Chapter 12

Preparing and Researching

Presentations

• Describe the power of public speaking and how preparation eases natural nervousness

• Identify the purpose of your speech• Conduct audience analysis• Choose an appropriate topic and

develop it

Chapter Outcomes

• Support and enliven your speech with effective research

• Cull from among your sources the material that will be most convincing

• Give proper credit to sources and take responsibility for your speech

Chapter Outcomes (cont.)

The Power of Public Speaking

Public speaking includes…– A speaker with a reason

for speaking– An audience that gives

the speaker attention– A message that is meant

to accomplish a specific purpose

Clarifying the General Purpose of Your Speech• Three general

purposes include:

– Informative speeches

– Persuasive speeches

– Special-occasion speeches

Clarifying the General Purpose of Your Speech (cont.)• To determine the

specific purpose:– Ask what you want

your audience to learn, do, consider, or agree with.

– Write an action state-ment encompassing the topic and general speech purpose.

Analyzing Your Audience

• Analysis requires understanding:

– Audience expectations

– Unique situational factors

– Demographics

Analyzing Your Audience (cont.)

• Consider audience expectations and situational factors.– Speaking situation– Cultural expectations about public

speaking– Knowledge of the speaker– Time of day

Analyzing Your Audience (cont.)

• Consider audience demographics.

– Demographics: the quantifiable characteristics of a large group

• May focus on gender, socioeconomic status, age, nationality, and so on.

– Such consideration will help make your topic or approach more interesting.

• Use salient demographic details; avoid stereotyping.

Analyzing Your Audience (cont.)

• Anticipate your audience’s response by:– Considering audience motivation– Seeking common ground

(homogeny)– Determining prior exposure– Considering disposition– Laying the groundwork through

observation, relationship building, surveys, Internet research

Choosing Your Topic

• Find a topic that intrigues you.

• Brainstorm or cluster to find topic ideas.

• Narrow your topic by asking:

– Am I interested?

– Does it meet the assignment’s criteria?

– Will my audience find it worthwhile?

Choosing Your Topic (cont.)

• Determine the specific purpose of your speech.

– A specific purpose statement expresses both the topic and general speech purpose in action form.

Choosing Your Topic (cont.)

• Develop a thesis statement.– Conveys the central idea / core

assumption about your topic– Summarizes what you want the

audience to get out of your speech– Serves as a take-away message for

your audience

Researching the Topic

• Types of information

– Expert testimony

– Lay testimony

– Scientific research findings

– Statistics

– Anecdotes

– Quotations

– Comparisons and contrasts

Researching the Topic (cont.)

• Researching Supporting Material– Talk to people

• Interviews

• Surveys

– Search the literature• Library gateways

– Use the Internet• Search engines, metasearch engines

Researching the Topic (cont.)

• Evaluate supporting material to ensure it is:– Credible

– Up-to-date

– Accurate

– Relevant

– Compelling

– Reliable

Ethical Speaking

• Recognizing plagiarism– Do not present someone else’s information

as your own.

• Taking accurate notes– Note all quotes and paraphrases.– Keep a running bibliography.

• Speaking ethically and responsibly– Be trustworthy, respectful, responsible,

and fair.