Comparing and Contrasting Oprah and Palin in Speaking - Essay Example

Based on Oprah Winfrey’s commencement address at Duke’s it is noted that she faces her audience with confidence, maintaining steady eye contact. She is calm, soft-spoken and uses gestures and images during her presentation. Oprah focuses on her main message without digressing from it even as she gives examples and explains her facts. Oprah recognizes and acknowledges others and focuses very little on herself. She instead focuses on others, giving compelling examples. The examples that she gives are those that connect with her audience.

In other words, her examples are tailored to her audience. Oprah repeats some of her words to emphasize certain facts and to drive home vital facts. Oprah also takes time to summarize her speech in a simple yet captivating way ensuring that her main points sink in the minds of her audience. Sarah PalinEven though she refers to her notes, Palin is dynamic in her presentation, her voice not as smooth as Oprah’s. Like Oprah, Sarah does not focus on herself but on others similarly giving examples that have a connection with her audience.