People may come up with the most stunning content for their argument, but the fact is that in most cases, nearly one-third of the marking criteria goes to your delivery of the material. While speaking passionately about poorly researched work probably won't win you a debate, marrying factual evidence with emotional conviction will. No matter how analytical and academic a debate is, your presentation will have a definite effect on your adjudicator, as well as your audience. In a tight match, your win may rest on the drama of your performance.
Discover how to persuade through Invention. The five canons of rhetoric were first coined by the Roman philosopher Cicero in the first century. Cicero laid out these five major rules of rhetoric, dividing skillful argumentation into more digestible parts. The first step of rhetoric is called Invention. It refers to the nascent stages of an argument, where you discover the pressing nature of your argument for your particular audience.
* You'll need to have an understanding of your audience's desires and needs, as well as how to best appeal to them.
* When appealing to your audience, think about a balance of logos, ethos, and pathos. These three modes of persuasion will be used to convince your audience to believe in your argument. Each will provoke a different reaction from a crowd, and you must change your approach to adapt to the needs of your audience.
* A more logical approach, resting mainly on logos, might be appropriate when your audience wants factual evidence of how you'll improve their dire circumstances.
* When trying to keep an even tone and seem unbiased, employ more ethos in your speech. This is good for a more formal audience, but one that you still need to empathize with you, or the situation that you're being faced with.
* Pathos has the potential to become manipulative in the wrong occasion, but when done right, you can inspire particular strong emotions within your audience. These emotions have the power to drastically change the course of your speech.
* Mastering the art of rhetoric will ensure that your prepared speech is as strong as possible. This will booster your ability to perform this argument.
Assemble your argument with Arrangement. The order that your audience hears your argument has a massive effect on how they'll perceive your speech. You've most likely come across the five-paragraph essay in your studies. While this format isn't appropriate for all speeches, the basic layout is based on Greek and Roman argumentative structures. The five steps are as follows:
* Introduction. Express your message and why it's important to your audience, as well as yourself.
* Statement of fact. Break down the general thesis of your argument into smaller parts. This is where you name reasons why the current issue exists.
* Confirmation, or proof. Craft your main argument here, as well as reasons why your argument is a successful one.
* Refutation. Acknowledge your opposition, giving some credence to their argument, before challenging their point-of-view.
* Conclusion. Wrap up your main points of your argument and give instructions on what you want your audience to do or think.
Express your argument as you improve your Style. You don't want your argument to be riddled with cliches or tired language. Get creative with your speech, expressing salient points in a dynamic way. Ensuring that you are proud of your style will help you perform it with much more conviction.
* You should also adjust your style to fit your audience. Make sure you express your ideas in a way that aligns with the moral and intellectual level of your audience.
* You can make active use of various linguistic tropes when arranging your arguments. Also known as "figures of speech," these tropes are tried and true methods in composing a sleek and compelling argument.
* Antithesis will help you contrast ideas and phrases, as will skillful juxtaposition. Metaphor and simile are both nice ways to equate one idea to another. Any of these tropes will add spice to your writing.
Speak without paper by committing your speech to Memory. While it may seem fairly simple, it's good to remember that a memorized speech will always impress more than a speech read off a paper.
* It's worth noting that certain aspects of your debate will have to be performed on the fly. By memorizing the facts of your topic, however, you'll be able to recount these facts organically. This will help you grow more confident in improvising your speech.
Amplify your performance techniques, highlighting your Delivery. The final canon of rhetoric, Delivery, will lead your directly into mastering the art of performance in a debate. Focused primarily on gesture, body language, and tone, your delivery is key in impressing points upon your audience. Your facts may be completely accurate, but if you can't properly connect these points to an audience, much of your speech will be missed.
* Delivery will also vary to fit your audience. When speaking to a smaller audience, you can make more eye contact, speak more directly to those listening to you. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Fireside Chats," for example, were radio broadcasts intended to feel intimate for everyone listening in. His larger speeches, in contrast, felt more immediate and righteous, fitting the more massive scope of their subject matter. Continue to Part Two