following occasions, and the second member of each pair give, immediately after it, the appropriate speech of acceptance: NOTE: Some of the exercises and certain paragraphs in the text in this and other chapters of Part VI of this book, are adapted, by the kind permission of Mr. J. A. Wallace, from Wallace and O'Neill's Purposive Writing and Speaking. New York. Longmans, Green & Co. 1924. Scouts CHAPTER XXVI EXPOSITORY SPEECHES I. PURPOSE OF EXPOSITION II. METHODS OF EXPOSITION B. Analysis C. Examples D. Comparison E. Causal Relations F. Restatement III. CONCRETE HELPS IN EXPOSITION A. Charts B. Models and Samples I. PURPOSE OF EXPOSITION The purpose of exposition ordinarily is to instruct or inform the audience. The end of exposition is usually information or understanding, as distinct, for instance, from belief or action or entertainment. The expositor is essentially a teacher, or a guide. Clearness is the first great requisite of all expository speaking. Exposition which lacks the quality of clearness is poor exposition, regardless of the extent to which it is endowed with other desirable qualities. But we should always keep in mind that in expository speaking, as in all other kinds, our task is to fit our treatment to our audience. We must make the subject clear to the hearer. We must not simply set forth information impersonally, but must teach, instruct, inform the particular people who are listening to us. Good instruction is always adapted to those who are to be instructed. 1 See under "Lectures," J. M. O'Neill's Models of Speech Composition and Modern Short Speeches. The proper kind of exposition for one audience may be wholly improper for another. The attitude that it is the lecturer's function to propound the truth as he sees it, and that it is the listener's misfortune if he does not understand it, is wholly reprehensible. This attitude is unfortunately all too common in speaking in general, but particularly in certain types of expository speaking, e.g., in lectures by some learned professors. Good teaching, good preaching, good lecturing, good expository speaking of any kind, is very carefully adapted to the particular needs and limitations of the hearers to whom it is addressed. It is right here that expository speaking differs most markedly from expository writing. The universal appeal, the impersonal atmosphere, of the publication which is given to the world, or at least designed for a very broad and unidentified circle of readers, of course, fits any particular group or audience rather inexactly. The writer of a very fine encyclopedia article on Printing would probably do very badly before any conceivable audience of hearers if he delivered the article verbatim as a speech - or even if he delivered certain sections of it verbatim to fit more restricted time limits. good expository speech is vitally conditioned by what the audience brings to the occasion, as well as by what the speaker brings to the occasion. The Fundamentally the distinction between exposition and argumentation is one of mood or attitude or intent on the part of the speaker. Very often, of course, a clear explanation of a situation will constitute a wholly persuasive treatment of it. Such an explanation followed by a careful request or resolution will, under some circumstances, be a perfect argument, will constitute effective persuasion. Exposition, of course, is usually an important phase of practically all involved argumentative work. Exposition and argumentation are closely allied and together constitute rhetoric (in one meaning of the term), as distinct from poetic,- "rhetoric" being the use of language for the purpose of affecting the thinking and acting of other people, and "poetic" being the use of language for the purpose of artistic self-expression with the interest centered on the self-expression rather than on the communication to others. In many cases it is true that one cannot tell whether a given essay is exposition or argument until he knows the exact intent of the writer or speaker. It is, of course, easier to know the intent of a speaker than a writer, because you have media other than mere words through which to read his intent. Action, facial expression, vocal quality will often reveal an emotional set or personal intent which would remain quite unrevealed in the language alone. One of the best ways to catch the essential difference between exposition and persuasion is to take a subject about which there is considerable misunderstanding, and concerning which men differ with considerable feeling, and treat it in two different ways. First prepare a four- or five-minute speech explaining the meaning of the term, taking great pains to show precisely the significance of that term when used by those who understand it best, and who use it most accurately. The purpose here is to explain so fairly that no one listening to you can get any hint as to your personal attitude toward the controversy suggested by this term. Explain, for instance, the meaning of fascism, bolshevism, state socialism, so that your hearers will understand the meaning of the term, but will get no hint as to whether you approve or disapprove of the doctrines explained. Second, take the same subject and prepare a speech of the same length, in which you will take a position of approval or disapproval, and try earnestly to get all your hearers to agree with you. The first speech is exposition; the second speech is argumentation. II. METHODS OF EXPOSITION The following six methods of exposition are the most common and effective ones. Get clearly in mind what each one of them means, and in any important work of exposition use in combination just as many of these methods as can be used to good effect. Do not limit yourself to attempting to explain or instruct or expound by one or two of these methods alone. A. Definition. - Definition often constitutes the whole process used in brief expositions, and is almost always a part of any long or involved work in exposition. If we wish to communicate with other people by means of signs, we must use signs which they can understand. A signal code known only to the person giving signals would not be of much use to an army or exploring party. It is the same with words used in speech. Words are signs or symbols, which we use in speech (in combination with vocal or visible signs or symbols) for the purpose of communicating with those to whom we are speaking. Unless we use words that are understood by our readers and hearers we cannot communicate our messages to them. But sometimes, in order to say just what we want to say, we have to use words that may be new to our listeners. In such cases we have to explain the meaning of these words as we go along, i.e., we have to give definitions. 1. Define Only When Necessary. When you define a word for another person you are assuming that this person does not know the particular meaning which you have in mind. In fact, in any work of definition there is an assumption of a lack of information on the part of those addressed. Therefore, be very careful to define terms only when you have to. In a speech do not start out by defining all the principal words in your title or proposition unless the circumstances are such that the audience probably does not know the precise sense in which you are using those words. In short, define only to make clear to others what would not otherwise be clear. Never define to show how much you know, or to observe some rule of procedure. 2. What a Definition Is. There are two ways of making clear the meanings of terms, (a) by giving definitions and (b) by giving examples. |