daybreak” and end to that night.
Another example can be found in paragraph 19, in which he uses the
phrase “sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into
an oasis of freedom and justice.” Here, oppression is compared to “heat”
and freedom and justice to “an oasis.” He’s using imagery in this
metaphor to evoke the beauty of one state of being and the pain or
another.
 Alliteration: the use of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of
words. For example, King uses “trials and tribulations,” “dark and
desolate,” “sweltering summer,” and “marvelous new militancy.”

L8 Oratorical Analysis

Pre-watch Virtual Discussion No. 4: Identities of Speech Analysis:

hello today let's take a look at how to analyze speeches looking for rhetorical devices so one of
the tasks you often have to deal with in a "Klausur" (exam) is looking at a speech and then
analyzing it and often one of the things you focus on in this analysis is looking for rhetorical
devices this can be really tricky but today I'll make it easier for you and show you the three steps
you can take to make this easier first that will be how do you find the right devices when reading
the text second step is how do you focus on the correct devices because you cannot describe
everything that's in the text and my last step will be how do you write a text about these devices
and construct sensible paragraphs let's go so let us take a look how to analyze a speech first of all
obviously you should read the text but there's some there's some advice I can give you even on
just reading the text first of all when you read you should already mark the devices but there is a
problem here because if you don't know what you should be marking it will be hard to mark
something let me make a comparison say you're walking on a beach and you're trying to look for
seashells now if you don't know what seashells look like or what seashells are interesting or
special you you're not likely to find very interesting sea shots so you should know exactly what
you're looking for in a speech you don't really have to know all the rhetorical devices but in
speech what will most likely appear is a rhetorical question some form of repetition this could be
like an anaphora; anaphora is the beginning of a sentence that is always the same like as in "I do
not know where we will find..."; "I do not know what ..." and so forth or the rule of three which
is three things mentioned in a row or the parallelism which I'll make an example of later or you
will have things like the use of an 'inclusive we' to create a feeling of unity or something like this
so while reading keep an eye out for these things and mark them already the second step is
evaluate what you have found so again like with the seashells we don't just want to count
everything that's on the beach but we're looking for interesting things which devices does the
speaker use often so more than once which devices are very interesting or are striking in the way
that they're used and which devices support the message best that the speaker's trying to make.

The last step is "write" of course, how do you write that? Now there's some real good advice that
I can give you on that: Write in paragraphs! It shouldn't be one text without I don't know any
sign of structure but should be paragraphs and the paragraphs in your main part should look like
this they should have the name of the device say alliteration they should have a quote or
reference; a quote is where you really quote something from the text, a reference is where you
only refer to so you only give a line number this can be this can make sense depending on the
circumstance and there should be an explanation of what the effect or what the intended effect or
intention of this device is. You shouldn't use copy and paste phrases here so that means don't
always write "the speaker uses this device to make the text more interesting" - next device: "the
speaker uses this device to make the text more interesting" - of course that's not completely
wrong but it's also not really completely right and it doesn't really describe the very text you're
reading here. To make that easier for you I have got an example here try to remember the colors
half years I've read for name of the device yellow for quote a reference and green for intention
and effect of the explanation. My example (again keep in mind the colors it's like in a stop light
right if you have red yellow and green, red is the name yellow is the reference or the quote and
green is the explanation): "Talking about climate change, Obama uses a parallelism (I've named
the device) when he points out that in America in our West and in our Heartland (this is the
quote/reference to the text) the negative effects can already be felt. Thus it becomes clear that
(and now comes my explanation of the effect) the problem does not lie in the future but affects
US citizens today. By mentioning different regions in the USA Obama underlines that the effects
are not limited to specific areas." Of course your format, or your style can vary and can change
significantly but generally speaking your paragraph should include this information name of
device reference to the text explanation of the effect. So, that was my video on finding,
evaluating and writing about rhetorical devices you can find in speeches. I hope it helped you a
little bit, let me know if you got along with it if you have any other questions or comments please
contact me. See you soon!
Goodbye!

