For example, to explain how fish breathe you could explain that gills allow fish to breathe, just as lungs allow humans to breathe. Most people would understand the concept of lungs, because they have lungs rather than gills. References Using references is another effective way of putting complex concepts into an understandable perspective by using a common reference point. For example, let s suppose you were trying to explain the horrible fact that millions of women are raped every year. Just presenting the statistic that millions of women are raped every year is not very effective.
Millions is too abstract for people to relate to.
By changing the way that statistic is presented, it can have a staggering effect. By doing some simple math, you figure out that 1 in every 4 women is raped in their lifetime. Now that is a statistic people can relate to. In fact, you could make it even more effective, buy saying One in every four women is raped. That means, of the eight women in this room, that statistically, two of you will be raped in your lifetime.