Rhetorical Questions in Introductions

Rhetorical questions are oft cited techniques for starting a presentation – they can be engaging and thought provoking for the audience to consider, as well as a relatively easy strategy to allow the presenter to being speaking. But the major problem, however, with this technique in an academic context is that the questions asked can sometimes be uninteresting, too open-ended, or even insulting:

• “Do you know about semi-conductor manufacturing?
  • Often just rephrasing these kinds of questions into a statement is a much better strategy: e.g. The current manufacturing technologies for semi-conductors will be out of date in 5 years.
• “Have you heard about globalization?”
  • This kind of question needs to be avoided or made more specific.
• “Have you ever been to a bank?”
  • A simple question like this, asked in an academic context makes the speaker seem amateurish and the audience may feel their intelligence insulted.

Rhetorical questions that can be answered with a yes or no response, or require an answer from the audience should usually be avoided. Remember that audiences usually do not know what to do if a question is addressed to them at the beginning of a presentation – many prefer to hear the speaker talk, and not be asked to participate in a dialogue at the beginning. In an academic context, a thought-provoking rhetorical question serves the speaker’s purpose better.

Tips for using rhetorical question

• Make the question thought-provoking
• Avoid questions that evoke a Yes/No response
• Be specific in what you are asking
• Do not insult the audience’s intelligence – ask an intelligent question
• Do not wait for a response from the audience – do not pause after asking the question.

Like any component of a good introduction, the use of a rhetorical question needs some consideration before being employed. With some practice and consideration, this technique can be effective – but it is not the only technique available to the academic presenter.