Have you ever wondered what the line is between crazy and sane? Is there a way, a definitive test, that can determine with certainty whether a person is crazy or not? If you take the time to study psychology and particularly the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, you will surely discover that a certain level and type of mental disorder can be easily diagnosed. This series of questions created, in my opinion, one of the best TED talks I've seen. In his talk, Answers to the Psychopath Test, writer and filmmaker Jon Ronson takes the listener on an astonishing journey that explores the strange and maddening world of psychopathy. From the beginning, several ideas are taken from the Communication: Principle for a Life manual. which overwhelm the listener and contribute to the success of the speech. The first idea, before Ronson even begins speaking, is to use attention-grabbing supporting material. The scene is a dimly lit bright red circle with Ronson standing in the middle. Behind him are two support assistants providing light, visual and audio presentations. In large, menacing letters on the wall behind Ronson are the initials DSM, alluding to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual he refers to in his introduction. Ronson's talk begins with a personal story meant to connect the listener and shed light on what got them thinking. about the idea in the first place. Analyzing this first part of the speech, as described by authors Steven A. Beebe, Susan J. Beebe, and Diana K. Ivy in Communication: Principles for a Lifetime, Ronson's type of presentation falls into the category of a presentation on ideas (Beebe 364). As he speaks, he connects the listener to a short chronological history of the DSM and explains...... middle of paper ...... sound and audio symbolism sets the tone for the points Ronson addresses. At the end, Ronson sums up his speech by asking the question: "What would you do?" In this question, it somehow forces a discussion between the listeners, and yet, it is at the same time rhetorical on the part of the speaker, because he has already answered what he would do. By using this technique, he planted a seed of discussion. However, the discussion had to take place among others, and not with him, because he has already fixed his position. Overall, it was an intriguing and deeply provocative way to end a speech. Works Cited Beebe, Steven A., Susan J. Beebe, and Diana K. Ivy. Communication: principles for a lifetime. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print. Ronson, Jon. "Jon Ronson: Strange Answers to the Psychopath Test." TED 2012. May 28 2014. .