Mass Persuasion: The Power of Public SpeakingOne of the most basic forms of human communication, speech, is also one of the most complex and intriguing, both in itself itself and in its uniqueness since, according to many experts, it is the only exclusively human trait. Over thousands of years of existence, humans have developed and honed linguistic abilities to be able to convey simple thoughts and deep emotions. Although almost all human beings are capable of speaking, some are naturally more gifted at speaking and are able to not only convey their thoughts and feelings to others, but are also able to impose their ideas and emotions on others in so discreetly and decisively that the public can do it. be convinced of almost everything. From Roman times to modern America, speeches have had the power to motivate and influence audiences in needed directions. High speaking skills used to influence audiences depend on the expert use of three basic persuasion techniques: ethos, pathos, and logos, which are appeals to ethics, emotion, and logic, respectively. Only when all three of these techniques are used skillfully can a speaker be a truly great speaker capable of thriving in the face of tragedy and turmoil. Even with these skills, however, succeeding in public speaking, especially in tragic situations, can be quite difficult, and speakers capable of overcoming these obstacles are few and far between, but often achieve great power and fame, such as Brutus and Mark. Anthony in the times of ancient Rome and Ronald Reagan in a more modern American context. Brutus showed his poise by speaking immediately after the assassination of Julius Caesar by himself and a small group of conspirators. He spoke to try to convince the Roman... middle of paper... since leaders' ability to speak can often determine their greatness. Public speaking is a functional art form that continues to grow along with culture and, with the correct use of various strategies, can persuade any number of people to remain calm in the face of disaster or to uproot traditional social values ​​to seek horrible ideas and ideas. events. In the wrong hands, the ability to speak in public will inspire evil and revolution, but in the right hands, it can carry men beyond tragedy and loss, through the hardest times and most daunting challenges, and into the unknown of adventure and exploration. in the future. Works Cited "Reagan's Address to the Nation." Hisory.nasa.gov. Ed. Steve Garber. NASA History Office, June 7, 2004. Web. March 12, 2014.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Julius Caesar. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 2000. Print.