by Prasanta | Oct 15, 2016 | Uncategorized
In writing cases for Team Policy Debate, I encourage students to be able to explain their entire 8 minute case into one sentence; or better yet, an even shorter “bumper sticker” phrase. It is quite a challenge – but not impossible. Once they are able...
by Prasanta | Oct 14, 2016 | Writing
What motivates an audience? As a speaker or writer, your motive is not what compels your audience; it is their motive. So, what is their motive? Dr. Jeff Myers, in his book Secrets of Great Communicators, says that research has found that people are motivated by...
by Prasanta | Oct 13, 2016 | Uncategorized
Keep calm… and carry on. That is the communication tip for day #13 of this series on 31 days of Communication Tips. One of the most important things a communicator, leader, or speaker can do is to stay calm. A calm person is confident, not swayed by every emotion or...
by Prasanta | Oct 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
So far, we have considered the canons of Invention, Arrangement, Style, and Memory, and today we reach the final canon in this mini-series: Delivery. (The series began here.) Delivery is how you choose to communicate your message. It includes the following elements:...
by Prasanta | Oct 11, 2016 | Uncategorized
So far, we have considered the first three canons of Rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, and Style. Today, we will examine the fourth canon: Memory. Memory simply refers to memorizing one’s speech. By memorizing, you free yourself up to employ other parts of delivery...
by Prasanta | Oct 10, 2016 | Uncategorized
We have just discussed the canons of invention and arrangement in the previous two blog posts, and today, we move on to the next canon: Style. Style refers to how you will get your message across. Two pupils of Aristotle developed the five virtues of style below;...
by Prasanta | Oct 9, 2016 | Writing
After Invention, the next canon is Arrangement. Arrangement is the process of organization of a speech or piece of writing. Arrangement is divided into six parts: Introduction (Exordium) Statement of Facts (Narration) Division Proof (Confirmation) Refutation...
by Prasanta | Oct 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
Yesterday, I introduced the Five Canons of Rhetoric. Today, we will take a closer look at the first of these canons, called “Invention”. The Invention phase is the brainstorming phase. This is the stage when you will brainstorm ideas of what you wish to...
by Prasanta | Oct 6, 2016 | Uncategorized
Organized by Cicero, the Five Canons of Rhetoric are a system of creating powerful speeches and writing. 150 years after Cicero, Quintilian explored the Five Canons in greater depth. A couple of thousand years later, here we are still examining these words, albeit in...
by Prasanta | Oct 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
Today we will briefly examine the third of Aristotle’s “artistic proofs”: logos. Logos is an appeal to logic, or the ability to connect with the audience or reader with reason or logic. The Greek root “logo” or “log” means “word”, and the word “logical” is...
