Public Speaking

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

Quote Culturally Acceptable Authorities (^105)
she took her eyes off the road for a few seconds and pulled out her cell phone to text a
message. Looking up, she saw with horror that the bus she was following had stopped,
and a child was getting off. With brakes screeching, her minivan rammed into the
back of the bus, shearing the van’s roof halfway off and trapping her in the driver’s
seat. D.J.’s first day was also her last.^29
Listeners can identify with one or more of the details showing everyday experiences
of school and driving. So the tragic result of texting-while-driving has a real person
attached. Because extended examples provide multiple points that engage listeners, they
are generally more compelling. In fact, narratives or well-developed stories can function
as the entire speech.


Combine Brief Examples


Short illustrations are also effective. However, a single, brief example is easily missed, so
it’s better to string two or three together. Layering them one upon another gives your
listeners a number of images they can use to visualize and personalize your subject. The
following mentions of people who gain from encounters with equine therapy could be
used effectively to introduce the topic of horses and healing:

Normally quiet as an Asperger’s child, Levi shows real excitement as he works with
his brother to brush and clean “his” therapy horse. Jessie, who was repeatedly raped
in the military, is building trust and relational skills through her interactions with
other veterans in a “horses for veterans” program. Caleb was born with mental
challenges. His horse is teaching him to stay safe by being aware of his surroundings
at all times.^30

Think Critically about Examples


To evaluate the usefulness of examples, ask yourself the following questions:
• Is this example representative or typical? That is, does the example represent a typical
person? Or does it seem like an extreme case? Does D.J. seem typical of teens who
text and drive? Do the examples of therapy horses represent typical clients? This test
relates to the probability of occurrence.
• Do you have a sufficient number of examples? Are enough cases presented to support the
major idea adequately? Your listeners should be able to see that a significant num-
ber of people are affected. Is one 11-year-old boy typical of obsessive-compulsive
children?
• Is the example true? Did it actually happen? How often? For a hypothetical charac-
ter, does the experience ring true with what you know about the world and how it
operates?

Quote Culturally Acceptable Authorities


Whatever your subject, think of your audience as asking, “Who says so?” Then support
your ideas by citing sources your audience will respect and believe, given your topic and
purpose. Each culture and co-culture recognizes authorities, which vary across groups.
Authoritative sources differ in degree (some have little credibility, others have a lot),
and their sphere of influence varies (an authority in one subject may be uninformed in
another).^31

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