2.7: The Art of Persuasion

2.7: The Art of Persuasion TOPIC: Theme from Shakespeare play: ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

DATES FOR THIS ASSESSMENT: Friday Week 4:Annotated Speech due • You will be writing your speech in week 4 during class and must write a copy of your speech annotated to show what techniques you plan to use at particular points. Hand this to me on due date so I can check you are on track and give feedback. Week 8: Speech Delivery due You will have three weeks to practice your speech (week 5 -7) and then deliver in class during week 8. As you are away on study leave for two weeks this is ample time to practice your speech for delivery in week 8!

OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS: • Use a theme from the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as your starter and then explore its relevance to society today. • Must be a persuasive speech – you are trying to persuade your audience that your point of view is a valid one. • Your speech needs to be 4 – 8 minutes in length and must be presented to the class and teacher. • Must integrate a use of a visual aid – poster, handout, PowerPoint presentation • Can use cue cards but must fit into palm of your hands

STRUCTURE OF SPEECH: INTRODUCTION: Tells your audience what you are going to tell them and establishes the foundation for your speech. A good Introduction 'draws the map' for the journey. For a Persuasive Speech, an Introduction consists of ... 1. Attention-Getter: • A statement, visual or sound (or combination) that startles, gains attention and makes your audience sit up. 2. Bond : Link-to Audience: • Identify a personal connection in the audiences’ life, eg their use of the ‘device’ or system, or there emotionalexperience (grief and sorrow, happiness). 3. "Credentials" of Speaker (Credibility): • Demonstrate how you are an ‘expert’ through your own use, experience or study. 4. Destination / Objective Sentence: • State clearly why you are speaking at this moment. State your Goal, Thesis or what you expect as an Outcome.

STRUCTURE OF SPEECH: INTRODUCTION: • State your Destination. An example may be .. “This evening/today I am here to show you that .... • 5. Explain your Map to your Destination : Speech Preview: • Briefly outline what you will cover in your persuasive speech."This is where you will ... " • “Tell what you are going to tell them” • Transition: A transition is how you move from one section or point to the next. It is a linking idea. • You could say … “Let’s begin by ...”, “Let’s start with ...” or I prefer “Let’s consider …”

STRUCTURE OF SPEECH –BODY: The Body of your speech is where the detail is found and is best contained in THREE points (you can have more, but don't confuse your audience). For a Persuasive Speech, this is where you will ... “Tell them” 1. Main Point #1 • State Point 1State a ReasonGive an ExampleRestate the Point • Transition: Create a linking statement to Point 2

STRUCTURE OF SPEECH –BODY: 2. Main Point #2 • State Point 2State a ReasonGive an ExampleRestate the Point • Transition: Create a linking statement to Point 3 3. Main Point #3 • State Point 3State a ReasonGive an ExampleRestate the Point • Transition: Create a linking statement to the Conclusion, eg “Let’s summarise ..." or “Can we consider these main points”

STRUCTURE OF SPEECH - CONCLUSION: “Tell them what you have already told them in your body of speech” 1. Restate the topic / purpose of speech 2. Restate the three main points you discussed throughout your body of speech 3. Summarise overall concluding your speech with a final statement that involves them, give them a lasting impression of you and your speech.

DELIVERY: ITS NOT WHAT YOU SAY ITS HOW YOU SAY IT! • Whether or not your message will make an impact on your listeners depends on how well you communicate it to your audience: This is your delivery. • The better the delivery, the better you’ll connect with your listeners. • By presenting your message clearly you will convince your audience and share your point of view. • The presenter has the power both to kill the message and to enhance it a hundred times beyond its worth. • The presenter must concentrate not only upon the facts being presented but upon the style, pace, tone and speech tactics which will be used. • Your job as a presenter is to use the presentation to ensure that the audience is motivated and inspired rather than disconnected or distracted.

