Chapter 17&18 Reading

Chapter 17 went over things I learned in speech 101, but it also incorporated a reader-listener centered approach this book is focusing on. The major challenge of having a successful presentation is the ability to talk to you listeners in a conversational style. In order to connect to listeners we have to get their attention by talking to them in language they will understand. The book lists some tips for developing a conversational style. Create your talk with your audience present, use word you in the first sentence, using personal pronouns, short sentences, choose word listeners will understand immediately. Graphics and extra tools are just there to support what we have to say.

Chapter 18 was on creating a reader-centered websites. I have created website for some of my previous classes and we went over the same information. Good website should be easy to understand, clear of clutter and user friendly. A lot of websites look fancy with a lot of graphics and sounds, but most of users want the speed, they want to get in an out.

Persuaders

What I got from watching the Persuader's documentary is going to change my view of advertising forever. I actually felt sick to my stomach by watching those advertisers who think of themselves as mind readers or psychics. They think that somehow they can read our minds and predict what we want to buy. They supposedly can read our feelings and try to satisfy our needs, based on what they find about us. I have never followed the message advertisers try to rely, but I know a lot of people out there who blindly believe that advertisers are there to help them. If they just new that those same advertisers see us everyday people, as animals with reptile brain whose actions are controlled by feelings not the intellect. The problem that we all face is that advertising is going to get worse before it gets better. There is one question that needs to be asked. How far advertisers are willing to go before they hit the stopping point, and what will happen if they do?