ESSENTIALS OF SPEECH

What is communication?

Communication: an exchange of information that occurs anytime someone else sees and/or hears you

Encoding/Decoding

Encoding: Putting words together in phrases and sentences to represent feelings and ideas

Decoding: Listeners interpret words by sorting out ideas they create in their own minds

Important Aspects of Communication How loudly/quickly you speak How high/low your voice is Appearance

Considering your audience

Keep your audience in mind Messages: thoughts and feelings we

express Codes: Commonly agreed-upon

language and behaviors

Getting in the way of communication Noise

Physical: fan blowing, lawn mower, bells Psychological: audience is bored/distracted Physiological: Room temp, voice too loud/soft

Field of experience Evaluate your audience for their

knowledge/attitudes Context

Environmental/chronological factors Historical/seasonal/temporal setting Geographic location

Informal vs. Formal Communication Informal communication

Is usually spontaneous Examples: making introductions, talking

on the phone, answering questions in class, chatting with friends/family

Formal communication More structured, prepared in advance Examples: interviews, giving a speech,

taking part in a debate, theater productions

Nonverbal communication

Facial expressions Hand gestures Eye movements Head and body movements

(nodding, shrugging, shuffling) Posture Smiling or frowning

Choosing a topic

Choose a topic that interests you Find sufficient material on your

subject Make sure your topic is appropriate

to you, your audience, and the occasion

Make sure you have enough time to research the topic and that you have enough time

Analyzing your audience

Have some idea of what they already know about your topic

Decide how much background information to give

Generate interest

Credibility

Credibility: the perception that a speaker is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and dynamic

Listeners want to know you understand your topic

Listeners also want to know you have their best interests at heart and that you feel strongly about the speech’s content

Determining your purpose

Purpose: overall intention, the reason you’re making the speech

Three main categories of speeches Inform, entertain, persuade

Determine your purpose by asking yourself what reaction you want from the people who hear you

Creating the body of your speech Identify your main ideas

Choose between two-five (2-5) main points

Create your thesis Thesis: A one-sentence statement that

clearly and concisely explains what you’re going to talk about in your speech

Tips for creating a thesis Make sure your thesis is a complete

statement, not a fragment Form your thesis as a statement, not a

question Be sure your thesis does not imply that

you will discuss more that you can cover in your allotted time

Make sure your thesis has enough substance to distinguish your presentation of the topic from anyone else’s

Gathering materials

Use reliable resources! No Wikipedia Provide supporting materials to

explain/back up your ideas with evidence Look for:

Quotes Statistics Examples/anecdotes Definitions Song lyrics Poems Lines from plays/films

Visual Aids

Make sure the visual aid adds to what you’re saying

Practice with the visual aid Types of visual aids:

Photos Videos Graphics Selected objects pertaining to your speech Assistants Models

Introducing your speech

Get your audience’s attention with your introduction

Refer to the purpose of the speech Ways to grab the audience’s attention:

Pay the audience a general compliment Open with a story Refer to a recent incident Use a quotation Open with a novel idea or a striking statement Refer to a preceding speaker Ask pertinent and challenging questions Combine 2 or more of the techniques

Introducing your speech

Prepare and open the minds of your audience for the thoughts to come Important if the audience is hostile

toward your topic Indicate the direction and purpose of

the speech and to illuminate what end it will serve

Dullness, cliché ideas or language, false leads, and fillers have no place in an introduction

Introducing your speech

Your speech begins before you start talking

Starts with… Remaining calm and comfortable Remaining seated calmly Rising quietly when it is your turn to

speak Surveying the scene

Crafting your conclusion

Your conclusion brings together all the thoughts, emotions, discussions, arguments, and feelings

Your conclusion should make a powerful impact on the audience

No weak remarks!

