McKenna's Speech Analyzing Narrative Evidence In COM 255

In Lesson 4 of her COM 255 course, McKenna delivered a compelling speech centered around the fascinating story behind her name. Her introduction captivated the audience as she recounted her grandmother's arduous journey from Ireland to the United States. This captivating opening immediately raises a crucial question: What type of evidence is McKenna employing to connect with her audience and establish the significance of her name? The answer lies in understanding the different forms of evidence used in public speaking and identifying the specific technique McKenna utilizes.

Understanding Evidence in Public Speaking

Before delving into the specific type of evidence McKenna uses, it's essential to grasp the broader concept of evidence in public speaking. Evidence serves as the backbone of any persuasive argument or informative presentation. It's the raw material that speakers use to support their claims, build credibility, and connect with their audience on an emotional level. Without strong evidence, a speech risks sounding like mere opinion or conjecture, failing to resonate with listeners or achieve its intended purpose.

In the realm of public speaking, evidence manifests in diverse forms, each with its unique strengths and applications. Some common categories of evidence include:

• Facts: Verifiable pieces of information that can be proven true through objective sources. Facts provide a solid foundation for arguments and enhance the speaker's credibility.
• Statistics: Numerical data that reveals patterns, trends, or relationships. Statistics can be powerful tools for illustrating the scope of a problem, highlighting the effectiveness of a solution, or demonstrating the significance of a topic.
• Examples: Specific instances or illustrations that clarify a general statement or concept. Examples make abstract ideas more concrete and relatable, helping the audience grasp the speaker's message.
• Testimony: Quotations or statements from credible sources that support the speaker's claims. Testimony adds weight to an argument by drawing on the expertise or experience of others.
• Stories: Narratives, anecdotes, or personal accounts that engage the audience and evoke emotions. Stories can make a speech more memorable and create a stronger connection between the speaker and listeners.

Analyzing McKenna's Speech: The Power of Story

Returning to McKenna's speech, her choice to begin with her grandmother's journey from Ireland to the US reveals a deliberate and strategic use of evidence. While her introduction might indirectly touch upon factual aspects of immigration or cultural heritage, the core of her opening lies in the narrative itself. McKenna isn't simply presenting statistics about Irish immigration or reciting historical facts about the United States; instead, she's weaving a personal story, inviting her audience to embark on a journey with her grandmother.

This approach aligns squarely with the definition of a story as a form of evidence. Stories, in the context of public speaking, are more than just entertaining tales; they are powerful tools for connecting with an audience on an emotional level, illustrating abstract concepts through relatable experiences, and making a speech more memorable. By sharing her grandmother's story, McKenna is not only setting the stage for her speech about her name but also establishing a personal connection with her listeners.

The impact of stories as evidence stems from their ability to tap into the human capacity for empathy and emotional engagement. When we hear a story, we tend to put ourselves in the shoes of the protagonist, experiencing their challenges, triumphs, and emotions vicariously. This emotional connection can make a message more persuasive and memorable than a purely logical argument.

In McKenna's case, the story of her grandmother's journey likely evokes feelings of resilience, determination, and cultural pride. By sharing this personal narrative, McKenna is not only introducing the topic of her name but also subtly conveying the values and heritage that are important to her. This emotional resonance can create a more receptive audience, making them more likely to engage with the rest of her speech.

Distinguishing Story from Other Forms of Evidence

To further solidify the identification of McKenna's evidence as a story, it's helpful to differentiate it from other forms of evidence, such as instances, examples, and testimony. While these forms of evidence can sometimes overlap, they each have distinct characteristics.

• Instances: Instances are specific occurrences or cases that support a general claim. For example, if McKenna were arguing that Irish immigrants have made significant contributions to American society, she might cite specific instances of Irish Americans who have excelled in various fields. While her grandmother's journey could be considered an instance of immigration, the focus of McKenna's introduction is not simply on the fact of immigration but on the narrative details of that journey.
• Examples: Examples are similar to instances, but they are often used to illustrate a concept or clarify a definition. For instance, if McKenna were explaining the challenges faced by immigrants, she might use her grandmother's experiences as an example of the obstacles they encounter. However, the primary function of an example is to illuminate a broader point, whereas the primary function of a story is to engage the audience and create an emotional connection.
• Testimony: Testimony involves quoting or citing the opinions of others to support a claim. If McKenna were to quote a historian or expert on Irish immigration, that would constitute testimony. While her grandmother's story might implicitly convey her grandmother's perspective, McKenna's introduction doesn't explicitly present her grandmother's words as testimony.

In contrast to these other forms of evidence, the defining characteristic of a story is its narrative structure, its focus on characters, plot, and setting, and its ability to evoke emotions in the audience. McKenna's introduction fits this definition perfectly, making it clear that she is utilizing the power of story to engage her listeners.

The Strategic Use of Story in Public Speaking

McKenna's choice to begin her speech with a story is not merely a stylistic preference; it's a strategic decision rooted in the principles of effective public speaking. Stories can be particularly powerful at the beginning of a speech for several reasons:

1. Capturing Attention: A compelling story can immediately grab the audience's attention and pique their interest in the topic. By opening with a narrative, McKenna is more likely to hook her listeners from the start, making them eager to hear what she has to say.
2. Establishing Relevance: A well-chosen story can establish the relevance of the topic to the audience's lives and experiences. By sharing her grandmother's journey, McKenna is subtly connecting the topic of her name to broader themes of immigration, family history, and cultural identity, which may resonate with members of her audience.
3. Creating Connection: Stories foster a sense of connection between the speaker and the audience. By sharing a personal narrative, McKenna is making herself more relatable and human, inviting her listeners to empathize with her and her family's experiences.
4. Setting the Tone: The opening story can set the tone for the rest of the speech. McKenna's grandmother's story, with its themes of resilience and cultural heritage, likely sets a positive and engaging tone for her presentation.

In conclusion, McKenna's decision to begin her speech about her name with the story of her grandmother's journey from Ireland to the US demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the power of narrative evidence. By utilizing story, McKenna effectively captures her audience's attention, establishes the relevance of her topic, creates a personal connection, and sets a positive tone for her presentation. This strategic use of evidence highlights the importance of considering the diverse forms of evidence available to speakers and choosing the most effective approach for a given audience and purpose.

Therefore, the correct answer is D. Story.