five canons

Cicero’s Five Canons of Oratory

For the ideal arguer

Invention

• Know your audience.

• Pick a subject appropriate to identify with the audience no matter what the argument is.

Arrangement• Organize the

presentation of the points in the argument.

• Smooth transitions for the points to flow together so the “right thing is said at the right time”.

• This will have a much greater effect to reach the goal of the presentation.

Expression• Choose appropriate

words for target audience.

• Careful word choice helps the audience to successfully understand the message.

• It helps the audience to identify with the arguer, hence, easier to persuade them.

Memory• Ages ago, orators had

to memorize their speech.

• Today, we have the wonderful technology to read our speech off electronic devises.

• Practice makes perfect!

• It shows you know your stuff.

Delivery• The way the person

speaks.• Charisma is very

important.• The variations of

volume of voice can influence the audience.

• And gestures used can help with empowering a point during a speech.