Tag Archives: public speaking

Communication, Public Speaking

Establishing goodwill in our listeners

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Rhetorica ad Herennium, Dr Stone Dear Gaius

There are four methods we can use to make our audience feel well-disposed towards us:
(1) establishing our credibility,
(2) disparaging the opposing point of view,
(3) appealing to the judgement of our audience,
(4) and by our presentation of the facts. Continue reading Establishing goodwill in our listeners →

Public Speaking

Creating receptive and attentive listeners

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Dear Gaius

When we make a speech, we want our audience to feel receptive to our message, to gain a favourable impression of us as speakers and to pay good attention to what we are saying. I shall now show you how these three conditions can be brought about. Continue reading Creating receptive and attentive listeners →

Public Speaking

Consider the underlying purpose of your speech

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Rhetorica ad HerenniumDear Gaius,

But first, in order to construct the most appropriate Introduction, you must consider the underlying purpose of your speech.

There are four possible purposes: honourable, discreditable, doubtful, and petty. An honourable purpose is when we either defend what seems to be a universal truth, or attack what seems to be universally accepted as reprehensible; for example, when we defend a heroic person, or denounce a heartless killer. Continue reading Consider the underlying purpose of your speech →

Public Speaking

Six sections of a speech

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Rhetorica ad HerenniumDear Gaius

Let us start with the first skill you need – invention. And I will discuss how you might use invention in the six sections of a speech: the Introduction, the Statement of Facts, the Division, the Proof, the Refutation, and the Conclusion

  1. The Introduction. This comes at the beginning and its purpose is to prepare your audience and to make them sit up and pay attention.

    2. Continue reading Six sections of a speech →