It’s back-to-school time! For many of you out there, you or your kids have returned to the classroom for another year. Even for those of us who aren’t in the literal back-to-school rush, the start of the fall season usually bring up new energy, bold new plans, and a bit of internal fire to…
It’s called “equivocation.” What Trump was doing in those two press conferences since Charlottesville – the rhetoric he’s using is called equivocation. Equivocation is a logical fallacy that uses vague language to hide meaning or to avoid committing to a point of view or stance. You see it used frequently in politics when a…
This is the fourth pop-up rhetoric video created from the speech analyses in my book, The Handy Communication Answer Book. These four videos are something of mini-series within my larger Pop-Up Rhetoric video series, so be sure to check out my other pop-up rhetoric videos on YouTube! Control: that’s what debates are all about. Are…
I’ve got a video treat for you, a down-and-dirty political smackdown (in speech form, of course) from the formidable Margaret Thatcher. This video is part of the series of Pop-Up Rhetoric vIdeos covering three famous political speeches and one debate which I analyzed in my book The Handy Communication Answer Book. One of the best ways to…
It might be summertime, but it’s as good a time as any to hone your skills of persuasion! I’m happy to bring to you the second of four videos in this special Pop-Up Rhetoric video series, featuring the speeches I analysed in my book The Handy Communication Answer Book. Ever wonder how to unite people…
Greetings, beautiful readers! I’ve been working on a great summer project for the past few weeks: a new series of Pop-Up Rhetoric videos based on the speech analyses I did for The Handy Communication Answer Book. Pop-Up Rhetoric is a fun look at the mechanics of speeches, advertisements, debates, and other public communication by flagging different…
Advance warning, dear reader, I’m indulging a desire to really geek out on some rhetoric here. I invite you to come along and get your word nerd on with me… I’m currently making a new series of Pop-Up Rhetoric videos (they aren’t released yet, but you can check out other Pop-Up Rhetoric videos on…
Guest post by Sam Eddy Watch most novice public speakers with a critical eye and I guarantee you will quickly be able to slice up sections of their speech into two categories: the funny bits and the serious bits. Good speeches balance humor with profound moments, and this balance can be hard for novice…
I have a secret for you: I don’t like flying. I don’t like the idea of being in a pressurized tube thousands of feet in the air, hurtling along at ungodly speeds. I don’t like being trapped in a confined space from which there is no escape. I don’t like turbulence. I really don’t…
When doing an activity that puts you in the spotlight, it seems a given that your personality will have a pretty significant factor in whether or not you enjoy it and how much effort it takes to succeed at it. When it comes to public speaking, most assume that extroverts are naturally more inclined…
