L E C T U R E # 2

PUBLIC SPEAKING

“To speak and to speak well are two things.  A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.”

~Ben Jonson

TOPICS TO COVER…

• What is public speaking?

• Why study public speaking?

• It is a great tradition

• It is a dynamic discipline

PUBLIC SPEAKING IS…

• Communication between a speaker and an audience

• Speaker does most of the talking

• Speaker reacts and adapts to the audience

• Speaker retains control of the floor

PUBLIC SPEAKING IS…

• Audience Centered

• Presenter chooses his or her message with the audience needs and interests in mind

• Sharp assessment is key to success

• Develop the message so that it is interesting and understandable

PUBLIC SPEAKING IS…

• Fundamentally about the spoken word

• Supplemental aides should never outperform the speaking

• The words should always be the central role

• Experienced presenters know how to add depth and breadth through non-verbal cues or visuals without taking away from the speech

PUBLIC SPEAKING IS…

• Usually a prepared presentation

• The best speakers choose topics in advance

• The best speakers consider how best to present topic and how to tailor it to their audience

• The best speakers rehearse (seconds, days, or weeks) is paramount

WHY STUDY PUBLIC SPEAKING

Student Career Community

USING PUBLIC SPEAKING AS A STUDENT

• All your courses include public speaking in some form• Introductions• Oral Presentations• Reading out loud• Performance• Group work communication/leadership

• Be a class contributor• Engage in extra-curricular activities• College prep• Speech/Communication general ed. requirement

USING PUBLIC SPEAKING IN YOUR CAREER

• Transferable skill - #1 skill employers look for regardless of industry

• Interviews• According to a 2000 study, “Making the Grade? What

American Workers Think Should Be Done to Improve Education”• 87% rated communication as very important for performing their

jobs

• Essential skills necessary in any work environment – for example:• Police officer talking down an angry crowd• A nurse explains to her management team an important union

issue• An accountant makes a presentation to investors• Teachers…

USING PUBLIC SPEAKING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• Getting involved• Social clubs• Athletic leagues• Religious groups• Political committees

• “People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say.”  ~Kurt Vonnegut• “Be the change you wish to see in the world”

- Gandhi

THE GREAT TRADITION OFPUBLIC SPEAKING

• 5th century B.C.E. Athens• Right to speak out in assembly• As many as 6,000 audience members• Aristotle• Rhetoric (4th century B.C.E.)

• 1st century B.C.E. Romans embrace debate• Cicero – renowned political orator• Quintilian –emphasized the ideal of ethics in rhetoric

• Also Chinese, African, Islamic, Native American and other important oral traditions and influences

PUBLIC SPEAKING HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Boston Tea Party Lincoln Douglas Debate

PUBLIC SPEAKING HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY

“I have a dream…” Steve Jobs Keynote

MLK JR. 12.09

THE DYNAMIC DISCIPLINE

• Aristotle still holds some relevance today…But the discipline has evolved to reflect changes in society

• The public speaking process• Audience awareness• Cultural diversity• Importance of critical thinking• Attention to ethics

LINEAR COMMUNICATION

Source (the speaker)

Encoded message (verbal and non-verbal symbols)

Channel (the medium of delivery)

Noise (interference impedes communication)

Receiver (audience)

Decoded message (individual perception)

TRANSACTIONAL COMMUNICATION

Message

Source

Receiver

Feedback

SHARED MEANING

• It’s not just about getting your point across• Improve your own knowledge• Seek understanding• Develop partnership and agreement

• An adept public speaker uses knowledge of transactional communication with a goal of shared meaning to direct his or her presentation --- Checking for understanding

AWARENESS OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY

• Culture – the values, traditions, and rules for living that are passed from generation to generation• Culture is learned and influences all aspects of an

individual’s life• Food choices• Use of language• Dress• Religious practices• Communication

• Americans obviously need to be sensitive and informed about cultural diversity

S T U A RT M C A RT H U R – 1 2 Y E A R S O L D - A U S T RA L I A N

WORLDVIEW?

THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

•Decide what to believe and how to act after careful evaluation and reasoning• Analyze assumptions• Examine truth, reliability, and accuracy before making judgments• Consider other perspectives• Research!

THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS

• Definition: a set of beliefs shared by a group about what behaviors are correct or incorrect• Quintilian – “the good person speaking

well”• Virtuous, moral, and public spirited• Unethical public speaking (politicians,

media, lawyers, corporations) have forced the public to be hyper-sensitive• Credibility is crucial