Build a Balanced SpeechBuild a Balanced Speech

Introduction-10% of the speechIntroduction-10% of the speech Gain audience attention via an example, Gain audience attention via an example,

quote, statistics or a visual aidquote, statistics or a visual aid State the Central Thesis (the main idea)State the Central Thesis (the main idea) Establish your credibility Establish your credibility Identify with the audience and recognize the Identify with the audience and recognize the

occasionoccasion Preview the main points, in the same order Preview the main points, in the same order

they will appear in the speechthey will appear in the speech

Build a Balanced Speech Build a Balanced Speech (continued)(continued)

Body-80% of the speechBody-80% of the speech Use 3-5 main pointsUse 3-5 main points Give balanced attention to each sectionGive balanced attention to each section

Conclusion-10% of the speechConclusion-10% of the speech This is a mirror image of introduction, with a reviewThis is a mirror image of introduction, with a review Refer back to the attention-getter in the introduction Refer back to the attention-getter in the introduction

(e.g., a vivid example)(e.g., a vivid example) Don’t introduce new informationDon’t introduce new information End with authority, and always on timeEnd with authority, and always on time

Employ Frequent Employ Frequent TransitionsTransitions Transitions help adult learners knowTransitions help adult learners know

what to expectwhat to expect Transitions link the main parts of the Transitions link the main parts of the

speech, and create a smooth flowspeech, and create a smooth flow Transitions can review, and then preview Transitions can review, and then preview

main pointsmain points Transitions can be long or shortTransitions can be long or short

Single words, phrases or sentencesSingle words, phrases or sentences NumbersNumbers

Examples of TransitionsExamples of Transitions

““Now that we have reviewed the problem Now that we have reviewed the problem of homelessness, let’s examine three of homelessness, let’s examine three main causes…”main causes…”

““The second major problem is…”The second major problem is…” ““Next, we will consider..”Next, we will consider..” ““That brings us to…”That brings us to…” ““The final point…”The final point…”

Employ Humor With CareEmploy Humor With Care

Where humor is concerned, there are no Where humor is concerned, there are no standards - no one can say what is good or standards - no one can say what is good or bad, although you can be sure that everyone bad, although you can be sure that everyone will!will!

John Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth Galbraith

Use Varied and MultipleUse Varied and MultipleTypes of Evidence and Types of Evidence and SupportSupport Examples Examples

Vivid success stories or brief scenariosVivid success stories or brief scenarios

Visual aids or modelsVisual aids or models Expert testimonyExpert testimony

Quotes attributed to an expert enhance the Quotes attributed to an expert enhance the speaker’s credibilityspeaker’s credibility

Statistics Statistics Be sure to round off and interpretBe sure to round off and interpret

There are three kinds of lies: There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and lies, damned lies and

statisticsstatistics..

Benjamin DisraeliBenjamin Disraeli

StatisticsStatistics always remind me always remind me of the fellow who drowned in a of the fellow who drowned in a

river whose average depth river whose average depth was three feet.was three feet.

Woody HayesWoody HayesCoach, Ohio State FootballCoach, Ohio State Football

Always provide peopleAlways provide peoplewith a context to helpwith a context to help

them understand.them understand.

Richard E. MoranRichard E. Moran

A talk is a voyage with a A talk is a voyage with a purpose, and it must be purpose, and it must be

charted. The man who starts charted. The man who starts out going nowhere,out going nowhere,

generally gets there.generally gets there.

Dale CarnegieDale Carnegie

Strategically Choose Strategically Choose Your Organizational Your Organizational Pattern(s)Pattern(s)

Chronological (in order of occurrence, as in a Chronological (in order of occurrence, as in a historical perspective)historical perspective)

Topical (by subject)Topical (by subject) Spatial (by physical position, as in geographic)Spatial (by physical position, as in geographic) Problem-Cause-SolutionProblem-Cause-Solution Problem-Solution Problem-Solution Monroe’s Motivated SequenceMonroe’s Motivated Sequence

Monroe’s Motivated Monroe’s Motivated SequenceSequence AttentionAttention

Create interest in the problemCreate interest in the problem

NeedNeed Analyze problem characteristics andAnalyze problem characteristics and

relate these to the audience needsrelate these to the audience needs

Satisfaction Satisfaction Propose a course of action that eliminates the Propose a course of action that eliminates the

problem and satisfies audience needs, desires problem and satisfies audience needs, desires and wantsand wants

Monroe’s Motivated Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Sequence (continued)(continued)

VisualizationVisualization Verbally depict the world as it will exist ifVerbally depict the world as it will exist if

the plan is or is not instituted, and contrast the plan is or is not instituted, and contrast these possibilitiesthese possibilities

ActionAction Call for audience commitment and actionCall for audience commitment and action Be specificBe specific Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is commonly Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is commonly

used in advertising to persuade…used in advertising to persuade…

Delivery TipsDelivery Tips A speaker is always “on stage” A speaker is always “on stage”

They are “on” from moment they are announced, to the They are “on” from moment they are announced, to the time they return to their place in the audiencetime they return to their place in the audience

Pause before beginningPause before beginning Vary intonationVary intonation A slightly faster pace increases audience A slightly faster pace increases audience

comprehensioncomprehension Maintain good eye contactMaintain good eye contact Assume a relaxed, open posture,Assume a relaxed, open posture,

with few self-adaptors/touchwith few self-adaptors/touch

(Sometimes, “less” is “more”)(Sometimes, “less” is “more”)

Talk low, talk slow andTalk low, talk slow anddon’t say too much.don’t say too much.