Learning Activity No. 9: Examine Fmr. Philippine President Corazon Aquino speech:

Former President
Corazon C. Aquino
Speech to the United
States Congress on
September 18, 1986
Analysis
Former President
Corazon C. Aquino
Speech to the United
States Congress on
September 18, 1986
Analysis
Former President
Corazon C. Aquino
Speech to the United
States Congress on
September 18, 1986
Analysis
Former President Corazon C. Aquino Speech to the UnitedStates Congress on September 18,
1986 Analysis

except some remarkable architecture in New York. Half of our much neededexport revenues
are required just to pay for the interest on that debt.It is stated also that Filipinos face a
communist insurgency that feeds oneconomic deterioration, even though they carry a
great share of the free worlddefenses in the Pacific. These are only two of the many burdens the
people carryeven as they try to build a worthy and enduring house for their new democracy.Half
the export earnings, $2 billion out of $4 billion, which was all they couldearn in the restrictive
markets of the world, went to pay just the interest on a debtwhose benefit the Filipino people
never received.Cory Aquino was devastated and sad about the situation of the country; about
twodecades of social and political oppression.III. CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE OF
THE DOCUMENT INUNDERSTANDING THE GRAND NARRATIVE OF
PHILIPPINEHISTORYThe speech of the former President Corazon Aquino gives us the insights
on howFilipinos struggled to attain freedom and between the insisted resistance from the
pasthave inspired Filipino revolutionaries in our current era. It also gives clarificationabout what
really happened during the time of Ninoy Aquino. The document describe the struggles faced by
the Aquinos to help the Philippinesachieve freedom. The document also mentioned about the
debt incurred by the formergovernment before Cory Aquino. This speech also shows
how the dictatorshiptransforms into democratic government. From its president down to its
laws, order,and rules. The document also mentioned the killing of Ninoy Aquino and the
terrorfrom torture and conviction during the Martial Law.It shows the problem faced by Cory
Aquino as soon as she became the President.For instance the poverty and unemployment. The
document mentioned two electionsoccurred after the death of Ninoy Aquino. His wife
participated during the electionand lose in the first election. During the second which is snap
election, she becamethe president and declares democracy in the country.

