Allusions and Quotes

Allusions to, or quotes from, other sources can be utilised to give a speech authority. The speaker
can use allusions or quotes in different ways, but it is always to make a point.

Use of allusions or quotes is a common feature of an expository style of address in which the
quote or reference is used as evidence to support the argument. For example, a speech
campaigning for human rights might refer to statistics.

Allusions and quotes can also be employed with greater subtlety and grace than merely stating a
fact that supports the speaker’s point. In his famous Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln
cleverly crafted allusions to the Declaration of Independence into the speech. This technique
served to remind the audience of the aspirations held for the nation by previous generations and
warned that such ideals stood to be destroyed by the Civil War.

Anecdotes

Interesting or amusing stories can go a long way to capturing audience attention. These may be
the parts of an address that stick in people’s heads and what they find themselves retelling later.

Read on 

 Teaching Writing
 Teaching Persuasive Writing in High School
 Power of Persuasion in Politics

Antithesis

Antithesis is a common persuasive technique because it displays a comparison to the audience.

The purpose of antithesis is to invite the audience to see contrast between different points of
view or potential outcomes. For example, in 63BC when Cicero addressed the Roman Senate to
expose a conspiracy, he told the alleged conspirator, ‘you shall now see that I watch far more
actively for the safety than you do for the destruction of the republic’. Not only was Cicero
declaring that he had foiled the conspirator, but also that as opponents, they offered the Roman
Republic a choice between safety and destruction. Use of antithesis positions listeners to choose
which view or outcome they prefer.

Imagery

Language that creates stimulating imagery is well used to stir an emotive response from the
audience. Imagery makes a speech more captivating. Techniques that can be used for imagery
include metaphor, simile, personification, euphemism and motif. They can be used for a range of
purposes, such simplifying concepts, making comparisons, highlighting the speaker’s personal
viewpoint as well as imbuing the speech with a storytelling quality (which may make the speech
more accessible to some listeners). An image, once created, can stick in a person’s head and then
so too does the message that went with it.

Imperative

An imperative is a direct instruction to the audience. For example, ‘rise up and take back what is
yours!’ would be an imperative. Imperative can be used seriously or playfully depending on the
tone of the address. In any case, this technique should be used sparingly. An audience won’t
appreciate being told what to think or do – they must be gently persuaded so they feel that they
came to certain conclusions on their own.

Repetition

Repetition of key phrases can be used for emphasis as well as dramatic build. It ensures people
are listening because repetition catches the ear. Martin Luther King Jr used this technique to
great effect by repeating ‘I have a dream’ in his address at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. This
keeps drawing the audience to a key idea of the speech thereby reinforcing it.

Rhetorical questions

Of course, this list is not complete without the inclusion of the rhetorical question. This is an
effective persuasive device because it requires an audience response. They don’t actually have to
answer, but the natural response to a question mark is to consider what the answer might be.
Rhetorical questions invite the audience to pause and reflect.

Structure

Keep in mind that speeches that use rhetorical language generally show a progression in content
from past to present to future. They also tend to start with a single idea and move to a more
universal idea

Read more at Suite101: Language Techniques of Effective Speech-making

http://www.suite101.com/content/language-techniques-of-effective-speech-making-
a222379#ixzz152MpQgIk

 rhetorical question – ask a question which doesn't need to be answered to get your
audience thinking about their own opinions
 repetition – of an idea or sentence structure helps to link ideas
 hyperbole – is an exaggeration often used to add humour
 imperative – a command word used to grab attention
 listing – of examples and words to support and idea
 alliteration – using words starting with the same letter to make it memorable.