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 have a second date with someone!

What you ALREADY know

Similarities between public speaking and conversations:

• Organizing your thoughts logically• Tailoring your message to your audience• Telling a story for maximum impact

(punchline)• 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

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

Attention and interest

Attention devices:• Relate the topic to the

audience• State the importance of

your topic• Startle the audience• Arouse the curiosity of the

audience• Question the audience• Begin with a quotation• Tell a story

Reveal the topic

• Don’t confuse your audience; do not assume they know what you will be speaking about

• Do not assume your attention device is descriptive enough

• Introduce your topic clearly

Establish credibility and goodwill

• Credibility = perception (audience)• Are you qualified to speak on this topic?• Why should we believe you are?• Whatever the source of your expertise, let the

audience know!• Goodwill = mean no harm• How can you take a topic your audience feels

negatively about and reason your side?

Preview the Body of the Speech

• Most people are poor listeners

• Preview statements let your audience know EXACTLY what you’re going to be talking about

• Identify what main points are coming up in the body of the speech

Tips for prepping the introduction

• Keep it brief – should be about 10-20% of your total speech

• When conducting research, keep an eye out for possible attention devices

• Be creative in developing the introduction• Re-work wording after you’ve completed the body of

the speech – after you’ve determined the main points, it’ll be easier to decide how to begin the speech

• Work out the introduction in DETAIL. It is the first – and most important – part of the speech

The body

• Organization is key• See formal speech outline for structureOrder types:Chronological: follow a time patternSpatial: directional pattern (from top to bottom, from to

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

second shows possible solutionsTopical: 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 another

• Internal 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:• Let the audience know you are finishing• Reinforce the audience’s understanding of, or

commitment to, the central idea

Conclusion

• Reinforcing 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!