How can you create a logical argument for public speaking?

The initial work of the public speaker is not speaking or thinking but the diligent work of data gathering - understanding the audience, getting acquainted with their profile, and knowing their pain points. And then determining the ideas, thoughts, and materials for the presentation that can help address their needs While staying relevant to the overall theme of the conference. Logic refers to a systematic study of reasoning and inference presented in an orderly and sensible sequential manner that addresses the listeners' questions, leading them to a reasonable and sensible conclusion. In other words, the presentation provides a sensible solution(s) that can help address their needs. So it starts with the audience and not the speaker.

Crafting logical arguments for public speaking involves: 1. Identifying your purpose and goal for the speech. 2. Gathering credible evidence and conducting thorough research. 3. Organizing points coherently with a compelling introduction and smooth transitions. 4. Addressing counterarguments to bolster credibility. 5. Using logical reasoning, avoiding fallacies, and drawing conclusions from evidence. 6. Incorporating emotional appeals through storytelling and powerful language. 7. Practicing and refining the delivery for confidence. 8. Engaging with the audience to maintain interest and connection. With practice, you can deliver a persuasive and impactful speech that informs, educates, and influences your audience effectively.

All of the perspectives given are excellent. I'd just add that if you are not speaking off the cuff, practice with a loved one! It helps to hear the presentation aloud to see where you bog down or go too fast. It helps you to pare down or build up the speech you're planning. It also allows your loved one to give input on the personality of the talk. You don't want to speak above or below your audience.

Here’s an idea based on an acronym cause…why not? S-E-A-R-C-H **S** Source Evaluation: Gather reliable and credible sources that support your claim and refute opposing views for credibility. **E** Evidence Collection: Collect data, statistics, expert opinions, and examples to back up your main message. **A** Address Counterpoints: Understand opposing views and address them in advance to strengthen your argument. **R** Research Audience: Know your audience's background, interests, and expectations to tailor your argument. **C** Clear Data Interpretation: Present data accurately, avoiding cherry-picking or misinterpretation. **H** Hold Updated Information: Ensure you have the latest developments in your topic.

It’s been said that the fear of speaking in public is the number one fear among humans—even more than the fear of dying. The only antidote for this fear is, as Nike says, “Just do it!” Eagles guitarist, Joe Walsh, offered the same approach for playing music in front of an audience. “At first, you’ll be awful, but the more you do it, you’ll be less awful.” Walsh’s experience offers a ray of hope. If we keep speaking and perfecting our craft as we go along, we should overcome our fear and become effective speakers as well.

One additional thing I have found to be extremely beneficial is making yourself available for conversation after. Before the event think through the apposing of different viewpoints and think through your rational as to why your viewpoint is preferable. Decide beforehand which points of these differing opinions you agree because people usual respond to I totally agree with XYZ but can you explain how this solves B. People want to feel heard and by listening and then talking you are more likely to sway an opinion or grow with a possibility you hadn't foreseen.

One common misconception that public speakers have is they need to be provocative and contrarian. While this can take the audience on a ride, this is often the wrong approach. You need to be clear and hold peoples’ hands on the journey you take them on. Imagine that you are hearing your speech for the first time. Does it make sense? Does it have a logical flow? While you as the deliverer may be well-versed in what you’re talking about, many people in your audience might not be.

In my experience it's crucial to spend time on defining the concepts in your argument. With concepts, I mean words that might mean different things to different people. I've seen many occasions where people disagree. Only to find out later that the disagreement is based on a different definition of the concept they were discussing. Be clear and concise on what you are debating before you dive into the discussion.

In my opinion, logical fallacies are one of the quickest ways to derail your own argument. If the party you are arguing against feels strong about their position they will have thought about these and will be able to poke holes in your argument. Once a logical fallacy is exposed your only options are to try to cede your position, or ignore the party you are debating and keep stating your claim as fact. The latter of the two will most likely make you look uneducated, arrogant, and possibly insensitive.

In my opinion, logical fallacies are one of the quickest ways to derail your own argument. If the party you are arguing against feels strong about their position they will have thought about these and will be able to poke holes in your argument. Once a logical fallacy is exposed your only options are to try to cede your position, or ignore the party you are debating and keep stating your claim as fact. The latter of the two will most likely make you look uneducated, arrogant, and possibly insensitive.

I have found that another good thing to include would be logical common comparisons. I believe this could be categorized as a rhetorical device, but I think it can be simplified if you train your mind to think of things that your audience can relate to quickly. It should be something common like dining out or grocery shopping. An over simplified example would be tying your shoe laces.

It is critical to time your delivery while practicing. Though we need to be mindful of the duration of our talk/session during the earlier preparatory phases like gathering and organizing our content, it helps immensely to time our talk during practice. You can do this using a stop watch or in-built rehearse timers in apps like Power Point.

Logical comparisons make the person you are debating see you as a person and make you relatable. If you are dealing with a customer that is not comfortable paying more for a premium product you can relate it to dining out since that is something everyone has done. You can say, "Do you go to your local restaurant and demand their hamburger at McDonald's prices?" The obvious answer is no because you are expecting a higher quality offering than McDonald's. You can assure them there is nothing wrong with McDonald's but they should not underestimate the quality of your product by comparing it to a lesser offering.

The reality is we all do some public speaking, even if it's "just" speaking in the home. Many (or dare I say most?) of us end up needing to give presentations or speeches at work or in our community organizations. Being confident enough to know that you CAN give a speech or presentation is true freedom and it's a key to unlock new doors and opportunities.