Sometimes awkward silences are the result of an inappropriate comment. If you aren’t sure whether the person will appreciate your racy sense of humor, hold off on making the joke until you are confident it will be well received. To find the tone, try pushing the conversation a little bit with a probing comment and see how people respond. For example, if you want to discuss politics, you could say something like, “This has sure been an interesting election.” Maybe they’ll disclose some of their views and you can get an idea about whether they would appreciate your joke about a candidate or be offended by it. As with any good conversation, the biggest key is to listen. If they respond to your question with a short, flat statement such as "Yep," or "Nope," that might indicate that they aren’t very comfortable talking about that particular subject. Instead, talk about something that you know they’re interested in. For example, “I heard you won your hockey game the other night. I’d love to hear about it.”  Pay attention to their body language as well. If they cross their arms or fidget nervously or look down, they might be uncomfortable with the subject. These are valuable clues to tell you to move on to a different topic. If they don’t give too much information, maybe they’re just shy. Try to probe a little deeper and see if they open up. For example, say you ask, "Did you like that movie?" and they answer, simply, "Nope." Now you can ask them what it was that they didn't like. The plot? The score? It gives you more opportunities to restart the conversation and get to know them better. If you've had a good, multi-topic conversation and hit a wall, take a look back and ask how you ended up talking about cats when you actually started a conversation about local restaurants. You could say something like, "How did we get to cats in a discussion about restaurants?" Maybe the main link between these topics is a common acquaintance that you've been to a movie with recently. This could spark a vivid conversation about movies and TV shows, eventually leading to books or music. This is a natural way to fill a silence. If you mentioned the pouring rain and your new companion expressed concern about his dog getting sick in the cold, wet weather, this is a great way to move the conversation along. Now you can spend some time talking about dogs, which will likely lead to another topic. By finding common ground with the current subject and adding additional relevant information, the conversation will continue. In the event of a long pause, think back to something you already talked about or to previous conversations and go from there. For example, you can fill a silence with, “Last time we talked, you mentioned a new project you were working on. I’ve been meaning to ask you about it.” People love talking about what they like! This is a great way to get to know them better and to change the subject in a positive way in the event of a pause. This will also make future conversations less awkward, as the two of you learn about each other's interests.  For example, to talk about their kids, you could ask, “What’s new with Carli these days?” You could also ask them about a trip they’ve taken, such as, “I heard you went to Oregon last month. What did you do there? I’ve always wanted to visit.”
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One-sentence summary -- Find the general tone. Listen carefully to your acquaintance and respond accordingly. Find a link between prior conversation topics. Build on previous statements. Ask questions about the person's hobbies and interests.


The saucepan should be large enough to hold 2.5–3 US qt (2.4–2.8 L) of liquid. Though you won’t be adding nearly that amount of water, this size of saucepan will be plenty large enough for 1 lb (450 g) of chopped broccoli.  3  fl oz (89 ml) also equals 6 Tbsp. Adding more water than this small amount will only cause the broccoli to boil. You need just enough water to create steam. Choose a saucepan with a lid that fits snugly. If necessary, you can use a heat-resistant dinner plate as a lid. Do not remove the lid to check the broccoli—you need to keep the steam trapped inside. This trapped steam  will continue to cook the broccoli without overcooking it.
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One-sentence summary -- Add 3  fl oz (89 ml) of water to a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and steam the broccoli for 3 more minutes.


Research your voter's age, economic status, and average education level. Talk to your voters and ask them and get to know them. Knowing the type of people who are voting will help you to better determine the issues and problems that concern them the most.  Information about your voters can also be gained by reviewing polling information, past voter data, or by considering the location where you're giving the speech. If you're delivering the speech at a university, there's a high likelihood most of the audience will be college-aged people. Stay away from saying anything that may offend or upset your potential supporters. Talk to your voters and ask them about what matters to them to get a better idea about what they care about. Incorporate the issues that matter to your constituency into your speech. If you’re running for student class president, you could be running to provide greater access to sports and art programs at the school.  For instance, voters could be concerned about corruption or a lack of jobs. You can also ask people about their biggest concerns on social media. Create a plan and strategy to solve the issues that you've identified. Think of creative solutions to issues that have been inconveniencing voters for a long time and write them down. Then you can generate solutions that your voters will support.  If there are not enough programs at your school, you could talk to the administration and the student body to develop new programs in your school. For instance, if there is a lack of jobs in your town, you could propose a plan to lower the corporate tax rate in your area to bring in new business.
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One-sentence summary --
Determine who your potential voters are. Identify problems or issues facing your voters. Create solutions to the problems you identified.