Delivery
the presentation of a speech using your voice and body to communicate your message
A solid message chosen to accomplish specific goals with your audience, coupled with
a delivery style demonstrating energy and passion, should be your objective for every
speech
extemporaneous method
carefully prepared and practiced, but the presenter delivers the message
conversationally without heavy dependence on notes
This method places equal importance on the message and the audience, with the
speaker focused not on notes but on the ideas being expressed
extemporaneous literally means "on the spur of the moment"
Impromptu method
you deliver a presentation without notes, plans, or formal preparation and with
spontaneity and conversational language.
The word impromptu has Latin and French roots and means "in readiness."
The impromptu method encourages you to "think on your feet" without research,
preparation, or practice. Although you cannot practice your actual speech, you can (and
should) practice speaking on various topics without specific preparation.
manuscript method
you deliver your presentation from a script of the entire speech.
The advantage is that you know exactly what to say.
The disadvantages are that the written message invites you to pay more attention to the
script than to the audience, discourages eye contact, and prevents response to
audience feedback.
memorized method
is committed to memory.
This method requires considerable practice and allows ample eye contact, movement,
and gestures. However, it also discourages the speaker from responding to feedback,
from adapting to the audience during the speech, and from choosing words that might
be appropriate at the moment.
In other words, memorization removes spontaneity and increases the danger of
forgetting.
VOCAL ASPECTS OF DELIVERY
public speakers can say the same words in different ways to get the audience to
respond in various ways.
The way you say words creates emotion. The seven vocal aspects of presentation are
pitch, rate, pauses, volume, enunciation, fluency, and vocal variety.
pitch
is the highness or lowness of a speaker's voice—the voice's upward and downward
movement, the melody produced by the voice.
Rate
is the speed of delivery, or how fast you say your words. The normal rate for U.S.
speakers is between 125 and 190 words per minute, but many variations occur.
Your rate of delivery can be strategically used to build drama during your presentation.
Think about a great action sequence in a movie. Typically, the background music has a
more upbeat tempo to emphasize the action.
So, too, in a speech, your rate of delivery can be used to build excitement. Talking
slowly at a pep rally may curb spirit, but fast delivery can get fans pumped up. Varying
your rate of delivery can help you set certain moods as your speech develops.
pauses
an absence of vocal sound used for dramatic effect, transition, or emphasis.
vocalized pauses
are breaks in fluency that negatively affect an audience's perception of the speaker's
competence and dynamism.
The "ahhhs" and "mmhhs" of the beginning speaker are disturbing and distracting.
Unfortunately, even some experienced speakers have the habit of filling silences with
vocalized pauses.
Volume
the relative loudness of your voice.
Variations in volume can convey emotion, importance, suspense, and changes in
meaning.
When speaking more loudly we also tend to speak more quickly and at a higher pitch;
when speaking more softly we tend to be lower and slower. Thus, changes in volume
often happen in conjunction with changes in tone and rate of delivery
enunciation
the fifth vocal aspect of speech delivery, is the pronunciation and articulation of sounds
and words.
In everyday conversation we are informal, and our friends know how we talk.
In speeches, however, you need to think more carefully about how you enunciate the
syllables of words.
pronunciation
is the act of correctly saying words.
articulation
the accurate production of sounds—is the second part of enunciation.
Fluency
the smoothness of the delivery, the flow of the words, and the absence of vocalized
pauses.
Vocal Variety
This term refers to voice quality, intonation patterns, inflections of pitch, and how you
draw out spoken sounds and syllables.
gestures
are movements of the head, arms, and hands that illustrate, emphasize, or signal ideas
in a speech.
facial expressions
consist of the nonverbal cues expressed by the speaker's face.
Eyebrows rise and fall; eyes twinkle, glare, and cry; lips pout or smile; cheeks can
dimple or harden; and a chin can jut out in anger or recede in yielding.
eye contact
refers to the extent to which the speaker looks directly at the audience.
Staring down the audience is too much of a good thing, but staring at your notes is poor
delivery.
bodily movement
what the speaker does with his or her entire body during a presentation.