ORAZON AQUINO’S
SPEECH BEFORE THE
JOINT SESSION OF THE
UNITED STATES
CONGRESS
On September 18, 1986, almost
seven months after she became
the eleventh President of the
Philippine
Republic, Maria Corazon
“Cory” Cojuango Aquino
delivered a speech before the
joint session of the United
States
Congress in Washington DC.
Cory was the widow of late
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr.,
the youngest Governor
to be elected in the Philippines
and the youngest member of the
Philippine Senate during that
time. With his death
brought by his oppositions to
the political views of then
dictator President Ferdinand E.
Marcos, Cory continued
his legacy and campaigned
against the violence
experienced by the Filipinos
and their homelessness in their
own
country. Encouraged by the
revolution to run as President to
challenge Marcos and keep on
advocating the beliefs
and principles his husband had
started, Cory became the first
Filipina to be sworn in the
highest position of the
Philippine government.
In her speech before the US
Congress, Cory shared her
experiences and sorrows for
losing a loving
husband and a good father of
her family. She provided a brief
narration of how Marcos
suspended the Philippine
Constitution and shut down the
Congress, which eventually led
to Ninoy’s exile and death,
highlighting the cruelty
he has experienced in the hands
of the military and the dictator.
From this, she detailed how the
task to free the
Filipinos and fight for
democracy fell into her
shoulders. She mentioned how
she personally experienced the
corruption of the Commission
on Elections and praised the
unity and courage of the people
in times of oppression.
As the new President of the
country, she went over some
of her plans to restore the
government first by
reinstituting and amending the
Philippine Constitution, as well
as to start reintegration
programs for the healing
of the different localities in the
country. She also acknowledged
the 26 billion-dollar debt
acquired by the Marcos
regime, managed to create
negotiations to be able to
gradually pay for it in behalf of
the previous administration,
and lodged an appeal from the
foreigners for further assistance.
As her speech neared its end,
she recognized and
thanked the efforts of the
American people to help
achieve the democracy the
Filipino people have fought for.
Completed with the assistance
of Teodoro Lopez Locsin, Jr.,
Cory Aquino’s speech serves as
a primary
account of the Martial Law era
in the Philippines. In this
historical disquisition, Cory
spoke for all those who
were victimized by the Marcos
dictatorship, recounting how the
death of her husband sparked
the first People
Power Revolution with
Filipinos crying out for
democracy and freedom from
tyrants of the country. The text
reflects the social and
political situation of the
Philippines during that time
and accounts the first
peaceful
revolution in the national
history. It carries the grief of
the people, which waged the
war against the evils of
oppression as the Filipino
people rally for the cause of
freedom. Such anguish turned
into power which led to the
nation’s greatest victory: the
abolishment of a dictatorial
government, giving way to true
liberty, the upliftment
of human rights, and the
protection of the welfare of the
Filipinos. Cory became a
symbol for democracy which
empowered a politically
disenfranchised people.
I find it extremely exciting the
fact that democracy and
freedom mattered to the
Filipinos more than their
socioeconomic situation. The
people had strong values and
beliefs that they would not let
oppressors abuse their
rights and privileges as citizens
of the country. The power of a
peaceful protest is also
rewarding and motivating,
which inspires me to take good
care of and give importance to
the democracy I am enjoying
right now.
ORAZON AQUINO’S SPEECH BEFORE THE JOINT SESSION OF THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS On September 18, 1986, almost seven months after she became the eleventh
President of the Philippine Republic, Maria Corazon “Cory” Cojuango Aquino delivered a
speech before the joint session of the United States Congress in Washington DC. Cory was the
widow of late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., the youngest Governor to be elected in the
Philippines and the youngest member of the Philippine Senate during that time. With his death
brought by his oppositions to the political views of then dictator President Ferdinand E. Marcos,
Cory continued his legacy and campaigned against the violence experienced by the Filipinos and
their homelessness in their own country. Encouraged by the revolution to run as President to
challenge Marcos and keep on advocating the beliefs and principles his husband had started,
Cory became the first Filipina to be sworn in the highest position of the Philippine government.
In her speech before the US Congress, Cory shared her experiences and sorrows for
losing a loving husband and a good father of her family. She provided a brief narration of how
Marcos suspended the Philippine Constitution and shut down the Congress, which eventually led
to Ninoy’s exile and death, highlighting the cruelty he has experienced in the hands of the
military and the dictator. From this, she detailed how the task to free the Filipinos and fight for
democracy fell into her shoulders. She mentioned how she personally experienced the
corruption of the Commission on Elections and praised the unity and courage of the people in
times of oppression. As the new President of the country, she went over some of her
plans to restore the government first by reinstituting and amending the Philippine
Constitution, as well as to start reintegration programs for the healing of the different localities in
the country. She also acknowledged the 26 billion-dollar debt acquired by the Marcos regime,
managed to create negotiations to be able to gradually pay for it in behalf of the previous
administration, and lodged an appeal from the foreigners for further assistance. As her speech
neared its end, she recognized and thanked the efforts of the American people to help achieve the
democracy the Filipino people have fought for. Completed with the assistance of Teodoro Lopez
Locsin, Jr., Cory Aquino’s speech serves as a primary account of the Martial Law era in the
Philippines. In this historical disquisition, Cory spoke for all those who were victimized by the
Marcos dictatorship, recounting how the death of her husband sparked the first People Power
Revolution with Filipinos crying out for democracy and freedom from tyrants of the country.
The text reflects the social and political situation of the Philippines during that time and
accounts the first peaceful revolution in the national history. It carries the grief of the people,
which waged the war against the evils of oppression as the Filipino people rally for the cause of
freedom. Such anguish turned into power which led to the nation’s greatest victory: the
abolishment of a dictatorial government, giving way to true liberty, the upliftment of human
rights, and the protection of the welfare of the Filipinos. Cory became a symbol for democracy
which empowered a politically disenfranchised people. I find it extremely exciting the fact that
democracy and freedom mattered to the Filipinos more than their socioeconomic situation. The
people had strong values and beliefs that they would not let oppressors abuse their rights and
privileges as citizens of the country. The power of a peaceful protest is also rewarding and
motivating, which inspires me to take good care of and give importance to the democracy I am
enjoying right now.

Learning Activity No. 10: Reflect and illustrate how speeches are effectively communicated
and influenced people for change.

Approaching the Speaking Situation:

Audience, Occasion, Purpose
Communication, both spoken and written, is always addressed to an audience, a set of listeners
or readers you are intending to convey information to or have some effect upon. Public speaking
differs from written communication in that the audience is present, gathered for some occasion.
That occasion has norms and expectations that a speaker must recognize. Finally, a public
speaker has some purpose, something they are trying to accomplish or set in motion. Good
public speaking always accounts for these three components.

Audience
Speakers communicate differently to different audiences. To take a simple example, people
tell their grandmothers about their new “significant other” in a different way than they tell
their best friend. Similarly, people speak about trees differently with their high school
biology teacher than they do with their younger siblings; and speakers often need to make
arguments about public policy differently to Republicans than to Democrats. Two main
questions guide audience adaptation in a speaking situation: Who are they? What qualities
about them are relevant?

