Public Speaking

Why learn it?The Parts of the Speech

Why learn public speaking?

• Confidence• Job skill• Effective

communicator• Power

How can public speaking help you?

• You have to train a group of workers at your job

• You are fighting to keep your local playground open

• You are in sales/marketing/other jobs that require you to work with the public

• You have to give a eulogy• You want to demonstrate

leadership and confidence

What you ALREADY knowSimilarities between public

speaking and conversations:• Organizing your thoughts

logically• Tailoring your message to

your audience• Telling a story for maximum

impact (example: saving the punchline for the end of a joke)

• Adapting to listener feedback

What’s different about public speaking

• More highly structured – time limits, little to no listener interruption/interaction, have a purpose to accomplish, anticipating audience questions/reactions, more detailed planning

• Requires more formal language – it is expected slang, jargon and bad grammar have no place in public speeches, a speech should be special

• Requires a different method of delivery – no vocal crutches, speaking louder than you normally would, good posture, avoid distracting mannerisms

Parts of the Speech(see the formal speech outline)

• Introduction:Attention deviceCentral IdeaSpecific PurposePreview Statement/Transition

• Body:Main Points, supported by evidence, with transition statements between points

• Conclusion:Review main pointsRecap major ideas

Introduction

• Get the attention and interest of your audience

• Reveal the topic of your speech• Establish credibility and goodwill• Preview the body of the speech

Body

• Organization is keyOrder types: Chronological: follow a time pattern Spatial: directional pattern (from top to bottom,

from to back, east to west) Causal: illustrate a cause and effect relationship Problem-solution: 2 parts – first shows the

problem, second shows possible solutions Topical: dividing the speech topic into subtopics

Connectives

• Transitions: a word or phrase that indicated when a speaker has finished one point and is moving on to anotherInternal preview: much like your preview

statement in the introduction, this previews the main points inside the body of the speech

Internal summaries: sum up previous main point as a method of moving on to the next

Signposts: brief statements that indicate exactly where you are in the speech (first, second, final)

Conclusion

Serves two functions:1.Let the audience know you are finishing2.Reinforce the audience’s understanding of, or

commitment to, the central ideaReinforcing the central idea:• End with a quotation• Make a dramatic statement• Refer back to the introduction

Tips for prepping the conclusion

• Keep an eye out for possible concluding statements during your research

• End with a bang, not a whimper• Don’t be long winded (should account for 10%

of your total speech)• Don’t leave anything to chance. The

conclusion is an opportunity to have the “final say.” Prepare well and practice this often!