Week 3 - In Defence of Rhetoric: No Longer Just for Liars

In Defence of Rhetoric –

The video – In Defence of Rhetoric: No longer just for liars discussed key arguments that make rhetoric, rhetoric. These arguments introduced the theory of rhetoric as a rhetorical speech used in many different ways and ways that we don’t even realize. Rhetoric is used every day and in nearly every decision.

The video defined rhetoric as a ‘study of technique using language effectively (2011).’ This language is used to persuade others and decisions made by others. The video introduced the idea that rhetoric influences our purchase decisions and is also ‘at the forefront of technology (2011).’ For example, when shopping our decisions are influenced by visual rhetoric to purchase this good. There has been something that has persuaded you to purchase this product, whether it is an advertisement of just the look of the good itself. You are being ‘rhetorically informed when shopping (2011),’ to ultimately be persuaded towards a purchase. This is a different and interesting way to think about rhetoric and how there are different ways it can influence people. ‘Rhetoric is a means of adjudicating between competing between knowledge claims (2011).’

Reference List:

Clemson University, ‘In Defnese of Rhetoric: No Longer just for Liars’, 2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYMUCz9bHAs&feature=youtu.be&hd=1, viewed 14 March 2014

Week 3 - Aristotle's Rhetoric

Aristotle’s Rhetoric was an interesting dense and informative read. Although it was written some time ago it seemed very relevant to today’s society and directly related to events happening now. Over the two books, different terms, ideas and arguments where made to justify the reasoning and use of rhetoric. Aristotle’s made numerous arguments through the books in regards to rhetoric and his perception of the term.

One argument that stood out was his constant reference to men and their character. In part one, book one Aristotle’s writes, ‘man who makes a good at the truth is likely to make a good guess at probabilities (Aristotle, 1994).’ This statement followed theme throughout both books. Part two, book one, Aristotle’s wrote, ‘His character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion he posses (Aristotle, 1994).’ A remark that you can identify with in doing yourself and also watching others use rhetoric and being good at it, as it is apart of there character.

Aristotle also made arguments such as, ‘happiness as being desirable in itself and sufficient by itself (Aristotle, 1994).’ Remarks like these make you think how ahead of times Aristotle’s was whilst writing about rhetoric and how these two books are so relevant and relate to todays society. Aristotle’s also identifies three things that inspire confidence, to support his argument that ‘men’s character may be the most effective means of persuasion... (Aristotle, 1994).’ The three things Aristotle’s identified that inspire confidence are: ‘good sense, good moral character and good will (Aristotle, 1994).’ All these arguments put forward by Aristotle’s create a rhetoric that I think we can all relate to and understand.

Reference List:

Aristotle – translated by W. Rhys Roberts, 1004, Rhetoric,

http://classics.mit.edu//Aristotle/rhetoric.html, viewed 13 March 2014.

Week 3 - My Own Use of Rhetoric

The example I identified for my use of rhetoric, was a speech given in year 12 for the roll of house captain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFjMf0AvGBI

Week Two - Kate Stowell's News Read

Kate Stowell’s News Read for SBS radio is very well read. Stowell uses emphasis randomly on words through the news read. Such as in paragraph three – Stowell emphasis on the word finally to stress that it has been a long negotiation between the Federal Government and independent MP’s. In the next paragraph Stowell has emphasis on two words. Which sets a theme that the importance of this paragraph is about the new Prime Minister. Stowell’s random emphasis contributes to the news read by letting the audience know what the focus is for each topic. Stowell’s news read is different to my news read of the same story as she allows more pause between topics, particularly in the introduction. The emphasis on words is also different and more accurate then my take of the same news read. 