Sometimes the situation limits movement. The presence of a fixed microphone, a
lectern, a pulpit, or any other physical feature of the environment may limit your activity.
The length of the speech can also make a difference. If your speech is short, movement
may be less important.
For a speech lasting longer than a few minutes, movement can help keep audience
members more engaged.
communication apprehension
the fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated communication with another or
others
First, apprehension can stem from any type of communication.
Just as some people fear public speaking, others have significant apprehension during
interpersonal conversations.
Second, apprehension can stem from anticipated interactions with others.
In fact, much of the anxiety associated with public speaking stems from anticipation
rather than from the act of speaking itself.
public speaking anxiety
fear or anxiety associated with either actual or anticipated communication to an
audience as a speaker
skills approach
reducing fear by systematically improving presenting skills
positive thinking approach
using positive thoughts to bolster speaker confidence
visualization approach
invites you to picture yourself succeeding, as the positive-thinking approach does, but
with the addition of imagery.
relaxation approach
trains you to associate public speaking with positive thoughts.
Although you can do this by yourself, another person, such as a facilitator, usually
provides the relaxation commands.
The facilitator asks you to relax (actually lying down helps) and to think of a situation in
which you are totally unstressed.
The facilitator links your relaxed state to a word, such as calm. After repeating this
process, you start relaxing whenever you hear the word
self-managed approach
reducing the fear of presenting with self-diagnosis and a variety of therapies
visual resources
are any items that can be seen by an audience for the purpose of reinforcing a
message, from the way you dress, to words on a dry-erase board, to items you bring in
for a demonstration.
Visual resources lose their effectiveness if they are not integrated effectively into your
presentation.
Do not talk to your visual resources
Display visual resources only when you are using them. Before or after they are
discussed, they usually become a needless distraction to the audience.
Make sure everyone in the room can see your visual resources. Check the visibility of
your visual resources before your speech, during practice.
Leave visual resources in front of the audience long enough for complete assimilation
Use a pointer or your inside arm for pointing to visual resources. The pointer keeps you
from masking the visual, and using your inside arm helps you to avoid closing off your
body from the audience.
Rule of Thirds
divides the frame into 9 sections, points of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3
which simply assumes that the shot view can be divided into three imaginary columns
and three imaginary rows. Where the lines for these columns and rows intersect are hot
zones where focal points can be established. By using the hot zones strategically, you
can present information in a much more visually appealing way.
Delivery is how you use your voice and body to communicate your message to the
audience. There are four general methods of delivering a presentation:
The extemporaneous method, in which the speech is carefully prepared but appears
relatively spontaneous and conversational.
The impromptu method, which actually is spontaneous and without specific preparation.
The manuscript method, whereby the presenter uses a script throughout delivery.
The memorized method, which employs a script committed to memory.
There are various vocal and bodily behaviors you can use to improve your delivery
Vocal aspects of delivery include pitch, rate, pauses, volume, enunciation, fluency, and
vocal variety.
Nonverbal aspects of delivery include gestures, facial expression, eye contact, and
movement.
Most speakers experience nervousness before giving a speech. There are five general
approaches to managing your communication apprehension related to speaking
The skills approach requires taking steps to improve your competence as a speaker.
By improving your skills, you will gain more confidence.
Positive thinking can reframe fears into steps you'll use to improve your speaking.
The visualization technique lets you mentally picture yourself doing well during a
speech.
The relaxation technique, usually enacted by a trained facilitator, trains you to associate
public speaking with relaxing thoughts.
Self-management occurs when you focus on what your actual fears are and develop
techniques for addressing specific fears rather than the general condition.
Using visual resources in your presentation can increase interest in your speech and
help the audience retain more of what you say.
Three days after your speech, audience members typically remember only about 10%
of what you said if your speech does not include visuals; if you include visuals they
typically remember about 65%
Most speakers create unappealing slides because they do not follow general principles
of design when creating PowerPoint or Keynote slide decks. These design principles
can help you make clearer and more appealing slides:
Use images, not words.
Apply the rule of thirds to use various areas of a slide as anchors for people and other
objects.
Minimize details, so that your slide does not become cluttered.
