What role does audience analysis play in establishing your credibility? Is the speaker’s responsibility to back up claims with solid evidence the same for a sympathetic audience as it is for a hostile or neutral audience?

As an audience member, how can you identify logical fallacies during a speech? How can you identify weak or misleading evidence? How do you react when a speaker’s claims are based on unsound evidence or reasoning?

How should a speaker who favors a particular tradition develop a logical argument for that tradition that avoids committing an appeal to tradition fallacy? For example, how might a speaker build a case for the general education requirement described in the text on page 568? In a broader sense, how can you build a strong and ethical argument for maintaining a tradition that you support?

What types of presentation aids can you use to build your credibility?

Reflect on your position on a controversial issue in society. What evidence could persuade you to adopt a more neutral position or change your mind? Who or what would be a credible source to possibly induce you to rethink your position? How can the answers to these questions help you in your own efforts as a persuasive speaker?