As the study about Save the Children and the story of Rokia shows, listeners will pay more attention to a persuasive speech when you present relevant testimony from a person they can relate to or tell a compelling story about your topic. In composing your speech, consider how you can incorporate testimony (the words or experiences of others) or a personal story to make an emotional connection with your audience. In Chapter 14, we discuss how using such stories can help you capture and hold your audience’s interest and attention while delivering your speech. A well-chosen story can also evoke powerful feelings in your listeners—such as pride, fear, anger, or hope. What feelings do you experience when reading this excerpt from a speech by NASA astronaut Mae Carol Jemison (2012)?

When I was growing up in the 1960’s on the south side of Chicago, I remember being so excited about space exploration! I wanted to be involved! But, there was always just one type of person in earth orbit or in Mission Control. And they did not look like me. Even though, as a country, we would proudly rally and root for the Space Program, so many of us felt as though we were left out. When I did finally fly in space, the first thing I saw from earth orbit was Chicago, my hometown. I was working on the middeck where there aren’t many windows, and as we passed over Chicago, the commander called me up to the flight deck. It was such a significant moment, because ever since I was a little girl I had always assumed I would go into space. Looking out the window of that Space Shuttle, I thought if that little girl growing up in Chicago could see her older self now, she would have a huge grin on her face.

As that of the first African American woman in space, Dr. Jemison’s story usually stirs a sense of optimism and hope in listeners: that they can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams just like she did.