Delivering the Speech - Printable Version

A printed speech is like a dried flower, the substance, indeed, is there but the color has faded and the perfume is gone.
Paul Lorain

It's not what you say, but how you say it. Youve heard this saying. Is it true? Certainly its a question that needs to be answered early in the study of public speaking because beginning speakers are often more anxious about how they will deliver the speech than they are about what the speech says. Other speakers confident in their impressive delivery style want to skip the preparation process entirely and just dazzle the audience with style. According to contemporary communication research, between 65% and 93% of the social meaning of a message comes from the nonverbal parts of the message which is the style or how you say it part of the speech. Decker (1992) asserts that listeners are influenced more by delivery than by content. Hence, how you deliver your speech is extremely important.

Who you are shouts so loudly I cant hear your words.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Conversational Style Builds Speaker Credibility

People tend to listen to and believe information from speakers that they like and trust. This likeability factor is called speaker credibility and is based on an audiences perception of the speakers competence, character and charisma. The more credible the speaker is to the audience, the more likely it is that the speech will be effective.

Speaker Credibility
Competence refers to the expertise or abilities of the speaker and usually translates to being very well prepared. Good organization and citing credible evidence helps establish speaker competence. Character refers to the sensitivity, honesty, trustworthiness and goodwill conveyed by

the speaker. This means that your appearance should be appropriate. Use direct eye contact, smile, be ethical and remove physical barriers between you and the audience. Charisma is a combination of speaker likableness and forcefulness that is sometimes called dynamism. This translates to being expressive with your voice and body. Use a lot of vocal variety and appropriate body gestures with movement.

Which speaker seems more credible?

This famous commencement speech by Barbara Bush demonstrated a lack of speaker credibility which was remedied by very astute audience analysis and engaging speaker style. Barbara Bush Commencement Address at Wellesley College
Listen Full Transcript

Comments About Speech from Media

 Few speakers have faced a tougher situation than Barbara Bush when she delivered the commencement address at Wellesley College on June 1, 1990. Bush was invited to speak after the students first choice, author Alice Walker, had declined. In protest of Bushs selection, more than one-fourth of the graduating class signed a petition charging that she was not a good role model for careeroriented women and had been chosen simply because she was the wife of the President of the United States. The petition ignited a month-long national controversy. As educators, politicians, and editorialists debated the students actions, Bush remained silent. By the day of the speech, interest had grown to the point that her remarks were broadcast live by all the television networks. The public wanted to hear what she would say and see how the students would react. Speaking with a blend of grace and humor, Bush acknowledged that the students had preferred Walker, known for The Color Purple, and had instead got her, known for the color of my hair! Rather than being defensive or scolding the students, Bush spoke with them personably about her views on the difficult choices facing women in balancing their careers with commitments to friends and family. She capped off the speech by suggesting that someone in the audience might follow in her footsteps and one day preside over the White House as the Presidents spouse. I wish him well, she added, to thunderous cheering and applause." Deemed a triumph by the New York Times, the speech garnered universal praise. Even students who had been critical of Bush beforehand were impressed. She was wonderful and funny, one of them stated. She could have addressed more womens issues. But she was sincere and she touched our hearts. NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw called it one of the best commencement speeches Ive ever heard. Lucas, 2001

Effective Delivery Uses Conversational Style

Public speaking is a conversation not a performance. Gone are the days of professional

elocutionists who choreographed formal gestures with movement and even planned voice pitch changes as notes on a musical staff. In a big change from that style, speakers today are more effective if they address audiences in an enhanced conversational style that combines the features of everyday conversation with the requirements of public speaking.

Public speaking isnot a performance

Public speaking isnot perfect

Public speaking isnatural

Conversation has
Natural directness and spontaneity Colorful and compelling language Focus on listener interest and feedback

Public Speaking requires More planning More formality (correct grammar, less slang) More defined speaker role (listeners seldom interrupt)

Effective speakers combine the natural directness, colorful language and other characteristics of conversation with a well planned public speech and deliver it with conversational style. Even as you
focus on improving delivery skills, keep a natural, conversational style of delivery as your primary goal. Audiences react negatively to a too slick presentation style (Guerrero & Miller, 1998). You dont have to be perfect. Trust yourself and let your personality be an important part of your speaking style.

Effective Delivery Enhances the Message

Good delivery enhances a speech while poor delivery detracts from the speech.Ineffective delivery can cause listeners to misunderstand or misinterpret the message. Weve all seen the slouchy, deadpan speaker with the monotone voice saying, Im very excited to speak to you today. Like most people when faced with conflicting verbal and nonverbal messages, we believe the nonverbal message and conclude that the speaker really isnt very excited about speaking today.

