Hypotheticals

Sometimes we need a little fiction to help us understand reality. A Hypothetical can make complex ideas more relatable, and promote audience engagement.

Introduction

The human imagination is powerful.

By inviting listeners to imagine fictional situations, speakers can create the perfect example to illustrate a point, or invite more active engagement in a topic.

Hypothetical Examples

When trying to explain something to an audience, providing meaningful examples is a wonderful way to make abstract concepts familiar and relatable.

However, what if we cannot find a specific example to highlight a point we are making?

Fortunately, we can use our imagination to a hypothetical example.

To help explain how a hypothetical example works, let's use a hypothetical example.

Imagine you are having an argument with someone who does not believe in the value of education (absurd I know).

To argue against this position, you decide to create a hypothetical example that helps to illustrate the value of your own position.

Using the second person perspective (which invites listeners to become part of a narrative), you say the following to your opponent.

Hopefully, your opponent can now see that a world without schools would be a nightmarish place, and thus they are convinced that your position is valid.

Hypothetical Questions

Like hypothetical examples, hypothetical questions relate to imagined scenarios created by a speaker.

While a hypothetical example presents listeners with a fully formed fictional scenario, a hypothetical question asks a simple What if...? question that invites listeners to imagine a situation for themselves.

Hypothetical questions help audience members to become active participants in an argument, rather than just passive listeners. As such, hypothetical questions are an effective way to begin a speech or presentation.

Consider the following examples of hypothetical questions:

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