Speech Ch. 15

Suspense

This is one of the most effective ways of holding attention. It is the fascination of a mystery story which arises from uncertainty which keeps us reading later than we had planned.Remember two things: (a) Don't be vague or mysterious to the extent that your listeners lose all hope of solving the riddle; give them a large enough taste to make them want to hear more. (b) Make sure the situation is important enough to the audience so that the suspense matters; attention is seldom drawn by uncertainties which are trivial.

novelty

drawn to something new and interesting

5. Familiarity:

holds attention only when it is introduced in connection with something unfamiliar or when some fresh or unknown aspect of it is pointed out. For instance, stories about Lincoln or Washington are interesting because we are familiar with these names and for what they stood, but we don't like the lame old stones unless they are given a new twist or application.

3. Proximity:

A direct reference to someone in the audience, to an object near at hand, to some incident on campus which just occurred command attention. A reference to some remark the previous speaker made has the same effect. Try a hypothetical illustration using the name of someone in the audience. That person and everyone else will wake up and listen.

novelty of size

: If an object is extremely large or extremely small, it attracts our attention. Henry M. Grady, in an address at the University of Virginia, said: "A home that cost three million dollars and a breakfast that cost five thousand are disquieting facts." Notice, mere size alone is not sufficient; the size must be unusual or startling in comparison to that which we expect or are familiar with.

Humor

: Laughter indicates enjoyment, and people pay attention to that which they enjoy. must observe these two requirements: (a) Relevancy: Beware of wandering from the point under discussion. The joke or anecdote must reinforce rather than detract from the idea you are developing. (b) Good taste: Avoid humor on occasions when it would be out of place. Refrain from using those types of humor which might offend the sensitivities of your listeners or call into question your personal testimony for Christ.

Guidelines for Informative speaking

1. don't overestimate what the audience knows' 2. relate the subject directly to the audience 3. don't be too technical 4.avoid abstractions 5. personalize your ideas 6. be creative

2. Movement or Activity

1. previewing and reviewing your organizational structure 2. concise with your language 3. avoid verbal clutter and long pauses 4. spread out information equally 5. question the audience

9. Life-Relatedness or The Vital:

People pay attention to those things which affect their lives or health, their reputations, property or employment. If you can show that what you say concerns each person or each family represented, nearly all will listen avidly. If the other factors of attention are desirable, this one is essential. You must make your comments and recommendations concern matters which are vital to the existence, well-being, and satisfaction of your audience.

b. Novelty of Contrast:

Sometimes called, Intensity) At an Artist Series program, dark suits pass without comment, but let a student come to the program in tennis shoes and jeans and he immediately becomes the center of amused attention. The same attention would be evident if a dark-suited gentlemen came to the tennis court to play.

6. Conflict:

The opposition of forces compels attention, especially if the listeners identify themselves with one of the contending sides. is a form of activity, but it is also a clash or struggle between competing desires or actions. Often conflict suggests uncertainty, but even when there is little doubt of the outcome, the combat itself draws attention

event

anything that happens or is regarded as happening 1. chronological 2. topical

object

anything that is visible, tangible, and stable in form people. places, things, 1. chronological 2. spatial 3. topical

concept

a belief, theory, idea, notion, principle, or the like 1. topical l

informative speech

a speech designed to convey knowledge and understanding

contrast

a statement of the differences among two or more peole, events, ideas, etc.

comparison

a statement of the similarities among two or more people, events, ideas, etc.

description

a statement that depicts a person, event, idea, or the like with clarity and vividess

process

a systematic series of actions that leads to a specific result or product. goal: needs to understand and to be able to complete 1. chronological 2 topical

Concreteness or Reality:

talk in terms of people, events, places, tangible circumstances. Use pictures, diagrams, charts. Give names of people, towns, rivers, because actual names are more fascinating than vague allusions. This is the attention factor that former President Ronald Reagan used most often and that contributed to his reputation as a gifted speaker.This interest in reality--in the immediate, the concrete, the actual--persists throughout life.

personalize

to present one's ideas in human terms that relate in some fashion to the experience of the audience