Disscussion questions

1. How could the reflective-thinking method help you to reach a good decision when trying to persuade an audience? Think about an important decision you have made. Would the reflective-thinking method have led you to make a better decision? Why or why not?

2.Have you ever participated in or witnessed a group presentation in which one or two members did not complete their portion of the work? What was that experience like? What steps may group members take to help ensure that each member fulfills his or her responsibilities?

3.Which of the four causes of poor listening do you consider the most important? Choose a specific case of poor listening in which you were involved. What went wrong? What could be done differently to improve listening skills?

4 How do you know if your speech has been effective?

5 What is the difference between an informative speech and a persuasive speech? Why is speaking to persuade more challenging than speaking to inform?

6. Why is Monroe’s motivated sequence a good approach to use when trying to convince an audience to accept your point of view? Why might you not be successful in convincing the audience, even if you have excellent supporting material?

7 Is the statement “I believe” a strong or a weak statement? Why?

8 What is evidence? Why do persuasive speakers need to use evidence?

9 Logic and emotion may be used in persuasive speeches. Why should a speaker vary using logic and emotion as supporting material based on the audience?

10 What role does eye contact play in delivering an effective presentation? Provide examples.

12 What are the key elements you should keep in mind about using visual aids in a presentation? What are the pros and cons of the different types of visual aids?