An Opinion, if you will?
Where do you think personal stories in an oratory go over the edge?
i.e. Telling your audience you were raped, a family member was killed, etc.
It appears some of these stories can only win you sympathy points and nothing more, but that is my opinion. What's yours?
I know that this probably isn't the answer you were looking for, but it really varies.
One of the best oratories I've seen this year dealt with the death of her sister. I think the reason I liked it so much was because she wasn't (or didn't appear to be) hunting for the sympathy vote at all. She used the example just as a jumping her point to her main point which was somewhere along the lines of "Life is short, so don't do stupid stuff".
However, on the other end of the spectrum are the people that are, in fact, searching for the sympathy card. You can usually tell when someone is trying to do that because they act very dramatic and dwell on the subject for a majority of the oratory. For example, I heard one last year in which the guy repeatedly used the phrase, "Nobody understands. Nobody could ever understand." It was annoying because 1)I'm pretty sure a lot of people in the room DID understand, and 2)It never really goes over well to describe your personal problems in that great of detail unless it's to a therapist.
So to answer your question, it depends. I think it's perfectly fine, and even preferable, to talk about a personal experience in order to lead into your main point, so long as it does not dominate your oratory, and try not to be melodramatic or really detailed about the situation.
Hope that helps. : ]
I am the MASTER DEBATER. : )
Christine Cummins
Klein Oak High School
I get what you are saying. But let's use the example of rape.
The speech is about how *** offenders should not be released. many different rape stories were used with facts, names, dates, etc. Then the speaker says that they too were raped.
I just feel that it does not add to the speech other than sympathy. It is just uncomfortable, really.
Being someone who has done an OO that deals with a very personal subject, I agree that there is a line where searching for sympathy points v. making a point exists. However, this year included for me, the reason I'm doing the speech (or did, as the case may be) is because of that personal connection. For example, the use the personal story for me this year is used as an effect of our over-emphasis on future plans. The problem with emphasizing a majority of the speech on your personal story is that your gonna come across as complaining, whereas you want to use that example as a means of proving your point that we need to change (insert topic here). I really hope that you get to say what you want using this example. Best of luck to you.
"Where's Gary?"
Well, if you choose to do that, you definitely shouldn't milk the story, use it as an entire point, or base your whole oratory around the personal story, because we all know how annoying it is to just hear a giant pity story in the time it could have taken another forensicator to change your life. Also, don't make it some pointless personal example. You don't see too many of those, but there are times when the example either doesn't prove the point, or is just a time-filler. However, sometimes it is nice to add a personal touch, and to know why the orator feels so strongly about the topic. I know that's not a definite yes or no, but just some things to watch out for if you do decide to put it in. I hope it helps!
This hypothetical is uncomfortable primarily because it's pretty unlikely: (the oratory topic and the usage of a personal rape story). The likelihood of a person retelling a story of how they were raped round after round to complete strangers seems slim to me. Maybe I'm wrong.Originally Posted by Jeddamadiah
In response to the OP, I totally understand where you're coming from. The trend in oratory is to have a deeply personal story, partly so that the speaker can personalize their topic and illustrate its personal relevance, and partly to heavily impact their arguments. On the one hand, they can be incredibly thought-provoking (such as Mario Nguyen's from 2008). And considering that there are many oratories where it is obvious that someone looked up a suicide or a death on Google, and delivers said story impersonally, a personal anecdote can be very refreshing. On the other hand, I feel like a lot of competitors today feel the need to make their personal anecdotes completely tragic. Tragic stories can be incredibly impactful, (for example, I saw CManning's last year, and it was one of the most well-related, relevant anecdotes for a speech), but not everyone has had a lot of tragedy in their lives, and certainly not tragedy that directly relates to their topic. So many orators unfortunately twist tragic stories that don't necessarily directly relate to their topic, and in doing so, look like they're going for sympathy points. While I don't think that's the intention, I think the assumption that personal anecdotes must be heart-wrenching to be powerful is flawed. For instance, Tatiana Burton's anecdote from last year is one of my favorites, because though it does deal with sadness, there's a ray of optimism at the end as she addresses the problem in her own personal life, thus relating it directly to her speech and illustrating solutions as well.
Wow. That was a lot. But I really think this is an interesting point to bring up about oratories today.
P.S. Not saying that non-personal anecdotes aren't effective, by the way. Tina Nguyen's anecdote is retold, but it's delivered with such passion and feeling that it certainly doesn't feel contrived.
Ditto. There is a line between getting sympathy and making a point. If you go personal, be tactful and DO NOT use it just because. Treat it as you would any bit of evidence/support for a speech; if it does not work then it does not belong in the speech.Well, if you choose to do that, you definitely shouldn't milk the story, use it as an entire point, or base your whole oratory around the personal story, because we all know how annoying it is to just hear a giant pity story in the time it could have taken another forensicator to change your life. Also, don't make it some pointless personal example. You don't see too many of those, but there are times when the example either doesn't prove the point, or is just a time-filler. However, sometimes it is nice to add a personal touch, and to know why the orator feels so strongly about the topic. I know that's not a definite yes or no, but just some things to watch out for if you do decide to put it in. I hope it helps!
Using it as evidence is the way to go. That's pretty much what I was trying to say, but I couldn't find the words. But yeah, if the personal anecdote or tragic punch does not prove your point, then you're just going for sympathy points and doing the stereotypical "dead baby" story.
"Where's Gary?"
This is not hypothetical. I'm using the example i'm competing against.
And I use my own personal anecdotes to prove a point in my OO. The difference is that it is far from a pity story. I just think saying "I was raped" and explain it will do nothing but gain pity. Yes it was tragic, but how will that affect your score?
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