Week Two - What Makes a Great Speech

According to blogger Fletcher Dean, there are five key components to writing a good speech. These components are ‘first, focus on the audience for whom the speech is intended; second, use anecdotes to engage with the audience; third, give your speech a structure; fourth, don’t over-rely on PowerPoint; and fifth, edit the speech so it is simple and clear, while also exciting and fresh, and engaging  (2012).’ I agree with his steps and consider a good speech to be well thought out, tell a story and involve the audience. The speech by motivational speaker, Nick Vujicic, is a good and successful speech as it engages and involves the audience. The student audience, all seem to be engaging and enjoying his speech. Even though the speech is causal and doesn’t have an evident structure, it does use language and have a focus on the age group. These factors seem to work for Nick Vujicic’s audience. Another great speech that takes a totally different structure and formality, is Martin Luther King’s speech, ‘I have a Dream’. This speech is arguably the most famous speech of the 20^th century. This speech involves all of Dean Fletcher’s five components of a great speech. It focuses on the audience, engages with the audience, has structure, has no visual reliability, is simple and clear and most of all exciting and engaging. His speech tells a story and relates to ever-single person in the audience. It is read with perfect pause and emphasis. Martin Luther King’s speech – ‘I have a Dream’ is a great speech and that is why over 50 years later it is still being discussed and recognized as one the greatest speeches of all time. His speech is formal, dramatically powerful, and passionate and directly relates to the audience. That is why it is such as great speech. Both Nick Vujicic’s and Martin Luther King’s speeches use Dean Fletcher’s components of a great speech. Although each takes a different path in the way there speech is delivered. Both paths taken by Nick Vujicic and Martin Luther King are successful for their target audience. As discussed speeches can use these components and be great speeches, however still be entirely different.

Reference:

Dean, F. 2012, ‘5 Steps to a successful speech’, Speechwriting 2.0, [blog], URL:

http://thespeechwriter.typepad.com/onspeechwriting/2011/12/5-steps-to-a-successful-speech-part-1.html.,  accessed 06 March, 2014. 

Week Two - Professional Voice

A professional voice is ‘arguably less emotive, and possibly more deliberate speech (CQU, pp.2).’ I agree with this remark and consider a professional voice to be strong, clear and direct. A professional voice is one that should be used when delivering a speech, in a formal discussion such as a debate, during an explanation to a client and when making formal announcements such as those made over a PA system at the airport. A professional voice should be reassuring but at the same time asserted with authority.

Depending on the form and audience professional voice is being directed too would influence the language used and also affect the length of the speech. For example, a professional speech delivered by a politician in relation to natural disaster should sound strong yet considerate. It should be reassuring but in a sense that there is a plan. The speech should be of a length that addresses all aspects of the disaster but without worrying the audience further or loosing there attention. The language used should be formal and remain professional but also be language that most can understand. Where as, an announcement made at an airport, should still be delivered in a professional voice. However, it should be short and to the point. It also needs to be direct and address the audience promptly in an easy to communicate language. Their needs to be less emotion in this type of professional speech and sound more deliberate and planned.

Professional speech and voice can take many different forms as outlined above. The main aspects I consider to be of professional speech over any other type of speech is, a voice that is clear, concise, sends a direct message and addresses the audience in a way that captures there attention.

Reference list:

Central Queensland University 2014, ‘COMM12033 Speech and Script Study guide’, pp. 2, Rockhampton

Week One - SBS News Read

My first recording for speech and script! This recording is news read for SBS Word News Australia. I feel that overall the total news read is ok. My voice is clear and easily understood throughout the news read. My voice seems strong and mostly uses the correct tone to deliver the story. However, there are weaknesses such as the pronunciation of words and also the overall flow of the story. In some parts of the news read I didn’t allow enough break between topics and consequently this blended the issues. By not pausing and allowing a short break through the read between topics, makes it difficult for the listeners to follow and release a new topic is now being read. This also happened in reverse, where I allowed too much of a break between the same topic and made the news read disjointed. I also stumbled across a few words in the news read and this sounded clumsy and messy to the listener. Overall, I feel that this was not a bad first go, although there is still many elements that need improving.