Resonance is a physics concept that describes a system “in which an abnormally large vibration is produced in response to an external stimulus, occurring when the frequency of the stimulus is the same, or nearly the same, as the natural vibration frequency of the system” (resonance, n.d.). To understand this, consider what happens to a crystal glass when exposed to a musical tone of the right pitch. That right pitch is its resonance frequency and the result is a shattered glass. Applying that to rhetoric, when our communication “resonates,” change happens.
How do we best create resonance? According to Duarte, we need to become a storyteller. Why? Storytelling utilizes multiple psychological and emotional triggers and creates an experience for the audience. “Creating desire in the audience and then showing how your ideas fill that desire moves people to adopt your perspective. This is the heart of a story”
