The Secret Structure
In my upcoming presentation, I plan to convey my future story by showing an event-based journey developed by concepts of milestones I have imagined throughout my life. In creating this presentation, I will attempt to display not so much a timeline, but an event line that travels off into the distance, or future where it climbs from the frozen tundra up to the peaks of mountains, and then down to the end of my physical future.
My presentation somewhat follows Duarte's (2011) description of Freytag's Dramatic Story Structure where there is an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action and a denouement. However, I also feel if the presentation was to be broken down into smaller finite segments, we would inevitably see the structure of Duarte's (2011) likeable hero that meets roadblocks, and through mentor-ship, emerge transformed. At the same time, Smith (2013) says to "keep your speech simple, with a clear beginning, middle and end."
The presentation provides an account of how I see my life unfold into the future from now as the starting point. As time goes on, a new conceptual stage appears describing how things in my life are in hopes of turning out, providing the positive tone and motivation to work and live towards these phases. The purpose of this model is to show that a positive forward-looking perception attracts positive events and helps maintain a positive outlook even during times when roadblocks are encountered, because the next event is already positioned to be a positive stage.
In learning how people react to great speeches and presentations through contrasting and comparing between what is and what could be, it is easy to see how people would want to buy off on what is trying to be sold-namely the what could be. Beard (2011) states, "for oratory to be really powerful, it has to be about something that
matters, and it has to be the real words of the person making the
speech." I see sharing my future is contrasting events of what may be, as in the most likely, and what could be if we only...persevered, continued to support our idea, shared our thoughts, took calculated risks, etc.
It must be understood that these great speeches and presentations are shared by those who have lived a great deal of what they have shared and have done so passionately. It is through knowing and feeling so strongly about something, that it becomes about the principle and its purpose in being presented. It is the belief that this idea shared must be accepted based on the contrasting information between what is and what it could be, the excitement and passion behind the idea, and because a person with a very relative, popular and positive reputation is the one supporting and pushing it.
A great presentation can replicate great speeches in that it can also show contrasting ideas through a passionate, and well-structured delivery. Brady (2013) shares that "you need to deliver the message with passion and charisma." Making the audience the hero that needs the help of the presenter to clear the obstacles so they can see the greatness of the presenter's idea, establishes trustworthiness. Presenting the idea through story helps the audience connect with the information in a personal sense, providing clarity and understanding for buy in. In future presentations, I will incorporate this structural pattern representative of great speeches.
References:
Beard, M. (2011, February 25). What makes a great speech? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/feb/26/kings-speech-oscars-mary-beard
Brady, A. (2013, may 9). What makes a great speech? [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-arlo-brady/what-makes-a-great-speech_b_3854861.html
Duarte, N. (2011, November). The secret structure of great talks [TED Talks]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks#t-1051706
May, K. T. (2012, October 31). How to give more persuasive presentations: A q&a with nancy duarte. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://blog.ted.com/how-to-give-more-persuasive-presentations-a-qa-with-nancy-duarte/
Smith, J. (2013, August 13). How to give a great speech. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/08/13/how-to-give-a-great-speech-3/#b1baf5d4da07
No comments:
Post a Comment