Ways of public speaking for practice

1. The value of a course in public speaking.

A. What is communications? How many people does it take to communicate (intracommunications-one person)? Communication can be defined as the transactional process of creating meaning. Transactional means: the persons communicating are responsible for what occurs.
B. Why is public speaking so important?  1)for the grade..it's a required course. 2)It helps us succeed in nearly all professions. Five skills employers look for are: 1)Verbal skills 2)Interpersonal skills 3)Decision-making skills. The other two are: 4)Responsibility 5)Initiative.
C. Public speaking also helps you: 1)organize your ideas and thoughts. 2)develop information-gathering ideas. 3)present ideas to others. 4)listen critically to the ideas of others.
2. The similarities between public speaking and everyday conversation. (Identify the major similarities and differences between public speaking and everyday conversation)
A. Three goals shared by public speaking and conversation. 1)Inform people. 2)Persuade people (your idea, believe, to take action). 3)Entertain.
B. Skills public speaking and conversation share. (same as 1-C). 1)oOganize your ideas and thoughts. 2)Gathering ideas. 3)Audience-centered approach (tailor the message to audience). 4)Listen critically to the ideas of others (feedback).
Key differences between public speaking and everyday conversation. (Identify the major similarities and differences between public speaking and everyday conversation).
C. Public speaking is more structured. 1)Time limits on a speech...you have "rules." 2)Listeners don't interrupt (captured audience).
D. Public speaking requires formal language. 1)no slang, jargon, bad grammar. 2)The speech is "polished" we practice it.
E. Public speaking has a different delivery method. 1)You know, like, ahhhhh, really. 2)No distracting manners (hands) and verbal habits.
3-4. Nervousness is normal and how to Control it. (Discuss methods of controlling nervousness and of making it work for, rather than against, a speaker.)
A. It is normal to feel nervous (give examples).
B. Two major ways to develop confidence 1)take a speech class (coach). 2)practice.
C. Tips speakers use to control stage fright. 1)think positive. 2)concentrate on the audience and speech rather than being nervous. 3)take a deep breath before doing your speech. 4)work hard on the introduction. 5)use eye contact (be careful,,,choose the right one). 6)use visual aids to help occupy the audience. 7)get a good night sleep. 8)remember...the audience doesn't really know you. (listeners usually cannot tell how tense a speaker really is...). 9)don't worry about mistakes. 10)don't think about stopping or anything else.
5. The speech communication process (identify the basic elements of the speech communication process).
A. Speaker.
B. Message-the goal-the intended message must be the message that is actually communicated. 1)meanings (ideas and feelings 2)symbols (words and actions that communicate meaning
C. Channel. 1)radio, tv, microphone, letter, combination of... 2)in speech class it will be more direct (see/hear).
D. The listener (person receiving the message). E. Feedback (that speaker gets from listeners. 1)verbal and/or non-verbal.
F. Noise (interference). 1)External noise (traffic, microphone feedback, baby cries, telephone ringing, coughing). 2)Internal noise (within the audience- lack of listening or concentration, daydreaming, thinking of something else).
G. Situation - time and place when speech occurs. 1)Candlelight dinner or loud bar or convention center.
6. Beware of cultural diversity when preparing speeches
A. Diversity and multiculturalism may affect speeches. 1)Audiences are often different cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. 2)Be ware of the cultural differences
B. Avoid ethnocentrism 1)The belief that one's own culture or group is superior to all others. 2)Respect other ideas and cultures 3)When preparing...keep in mind the different ideas and cultures. 4)Bridge the gaps in language and cultural background 5)Be alert to the feedback you get from your audience.
C. Listeners also need to avoid ethnocentrism. 1)Listen without being critical 2)Don't reject speakers based on background.
4)Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. Label one side "Characteristics of an Effective Public Speaker. The other side label it "Characteristics of an Ineffective Public Speaker.
Circle your own strengths and weaknesses as a speaker.

(2)Characteristics of an Ineffective Public Speaker

Craft a speech that is likely to be well-received.

1. Lack of Preparation
• Ineffective speakers are unprepared for the speech they need to give. Audiences will surely notice if you are not prepared. No one expects your speech to be flawless or perfect, but if you are fumbling with notes that you have not organized ahead of time, this will be noticed. Likewise, if you refer your audience to handouts that are unfamiliar to you, this will not go unnoticed. Lack of preparation takes attention away from your words and instead focuses it on your fidgeting and fumbling.

Reading Rather Than Speaking

• Reading exclusively from your notes is a mistake. Notes in and of themselves are not necessarily a negative in public speaking. Notes can help you maintain your train of thought and make sure you don't forget important points, but don't make them into a crutch that you never stray from.

