Giving facts or statistics in a speech can be really helpful. They are super effective at getting some points across, help validate you, and can capture a persons interest. If you start out a speech with a shocking fact, like 50 in 100 people who get cancer x die, it can scare people into curiosity. If you are addressing one of your main points and you follow it up with a few facts, it is validated. People have logical reason to believe it. However, facts can be used too much, like a crutch. If you didn't do research or logically string your speech together, a good alternative may seem to be, throwing out facts. This can get to the point were you aren't actually talking about a topic, but giving out random unrelated statistics. These will only serve to make you seem glib on the subject matter. You could look unprepared, as well. So all in all, it is great to get a wide variety of facts, but only choose ones that can be placed effectively.
I agree with you that facts and statistics in a speech can be very helpful and it can capture a person interest. I noticed that in the most news and speeches we can hear more terrible and shocking facts and statistics and our brain easier remembers bad facts then good. Statistics add realism to your speech. It’s okay to talk about big ideas in abstract terms, but you also have to make it real. Numbers and facts are one way to staple your speech arguments to reality. For example, claiming that correctly setting your tire pressure will increase your fuel mileage is one thing. But stating that it could save $500 a year in fuel costs is much better.
ReplyDeleteStatistics can have an emotional impact (pathos) on your audience. For example, you can amplify the emotional response in your speech about poverty by revealing the percentage of children in your community who will not be receiving gifts this holiday season.
Statistics raise your credibility (ethos) in two ways. First, using a statistic demonstrates that you’ve done research and are working hard for the audience. Second, using statistics from trusted sources (e.g. the World Health Organization) boosts your credibility by association.
Statistics can be memorable, sticking with your audience beyond the duration of your speech.