Fran is an employee at a local utilities company. She is also a prominent member of a community organization that seeks to improve the quality of housing in her neighborhood. When she is asked to speak on a university panel about affordable housing, she agrees, even though she is nervous about being included on a panel with architects, developers, and academics.

For her presentation, Fran tells the audience about her life as a single mother of three, working full-time and trying to find an affordable and modest place to live. Buying a house is out of the question; she merely wants to live in a three-bedroom apartment and spend no more than half of her income on housing. She is animated and passionate, and she clearly draws the audience into her presentation. When she finishes, both Fran and some of her audience members are emotionally drained.

Join the online discussion by visiting the Message Board: Would you be comfortable using your own life experiences in your public presentations, and how do you think audiences are likely to respond to you?

1		How appropriate was Fran's use of emotional appeals?
2		Do you think that you would find her presentation to be effective?
3		What might this kind of presentation add to the others that are likely to appear on the panel?