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Gianni Browner

Ms. Trotter

British Literature (4)

29, November 2017

Persuasive vs. Informative Presentations

Dr. Jack, Belinda. “Jane Austen, Persuasion: Irony and the Mysterious Vagaries of Narrative.” Speech

given at Museum of London. (2 February 2016): ​Gresham university,​ Web. 30 November 2017

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/jane-austen-persuasion-irony-and-the-mysterious

-vagaries-of-narratives

In this speech, Jack explores the controversial question of whether informative

presentations are better than the usage of persuasive presentations. For the most part Dr. Jack

tended to have a bias leaning more towards the persuasive presentation because she feels they

give a chance for change. Versus the informative presentation in which Dr. Jack infers that they

don't allow people to change the problem presented because they are more meant to inform the

audience on the matter rather than fixing it. In Dr. Jack’s speech she stated that “​persuasion​ is a

comedy and a profound one. In it personal and social relationships are subjected to ironical

scrutiny to explore some of the most important facts of human existence” ( Jack ,34) interpreting

that persuasion is a key aspect into finding the importance of human existence. During Dr. Jack’s

presentation she talked about the importance of both devices and how an informative

presentations help bring notice to existing or future problems. This help because when presenting
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the presenter should use more of a persuasive speech to help influence the audience to contribute

to their cause.

The Fear with Presenting to an Audience

Dr. Christabel, Owen. “Problems of presentations and responses on a online form for young

people” Article from Bj Psych. (8, October 2015): ​SAGE Publications, ​Web. 30

November 2017.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1461445611403356

In the article, Dr. Christabel explains the controversy and effects public presentations

have on students presenting. Dr. Christabel and a few other colleagues conducted a study on the

effect public presentations have on students and people presenting. One of the things Dr.

Christabel mentioned how stress levels tend to rise when younger people have to present on a

topic and in some cases leads to self harm “Previous studies have raised concerns about the peer

encouragement of self-harming behaviours” (Christabel 1). When younger students infer about

public presentations they would most commonly be concerned with messing up their lecture or

having all of the attention focused on them causing a rise in anxiety, stress and fear. Another

thing that worries others about presenting would also happen to be not knowing or retaining the

material of their topic. Lastly the last thing that brings concern about presenting is to mess up

with verbal skills or not having a very consistent or fluent speech.

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How to Make a Better Presentation

In the Article, Schmitt Jason. “Speaking With a Purpose” Article written from Clarkson

university, (6 July 2017): ​Routledge​,​ ​Web. 30 November 2017.

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rEgrDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq

=speaking+with+a+purpose+jason+schmitt&ots=AL2Nlzf8FF&sig=0of8AuG2Lq3vEx5

dT5QPMGaBpAQ#v=onepage&q=speaking%20with%20a%20purpose%20jason%20sch

mitt&f=false

Mr. Schmitt in is article mentioned the steps and actions to take in order to have a better

and a more effective presentation. The first step would be to analyze the topic and retain the

information. Step two consisted of visual aid to help keep your audience engaged and entertained

with the lecture and Schmitt also stated to have continuity. Schmitt mentioned in his article if a

presenter uses these simple steps they will appear to their audience as confident and intellectually

if everything goes as accorded. The presenter must also have good vocal volume and eye contact

with people in the crowed or to keep your head constantly scanning the area and occasionally

stopping on important or more indefinite subject matter. Within the text Schmitt also stated the

importance of public speeches “Speaking in front of an audience is one of the most important

and powerful traits available to the human species” (Schmitt 2).

Importance of Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Communication Assessment Learning Lab. “Persuasive Power: The Importance of Ethos, Pathos

and Logos” Article written from the​ ​Communication Assessment Learning Lab, (8

October 2013): ​Arizona State University​, Web. 1 December 2017.

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http://comm.lab.asu.edu/persuasive-power-the-importance-of-ethos-pathos-and-logos/#.

WiHmxhaIYsg

In the article written by the Communications Assessment Learning Lab they talk about

the most important devices used within a presentation, which are ethos, pathos and logos. They

help the person presenting give information of factual based evidence to their audience. The first

device is Ethos, and ethos is a greek derived word meaning ethics which are culturally based

behaviors or beliefs. Ethos helps the presenter project their ideals or beliefs about a matter. The

next device would be Pathos and this is used evoke feeling or emotion about something to have

the audience sympathetic to any claims. Finally the last tool would be Logos meaning logic so

this helps explain the informational based facts and statistics used within a presentation and

ultimately one of the most important devices if not the most important. According to the

communications assessment learning lab logos is the most used and important device in

presentations or any project “Clear, concise and logical arguments provide substance to the

speaker’s message” ( paragraph 3).

Teaching How to Present

The Center for Teaching Excellence. “Lecturing Effectively” This article was written from the

University of Waterloo Directory (14 October 2016): ​Waterloo university​, Web. 1

November 2017.

https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/lectu

ring-and-presenting/delivery/lecturing-effectively-university
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In this article, The Centre for Teaching Excellence talks about the most effective ways to

teach students or others to become better presenters. In the text they state how lecturing is a

critical form of teaching and what it brings, “Effective lecturing is characterized by enthusiasm

and expressiveness, clarity, and interaction” (paragraph 1). They also give ways how to lecture

and methods that can be utilized in teaching others how to lecture. One way to teach students at a

younger age would be to put them in a lecturing environments and to allow them so open up to

different social groups. Another way would be to analyze to structure and form of how a

presentation is to be carried out and conducted. These are just a few steps in teaching the basics

of presenting and making someone a better presenter. The lecturer can also have their students

engage in the lecture and have opinions on what can be improved. Criticizing and being clear is

the most important way to have a successful presentation.