Audience
Speakers communicate differently to different audiences. To take a simple example, people
tell their grandmothers about their new “significant other” in a different way than they tell
their best friend. Similarly, people speak about trees differently with their high school
biology teacher than they do with their younger siblings; and speakers often need to make
arguments about public policy differently to Republicans than to Democrats. Two main
questions guide audience adaptation in a speaking situation: Who are they? What qualities
about them are relevant?
Purpose
Speakers hope to accomplish general and specific purposes when they communicate. For
most speaking in college and beyond, there are two general purposes: to inform or to
persuade. The line between informing and persuading is not absolute, and many speeches
will do some of both. Nonetheless, they are useful guides for speakers.
When a speaker seeks to inform, they want the audience to leave the speech knowing more
than they knew beforehand. Speakers may want to explain an idea or process, share new
information, or show how to do something.
When a speaker aims to persuade an audience, they want them to adopt a new position or
belief, to change their minds, or to be moved to action. Persuasion calls a speaker to
advocate one position among others that are possible and be willing to defend it against
challenges.
In addition to a general purpose and speaker typically has a range of more specific goals for
their speech. They may want to get a few laughs, to build upon a classmate's speech, to
reach a selected group of listeners, to show themselves to be competent to potential
employers, or to create controversy! A successful speech requires a clear sense of general
and specific purpose to guide how selection and presentation of ideas and words.

What’s the best way to prepare people for change? This question is one that we speakers often
ask ourselves, more or less directly, as we develop a new talk. We are in the change business,
after all. Whether we’re motivational speakers or expert speakers or brand ambassadors, our
speeches are either explicit or implicit calls for change. We bring attention to a topic, or an
issue, or a cause and we want the audience to end up with new ways of thinking and behaving as
a result of having heard us speak.

As I’ve noted before, the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.

So what’s the best preparation for that change? If you want your audience to remember what
you’ve said, then tell them a story. Regular readers of this blog will not be surprised to hear that,
but there is new research that found that when you tell an audience a story, they remember more
of what they hear. That’s true of both children and adults, by the way.

The statistics on memory, another recent study shows, are pretty depressing. We only remember
about a quarter of what we hear, but what we do remember, we do so with reasonable accuracy.
That’s consistent with long-term research results over many years showing that audiences recall
10 – 30 % of what they hear. And it puts the pressure on us as speakers to tell good stories in
order to push that low percentage up as high as we can.

Remembering what you hear is only the first step toward change, however. You also need to be
motivated to change as a result. To get an audience to take that next step, then, you need to
muster all the art and science you can – because we love our status quos. We don’t like to
change. We can all too easily feel threatened by the call for change.

And yet, deep within our brains, we change ourselves all the time, reacting to new information,
first creating new circuits and then reinforcing them as we repeat the new thoughts and
behaviors. How do we tap into that flexible part of the brain rather than the threat response that
activates adrenaline and causes us to fight, flee, or freeze?

The key is to do what I’ve been doing throughout this blog post: ask questions. It turns out,
according to a third new study, that questions, artfully posed around potential rewards, are the
best way to get us recalcitrant humans to open up to the possibility of change.

So ask your audience (if you’re promoting physical fitness in the new year) “what are you doing
to get into shape?” Or, “how can we get our revenues up and our costs down in order to have
healthy bonuses this year?” if you’re talking to the partners in your consulting firm about that
happy subject. Or, “how can we get the vaccines distributed as quickly as possible in order to
allow people to resume their lives?” if you’re Dr. Fauci.

Telling stories and asking questions. Successful speaking is based on a good psychological
understanding of your audience and how it hears, remembers, and reacts to your expertise and
passion.

Opening your mouth, giving your ideas a voice, and spreading your message
has untold power to revolutionize the world for good (or if this superpower is
used for evil wreak havoc on everything).

The only reason ever to give a speech is NOT to sell, to promote yourself, to
make yourself look incredibly awesome in front of a room full of people – it's
to create change.

Effective, confident public speaking should look effortless. In reality most people need
considerable time and practice before they can talk confidently in front of an audience.
You can use a number of techniques to overcome stage fright, present yourself
confidently and keep your audience engaged. The audience is on your side. People
want you to succeed; they don’t want to waste their time listening to a boring
presentation. You are in a position of power: you have the knowledge that everyone
wants to acquire.