DELIVERY TECHNIQUES TO THINK ABOUT: • Use repetition to make your point – state it over and over again throughout your speech. • Use questions to the audience to make your point – let them think about their own lives • Use quotations to make your point • Use jokes to make your point – make sure they are relevant to topic and consider your audience • Use stories / anecdotes to make your point. Your own experiences in relation to topic

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: • EYE CONTACT • VOCAL QUALITY • POSTURE • GESTURES • EXPRESSION • APPEARANCE

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: Fact #1: Your words only count for small percentage of the actual message that you deliver: The biggest part of your message is conveyed through: • Body language • Facial expression • Tone of voice

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: Fact #2: The audience wants to feel positive emotions from hearing you: • The audience want comfort, relief, hope, and peace of mind. That experience does not come from your words. • We've all heard words that sound empty, where emotion doesn't match the actual words. • Create emotion and connection

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: Fact #3: Your non-verbal communication will immediately make an impression on your audience: • When you are speaking your intention is to connect with the audience. That is what communication is all about. • People connect at the heart. That's where those nonverbal elements come into play. • The audience is watching your eyes. They're looking to see if you care about them.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: • How you use your body, how you stand, sit, move, and • gesture, affects how an audience receives your message. • If your body language communicates confidence, sincerity and enthusiasm, people will be more likely to believe you. • If not, they will have a harder time accepting what you say. • Pay attention to your non-verbal message; it should match your verbal message. When the non-verbal message does not match the verbal message there is a barrier.

EYE CONTACT: • The most effective way to bond with your listeners is to establish and maintain eye contact as you speak. • Eye contact can create the appearance of movement even when you are standing or sitting still. • The eyes are the most effective tool in convincing the audience of your honesty, openness and confidence in your presentation. • During the presentation you should use eye contact to enhance rapport with the audience. Establish eye contact with each and every member of the audience.

VOICE QUALITY: THE VOICE • People associate a strong voice with confidence and a weak voice with a lack of confidence. • Develop a strong, confident voice. Don’t scream, don’t yell. Just SPEAK UP. • If people are distracted, bored or irritated by your voice, your message will be lost on them. • Knowing when to slow down, speed up, and pause, have an effect on the way your message is received. • A monotone speech is boring, so it is important to try to vary the pitch and speed of your presentation.

GOOD VOCAL DELIVERY: • Volume: Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to hear a speaker’s words. • Clarity: Pronounce your words clearly. • Speed: Slow down when giving a presentation. • Pacing: A change of pace attracts attention. - Incorporate meaningful pauses to add emphasis to key spots. - Slow down when making a vital point, repeating your core message, or inviting your audience to a call to action. • Tone: Check your pitch. • People tend to speak in a slightly higher voice when they’re nervous. • Authority: Audiences respond better to speakers who project a confidence. Avoid sentences such as , “ I am not an expert but…” or “You might not agree with me, but…”

POSTURE: • When you stand before an audience, your posture should convey strength, steadfastness and power. • You want to appear alert, engaged and authoritative. • Stand up straight: Be careful not to slouch, even if you are tired. • Don’t lean on anything, including the podium or table. • Move purposefully from one side of room to the centre, then to the other side, to connect with your entire audience throughout your presentation. • Use movement as punctuation. Stop moving when you are making an important point.

GESTURE: • While you are speaking, your posture will convey a great deal about you. • Make sure your posture does not convey boredom; you can use your whole body as a dynamic tool to reinforce your rapport with the audience. • Using gestures adds emphasis to key points, provides visual interest, and makes you seem relaxed. • Many presenters are confused with what to do with their hands while they speak. • When you are not gesturing or using a prop, the best place for your hands is by your sides. • Avoid putting them in your pockets, playing with a pen, pointer, or prop. • The key is to keep your hands still, except when used in unison with your speech.

EXPRESSION: • The audience watches your face. If you are looking distracted then they will be distracted; if you are smiling, they will be wondering why and listen to find out. • In normal conversation your meaning is enhanced by facial reinforcement. • Make sure that your facial expressions are natural and have a smile on your face.

VISUAL AIDS: • Most people expect visual reinforcement for any verbal message being delivered. While it would be unfair to blame television entirely for this, it is useful to understand that the audience is accustomed to visuals. • You can meet their expectations using PowerPoint, overhead projectors, a slide show, or even a video presentation. • Remember that it is as easy to make your point with low-tech visual aids as it is with high-tech ones. • Your visual aids, whether you are using handouts, whiteboards, or videos, should always be designed to reinforce your core message and lead your audience to understand your key message.

2.7: The Art of Persuasion