Public Speaking

Chapter 1
 Public Speaking is a sustained format presentation by a
speaker to an audience
How does public speaking empower us?
1. Public speaking skills empower us to participate in
democratic processes.
2. Public speaking skills empower us to communicate
our ideas and opinions in ways that all audience
members can understand. When we express our
ideas clearly, we are more likely to share them.
When others understand our ideas, they learn from
us.
3. Public speaking skills empower us to persuade
others. We can convince others to agree with us or
take action regarding important issues from
personal to local to global.
4. Public speaking skills empower us to achieve our
career goals. One of the most sought-after skills in
new hires is oral communication skills.
 Ethics are a set of moral principles that a society, group, or
individual hold that differentiate right from wrong.
5 Ethical Standards for Public Speaking
1. Ethical communicators are honest: Speakers:
they tell the truth in ways that demonstrate
empathy for others. They do not plagiarize by
presenting others’ ideas as their own. Listeners:
 are expected to give honest feedback in a tactful
way.
2. Ethical communicators act with integrity:
Speakers: they “practice what they preach”.
Listeners: do not interrupt and speak respectfully
3. Ethical communicators behave fairly: fair
communicators attempt to act impartially and
acknowledge any potential bias they may have
regarding a topic. Speakers: researching and
reporting all sides of an issue. Listeners:
considering all of the evidence a speaker presents
even when it may contradict the listeners’ beliefs.
4. Ethical communicators demonstrate respect: they
show regard for others and their point of view,
rights and feelings. Speakers: show respect by
choosing language and humor that is inclusive
and not offensive. Listeners: by giving their
undivided attention to the speaker
5. Ethical communicators are responsible:
Speakers: only advocate for things that they
believe are in the best interests of audience
members. Listeners: critically evaluate the
positions that speakers advocate and do not
blindly accept positions that may not be in their
best interest
 Communication is the process of creating shared meaning
 Participants are individuals who assume the roles of
senders and receivers during an interaction
 Senders are participants who form and transmit messages
 Receivers are participants who interpret messages sent by
others
 Messages are the verbal utterances, visual images, and
nonverbal behaviors used to communicate
 Encoding is the process of creating messages
 Decoding is the process of interpreting messages
 Feedback is the receivers’ reactions and response that
indicate how a message is interpreted
 Channels is both the route travelled by a message and the
means of transportation???
 Mediated Channels is simulated presence made possible
through the use of digital technology
 Interference/Noise is any stimulus that interferes with the
process of achieving shared meaning
 Communication context refers to the environment in
which communication occurs
 Intrapersonal communication is communicating with
yourself
 Interpersonal communication is communication between
two people who have an identifiable relationship with each
other
 Small group communication is interaction that occurs in a
group of approximately three to ten people
 Public communication is communication with more than
ten people by on primary sender to multiple receivers
 Mass communication is communication produced and
transmitted via mass media to large audiences
 Rhetorical Situation is the intersection of the speaker,
audience and occasion
 Exigence is a real or perceived specific need that a speech
might help address
 Speaker is the originator of the speech
 Audience is the specific group of people to whom the
speech is directed
 Audience analysis is the study of intended audience for
your speech
 Audience adaptation is the process of tailoring a speech to
the needs, interests and expectations of its listeners
 Occasion is the expected purpose of and setting (location)
for the speech
 Setting is the location where the speech will be given
 Ethos is everything you say and do to convey competence
and good character
 Pathos is everything you say and do to appeal to emotions
 Logos is everything you say and do to appeal to logic and
sound reasoning
 Content is the information and ideas you present
 Effective evidence has sufficient breadth and depth.
Breadth refers to the amount and types of evidences you
use. Depth is the level of detail you provide from each
piece of evidence.
 Evidence is effective when it is logically linked to the main
idea it supports
 Listener relevance links are statements alerting listeners
about how a main point or subpoint is relevant to them
 Structure is the framework that organizes the speech
content
 Macrostructure is the overall organizational framework of
your speech content
 Effective macrostructure compromises of four elements:
the introduction, the body, conclusion and transitions
 Transitions are words, phrases or sentences that bridge
two ideas
 Microstructure is the specific language and style you use
within your sentences
 Speakers should use accurate, clear and vivid language
 Delivery is communicating through the use of voice and
body to convey your message
 The four elements included in the content of speech
are: the purpose and main points of the speech, as well
as the evidence and reasoning used to develop each main
idea.

Chapter 2
 Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking
 Cognitive Symptoms: negative self-talk
 Physical Symptoms: stomach upset, flushed skin,
sweating, shaking, light-headiness
 Emotional Symptoms: feeling anxious, worried or upset
 Anticipation Phase is the anxiety phase we experience
before giving the speech
 Confrontation Phase is the surge of anxiety we feel as we
begin delivering the speech
 Adaptation Phase is the period during which our anxiety
level gradually decreases
MANAGING PUBLIC SPEAKING APPREHENSION
GENERAL METHODS
1. Communication Orientation Motivation (COM) is
adopting a “communication” rather than a
“performance” orientation towards speeches.
Performance orientation is believing in the need to
impress a hypercritical audience with knowledge and
delivery. Communication Orientation is viewing
public speaking as a conversation with a number of
people about an important topic and getting the
message across.
2. Visualization is a method to reduce anxiety by
picturing yourself giving a masterful speech. It helps
you overcome cognitive and emotional symptoms of
apprehension arising from a fear of failure.
3. Relaxation exercise is the use of breathing techniques
and progressive muscle relaxation to reduce anxiety.
4. Systematic desensitization is an anxiety-reduction
method of gradually visualizing and then engaging in
increasingly more frightening speaking events while
remaining calm. It helps to reduce their level of
anxiety.
5. Cognitive restructuring is an anxiety-reduction
method of systematically replacing negative self-talk
 with positive coping statements. It consists of four
steps: 1. identify your fears 2. determine whether or
not each fear is rational 3. develop positive coping
statements to replace negative talk 4. incorporate
positive coping statements into your life so they
become second nature
 It is more effective because when a speaker has a
communication orientation, he/she focuses on getting the
message across rather than on hoe people might be
judging his/her performance.
SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES
1. Allow sufficient time to prepare: spend at least 10 days to
2 weeks researching, organizing and practicing your
speech.
2. Use presentational aids: it allows you to direct the
audience’s attention towards something else at carefully
placed points during your speech. This can diminish your
sense of constantly being stared at and the anxiety that ca
accompanies it
3. Practice your speech aloud: delivery becomes easier a d
you will gain confidence in your ability to present your
ideas to others
4. Dress up: feel more confident when we know we look
good
5. Choose an appropriate time to speak
6. Use positive self-talk
7. Face the audience
 8. Focus on sharing your message
 Speech plan is a strategic method for achieving your
effective speech goal
 Canons of rhetoric are five general rules for effective public
speeches. 1.invention (well-developed content) 2.
arrangement (clear organization) 3. style (appropriate
language) 4. delivery (use of voice, body and strategic
presentation aids) 5. memory (creativity and polish)
SPEECH ACTION PLAN STEPS ARE:
1. Select a specific speech goal that is appropriate to the
rhetorical situation
2. Understand your audience and adapt to it
3. Gather and evaluate information
4. Organize ideas into a well-structured outline
5. Choose, prepare and use appropriate presentational aids
6. Practice oral language and delivery style