Ask a Question

Posing a question is a great way to get the audience’s attention and to make people think. Rather than simply presenting some bit of information, posing a question invites listeners to react, in effect making them participants in the speech.1 For example, “Would you leave your child in a room full of anonymous strangers? No? Then why would you allow your child to participate in online chats?” Here again, saying something startling can add to the effect: not only have you gotten your listeners’ attention by saying something provocative, but you’ve also asked them to internalize what you’ve said and to react to it. As a result, they’re likely to be more interested in and open to what you’re about to say.