They said WHAT!?
The average person would probably believe that all it involves is an argument with some good strong evidence to back it up along with some jokes and such. WRONG. The art of Oratory is much more perplexing than you would usually think. Most of the best orators take special consideration into their speeches, making sure that they retain textual integrity and clear reception from the audience. They fuel these with the use of various language techniques like imagery, religious associations and inclusive language. These techniques however, are put in consideration to the context and values of the audience. With this combination, a speaker can gracefully and elegantly capture and persuade their audience, with some of the greatest speeches, transcending through time, with aspects that are still relatable to this day. These are vital elements which make the difference between a strong, persuasive speech by such speakers as Martin Luther King famous for his I have a Dream speech in 1963, Abraham Lincoln who is known for his Government of the people, by the people for the people oration in 1863 and Socrates No Evil can happen testament in 399BC, to a weak, mildly persuasive, Year 12 Captain, speech by me.
When I was preparing for my Captains speech, my main question was what will grab my audiences attention and persuade them to vote for me? Considering the values and attitudes that high school students had, I used various basic techniques such as repetition and imagery to try and humour them such as making jokes that were relevant at that time. I presented it, and the response was good, real good. But I didnt win. Why? Martin Luther King was in a similar position back in 1963 when he presented his I have a Dream speech, a time where racial issues were at its peak. He was a charismatic leader who represented the civil rights movement for black Americans, supporting non-violent protests with the purpose to persuade people to truly understand that black people and white people are equal. So how does he win his audience over? King makes sure that he addresses the elements of reception and textual integrity in relation to the context. Now it is time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Here, King uses a religious association of Psalm 23, a language technique that holds textual integrity and the reception to his audience. It effectively unites both the religious and non-religious with a sense of faith in the brotherhood of humanity, as the association helps the audience relate, a key factor for textual integrity and reception. Due to this feature, responders of the contemporary society, can still understand and relate to it with the same perspectives as the people who where listening to King at that time. This idea of historical contextual integrity is also evident in the No Evil can happen by Socrates. He also uses the technique of religious associations where he states I shall obey God, giving the same effect as Luther. We can still see and understand, because of the textual integrity that Socrates speech holds. We as a society that has over 100 religions can still comprehend the use of this technique and persuasive effect that Socrates is trying to convey.