What is your opinion of this speaker's Public Speaking advice?
(please read the example sentences below this list for some helpful advice that took me a lot of time to write)
Paragraphs should be 5-8 sentences and include 1 claim, 2 evidences and 2 reasonings.
This assignment is due, emailed to me at [email protected] by 5pm Friday, March 27. PLEASE SEND ALL PARAGRAPHS IN 1 EMAIL.
Analyze and Use Language grades will be given as well as Work Habits for turning it in on time.
Examples: Claim Sentence
Don't do this - "In the video Losing Yourself Onstage, I totally disagree with what she says."
Problem - I don't know what exactly you're claiming other than you don't like it. Finding evidence (from the video) for that position is going to be very difficult. The more specific your claim, the easier it's going to be to present and explain your evidence. Also, you're assuming I know exactly what she said that you disagree with. Never assume when writing. Make sure your reader knows exactly where to direct their attention.
Try this instead - "In the video Losing Yourself Onstage, Mary Gold claims that the best public speakers are people who stay "true to themselves," but this opinion turns out to be hypocritical.
Examples: Evidence Sentence
Don't do this - "Like when she says she imagines everyone in the audience is her close personal friend."
Problem: First of all, never start a sentence with "like," it makes you sound LIKE you're not as smart as you actually are. Regarding the "evidence," using a direct quote of always stronger than paraphrasing because when you twist the speakers words, people might lose faith that you are accurately reporting the other person's opinion to make them sound worse than they actually are (it's called a strawman fallacy).
Try this instead - "Gold says, 'I look out over this room of unfamiliar faces and recognize none of you, but I see a nose that reminds me of my father and I see several pairs of eyes that remind of my friends, and we're all just people anyway, so what's difference.'
Examples: Reasoning Sentence
Don't do this - "It's a stupid strategy because it doesn't work. It doesn't even make sense."
Problem: Rather than explain your reasoning, you just made two new claims - "this strategy doesn't work" and "this strategy does not make sense." Don't dig yourself an evidence hole by piling-up the claims. Instead, clearly explain how and why the evidence supports your position more than hers.
Try this instead - "By claiming that people should be comfortable "being true to themselves" and then pretending everyone in the crowd is a friend or relative, she is making them change so that she can stay the same.