John WayneJohn Wayne

The right word may be The right word may be effective, but no word was effective, but no word was

ever as effective as aever as effective as arightly timed pause.rightly timed pause.

Mark TwainMark Twain

To Minimize AnxietyTo Minimize Anxiety

Convert anxiety to presentational energyConvert anxiety to presentational energy Recognize that mild arousal is normalRecognize that mild arousal is normal

Seek public speaking opportunitiesSeek public speaking opportunities More speaking experience=less anxietyMore speaking experience=less anxiety

Avoid stimulantsAvoid stimulants Eat and sleep enoughEat and sleep enough Deep breathing, activity andDeep breathing, activity and

relaxation may helprelaxation may help

Practice the PresentationPractice the Presentation

Rehearse Rehearse Your emotional state Your emotional state Transitions (this is where many speakers Transitions (this is where many speakers

experience the most difficulty)experience the most difficulty) Introduction and ConclusionIntroduction and Conclusion

Become Familiar With Become Familiar With the Roomthe Room Messages are perceived betterMessages are perceived better

in an attractive roomin an attractive room Check-out the sound systemCheck-out the sound system

and lightingand lighting Become familiar with audiovisual (AV) Become familiar with audiovisual (AV)

technologiestechnologies Plan for water, pointer, etc.Plan for water, pointer, etc.

Always Have A Back-Up Always Have A Back-Up PlanPlan What if the AV fails?What if the AV fails?

Have a lo-tech back-upHave a lo-tech back-up

What if your available timeWhat if your available timeis diminished?is diminished?

Eliminate sub-pointsEliminate sub-points Don’t speed rateDon’t speed rate

What if you misplace your speech?What if you misplace your speech? Keep an extra copy, or quickly construct an Keep an extra copy, or quickly construct an

outlineoutline

FAQ’sFAQ’s

What if I make a mistake?What if I make a mistake? Remember that most speakers make themRemember that most speakers make them Correct it; humor is ok Correct it; humor is ok Move aheadMove ahead Don’t apologize profusely or start overDon’t apologize profusely or start over

How can I avoid saying “Um?”How can I avoid saying “Um?” Employ speaking transitionsEmploy speaking transitions Tolerate silenceTolerate silence

FAQ’sFAQ’s

How can I slow down?How can I slow down? Pause between sections. Stop at the end Pause between sections. Stop at the end

of sentences. Underline key words. of sentences. Underline key words. Tape record your practice sessions and Tape record your practice sessions and

count the words per minute. Then, count the words per minute. Then, practice speaking at a deliberately slower practice speaking at a deliberately slower rate to gain conscious control over rate.rate to gain conscious control over rate.

FAQ’sFAQ’s What about eye contact?What about eye contact?

Don’t bob your head up and down Don’t bob your head up and down Don’t fix your gaze at one personDon’t fix your gaze at one person Look up at the end of a section, rather than Look up at the end of a section, rather than

lose your place, or train of thoughtlose your place, or train of thought Face the audience, not your slidesFace the audience, not your slides Look more at friendly, supportive peopleLook more at friendly, supportive people Don’t favor one side of the roomDon’t favor one side of the room Increased eye contact increases audience Increased eye contact increases audience

learninglearning

FAQ’sFAQ’s

What do I do with my hands?What do I do with my hands? Don’t play with your hair, clothes, objects Don’t play with your hair, clothes, objects

or jingle money in your pocketsor jingle money in your pockets Don’t worry about your gestures--they Don’t worry about your gestures--they

will emerge naturallywill emerge naturally Keep your hands on or near the podium, Keep your hands on or near the podium,

or at your sides. Don’t cross your arms, or at your sides. Don’t cross your arms, or clasp your hands in front of your body.or clasp your hands in front of your body.

Audience Q&AsAudience Q&As Anticipate potential questions Anticipate potential questions

Draft answersDraft answers

Listen to the questionListen to the question Read the emotionRead the emotion

Don’t get defensive and never embarrass an Don’t get defensive and never embarrass an audience memberaudience member

Maintain an open and relaxed postureMaintain an open and relaxed posture Admit to not having an answerAdmit to not having an answer

““I really can’t speak to that;I really can’t speak to that; I will refer that concern to….” I will refer that concern to….”

I’m glad this question came up,I’m glad this question came up,in a way, because there are so many in a way, because there are so many ways to answer it that one if them is ways to answer it that one if them is

bound to be right.bound to be right.Robert BenchleyRobert Benchley

I was gratified to be able to answer I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, “I don’t know.”promptly. I said, “I don’t know.”

Mark TwainMark Twain

In ClosingIn Closing Speaking in public represents an opportunity Speaking in public represents an opportunity

to enhance knowledge, change attitudes, and to enhance knowledge, change attitudes, and promote actionpromote action

Most importantly, strive to communicate with Most importantly, strive to communicate with your audience and to meet their unique needsyour audience and to meet their unique needs

The speaker has a responsibility to The speaker has a responsibility to communicate publicly in an informed and communicate publicly in an informed and ethical mannerethical manner

Source:Source:

Cohn, E. Public Speaking,Cohn, E. Public Speaking,University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghCenter for Instructional Development Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education,& Distance Education,Fifth Edition, January 2001.Fifth Edition, January 2001.