Audiences respond to a speaker's level of enthusiasm (or lack of it).

But before you scrap all your speech preparation plans in favor of winging it, remember that a well prepared message provides an essential foundation for a good speech. If delivery was the focus of public speaking, you would never have heard of Ralph Waldo Emerson who delivered all of his speeches in a style similar to that of a corpse in a coffin. Yet Emerson's message has outlived his lack of style and is well known today. While delivery does indeed provide the color and perfume for the speech as Paul Lorain suggests in the beginning quote of the lesson, the flower or message is an essential first ingredient--especially for the educated audience you will face in public speaking class.

Both style and substance are very important in a public speech.

Effective Delivery Techniques

The goal is very clear. Speakers using a natural, conversational delivery style will enhance their speaker credibility and increase the effectiveness of their speech. So exactly what should the speaker DO? Here are some lists of techniques you should practice to help you develop a conversational style. Waitwas that word practice? Yes, it was. Even though conversational style can help you deliver the speech so naturally that the audience won't even notice your delivery, it does require practice to be conversational in front of people.

Remember the three channels of message deliveryone is verbal and two are nonverbal. Although the verbal skills are listed here (Osborn & Osborn, 2003), the focus of this unit is on nonverbal skills--vocal and visual delivery techniques. Attention to these skills will help you develop an effective conversational speaking style.

Verbal Delivery Clarity Color Concreteness Correctness Conciseness Cultural Sensitivity

Vocal Delivery Inflection Pitch Rate/rhythm Articulation Pronunciation Volume Variety Vocalized pauses

Visual Delivery Eye contact Facial Expression Gestures Movement Proximity Appearance Practice

Vocal Delivery
Did you realize that there are so many interesting and meaningful qualities of your vocal presentation? Just by varying your vocal inflection, how many different meanings can you give to this sentence.

I cant believe you did that. I cant believe you did that. I cant believe you did that. I cant believe you did that. I cant believe you did that. I cant believe you did that. Most of us have a pitch range that is habitual. You don't have to keep that low-pitched gravely voice or that piercing, high-pitched voice you thought you were born with. You can change or add variety to that range by reading aloud and practicing different pitch ranges. Pronunciation and articulation refers to the ability to say words and sounds correctly and clearly. You will sound more intelligent if you eliminate some of the following words from your vocabulary: Jist, git, becuz, anyways, fer, gonna, goin, ruf, crik,

Barbara Jordan was famous for her precise articulation and pronunciation. Her almost instant fame was cemented in a speech delivered at 2:00 a.m. on July 25, 1974 before a Congressional Committee discussing President Richard Nixon's proposed impeachment. This speech is included in the 100 best speeches of the twentieth century. Barbara Jordan Address to the House Judiciary Committee over the Nixon impeachment in 1974 Listen Transcript

Vocalized pauses are filler words such as: "uh, um, okay, ah, ya know, like, all right, eh." Pauses are more effective when filled with silence. Silence truly is golden. Be aware of meaningless vocalizations in your speech pattern and learn to think silently.

Want to get rid of those ugly, excess "uhs and ums"? Read "Throwing Away Your Verbal Crutches: Avoiding the Uhhh Factor" http://www.the-eggman.com/writings/ spkrnote1_crutches.html
You would also sound more intelligent if you used grammatically correct sentences such as: My friends and I instead of Me and my friends. Vocal variety and vocal energy will help you vary the sounds that the audience hears so they will remain interested in your speech.

Jesse Jackson is famous for his dynamic

delivery. Listen to one of the 100 Best Speeches of the Twentieth Century as he launches his campaign for President in Philadelphia, PA, Jan. 16, 1984.
Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic National Convention Address "The Rainbow Coalition" Listen Transcript

Adequate volume not only helps audiences hear and understand the speech better but lends an air of authority and confidence to the presentation. If you want to make a good impression with your speech--then speak up!

Visual Delivery
Audiences should see an interesting speech. They will first look at your face andeyes which should be animated (not obscured by a hat or hair) and focused on the audience.

Good Eye Contact is Very Important

Good eye contact in North American culture is associated with many positive character traits such as honesty, confidence, interest, friendliness. etc. It is an extremely important delivery skill. It cannot be faked by looking at a spot on the back wall. You need to make meaningful eye contact (4-6 seconds) with individual members of the audience in all parts of the room. Avoid prolonged eye contact which causes discomfort--just naturally include all of the audience with your eyes.

