Teaching Public Speaking

Faculty Fellows @ UK

Dr. Deanna SellnowDr. Jami Warren

• Anxiety• Components • Assignment

Descriptions• Reviewing,

Revising, Rehearsing

• Grading

The Elephant in the Living Room: Public Speaking Anxiety

75% of the adult population experiences PSA . . . and that’s a GOOD thing! Key: Managing anxiety effectively

Visualization Relaxation Systematic Desensitization Cognitive Restructuring Communication (NOT performance) orientation

One minute essay:• Think of a time when you saw/heard a really

engaging speaker. Describe the specific reasons you thought it was so good.

Components of an effective (audience-centered) speech

• Content• Structure• Delivery• Presentational Aids

Audience-Centered CONTENT• Ultimately, its not

about me (the speaker)

• “The audience is the end and object of the speech” (Aristotle)

• Exigence: the reason a speech NEEDS to be given (Bitzer, 1968)

Content• Analysis:

– Appropriate focus/purpose?

– Supporting points (appropriate, thematic, rhetorical appeals, breadth, depth, and listener relevance)?

– Reasoning (Claim/Support/Warrant)?

– Time constraint?

• Supporting Material:– Relevant? – Varied? – Credible? – Clear? – Distributed

throughout– Properly Credited (on

outline & in speech)– Number?

structure• Macrostructure:

– Attention Catcher – Listener Relevance– Speaker Credibility – Thesis statement & M Pt Preview Transitions – Thesis restatement & M Pt Summary

Clincher (creative)• Microstructure:

– Language (appropriate, clear, accurate, vivid)?

– Style (rhetorical figures/structures, novelty, connectives)?

– Technical jargon/Slang – Vocalized pauses (verbal garbage-- "uh,"

"um," "like," "ya' know”)

• Tell them what you’re going to tell them (INTRODUCTION)

• Tell them (BODY)– Thematic, recognizable main point

pattern (chronological, spatial, causal, problem-solution, etc.)

• Tell them what you told them (CONCLUSION)

Drafting Outlines• Iterative Ongoing Process of

Developing Content & Structure

• Rough Outlines & Peer Reviews• Formal Outline

– Complete Sentences– Listener Relevance Links– Presentational Aid Markers– Internal References and

Reference List– APA(or other) Style

• Speaking Outline/Notes

Drafting outlines1 Goal, Thesis, Listener Relevance (Rhetorical

Situation)2 Body

Main ideas (grouping supporting materials) Main Point Pattern Main Point Development (Breadth, Depth, Listener

Relevance Links) Transitions

3 Introduction Attention Catcher Listener Relevance Speaker Credibility Thesis and Main Point Preview

4 Conclusion Thesis Restatement & Main Point Summary Clincher

microstructure• Language & Style Choices –Appropriate–Inclusive–Accurate–Concrete –Vivid–Novel

Presentational aids• Construction of Visuals

– Large, neat, colorful, clear, simple, etc.

– Symbol system• Other Aids (audio,

audiovisual, sensory, etc.)• Peer Review• Integration

– Concealed/Revealed– Referenced– Smoothly demonstrated

IntegrationThe “Vanna” Method ConcealRevealTouchIntegrateConceal

Delivery• Use of Voice

– Intelligibility (rate, volume, pitch, quality, enunciation, pronunciation)

– Conversational style– Emotional expression (convincing,

committed, compelling)

• Use of Body – Attire– Poise (no distracting cues)– Eye contact– Facial expressions– Gestures– Motivated movement– Initial & Terminal Ethos?

• Modalities/Audience• Rehearsals/Peer Review

Writing a Speech prompt• Purpose & Description• Rationale• Grading Criteria• Examples (formal outline, speaking

outline, recorded speech)• Grading Forms (Instructor Critique Form,

Classmate Critique Form, Self-Critique Form)

GradingHolistic and Criterion-based

Consider Criteria and Individual Growth

Verbal Critique Comments

During the speech

After the Speech

Rubrics

Outcomes• Content (analysis,

supporting material)• Structure (macro, micro)• Delivery (voice, body)• Presentational Aids

(construction, integration)

Values• For the assignment• In the course