Public Speaking

Chapters 1-5

1. Becoming a Public
Speaker
Why?
On the job
As a student
As an engaged citizen

The Roots of Public

Speaking
Giving speeches is known as rhetoric,
or oratory.
Born in Athens around 500 BCE
Athens was the first known
democracy, making public speaking
possible and acceptable.

Aristotle and Cicero

Divided the process of making a
prepared speech into five parts:
Invention-adapting information to the
audience
Arrangement-organizing the speech best
suited to the audience and the topic
Style-the way the speaker uses
language to express ideas
Memory-practicing and knowing the
speech
Delivery-vocal and non verbal behavior

Learning to Speak in Public

Are we born with a public speaking
ability?
Use our conversational skills
Be sure we are understood and that our
meaning is clear
It is also like writing a composition
Strong introduction, clear thesis, supporting
ideas and thoughtful conclusion. And
research!

Develop an Effective Oral

Style
Use key words and phrases
Relate to the audience
Relate the content to yourself, tell
why it is relevant to you
Be organized
Speak clearly
Pronounce words and names
correctly

Practice and Prepare

It helps A LOT
How do we practice?
Why do we prepare?
It shows respect for the audience

Be an Inclusive Speaker
Have the needs and interests of the
audience in mind
Be audience centered
Consider other cultures
Develop a genuine connection with the
audience

Public Speaking is Interactive

It is? Why?
Speaker delivers a message with a
specific purpose to an audience
Do audiences provide feedback? How?
Sender-receiver-feedbackand message

Interactive

Whats a channel?
Noise?
Shared meaning?
Context?
What is being audience centered?
Speech purposethe goal

2. Overview of a Speech
Look at figure 2.1, very important
Analyze the audience
Why?
Demographic information

Select a Topic
How do we select a topic?
One of interest to us or the
audience?
Appropriate to the occasion?
Audience research in class

Purpose and Thesis

Purpose is either to inform, to persuade,
or mark a special occasion
Specific purpose is what you want the
audience to learn or do as a result of
your speech.
Thesis statement communicates in one
sentence what the speech is about.

Main Points
Primary pieces of information about
your topic
Main points are the areas of
discussion for your presentation
Main points have sub-points

Gather Supporting Materials

This is research, information that
clarifies and verifies your ideas.
Credible sources

Main Parts of a Speech

Introductionintroduce your topic and the
speaker, catch attention of the audience,
and alert audience to your thesis
BodyIncludes main points and sub
points, all supporting the thesis
Conclusionrestates the thesis and
summarizes the main points

The Outline
Framework of information for the
presentation
An organizational tool
Uses main points and sub points

Presentation Aids
Bring your presentation to life!
PowerPoint, objects, draw on the
board

Practice
Practice often, at least six times
Practice so you know the info, dont
memorize
the presentation
Nonverbal deliverySmile, be
animated, make eye contact, use
natural gestures
Vocal delivery...no monotone, not too
fast or too slow, loud enough,
pronounce words correctly.

3. Managing Speech Anxiety

Anxiety is normal!
Tell yourself you are excited, not
afraid
Where does this anxiety come from?
Lack of experience
Feeling we are the only one
Being the center of attention

When does Anxiety Start?

Pre-preparation anxietycant get
started
Preparation anxietyoverwhelmed
by the process. How to manage this?
Pre-performance anxietythis is
really happening!
Performance anxietyin front of the
class

Tips to Reduce Anxiety

Practice and prepare
Prepare and practice
Practice and prepare
Expect to be successful!!!

4. Ethical Public Speaking

We need to be accountable
Have the potential to influence or
persuade others
Ethos.ethics. Be a credible speaker.
Know the subject
Display sound reasoning skills
Be honest and not manipulative
Be genuinely interested in the welfare of
the listeners

Ethics
Respect the values of the audience,
even if you dont share them.
First Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution guarantees free
speechrespect that right
What cant we say?

Ethics
Dignityyou value the listeners
Integritythe speakers
incorruptibility
Trustworthinesshonesty and
dependability
Respecttreating the audience
members as unique human beings,
no personal attacks
Responsibilitybeing accountable for
what you say

Ethics
Avoid hate speechno stereotypes,
ethnocentrism, or outright prejudice

Ethics
Plagiarismpassing off another
persons work as your own.
No copyinggive credit to your
sources by citing them
Citing your sources

Ethics
Copyright is legal ownership give to the
creators of literary or artistic works.
Need permission to use this info.
Public domain means anyone can use
the image or information.
Fair use grants limited use of
copyrighted material without permission.

5. Listeners and Speakers

Is hearing listening?
Listening is not passive, it is a
conscious act of receiving,
comprehending, interpreting,
evaluating and responding to
messages.
What is selective listening?

Listening
As listeners we dont interrupt the speaker
Strive for an open exchange of
ideas..dialogic communication. What is a
dialog?
Feedback loopfor speakers and listeners
Active listeningfocused and purposeful

Listening
Minimize listening distractions
Guard against defensive listening
deciding early on the speaker is
wrong or you know better.
Focus on the message
Realize there may be cultural
barriers; accents, word choices, etc.