Read aloud the following lines from the poem 'Don't Quit' by Edgar Albert Guest, taking a shorter pause (/) or a long pause (//). Notice which version is easier for a listener to follow and understand.
When things go wrong, / as they sometimes will, // when the road you're trudging / seems all uphill, // when the funds are low / and the debts are high, // and you want to smile / but you have to sigh, // when care is pressing you down a bit / —rest if you must, / but don't you quit. //
The version with marked pauses is easier to follow because the shorter pauses (/) separate related phrases within a line, while longer pauses (//) mark the end of complete thoughts, helping listeners process the meaning in manageable chunks.
Explanation
The chapter teaches pausing and chunking as techniques for effective speaking. Shorter pauses separate phrases within a thought, while longer pauses mark the end of complete ideas. This helps listeners follow and understand the speaker's message more easily.
Solution Steps
Read the poem lines aloud with appropriate pause markings
Shorter pauses (/) separate related phrases within a line
Longer pauses (//) mark the end of complete thoughts
Marked pauses help listeners process meaning in manageable chunks