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 Engines
Online Libraries
 Libraries
Books & Reference materials
Periodicals & Newspapers
Data Bases
Government Documents
Organizing Content
 Chronological
 Topical
 Spatial
 Cause-Effect
 Problem-Solution
 Comparison- Contrast
Types of Outlines
Preparation Outline  Speaker’s Outline
 Introduction
Title & Topic
 Main Point
Specific Purpose
○ Support with Evidence
Central Idea ○ TRANSITION
Introduction  Main Point
Main & Sub-Points ○ Support with Evidence

Support/Evidence ○ TRANSITION

Conclusion  --REPEAT AS NECESSARY--

 Conclusion
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