anecdote

Examples of anecdote in the following topics:

• Types of Supporting Materials

  • Anecdotal evidence is evidence from anecdotes (stories).
  • Anecdotal evidence is considered dubious support for a claim; it is accepted only in lieu of more solid evidence.

• Variations in Objectivity

  • A speech without any personal anecdotes can feel robotic; on the other end of the spectrum, a speech comprised of nothing but anecdotes can feel untrustworthy.

• Using Supporting Materials

  • Personal experiences and anecdotes are great for establishing an emotional connection with the audience.
  • Using an anecdote of a boat sinking, for example, is unlikely to persuade most audiences that all boats sink.

• Other Speeches: Farewells, Toasts, and After-Dinner Remarks

  • Humor, anecdote, and brevity are notable qualities of these types of speeches.
  • You may jot down a few key talking points or maybe a specific joke or anecdote that you wish to include.

• Body

  • To explain your second point, you share anecdotes on how social media helped connect victims of natural disasters or crises to relief, aid, and real-time information.
  • This evidence can be in the form of researched data, facts and figures, or even personal anecdotes and references.
  • If the purpose of your speech is to argue, you may find yourself using a combination of research and anecdotes to get your points across.
  • If the purpose of your speech is to entertain, you'll rely more heavily on anecdotes than on hard research to get your points across.
  • If you begin to wander off topic by sharing too many anecdotes, or presenting extraneous data, your audience may not be able to keep up and you will quickly begin to lose their interest.

• Interaction in Public Speaking

  • During the annual State of the Union address, the President of the United States will often incorporate anecdotes of "everyday" Americans into his or her address.
  • You may also choose to call out select members of the audience by name, if appropriate -- for example, when sharing an anecdote.

• Supporting Your Ideas

  • One of the best ways to back up your claims–besides cold, hard, facts and data–is to share a personal story or anecdote.
  • Using anecdotes are a perfect opportunity to lighten the mood and add some humor as appropriate to your speech.

• Highlighting the Main Points

  • Textual cues relate to the content of the speech: signal words and phrases, examples, anecdotes, and selections of text that appear on a slide or handout.
  • Different types of examples include facts, figures, data, illustrations, anecdotes, and quotes.
  • The second version combines facts, figures, and an anecdote to convey the human impact of the situation along with its broader significance.

• Producing an Emotional Appeal

  • For instance, the speaker could use an emotionally charged anecdote about a child who was sick and was cured at this hospital.

• Using Supporting Materials Effectively

  • All types of supporting material can be used for emotional appeals, but providing data may not be as effective as providing anecdotes for connecting with the audience.