Ineffective Eye Contact

The Jerk
Head jerks repeatedly up and down from notes to audience

Spaced Out
Eyes are focused above and beyond the audience on a spot at the back of the room

Anywhere but Here

Eyes are on the floor, out the window, on the note card--anywhere but on the audience

The Stare
Eyes are on 2-3 people or one side of the room to the exclusion of all others

The speakers stance should be relaxed with feet shoulder width apart, one foot slightly back and weight distributed evenly on both feet. The speaker should move naturally neither pacing nor appearing stiff. Gestures should originate from the elbow rather than from the wrist. Speakers need to be in close proximity to the audience. Remove physical barriers such as podiums, tables and desks between you and the audience whenever possible. Stand behind a podium or lectern only when the occasion demands it. Since so much of a speakers message is nonverbal, it makes sense to optimize your appearance. Avoid extremes that will detract from your speech such as an inappropriate tee shirt message. If you can dress for success you can certainly dress for an effective speech. Dressing slightly more formally than your audience says that you think that they and this speech are important. Part of your practice should be stage presence. Take the stage with panachewith confidence and authority. Pause briefly, breathe and then stand up straight and begin speaking with vocal energy right from the first word.

Extemporaneous Delivery
Extemporaneous delivery is the key to developing effective oral communication skills. For most of your academic life you have used the written mode of communication to demonstrate your knowledge and abilities. You have written papers, essays, tests, quizzes, homework and journals. So why not just "write" a speech?

You don't "write" a speech because then you are using writing techniques. Written communication has longer, more complex sentences; less repetition and redundancy, and more sophisticated language choices. This works well for writing but it doesn't work well for speaking. Spoken language is:

less formal more repetitious shorter sentences

simple word choices

Much of the meaning in oral communication is conveyed nonverbally through vocal expression, gestures and body movement. You are comfortable using these oral communication skills in conversations with your friends but you've probably had limited opportunities to practice oral skills in a formal setting for a class presentation or a public speech. The purpose of this class is to help you focus on oral communication skills in both the preparation and presentation of your ideas in a public forum. That is why the preferred delivery style is extemporaneous.
Extemporaneous speeches are prepared with an outline and rehearsed but are not written out word for word or memorized. Preparing an outline helps speakers organize the main ideas of a speech and carefully plan support material for each point without writing the presentation in essay form. Oral practice with the main ideas and support material helps speakers remember the focus of the speech, yet be able to explain the material in the speaker's own words. It is through this process that individuals develop the ability to speak about their ideas fluently while on their feet. This process requires careful preparation of a written outline for the major structure of the speech and then practice with a key-word note card explaining the ideas in different words each time until the speaker feels confident about presenting the material.

Both the outline and key-word note card are essential to successful use of extemporaneous delivery style. The outline assures that preparation is complete and thorough while the key words on the card help the speaker develop and rely on oral communication skills. The only exception to key words on the note card might be direct quotes intended for verbal presentation and detailed source citations. These should be written out completely on the note card. One might also include the first and last sentences as well as the thesis statement. Most of the public speeches you give will be more effective if prepared in outline form and
delivered in an extemporaneous style. For this reason extemporaneous style is taught almost exclusively in most public speaking courses--including this one.

Why Extemporaneous?
The preferred delivery goal is conversational. Extemporaneous speeches, when prepared in outline form and practiced with different words each time the speech is rehearsed, allow the speaker to be flexible and sound spontaneous. The wording is fresh with the colorful and compelling language used in conversation. The speaker can focus on the audience and facilitate adaptive responses to

feedback. If listeners dont seem to understand, the speaker can slow down, repeat parts or add examples. If listeners seem bored, the speaker can pick up the pace of both the ideas and delivery.

The extemporaneous delivery style allows the speaker to use the communication process more effectively. Speakers who are simultaneously encoding, decoding, generating and receiving messages in the communication process need the flexibility of extemporaneous speaking. Competence in this oral style helps individuals respond, speak and adapt to the many communication situations awaiting them in real life.

Additional Delivery Methods

Impromptu speeches are given with little or no preparation and practice. You will have many opportunities in your life to give impromptu presentations in class, in your career and in your community. If you develop good extemporaneous skills it is only a short step to thinking in terms of organized discourse and being able to communicate your ideas on the spur of the moment when necessary. Tips for giving effective impromptu speeches are discussed in a separate unit. Memorized speeches are written out, memorized and delivered word for word exactly as written. While this style seems very secure it is dangerous to use because if you forget a word, all is lost. However there are small parts of your speech where it may be useful to memorize. The introduction and conclusion are so important that they benefit from very careful preparation and some memorization--particularly the first and last sentences. But take care to deliver them in a fresh conversational style. Manuscript speeches are also written out, but are read word for word from the prepared script. Some speaking situations benefit from this delivery style, therefore this delivery method is also discussed in a separate unit.