Use multimedia resources to add interactivity, but practice with your materials several
times to predict and avoid problems.
Which method of delivery encourages you to improvise and speak without previous
research or preparation?
extemporaneous
impromptu
manuscript
memorized
impromptu
A disadvantage of a presentation delivered in the memorized method is
the need to create carefully prepared notes.
a lack of practice.
a lack of eye contact.
the removal of spontaneity and the danger of forgetting.
the removal of spontaneity and the danger of forgetting.
"Ummmms" or "aahhhs" that disrupt a speaker's fluency are termed
vocalized pauses.
enunciation.
articulation.
pitch.
vocalized pauses.
_______is the highness or lowness of a speaker's voice, and ________ is the
smoothness of delivery and flow of words.
Volume; rate
Pitch; fluency
Rate; vocal variety
Pitch; enunciation
Pitch; fluency
Gestures are movements of the head, arms, and hands
used to improve source credibility.
that appear rehearsed and out of rhythm.
used to illustrate, emphasize, or signal ideas.
that convey a relationship with the audience.
used to illustrate, emphasize, or signal ideas.
With regard to movement, the speaker should
pace back and forth.
move without purpose.
move backward when introducing an important point.
avoid turning his or her back to the audience.
avoid turning his or her back to the audience.
If you are nervous or anxious about giving your presentation, you may be experiencing
gestures.
communication apprehension.
cognitive modification.
audience adaptation.
communication apprehension.
Why are visual resources used?
Speakers do not need to prepare as much because they can just read their PowerPoint.
They are appropriate for all types of speeches.
People tend to learn and retain more when they both see and listen.
They are fun to watch.
People tend to learn and retain more when they both see and listen.
When using PowerPoint, you should
use a lot of text on each slide.
move the slides quickly, because the audience will get bored.
vary your slides to keep the presentation interesting.
utilize all color combinations.
vary your slides to keep the presentation interesting.
The rule of thirds divides a slide into how many hot zones?
1
2
3
4
4
The mode of delivery that allows ample eye contact, movement, and gesture but
discourages the speaker from responding to feedback is the memorized mode.
Choose one:
True
False
false
A memorized mode of speaking is considered easier than extemporaneous speaking
because you can read a copy of your speech.
Choose one:
True
False
false
Too much variance in pitch can detract from your delivery
Choose one:
True
False
true
An increase in the octave of your voice is an example of how your pitch can change
during delivery.
Choose one:
True
False
true
A speaking rate of 200 words per minute would be considered faster than normal for a
typical speaker in the United
States.
Choose one:
True
False
true
A normal rate of speaking for Americans is just over 200 words per minute.
Choose one:
True
False
false
A vocalized pause is a positive feature of delivery because Americans dislike breaks
and silence.
Choose one:
True
False
false
Volume in delivery is defined as the quantity or number of words in your speech
Choose one:
True
False
false
Enunciation is the pronunciation and articulation of words in your speech
Choose one:
True
False
true
Saying "goin'," "comin'," and "leavin'" is an example of an articulation problem
Choose one:
True
False
true
A person who is highly fluent is someone who uses a large vocabulary without
mispronunciations
Choose one:
True
False
false
Audiences perceive a speaker's fluency as a sign of effectiveness.
Choose one:
True
False
true
An early research study found that the audiences retained more information when there
were large variations in rate,
pitch, and voice quality.
Choose one:
True
False
true
When not gesturing, you should keep your hands in pockets or on a lectern.
Choose one:
True
False
false
A gesture in delivery is something that is said insincerely; for example, "It was only a
gesture, not the real thing."
Choose one:
True
False
false
Facial expressions can be indicators of emotion
Choose one:
True
False
true
Your eye contact should be spread among many audience members.
Choose one:
True
False
true
American audiences tend to appreciate eye contact, and eye contact tends to improve
source credibility.
Choose one:
True
False
true
Audience retention is approximately the same whether we tell, show, or show and tell
our message
Choose one:
True
False
false
Visual resources do not require documentation.
Choose one:
True
False
false
One disadvantage of a handout is that audiences can be trying to read it while the
speaker is talking.
Choose one:
True
False
true
Having four or more PowerPoint slides would violate the rule of thirds.
