Written Materials
Below are some useful resources for learning to how to improve your advocacy through better techniques such as voice control, posture, gestures and delivery.
Recommended reading
- The Articulate Advocate: New Techniques of Persuasion for Trial Lawyers, by Brian Johnson and Marsha Hunter.
- Thank You For Arguing What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion – Jay Heinrichs’s engaging book not only shows how to argue, it also reveals the tricks behind advertising and political campaigns. It walks through the basic rhetorical principles, starting with ethos, pathos and logos (character, emotion and logic).
- How to Deliver a TED Talk – Jeremy Donovan – outlines the ingredients of every TED talk, and explains how to create a compelling presentation based on those ingredients.
- Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive, Robert Cialdini – a great introduction to the psychology of social influence.
- Influence: Science and Practice, by Robert Cialdini – His original work which lays out the 6 principles of influence (including things like “the rule of reciprocity” and “social proof”).
Video tutorials
- Control your body from the feet up – (0:56 secs) in a NITA seminar Brian Johnson demonstrates the foundation of all effective presentations
- Silence and thinking (1:59 secs) NITA instructor Marsha Hunter reveals why silence is effective and why we have trouble understanding this.
- Should you gesture? Absolutely! – (2:46 secs) Brian Johnson demonstrates the basics of gesturing
- What do I do with my hands? (6:32 secs) Brian Johnson tells you the 3 gesture patterns: the give, the show, and the chop. INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE!
- Speak in chunks & phrases (1:49 secs) Marsha Hunter talks about how to speak in the most effective manner.
- Take your time, give the audience a chance (2:15 secs) Marsha Hunter emphasizes the importance of letting the audience absorb what you have to say. Slow down, and let moments of silence creep in.
- How to practice your presentation (5:34 secs) Marsha Hunter covers how to practice: where, when, how.
- Obey the Law of Opposites – (2:40 secs) How to improve your weaknesses. Brian Johnson explains.
- Gerry Spence – Cross Examination (4:36 secs) a trial master demonstrates the most important trial skill, and the hardest to master
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