Real Communication An Introduction

Chapter 13  Organizing, Writing, and Outlining Presentations 381

Quotations can come from familiar sources, like Reagan, or from everyday
people. Table 13.2 offers tips for using quotes wisely.

Ask a Question

Posing a question is a great way to get the audience’s attention and to make
people think. Rather than simply presenting some bit of information, posing
a question invites listeners to react, in effect making them participants in the
speech.^1 For example, “Would you leave your child in a room full of anony-
mous strangers? No? Then why would you allow your child to participate in
online chats?” Here again, saying something startling can add to the effect: not
only have you gotten your listeners’ attention by saying something provoca-
tive, but you’ve also asked them to internalize what you’ve said and to react to
it. As a result, they’re likely to be more interested in and open to what you’re
about to say.

Make Them Laugh

Humor is another effective way to begin your speech. Usually, humor that
is brief, relevant to your topic, and makes a point is most effective. (And
when it’s well done, humor helps you and your audience members relax!) For
example, consider this opening, which makes the audience laugh but is clearly
tied to the main topic of the speech on the effects of multitasking: “I find
that the key to multitasking is to lower your expectations. Sure, I can do two
things at once—if I do them poorly! Today, I want to talk about the hazards
of multitasking.”

Use quotes worth

using.

Don’t quote something that you could say or explain more

effectively in your own words; paraphrase instead, with an

attribution to the original source.

Use relevant quotes. Even the prettiest bit of prose is useless if it doesn’t support

your points.

Include a clear

attribution.

Whether you’re quoting Shakespeare or your six-year-old

nephew, it’s important that audiences know who said what.

Is the quote from a

notable source?

Cite not only the author in your speech but also the date

and the work in which the quote appeared, if relevant.

Double-check for

accuracy.

You do not want to misquote anyone in your speech, so it’s

important that you proofread your copy against the original.

If you’ve used an online quote source, it is wise to double-

check the quote against additional sources known to be

reliable because many online quotes fail to provide accurate

source information.

TABLE 13.2

USING QUOTES WISELY

(^1) Asking questions is an effective way of gaining participation in many communication
contexts; see O’Hair, O’Rourke, and O’Hair (2000).