Fear Appeals and Figures of Speech

Fear Appeals (Negative Motivation)

• Fear appeals use fear to encourage behavioral change.
• They rely on highlighting negative consequences if a specific action isn't taken.
• Effective fear appeals have a perceived threat that's severe.
• A clear solution to the threat must be effective and achievable.
• The audience must feel vulnerable to the threat.

Five Types of Figures of Speech

• Metaphor: An implied comparison of two unlike things ("Time is a thief").
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" ("She's as brave as a lion").
• Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement for effect ("I'm so hungry I could eat a horse").
• Personification: Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects ("The wind whispered through the trees").
• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds ("She sells seashells by the seashore").

Specific Purpose Statement

• A clear statement of the speaker's goal in a speech.
• Typically addresses the audience's needs.
• Example: "To inform my audience about the benefits of renewable energy."

Four Parts of an Introduction

• Attention Getter: A hook to capture audience interest (story, quote, question).
• Credibility Statement: Explains speaker's authority and qualifications.
• Thesis Statement: The central idea of the speech.
• Preview: Outlines the main points to be covered in the speech.

Social Judgment Theory

• Explains audience evaluation of messages based on pre-existing attitudes.
• Categories of attitudes include a latitude of acceptance, rejection, and non-commitment.
• Audiences are more receptive to messages close to their existing beliefs.

Overcoming Nervousness and Anxiety

• Practice Thoroughly: Essential for building confidence.
• Visualization Techniques: Mental rehearsal of the speech.
• Focus on the message: Shifting focus from oneself to the content.
• Relaxation Exercises: Techniques to manage anxiety.
• Familiar Content: Initial presentation with topics you are most comfortable with.

The Model of Public Speaking as Communication

• Key components include sender (speaker), message, and channel (medium).

Logical Fallacies

• Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of the argument.
• Straw Man: Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
• Red Herring: A distraction from the main issue.
• Appeal to Ignorance: Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false.
• False Dichotomy: Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
• Hasty Generalization: Conclusion based on insufficient evidence.
• Circular Reasoning: The conclusion is part of the premise.
• Slippery Slope: One event leading to a chain of events.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

• Ethos: Speaker's credibility and trustworthiness.
• Pathos: Emotional appeal to the audience.
• Logos: Logical argument and evidence.

Extemporaneous Speaking

• Speaking with notes, but not reading from a script.

Rules of Visual Aids

• Keep aids simple and clear.
• Ensure visual aids are relevant to the message.
• Make visuals visible to the entire audience.

Speech Patterns

• Chronological: Organized by time.
• Spatial: Organized by location or direction.
• Cause-Effect: Showing cause and effect relationships.
• Problem-Solution: Presenting a problem and a solution.
• Topical: Dividing a subject into subtopics.
• Comparative: Comparing and contrasting items or ideas.

The CRAAP Model

• Evaluates information for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

Motivated Sequence

• A five-step method for persuasion: Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Action.