Analogies
Analogies
Analogies compare something that your audience knows and understands with something new and different. For your speech, then, you can use an analogy to show a connection between your speech topic (something new and different for the audience) and something that is known by your audience.
Analogies can be effective because they use ideas, information and values of the audience to draw a connection to your speech topic—and to you as a speaker. Analogies create connections between
you and the audience.
One of the most basic and direct uses of analogy can be found in a speech by Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet. “This afternoon we want to talk about ‘The ballot or the bullet.’ The ballot or the bullet explains itself.”11 In making this comparison, Malcolm X drew a comparison and contrast for his audience between two archetypal American practices, and forced the audience to think about both in a new way.
