Audience

"We begin by examining twelve ways to gain and maintain audience attention. Perhaps these suggestions will inspire you to think of even better ideas for your own speech. Remember these suggestions are not just a bag of tricks you perform for dramatic effect. Instead, you gain and maintain the audience's attention by involving your audience in your topic."

1. Bring to the speech presentation the object or person about which are speaking.

2. Invite your audience to participate.

3. Cause your clothing to relate to your speech.

4. Exercise your audience's imagination.

5. Start with a sight or sound.

6. Arouse audience curiosity.

7. Role-play.

8. Show a few slides or a very short film or video.

9. Present a brief quotation or have the audience read something you have provided.

10. State striking facts or statistics.

11. Disclose yourself.

12. Tell a story or narration.

(Pearson & Nelson, An Introduction to Human Communication : Understand & Sharing, pp. 259-260)

Analyzing and Adapting to Your Audience

Audience Adaptation

Audience Analysis

Learner Audience Analysis

Problem Speech

Student Analysis of Speaking Situation

Application: Imagine that you are asked to speak to a group of people on "Things to Do Where We Live." How would you adapt that message to a group of elementary school children? To newcomers at your college? To people who had just been transferred to your area through their employment? Look at one of the sites above to find ideas about effectively adapting to your audience.

You may find it useful for students in your class to complete an inventory to analyze their attitudes. For a short political analysis, click here.

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