The art of public speaking

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER

& SPEECH?

Dealing with Nervousness Acknowledge Your Fear

Focus on Message, not Fear

Act Confident

Give Yourself a Mental Pep Talk

Visualize Your Success

Channel Nervous Energy

BREATHE

Practice, Practice, Practice

Understand Your Audience CHALLENGES

People Think Faster Than They Hear

Short Attention Span

Easily Distracted

How to Deal with…

Keep Speech Focused

Analyze Audience Carefully

Adapt to Situation

What Audience most often remembers:

#1—Last thing heard #2—Introduction #3—Topic

The Audience

Size

Demographics

Beliefs and Values

Receptive/Antagonistic

Understand the Speech Making Process Choosing Topic Focus Purpose Researching Topic Organizing Content Developing an Outline Delivering Speech Rehearsing

Choosing a Topic

Consider Assignment…Is It Important to You?Is It Important to Your Audience?Will It Hold Audience’s Attention?Is It Manageable in the Time Available?Is It Clear?Can You Support It?

Focus Purpose General Purpose:

TO Inform, Persuade, Entertain, Inspire, Pay Tribute, etc.

Specific Purpose: What you hope to accomplish

EXAMPLE: To inform the audience about the importance of having a

college education.

Central Idea: 1 sentence summary of speech content

EXAMPLE: A college education opens the door to: greater earning

potential, more employment opportunities and allows for personal growth.

Researching Topic

Current Situation/Info

Background Info

Supporting Materials

Types of Supporting Material

Common Knowledge

Live/Direct Observation

Examples & Illustrations

Explanations & Descriptions

Data & Statisitics

Tests of Supporting Material Is Information…

Specific?

Timely?

Relevant & support point made?

Is Source…

An expert/reputable?

Unbiased?

Sources for Material Online

Search EnginesOnline Libraries

LibrariesBooks & Reference materialsPeriodicals & NewspapersData BasesGovernment Documents

Organizing Content

Chronological

Topical

Spatial

Cause-Effect

Problem-Solution

Comparison- Contrast

Types of Outlines Speaker’s Outline

Introduction

Main Point

○ Support with Evidence

○ TRANSITION

Main Point

○ Support with Evidence

○ TRANSITION

--REPEAT AS NECESSARY--

Conclusion

Preparation Outline

Title & TopicSpecific PurposeCentral IdeaIntroductionMain & Sub-PointsSupport/EvidenceConclusion

PURPOSE of Introductions Introduce topic & preview what is to

come

State purpose

Establish importance of topic

Grab Attention

Build Credibility for speaker & topic

Types of Introductions Story

Rhetorical Question

Quotation

Humor

Allude to conclusion

PURPOSE of Conclusions Summarize Speech

Re-emphasize Main Idea

Motivate Response

Provide Closure

Types of Conclusions Summary

Quotation, Story or Rhetorical Question

Refer to Introduction

Challenge to Audience

Offer Vision of the Future

Methods of Delivery Manuscript Reading (hard to connect with audience)

Memorized (pressure to remember)

Impromptu (off the cuff)

Extemporaneous (best choice)

Delivering Speech - Beginning

Approach Calmly with

conficence

Establish Eye Contact

Smile Naturally

Deliver Introduction

Delivering Speech - During Use Effective…

Eye Contact

Gestures & Expressions

Volume & Pace

Use Clear…

Language

Coversational style

Be Enthusiastic

Elements of Vocal Delivery Speech Rate and Pauses

Volume

Inflection and Pitch

Pronunciation and Articulation

Delivering Speech - Ending Summarize Main Message

Be Concise & Memorable

Pause before Returning to

Seat

Accept Applause Graciously

Elements of Body Language

Appearance

Posture

Facial Expression

Eye Contact

Movement

Gestures

Rehearsing Speech Practice Out Loud

Practice Actual Delivery (eye contact ,

volume, stance)

Watch Yourself

Keep Track of Time

Plan, Prepare, Polish, Practice, Present

The better you know your material, the less anxious you will be.

Smile and act natural. Don’t apologize for ANYTHING! No one will know you’re nervous unless you call attention

to it.

Sources

Adapted from 4-H Speaking PowerPoint www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/gaofficertraining/4-%20Public%20Speaking.ppt

A Concise Public Speaking Handbook by Steven & Susan Beebe Lecture Notes from SPC 2608 by Heather Elmatti