What can we do if our audience is apathetic to the speech?
In problem-solution you argue that there is a problem...you explain it...give proof to it! You must show a need. Who is involved, how widespread is it? How long has it existed, where, when, etc. Give details to prove it. Not only that, show us how WE are involved in the problem...adapt to the audience to help us see that we are connected to the issue. If you can not find any way in which we are connected...then you have not narrowed the topic effectively and have not adapted to the audience in a meaningful way.
Next, give us a specific way to solve the problem. Here you will show the plan and the practicality. You will need to be specific. NEVER just say "we need to educate ourselves" or "pass a law" without mentioning any specifics!!! Give proof that your solution will work. Be specific, better yet, find and cite a model solution. Where have they passed such a law. HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED???
A problem-solution pattern divides information into two main sections, one that describes a problem and one that describes a solution. This pattern is typically used in persuasive writing, where the writer's general purpose is to convince the reader to support a certain course of action. The pattern is designed to compel the reader to make some kind of change in opinion or behavior by establishing that a problem exists, then providing a solution. In the problem section, the writer identifies different aspects of the problem being discussed and offers evidence of these problems. In the solution section, the writer identifies a potential solution and supports the effectiveness of this solution over others.
In problem-solution you argue that there is a problem...you explain it...give proof to it! You must show a need. Who is involved, how widespread is it? How long has it existed, where, when, etc. Give details to prove it. Not only that, show us how WE are involved in the problem...adapt to the audience to help us see that we are connected to the issue. If you can not find any way in which we are connected...then you have not narrowed the topic effectively and have not adapted to the audience in a meaningful way.
Next, give us a specific way to solve the problem. Here you will show the plan and the practicality. You will need to be specific. NEVER just say "we need to educate ourselves" or "pass a law" without mentioning any specifics!!! Give proof that your solution will work. Be specific, better yet, find and cite a model solution. Where have they passed such a law. HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED???
A problem-solution pattern divides information into two main sections, one that describes a problem and one that describes a solution. This pattern is typically used in persuasive writing, where the writer's general purpose is to convince the reader to support a certain course of action. The pattern is designed to compel the reader to make some kind of change in opinion or behavior by establishing that a problem exists, then providing a solution. In the problem section, the writer identifies different aspects of the problem being discussed and offers evidence of these problems. In the solution section, the writer identifies a potential solution and supports the effectiveness of this solution over others.
Involving the audience is one of the biggest challenges when giving any speech. In a problem-solution patterned speech it is very important, as you say, to give the audience specifics. Specific information, specific reasons why they should care, and specific solutions and exactly why they will work. I think that it is a very useful pattern given the right topic and an effective speech plan. I think that you are also right in pointing out that you need to narrow the topic and adapt it to your audience, because when you give to broad of information it is less likely to connect with anyone in your audience on an individual level. I think that in all of the chapters of the book and every aspect of public speaking it seems to all come back to gaining the audience's interest and making them care. Whether it's persuading, informing, or entertaining you are always ultimately trying to affect the audience in some way. Without the audience you are just talking to yourself.
ReplyDeleteTo convince people of anything is never easy and with this pattern I think you point out some good things that could be of challenge. You talk a lot about how to be specific in order to get through to your audience and I think that can be one of the toughest things. There is so much information I want to share about my topic, but as you said I must narrow it down through research and make it very specific not only as a topic but also in relation to how it affects my audience. The problem solution would be good for a law that we believe in passing, but as you said again it can not be general it has to be pinpointed. I thought this definition was helpful and accurate.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that you can affect a lot of people using this method. However, I know that there are certain people out in the world, who are very set in there ways. It takes a lot of convincing, and even when you tell them that they are involved or affected by the problem, they disagree.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one of the most useful tools I find that not only catches there attention, but alerts them to the fact that they are indeed, some how affect by the issue is to use a story. Often without telling them what I am doing. I start giving, them a case scenario, that is seemingly unrelated to the topic at hand. Then I move in and slowly connect it to the issue. I think that this would work well, with the method you described.
Definitely seems tough to convince or persuade an apathetic audience. Which is probably most college students nowadays. You gave some pretty good step by step instruction on how you can persuade that type of audience. I do however have to agree with the comment above that some people will just disagree and whatever you tell them will not affect them. And yes, I also think that a story might work on those kinds of people. Good way to catch their attention.
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