Tell them what youre going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what youve told them.
Traditional advice for speakers

Transitions Connect Ideas for Fluency

Audiences get only one chance at an oral presentation. There is no scrolling back to review a point more carefully. They either understand it the first time or they lose it. Audiences can listen more efficiently and effectively to ideas that fit together logically in a welldefined framework. Being aware of this structural framework helps audiences understand and remember the speech. Transitions are words and phrases that link ideas together and show the structure of the speech. Without transitions the speech is just an encyclopedia of disjointed information. With transitions a speech flows evenly from one idea to the next with coherence and unity. Transitions are the verbal and visual gear shifts that provide a smooth, forward motion to your speech. Transitions seem like such an obvious and simple concept that they are often ignored by novice speakers who select their main points with care, decide what to say about them and then end the preparation process there. But when they stand up to speak, all that comes out are several unrelated pieces of information. Experienced speakers plan how to move from one point to the next and write the transitional phrase in the outline. Smoothly flowing ideas are the result of good planning and practice.Include transitions in the preparation process. Kinds of Transitions Thesis/preview or review statement Enumeration Internal summaries and previews Repetition of a key phrase Rhetorical questions Words and phrases Nonverbal Transitions Visual aids

A good thesis/preview or thesis/review statement serves several essential functions in a speech. Its certainly the best way to tell the audience clearly where the speech is going and the plan for getting there. For example, in this speech on school uniforms, the thesis/ preview statement alerts the audience to the speech structure: Today I would like to introduce the concept of school uniforms and show you how they create a more positive school environment: first, because they reduce school violence; second, because they promote academic achievement; and third because they enhance school pride. Now the speech structure is clear and we know where the speech is going. Enumerating the main points with first, second and third, as in the previous example of school uniforms, is an excellent double cueing process for audiences. Numbering the stages

of a plan or causes of a problem helps reinforce these points for the audience. An internal summary and preview reinforces the previous point and introduces the next main point. To assure us that we are indeed on the road previewed at the beginning of the speech, the speaker might say between two main points: Now that I have shown you that school uniforms help prevent violence, you might be interested to know that school uniforms also promote academic achievement. The most famous repetition of a key phraseoccurred in the O. J. Simpson murder trial. The seven-hour defense summation was punctuated repeatedly with the phrase, If it doesnt fit, you must acquit. This phrase not only reflected the defense position towards several pieces of key evidence in the case such as the glove that didn't fit when tried on by the defendent, but also the position of the defense towards the case in general. Each time the phrase was used it focused the attention of the audience on a particular piece of evidence making it memorable as well as reinforcing the final defense goal of "you must acquit." Rhetorical questions can also signal the beginning of a new idea. Would you like your children to attend safer schools? Would you like your children to be safe as well as more successful? Transitional words or phrases signal relationships between ideas. The examples to the right will help you realize how often transitions are used as well as how important they are in conveying understanding of your message. These simple words provide the connective tissue between disjointed ideas in the same way that tendons and ligaments connect bones in the body for smooth movements. Nonverbal transitions might stand alone in the speech or in combination with other transitions. Movement, a change of pace, a different vocal inflection or silence often signals a new idea. Visual aids can also act as transitions by alerting the audience to the speech structure and movement through the points as the speech progresses.

Using Visual Aids

Effective Visual Aids Should:

Be Seen
Be big enough Be clear enough Be positioned for optimal audience viewing

Be Understood
Be visible long enough Speaker must explain significance to the topic Speaker must explain each part of the visual aid

Be Useful
Should enhance significant points of the speech Should NOT detract from speaker and speech

(Don't pass objects around the room)

Should NOT take speakers eyes from audience

(Don't speak to visual aid--keep eyes on audience)

Summary
Effective oral presentations use a conversational delivery style that complements the speaker's ideas and goals. Extemporaneous delivery increases the conversational quality of speaker delivery and thus enhances speaker credibility. Extemporaneous delivery also helps develop oral speaking skills. The smooth flow or verbal fluency of the speech is determined during the preparation process by planning and practicing transitions, including visual aids, which unify the material and give the delivery a professional flair.

(c) 2007 University of Idaho C. Windley M. Skinner Dept. of Psychology and Communication Studies Credits