Crafting your conclusion

Your conclusion must be… Carefully worded Carefully organized Carefully rehearsed Committed to memory

To deliver a great conclusion, your body, your mind, and your spirit must work together in harmony

Crafting your conclusion

Use direct eye contact, appropriate gestures and actions, alert posture, and your most sincere voice

Thank the audience for their attention

Hold the floor for a few moments in case there are questions or comments

Effective strategies in developing a conclusion Summary

Restate the speech title, the purpose, a particular phrase that you’ve used throughout the speech, a quote from literature that sums up what your speech has been aiming toward

Recapitulation Restate the points in a 1-2-3 order May become monotonous Can be highly effective when done

correctly

Effective strategies in developing a conclusion Using a striking anecdote, analogy,

or simile Can use them separately or combine

them into a summary or recapitulation Emotionally charged or idealized

statement of the thesis Pour emotion into restating your thesis

Powerful restatement of the thesis

Effective strategies in developing a conclusion Vivid illustration of the central idea

Paint a picture in the mind of your audience

A call for action from the audience Encouraging your audience to get

involved in your cause

Titling your speech

Your title should be… Provocative Brief Relative to your subject Interesting

Delivering your speech

Your speech should reflect your point of view and your personality

Two methods of wording your speech Rehearse aloud from an outline

Memorize the introduction and conclusion Don’t memorize the speech word-for-word Memorize the main points Recording yourself helps to see what changes you

need make Write your speech out in full

Make brief notes to refer from when giving your speech

Recording yourself helps as well

Preparing speaker’s notes

Put a few words or points on a card or sheet of paper

Prepare a full-sentence outline Notes should be a guide, not a crutch

Rehearsing your speech

Most speakers need 4-6 rehearsals Standing in front of a mirror helps

you to observe your posture and other body language

Videotaping helps for self-evaluation

Improving vocal quality

Proper breathing Nervous speakers breathe too shallowly Project your voice-breathe using the

muscles of your lower chest and abdomen

Breathing the wrong way leads to hoarseness

Articulation problems Problems speaking clearly Mumbling, dropping the ends of words,

mispronunciation

Improving vocal quality

Pacing your presentation Nervousness can cause you to speak too

fast Resist the temptation to get the speech

over with in a hurry Take a few deep breaths when walking to

the podium or the front of the room Keep your speaking rate steady regardless

of your nervousness Don’t sound monotone either Speak normally and conversationally

Understanding body language Body language consists of…

Movements Facial expressions Postures Gestures

Body language can be… Conscious: aware that you are doing it Unconscious: unaware that you are

doing it

Using visual aids

Make sure it serves a purpose Should illuminate one or more of your

speech’s main points Use color to emphasize details and to

compare and contrast Practice with your visual aid Make sure everyone in the audience can see

it Keep your visual aid out of sight until you

are ready to use it; when you are finished, remove it from view

Listening-Audience Dos and Don’tsDO DON’T

Arrive on time for the presentation and sit quietly

Roll your eyes and make faces

Turn off your phone or anything that makes noise for the whole presentation

Sigh or yawn loudly

Remain attentive Shuffle or fidget, tap your foot, crack your knuckles, drum your fingers

Take notes when appropriate Speak or whisper

Applaud the speaker once the presentation is finished

Eat or drink

Traits of a good listener

Relating what you hear to your own experience

Taking notes

Using prior knowledge to understanding new ideas or information

Using eye contact and good posture to show the speaker that you’re paying attention

Thinking of questions you would like the speaker to answer

Asking questions when it’s appropriate

Making associations and creating vivid mental images to help you remember the information

Analyzing your response to the presentation afterward

Barriers to listening

Physical and mental barriers Hunger Thirst Fatigue

Environmental barriers Temperature Noise Lighting Overcrowded conditions

Listener bias

Keep an open mind Being closed minded prevents you

from learning something new Try to remain as objective as possible

Taking notes

Jot down items the speaker emphasizes or repeats

Write key words and phrases Jot down questions to ask the

speaker

Evaluating the speaker

Oral evaluation Given aloud in front of the class An atmosphere of trust is most important Everyone must provide constructive

feedback Begin with something positive

It gives the speaker confidence When giving negative feedback, don’t point

out everything the speaker failed to do; choose 1 or 2 points that might be improved

Make suggestions Make your feedback as specific as possible

Evaluating the speaker

Written evaluation More detailed Can use a rubric

Being evaluated by your peers Keep an open mind Don’t get defensive Ask for clarification if needed

Evaluating the speaker

Evaluating yourself Look at the content of your speech and

your delivery Create a rubric for yourself (or use one

provided)