Public SpeakingChapter EighteenSpeaking for Special Occasions and

Purposes

Public Speaking in the Workplace

O nearly every job requires some public-speaking skills

O in many careers, public speaking is a daily part of the jobO these can take the form of:

O management meetingsO reports to company executivesO training seminars within the companyO public-relations speeches to people

outside the company

Group PresentationsO after a group has reached a decision,

solved a problem, or uncovered new information, group members often present their findings to othersO make sure you have a clear purpose

and central idea, divided into logical main ideas

Group PresentationsO there are three primary formats for

group presentations:O symposium – a public discussion in

which a series of short speeches is presented to an audienceO each speaker should know what the

others will present to avoid presenting the same material twice

O at the end, the audience may participate in a question-and-answer session

Group PresentationsO forum – a question-and-answer session that

usually follows a public discussion or symposiumO often follows a more structured presentationO forums work best when all group members

know the issues and are prepared to respondO panel discussion – a group discussion

designed to inform an audience about issues or a problem or to make recommendationsO individuals on the panel may use notes on

key facts or statistics, but they do not present formal speeches

O panel discussions are often followed by a question-and-answer period – or forum

Group PresentationsO Suggestions when planning a group presentation:

O make sure group members understand the task or assignment and work together

O if your assignment is to solve a problem or to inform the audience, try brainstorming to develop a topic or question

O give group members individual assignmentsO develop a group outline and decide on an approachO rehearseO incorporate principles and skills of effective

audience-centered public speaking when giving the group presentation

Group PresentationsO keep these tips in mind when you

are offering conclusions or recommendations:O clarify your purposeO use presentation aids effectivelyO choose someone to serve as

moderator or coordinatorO can provide needed structure and keep

the group on timeO be ready to answer questions

Public-Relations Speeches

O public-relations speeches are designed to inform the public, to strengthen alliances with them, and in some cases, to recommend policyO first, discuss the need or problem that

has prompted the speechO then, explain the how the company or

organization is working to meet the need or solve the problem (or why it believes that there is no problem)

Public-Relations Speeches

O it is important to anticipate criticismO emphasize the positive aspects of the

policy or programO do not become defensiveO leave the impression that the

company or organization has carefully worked through potential pitfalls and drawbacks

Ceremonial SpeakingO kairos is the circumstances

surrounding the occasion for a speech

O a ceremonial or epideictic speech is delivered on special occasions for celebration, thanksgiving, praise, or mourning

IntroductionsO a speech of introduction is a speech that

provides information about another speakerO like an informative speech, the speaker is

delivering the information to the audience about the main speakerO be brief – the audience is there to hear the

speaker, not youO be accurate – know how to pronounce the

speaker’s names and other terms you will need to know

O keep the needs of your audience in mind – if the speaker needs no introduction, don’t give one – just offer a warm welcome

ToastsO a toast is a brief salute to a

momentous occasionO the modern toast is short – only a few

sentencesO sincerity is more important than wit

Award PresentationsO a presentation speech is a speech that

accompanies the presentation of an awardO first, refer to the occasion of the

presentationO second, talk about the history and

significance of the awardO lastly, give the award

O if the person knows they are getting the award, you can refer to them in their speech

O if it is a surprise, save the drama of the actual announcement until the last moment

NominationsO nomination speeches officially

recommend someone as a candidate for an office or positionO the person making the nomination

should explain clearly why the nominee’s skills, talents, and past achievements serve as qualifications for the position

AcceptancesO an acceptance speech gives thanks for an

award, nomination, or other honorO usually have a bad reputation because of

lengthy, boring, and rambling examples seen on television award shows

O formulaO first, thank the person making the presentation

and the organization he or she representsO second, comment on the meaning or

significance of the award to youO lastly, try to find some meaning the award may

have for your audience

Keynote AddressesO a keynote address is a speech that

sets the theme and tone for a meeting or conferenceO emphasizes the importance of the

topic or the purpose of the meeting, motivates the audience, and sets the theme for other speakers or events

Commencement Addresses

O a commencement address is delivered at a graduation or commencement ceremonyO praise the graduating classO turn graduates toward the future

O this is not the proper forum to discuss the problems in the world, instead focus on the bright and inspiring futures ahead of the graduates

Commemorative Addresses and Tributes

O commemorative addresses are speeches delivered during ceremonies held in memory of some past event and / or the person or persons involvedO present some facts about the event

and / or the people being celebratedO build on those facts, urging the

audience to let past accomplishments inspire them to achieve new goals

EulogiesO a eulogy is a speech of tribute

delivered when someone has died O you should mention – and linger – on

the unique achievements of the person to whom you are paying tribute

O express a sense of lossO turn to the living, and encourage them

to transcend their sorrow and feel instead gratitude that the dead person was once alive and among them

After-Dinner Speaking: Using Humor Effectively

O an after-dinner speech is an entertaining speech, usually delivered in conjunction with a mealtime meeting or banquetO they can persuade or inform, but their

primary purpose is to entertainO think about what audiences find funnyO be careful of potentially sensitive or

inappropriate topicsO humorous stories should be simpleO know your anecdotes very well (forgetting

things always ruins the joke)

Humorous Verbal Strategies

O a pun is the use of double meanings to create humor

O a spoonerism is a phrase in which the initial sounds of words are switched (“sublic peaking” instead of “public speaking”)O used to avoid libel charges or copyright

infringementO a malapropism is the mistaken use of a

word that sounds very much like the intended word

Humorous Verbal Strategies

O an hyperbole is an exaggerationO an understatement is downplaying a

fact or eventO verbal irony is saying the opposite of

what one meansO wit is relating an incident that takes

an unexpected turn at the end

Humorous Nonverbal Strategies

O postureO gestureO voiceO well-timed pauses