Introductions Imagine you just walked into a completely strange place, a plain building with no name on the front, no signage, or other...

Appreciating a writer’s intention, understanding what they did to achieve it (which includes their writing techniques – the kind of...

Spelling is the bridge between the spoken and the written word. It’s how we convert one into the other. All children learn to speak as a...

Writing is a process Nobody sits down and tosses a great piece of writing off first try. Writing well takes time. There are four steps in...

We only need punctuation because language was originally spoken. We didn’t get the written form of English first. It’s the spoken format...

The language you use changes depending on the situation you're in, who you're talking to, and what it’s about. It's the situation or...

I could call this 'Communication Lessons from a wise old Greek'. Aristotle’s  ‘Rhetorical Triangle‘ (ethos pathos logos)  is  well known...

The spoken word and the written word are different, and the key to success  for speakers is being good to listen to.  A speech is an oral...

Let’s assume you followed the advice in the first post in this series. Your head is full of things you want to say and you have clarified...

A ‘pattern of arrangement’ is a way of ordering the contents of your speech.  It provides the listener with a sense of shape and...

1. Allow enough time The biggest mistake most people  make is to underestimate how long this takes.  Speeches may appear unstudied,...

In theatre there are staging calls, and technical rehearsals,  and dress rehearsals, all of  which give the performers an opportunity to...

Multi Modal presentations can be a disiaster unless you have a good understanding of how the elements work together. A theory ...

What happens if you want to interest  your listeners in something unfamiliar – a  new idea, technique, or approach to something, which...

Notice I avoid saying ‘write the script’. The spoken word and the written word are different, and this presents a trap for speakers. The...

The way you assemble  your material is crucial for making the right impact. There are some basic components which any essay or ...

How do you close in a way that makes them feel galvanised, reinforces your message and makes you memorable?  Not by shuffling and...

If you are  saying something official on Anzac Day, you should start by reading the information kit which the  APL has  compiled. It is...

It took ten years for the  Bringing Them Home Report  to  become the subject of an official apology. It’s a national reminder of  how...

This famous statistical graphic shows the losses of Napoleon's army as it attempted to invade Russia in 1812. The thick band shows the...