Public Speaking, Part 12
Question 1: Compare and contrast being persuaded with following directions.
Answer 1: Human beings have a natural tendency to believe what designated authority figures tell them. In part, this is an inherited characteristic. Early humans, in order to survive in the wild, often had to rely on the advice and guidance of their peers. In many cases, people will follow directions from an authority figure without considering the ramifications of their actions. This phenomenon was evidenced during the Nuremberg trials after World War II, as numerous Nazi officials defended their actions as just following orders. The educational system also encourages people to trust authority figures and follow directions. Audience members should be aware of this tendency and should guard against blindly accepting the recommendations of a speaker.
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Question 2: Compare and contrast being persuaded with accepting a suggestion.
Answer 2: A persuasive speaker may sometimes use a suggestion rather than a direct command to achieve his or her goal. A suggestion is simply a less forceful recommendation; it implies that the audience has the ability to decide for themselves whether or not to accept the guidance of the speaker. Suggestion is a good strategy for dealing with naturally skeptical audience members, who will resist any overt attempts to change their minds. Because it is an indirect form of persuasion, however, suggestion requires a bit more subtlety on the part of the speaker. , But because it gives the listener the impression that he or she has arrived independently at a conclusion, suggestion can be more effective than direction.
Question 3: Discuss the relationship between persuasion and dramatization.
Answer 3: A persuasive speaker often employs the language and techniques of drama to capture the interest of the audience. In other words, the speaker will frame his or her arguments as part of a larger narrative. The speaker may introduce certain representative characters and may spend a short time describing the human characteristics of these people. The speaker may then introduce some conflict against which these characters must struggle. This kind of generic dramatic scenario gives the audience a sort of “hook” on which to hang its attention. Instead of being required to pay attention to dry statistics and formal arguments, the audience can become absorbed in the stories of the characters. Many speakers find this captivation to be a spur to positive persuasion.
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