Constantly Apologizing

• Apologizing brings attention to things that your audience likely did not even notice. Unless something outrageous happens, apologizing for being nervous only serves to make you and the audience more aware of mistakes.

Poor Delivery

• Droning on and on in a monotone level of voice will not win you any fans in the audience. Standing perfectly still and talking while staring at the floor is another way to deliver your words in such a way that bores people and makes your content less interesting. You don't have to be flawless in how you present your material, but an impersonal and robotic presentation is not appealing for listeners.

Absent or Misused Humour

• Poorly delivered humor can offend your listeners and make place them in an adversarial position. Too many unfunny or overly corny jokes can fall flat and make you appear pitiable or buffoonish.

Not Practicing

Without practice, your presentation is not likely to find a natural rhythm with logical pausing points for questions or passing around handouts. If you have not read through the material ahead of time, Without practice, your presentation is not likely to find a natural rhythm with logical pausing points for questions or passing around handouts. If you have not read through the material ahead of time,

(3) CHARACTERISTICS OF EFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Some effective speakers are born communicators---they can break all the rules and still hit a home run every time. But anyone can adopt a few characteristics of great speakers to deliver effective remarks. Powerful speaking is an acquired skill---really a synergy of many skills, practiced until they are second nature.

Be Prepared

• First-rate speakers leave nothing to chance. They evaluate the event and the audience, decide on their message and objective, craft a great speech and rehearse it out loud until it is second nature. A trick known to the best speakers: read the speech when rehearsing from the exact copy---the actual pages---you will use at the event. And ask for a run-through if you will be using a teleprompter.

Know Your Stuff

• Effective speakers are masters of their subject. They know far more than a single speech can reveal. They are able to take the most relevant information---and improvise knowledgeably in a pinch. This is the secret to supreme confidence and the sense of authority that reassures an audience. Deliver this information in a clear and logical progression. Tell them what you are going to tell them, then tell them. Remind them of what you just told them. Give your audience plenty of opportunities to absorb your message.

Be Easy on the Eye and Ear

• The orators everyone pays attention to speak in pleasing, moderate, conversational tones, enunciate clearly and project comfortably into the mic or to the back of the room. Work on your vocal quality and make sure you are breathing in a relaxed manner. Practice with a microphone so you can use it like a pro. Wear clothing appropriate to the occasion and be sure it's not too tight, too short, too bright or too patterned (for TV cameras---some checks and stripes don't tape well). Check your posture and develop a secure, confident stance that does not involve slouching or leaning on the podium.

Love Your Subject, Laugh at Yourself

• Show your enthusiasm for the event and for your subject. Passion is persuasive. The best speakers convert people with the power of their own belief. But they balance that intensity with mild, self-deprecating humor. A humorous opening remark puts an audience at ease and that audience is primed to believe the message they hear.

(4) Elements of Effective & Ineffective Public Speaking

According to author and speaker John Maxwell, effective communication is all about connecting with an audience. Maxwell wrote the book "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently." Connecting is less about words than it is about emotional openness, genuinely caring for an audience, and communicating with the audience in a way that goes beyond words. Speakers who follow a few principles connect well.


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1.     Be an Expert

o    Preparation creates confidence in a presentation, and in the presenter. A presenter is selected because of expertise. Demonstrating high levels of expertise is essential to holding an audience's attention and connecting with them. A public speaker who fails to prepare, or appears disorganized, will not connect well with his audience.

Humor and Stories

o    Humans are genetically designed to connect with one another's thoughts and feelings through humorous and vivid stories. Many great religious and political leaders use parables to implant lessons in their hearers. Along the same lines, many great speakers use humorous stories to connect their audience's mind and the heart and thus make a memorable impression. One mistake some ineffective public speakers make is relying on facts, figures and lists of accomplishments to impress their audience.

Speech Construction

o    A speaker should use verbal signposts through his presentation to direct the listener along the informational path. Using keywords such as: moving on, turn to, to elaborate, or digressing for a moment instruct the listeners as to what they are about to hear. Sales trainers advise their staff to follow this pattern: tell your listeners what you will tell them, tell them the information, and then tell them what you just told them. An inexperienced public speaker can drown listeners with information by moving through a topic too quickly.

Personal Interaction

o    If at all possible, a speaker should arrange his presentation to leave adequate time for personal interaction and audience questions. By leaving time for personal interaction, the speaker demonstrates his concern for his audience. Speakers who do not leave room for personal interaction might appear aloof or distant.

Read more: Elements of Effective & Ineffective Public Speaking | eHow.co.uk http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8153703_elements-effective-ineffective-public-speaking.html#ixzz1UOwo4OrR