1. Your point of view
How do you have
your say...
Here we will look at how to put your point of view effectively.
make your
argument...
put your
point of view?

2. A good start
If you have a speech or statement to make, a strong start is essential. You will want to interest your listeners right from the start - to grab their attention and win them over.
So a strong, effective beginning is very important.
The openings of some of the most famous speeches from the plays of Shakespeare have memorable wording.

3. 1 Richard III
2 Hamlet
3 Julius Caesar
4 Merchant of Venice
5 Henry V
6 Romeo and Juliet
7 Twelfth Night
8 As You Like It

4. Rhetorical devices
As well as creating a striking beginning, there are a number of other techniques that will help you.
Lists of three provide a neat structure to your speech and can help to pinpoint important features to your argument.
E.g. Football hooliganism is detrimental - for the clubs, for the fans and for the game.
Politicians use lists of three a great deal. Listen out for it in speeches.

5. Rhetorical devices
Rhetorical questions can also be a useful device. They are questions which do not expect an answer. They are meant to be attention-grabbing and make the reader think about the issue.
E.g. Would you like a motorway running through your neighbourhood?
Rhetorical questions can be particularly useful at the beginning of an argument or speech.

6. Rhetorical devices
Repetition is another device used to reinforce a point of view. An important idea or word might be repeated a number of times in a speech. This gives it prominence.
A famous example of this is the ‘Dream’ speech of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King. He anticipated a time where people were not discriminated against because of the colour of their skin. A number of the sections of his speech begin ‘I have a dream’. These famous words have inspired many millions of people.
EXTENSION: Find and read the rest of his speech.

7. The evidence might be facts, examples, statistics, etc.
Using evidence
When putting forward your point of view, you should find evidence to support your arguments.
The evidence might be facts, examples, statistics, etc.
It will help to make your points more convincing.
But what is good evidence? What sort of things will improve your argument?
Let’s look at an example.

9. The ending
It is important to finish your argument or statement strongly. You will probably want to reinforce the message you have made, perhaps using one of the techniques we have looked at - such as a rhetorical question.
E.g. If we want to protect our future, we must protect our planet. Global warming is a real threat. If we don’t do something, who will?

11. Plenary
Create a
strong opening.
There are many
effective ways
to put your
point of view.
Use lists
of three.
Try using
rhetorical
questions.
Include
meaningful
evidence.
Use these, and
others will take
notice!