Public Speaking

Chapter 1

Speaking in Public

FATE OR OPPORTUNITY?

• Will you faint, shake, sweat,

sway, look down, feel your

mouth go dry, or perhaps

worse – even die?

• Will you blush, flush, stammer

and trip over your tongue?

• Will you forget what you were

saying?

• Will you survive the course?

Why Do Others Say You

Should Take This Course?

• Many alumni say that courses in

writing and speaking are the

most valuable. Why?

• Employers say your ability to

express yourself is one of the

most important job skills. Why?

Why is speaking so

important?

• Speaking is your connection to those around you.– Conversations (friends, family, co-workers)

– Interviews

– Presentations, debates…

• Speaking is very big business.

• Businesses invite consultants, motivational speakers, and successful CEOs, CFOs and salespeople to speak.

• Academic and business conferences pay speakers to attract people to their conventions.

Similarities BetweenPublic Speaking and

Conversation

• Organizing thoughts logically

• Tailoring the message to the

audience

• Telling a story for maximum

impact

• Adapting to listener feedback

Public Speaking is a Unique

Form of Communication

• Speaking is different from writing and other forms of communication.

– Time is short.

– Simplification is necessary.

– Points are few.

– Focus (narrow) topics are important.

Differences Between Public Speaking and

Conversation

• Public speaking is more highly

structured

• Public speaking requires more

formal language

• Public speaking requires a

different method of delivery

Public Speaking:

A Unique Form

of Communication

• What is speech

“communication”?

• Communication: A transaction

occurs in which speaker and

listener simultaneously send,

receive and interpret messages.

Seven Componentsof the Speech

Communication Process

• Speaker

• Message

• Channel

• Listener

• Feedback (Response)

• Interference (Noise)

• Situation

SPEAKER

The person / source

presenting a message to

listener(s).

MESSAGE

Whatever a speaker

communicates to someone

else – includes both

verbals and non-verbals.

CHANNELThe means by which a

message is communicated.

LISTENERThe person who receives the

speaker’s message.

FEEDBACKThe messages, usually

nonverbal, sent from a listener

to a speaker.

INTERFERENCE

Anything that impedes the

communication of a message.

SITUATION

The time and place in which

speech communication

occurs.

FRAME OF REFERENCE

The sum of a person’s

knowledge, experience, goals,

values, and attitudes.

• Everything a speaker says is

filtered through a listener’s frame

of reference.

• No two people can have exactly

the same frame of reference.

LISTENER

THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION PROCESS

STAGE FRIGHT

Anxiety over the prospect of

giving a speech in front of an

audience.

Communication apprehension

can be either real or anticipated.

BEING NERVOUS

IS NORMAL

Your body is responding by

producing extra adrenaline, a

hormone released into the

bloodstream in response to

physical or mental stress.

REDUCING

SPEECH ANXIETY

• Acquire speaking experience

• Prepare, prepare, prepare

• Think positively

• Use the power of visualization

• Know that most nervousness is not visible

• Don’t expect perfection

WAYS TO

REDUCE ANXIETY

• Ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?”

• What is real? What is anticipated?

• Act confident (even if not “feeling” it)

• Know your subject. Prepare.

• Care about your subject.

• See classmates as friendly.

• If not friendly, stay focused

• Visualize yourself as successful

• Practice – Practice – Practice

POSITIVE

NERVOUSNESS

Controlled nervousness that

helps energize a speaker for

her or his presentation.

VISUALIZATION

Mental imaging in which a

speaker vividly pictures himself

or herself giving a successful

presentation.

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

• This is a great opportunity to share my

experience, ideas, and insights.

• Everyone’s in this together and I need

their help to improve.

• I look forward to growing and learning

through positive criticism.

• I have prepared and practiced; I’ve done

the best I can and the rest is out of my

hands.

TIPS FOR

GAINING RESPECT

• Talk about something important (to

you and to the audience).

• Establish your credibility and

qualifications.

• Translate ideas for understanding.

• Organize ideas for clarity.

• Have an “enhanced conversation.”

EXHIBIT

CRITICAL THINKING

Focused, organized thinking about such things as the logical relationships among ideas, the soundness of evidence, and the

differences between fact and opinion.

If She Can Do It…

After watching the video, click the “Next Slide” button to continue.

General Things to Avoid

in a Presentation

• Exhausted topics unless you have a new approach.

• Illegal subjects lest you end up suspended or in jail.

• Insulting your audience.

• Inappropriate humor.

• Getting your speech from the Internet.

– Plagiarism: punishable by no points, a low grade, suspension or dismissal from college.

CAREFUL OF

ETHNOCENTRISM

The belief that one’s own group

or culture is superior to all other

groups or cultures.

Avoid Assumptions

Clarify if Confusion

• Find common ground.

– Point out features you share with

your audience.

– Can you think of any now?

• Establish trustworthiness.

– Does the audience perceive you

as honest and honorable?

– Credible?

BECOMING AN

EFFECTIVE SPEAKER

• Display confidence.

– Be totally familiar with your topic.

– Prepare and practice!!!

• Audiences are drawn to dynamism.

– They are attracted by movement,

gestures, facial expression and

voice variety.

BECOMING AN

EFFECTIVE SPEAKER

What makes something

memorable?

Memorable Speech Moments