Writing Arguments | THE ESSENTIALS
I could call this 'Communication Lessons from a wise old Greek'. Aristotle’s ‘Rhetorical Triangle‘ (ethos pathos logos) is well known...
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Speaking & Writing about writing & speaking | Author |Speaker | Teacher
Ms Claire Duffy
Speak for yourself!
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3 min read
Nuke those nerves – you can!
Public speaking makes most people nervous, but it’s like playing a sport, learning an instrument or being in a play. It’s a physical...
3 min read
Help! I have to be in a debate
I’m a great believer in debating as a life skill, and I am thrilled to see it happening so much, but you may very well have shunned...
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Impromptu speaking: when you have to wing it
If you find yourself needing to speak NOW, here are some techniques to help you. 1. Scan the audience. Who are they? Why are they here?...
3 min read
How to Deliver a Eulogy
A eulogy is one of the hardest public speaking commitments there is. But delivering a eulogy is a privilege, an honour and an...
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Secrets to not screwing up under pressure
It’s to do with the way we store and recall things. The conscious or ‘working’ memory is described by researcher Sian Beilock in New...
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How to make a persuasive speech
Information reveals and clarifies options. Persuasion is about choosing among options. To be persuasive you have to convince and...
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Special Occasion Speaking
Whether casual or formal, speeches are part of most ceremonies and rituals. These occasions mark a change in someone’s life, a...
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Speechwriting Step 1: Define your purpose
The spoken word and the written word are different, and the key to success for speakers is being good to listen to. A speech is an oral...
2 min read
Speechwriting step 2: the rough draft
Let’s assume you followed the advice in the first post in this series. Your head is full of things you want to say and you have clarified...
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Speechwriting step 3: architecture
A ‘pattern of arrangement’ is a way of ordering the contents of your speech. It provides the listener with a sense of shape and...
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Speechwriting Step 4: write the words
1. Allow enough time The biggest mistake most people make is to underestimate how long this takes. Speeches may appear unstudied,...
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Speechwriting step 5: Rehearse and re-edit
In theatre there are staging calls, and technical rehearsals, and dress rehearsals, all of which give the performers an opportunity to...
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Step 6: You’re on!
If your script were a cake, the last step is to bake it. You’ve done a lot of work on the preparation, now you need to make sure it...
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Memorable multi modals - Lighten up!
Multi Modal presentations can be a disiaster unless you have a good understanding of how the elements work together. A theory ...
3 min read
Look good and present well
Your Appearance has a great impact on the audience and on your effectiveness as a communicator. Dressing well for the occasion is part...
3 min read
Analogies, the wonder tool for making sense.
What happens if you want to interest your listeners in something unfamiliar – a new idea, technique, or approach to something, which...
3 min read
In praise of poetry
Reciting poetry, along with pretty well all training in reading aloud, has disappeared from the modern classroom. And I think we’re the...
2 min read
LISTEN. Seriously. Just. LISTEN.
To be an effective communicator, you have to be a good listener first. Take these key concepts on board: • Attending: This means showing...
3 min read
Storytelling : ‘bore no more’.
To be good presenter you do need to tell good stories. So here is how to start developing those skills. Master them – and you will bore...
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