Communication Final homework
PP111
PublicSpeaking.pptxPrinciples and Practices
in Public Speaking
How do you feel when you learn you “have to give a speech”?
What thoughts run through your mind?
What’s your best strategy to guarantee it will turn out okay?
You are not alone.
A 3000-person nation-wide U.S. study indicated…
Greatest Fear Percent Naming
1. Speaking before a group 41
2. Heights 32
3. Insects and bugs 22
4. Financial problems 22
5. Deep water 22
6. Sickness 19
7. Death 19
8. Flying 18
9. Loneliness 14
10. Dogs 11
TED Talks has risen to prominence as the leading on-line speaker forum. Let’s watch one by Julian Treasure. Ted Talk
What makes a speaker succeed in informing and persuading his or her audience?
Six Principles for succeeding in speech preparation and delivery.
A. Know your purpose: is it to inform? Persuade?
Demonstrate? Entertain? Celebrate? Figure this out, and stick with it. Don’t mix! What was Julian Treasure’s purpose?
B. Do your research: ideally, you should know more on the topic than what you cover in your speech.
The entire topic
What you researched
What your speech covers
Evidence that works: Which ones did Mr. Treasure use?
Facts
Statistics
Opinions from experts
Personal knowledge
Anecdotes & stories
Quotations
Definitions
Compare:
“Everybody knows that giving a speech can be really scary. I bet that most of you are afraid of standing in front of a large audience.”
“In a 3000-person study, 41% indicated that they feared speaking in public. This fear was mentioned more often than heights, financial problems, dogs and even death!”
C. Use sound logic and relevant emotions.
Consider using a Toulmin model to help you organize your thoughts.
Claim: Your main point
Grounds: Evidence to prove your claim
Warrant: the assumption that connects grounds to claim
In example form:
Claim: “People fear public speaking”
Grounds: “A 3000-person study indicated so”
Warrant: assuming the study was done scientific-ally and can be general-ized to all people
1
2
3
Remember that public speaking is about speaking words. Be graphic, not general.
How would you judge the wording/language these opening lines in the following speeches?
“The human voice: It's the instrument we all play. It's the most powerful sound in the world, probably.
“What do we do now?”
“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”
“We the citizens of America are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people.”
“Sunny ways, my friends, sunny ways. This is what positive politics can do. This is what a causative, hopeful – a hopeful vision and a platform and a team together can make happen.”
Organize your main points. Disorganization lowers credibility! What pattern did Mr. Treasure use?
Narration: organize by chronology.
e.g. My story becoming a recycler.
Spatial: organize by geography
e.g. Four places pollution is worse in B.C. and why.
Categorical: organize by topic/type.
e.g. Let’s explore reduce, reuse, recycle.
Problem – Solution: explain problem, offer solution.
e.g. The pollution in TWU’s Salmon River, and what we can do.
Statement of Reasons: give reasons for your claim.
e.g. Five reasons why you should compost kitchen and yard waste.
F. Practice, practice, practice delivery.
Myth: reading it over in your mind is sufficient.
Truth: Practicing aloud 3-4 times improves memory, wording, confidence, and dexterity.
An extemporaneous style (speaking from notes) best guarantees…
Vocal variety: register, rate, inflection, prosody
Eye contact: personal, confident
Gestures: natural and illustrative
And watch how you dress: a guide is to dress “one notch up” from your audience.
Formal (tuxedo, evening gown)
Semi-Formal (suit, evening dress)
Business Casual (nice shirt, slacks, blouse)
Informal (jeans, sleeved T-shirt, etc.)
Grubby (shorts, tank-tops, etc.)
How did Mr. Treasure do in his dress
for his TED audience??
Let’s use what we’ve learned to watch
Reese Witherspoon—Woman of the Year 2015
Discuss:
What were your initial responses to Witherspoon’s speech? How did it make you feel?
How was her delivery—vocal variety, gestures, dress, and so on?
Did she use any evidence to back up her speech—and if so, what?
What did Witherspoon’s main points seem to be? Does her view encompass the general attitude towards it, or has she tailored her speech to her audience?
What does her speech, topic, and delivery say about her as a person? How ethical was her speech?
Would you have done anything differently?
II. Keep in mind that speaking well is about more than “how to” technique.
It’s also about who you are. Are you a worthy speaker?
It’s also about your choices. Are you an ethical speaker?
You choose topic, evidence, how you will reason, word choice, style of delivery, and what you stand for.
Were Julian Treasure & Reese Witherspoon ethical in their speeches?
Discuss: Are the following public speaking practices ethical? Why or why not? Use one of the maxims to explain.
You make up a few statistics to pad your speech.
You speak so long that there is no time for Q & A.
You use super strong emotional appeals, and little logic.
You use super good logic, but show no passion.
You believe everyone should give blood, so you lie by saying “I’ve donated 3 times” but you haven’t.
You see a hotty in the crowd, so speak mainly to her/him, but not to the others.
Aristotle's Golden Mean: Communication is ethical if it reflects moral virtue. Moral virtue is that which is situated between excess and deficiency.
Situation Ethics: Communication is ethical if it is the most loving/just thing to do according to the morals of a given place or culture.
The End Justifies the Means: Any communication strategy (the means) is ethical if the speaker believes her goal (the end) is noble and just.
John Stuart Mill's Principle of Utility: Communication is ethical if it brings the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative: “Act only on that maxim which you can will to become a universal law.” If you’re okay with everyone doing something, it must be right.
Democratic Rationalist Perspectives: Communication is ethical if it mirrors “equality of opportunity, free and open discussion, equality of individuals, belief in the inherent dignity of all human beings, [and] the right of freedom of information.”
Dialogical Perspectives: Communication is ethical if it adheres to the rules of dialogue—an open, honest, trusting exchange; not monologue.
Covenantal Ethics: Communication is ethical if it allows people-in-community the voice to participate in their understood common good.
Jesus’ People As Ends: Communication is ethical if the behaviour acted toward others is the type of behaviour one would wish or hope for acted toward themselves.
