Wildfires and Tornados Create Powerful Illustrations

 

The sudden wildfire that reduced about 30-40 percent of the Northern Alberta Town of Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada into smouldering ruins leaving over 7,000 persons homeless in a few hours and the killer tornado that destroyed Joplin in Missouri, in the United States and killed over a hundred people have created a number of memorable examples and illustrations you could use at some time in a presentation or speech if you present in an appropriate, compassionate manner.

Both of these disasters ( as well as the stories that have come out of them) are tragic examples of how powerless man is against nature when it runs amok despite all of the latest technology and equipment; how suddenly the unexpected can happen; and how there are still many good people in the world who are willing to help others during disasters like these two as well as the many floods that are inundating communities across North American in Canada and the United States.

You will probably come across many more yourself when you read about the individuals affected by all of these disasters as well as the efforts by these people to help one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Does It Work For Your Audience?

Whether you're writing a novel, non-fiction magazine feature or oral presentation of some sort remember that you have to focus not on what type of content or style works for you  -- but what works for your audience.


Hope Clark  the Editor of Funds for Writers, reminds of us of this -- and some other very interesting things in the current copy of her Web site at www.funds.forwriters.com. Click on  "Funds for Writers" then, "our free newsletters" for this particular article.


When you have a chance take a look at it what she has to say. You will it very inspiring. She is not writing for speech writers specifically of course but what she has to say is true of all writing.

Accurate Reading

 
Skipping, Dropping Endings, and Misreading Words


 
Reading accurately is a very important skill for any person interested in enriching their presentations through the written thoughts of other experts on the matter just as it is for a singer trying to make the lyrics of a song clear and memorable. Both the oral reader and singer have to be careful in their rendering of words.



Good examples of this are the contestants in the "American Idol" show on television. Who do you enjoy listening to most, those who sing clearly or those who because of slurring their words or make other oral blunders?

Avoiding things like skipping words, dropping word endings or even misreading words can be avoided by practicing a few simple techniques such as: making sure you understand the context of the words you are reading so you can grasp the flow of thought 
just like a singer understands the message or feelings the lyrics are trying to get across. This is even more important for the person reading in public than it is for the singer who is given more leeway.


Another good trick is to pretend you are a person jumping from stone to stone across a river or creek. The person tries to get across the river successfully focuses his or her attention as well on the rocks ahead to avoid any nasty surprises caused by unexpectedly slippery rocks or jagged edges.

 
When reading orally you should use a similar technique. Look ahead as you read. Know in advance what words you are coming to. This will help you to stay aware of the flow of thought and be better prepared to pronounce the words properly with proper enunciation and emphasis.


For instance, if you are reading the word "project" -- what is the meaning of that word? Does the writer or author mean a project that somebody is working on or to project something like your voice in a song or oral presentation? The two words are spelled alike but pronounced quite differently. And many persons in your audience will catch such mistakes in wrong pronunciations

If you are talking about some project you are working on the "o" sounds like the "a" in the word "father". But if you are talking about projecting your voice the "o" sounds like the "o" in the exclamation "Oh!" or the "oa" combination in the word "boat".

If you are unsure about the proper pronunciation of a word check it out in a good dictionary or vocabulary book. Never be over confident. It can be critical as I once found out the embarrassing way when I said "pronounciation" when I should have said "pronunciation".