The first TED talk that I watched described a prospective detection and treatment method for cancer. Tal Danino (the guy speaking) began the speech by introducing concepts such as quorum sensing and basic application of quorum sensing. He also described the prospect of “programming” bacteria to take advantage of quorum sensing of bacteria. As he continued he introduced a bacteria that he and his lab ‘programmed’. This bacteria was genetically modified to seek out malignant tumors in the Liver. The speaker effectively conveys the entirety of his topic in a clear and concise manner. But what truly draws the audience in is his excitement in his topic. An audience will never be excited about a topic if the presenter is not himself enthralled. By using active gesticulation and simply keeping a smile, Tal keeps us drawn into whatever he says. This is proven when you see the audience erupt into thunderous applause at the end.
The second TED talk I watched was simply the recitation of a poem. Lee Mokobe is a transgender case where she was born identifying of a he. The first rhetorical device that comes screaming out of the talk is kairos. Media outlets everywhere have been screaming about Caitlyn/Bruce Jenner. This talk gives a first person perspective on the early development of someone who is transgender. An air of strong pathos draws in the audience to almost feel what the speaker is feeling or felt. While many people have many views on such a controversial topic, the speaker focuses on the pain that they have experienced rather than attacking those that caused the pain they felt. So while Lee is being quite frank on some of the finer problems that transgender folk face each and every day. He uses the same form of persuasion that completely humanizes those under such persecution