Public Speaking Course:

Fake Facts and Statistics

You will learn in your public speaking course that a fun way to play with the audience during your speech is to state false information like it was absolutely true. I am sure you can think of some funny false information that you could include in your presentation, just make sure the statements you use are obviously false to the audience by your words and your facial expressions.

When stating your false facts, don't leave any doubt whether you are being funny or not. Using the skills learned during your public speaking course you can control the impression your audience receives.

A deadpan expression, or keeping a straight face, is a good technique to utilize when stating fake facts and statistics. Also, you should really, really sound like you are trying to convince the audience that what your saying is true. This overemphasis on the sound of truth also tells the audience you are lying.

Once during a Secretaries Day function I used a very serious voice when I told them that scientific studies had been conducted indicating that the only reason executives became executives was because they couldn't make it as secretaries. As you can imagine they loved it.

Another way you can build up your joke is to use official sounding sources for the information. 'A study done for the Alaskan Pipeline Workers Union indicated that 97.2 percent of Alaskan Pipeline Workers wear No Nonsense panty hose.'

When using this type of humor, it is better to use 'exact numbers' which adds an extra comic emphasis.