This chapter is very similar to what my last journal was about, but goes into deep detail. I find it fascinating that something as simple as sharing a personal detail or comparison with the audience during a speech revolutionizes it. It makes your audience automatically understand you on a deeper level, thinking from the same perspective you are. What to you choose to share with an audience is critical, you have to be able to know “who” your audience is. If it is people you know, you may come off a bit more reserved about what personal details your willing to share. It will, ultimately, change their perspective on you depending on how said speech in delivered. This does provide some pressure on me personally as it comes time to prepare for our Lone Wolf speech, but I also found that this chapter helped prepare me immensely. The biggest I found in this chapter was on the fourth page where it includes the most crucial parts of being an effective speaker; being knowledgeable, caring about the audience, and being truthful. I feel like if I can meet these three expectations in my speech, I will be able to have an effect on my classmates.
Is it always appropriate to be personal with the audience? Are there speeches where it is better off not to connect with the audience personally?
How personal do we get with an audience without oversharing? How much is too much detail?