Choose one:
True
False
false
Visualization is a method for managing communication apprehension.
Choose one:
True
False
false
If a speaker presents ten points without visual aids, research suggests that a typical
audience member would recall seven of those points three days after the presentation
Choose one:
True
False
false
Prezi is a linear presentation approach similar to PowerPoint or Keynote.
Choose one:
True
False
false
You should minimize rather than maximize details on a typical slide used in a
presentation
Choose one:
True
False
true
The most common delivery approach, both inside and outside the classroom, is
A. extemporaneous.
B. memorized.
C. manuscript.
D. enhanced.
A. extemporaneous.
Vocal aspects of delivery include all of the following EXCEPT
A. pitch.
B. gestures.
C. fluency.
D. rate.
B. gestures.
Which of the following does pitch NOT do?
A. changes the meaning of a word or expression
B. affects what audiences perceive as good voices
C. alters the way an audience will respond to words
D. breaks the fluency of a speech
D. breaks the fluency of a speech
The normal rate of speaking for Americans is
A. between 60 and 100 words per minute.
B. between 125 and 190 words per minute.
C. between 150 and 200 words per minute.
D. between 175 and 225 words per minute
B. between 125 and 190 words per minute.
A vocalized pause is
A. always seen as a negative characteristic of delivery.
B. mostly seen as a positive avoidance of silence.
C. usually present when the speaker is highly fluent.
D. always present in extemporaneous speeches
A. always seen as a negative characteristic of delivery.
Enunciation is a delivery term that means
A. pitch and pronunciation.
B. pronunciation and articulation.
C. articulation and pitch.
D. pitch and pauses
B. pronunciation and articulation.
Dropping the "g" on words like "goin'," "comin'," and "leavin'" is an example of which
vocal aspect of delivery?
A. pronunciation
B. articulation
C. pitch
D. vocalization
B. articulation
Fluency is a delivery term that means
A. smoothness of delivery, a flowing of words, and the absence of vocalized pauses.
B. the use of a large vocabulary without errors in pronunciation.
C. delivery without articulation errors.
D. the use of projection so that all of the audience can hear the message.
A. smoothness of delivery, a flowing of words, and the absence of vocalized pauses.
Which of the following is NOT an aspect of the delivery concept vocal variety?
A. voice quality
B. intonation patterns
C. pitch inflections
D. correct articulation
D. correct articulation
Which of the following is NOT one of the four bodily aspects of speech delivery?
A. gestures
B. eye contact
C. movement
D. vocal variety
D. vocal variety
Which statement about eye contact is NOT correct?
A. Eye contact refers to meaningful attention to the eyes and faces of the audience
members.
B. Good eye contact can improve the speaker's perceived source credibility.
C. The value of eye contact with audiences and individuals is culturally determined.
D. There is no such thing as too much eye contact
D. There is no such thing as too much eye contact
Which of the following affects retention most positively?
A. showing and telling an audience the message
B. telling an audience the message
C. showing an audience the message through visual aids
D. having the audience visualize the message
A. showing and telling an audience the message
The mode of delivery that is used most often in the public speaking classroom is the
A. memorized speech.
B. impromptu speech.
C. extemporaneous speech.
D. manuscript speech
C. extemporaneous speech.
When you answer a question in class, you are using which mode of delivery?
A. manuscript speech
B. impromptu speech
C. extemporaneous speech
D. memorized speech
B. impromptu speech
One mode that requires practice; allows ample eye contact, movement, and gestures;
and discourages responding to audience feedback is the
A. memorized mode.
B. impromptu mode.
C. extemporaneous mode.
D. manuscript mode.
A. memorized mode.
In reducing communication apprehension, which approach trains you to associate public
speaking with positive thoughts?
A. visualization
B. relaxation
C. skills
D. self-managed
B. relaxation
Which approach to reducing anxiety would be best implemented through taking a public
speaking course?
A. visualization approach
B. negative thinking approach
C. skills approach
D. positive thinking approach
C. skills approach
Which approach to reducing anxiety would be best implemented through intrapersonal
communication?
A. visualization approach
B. mediation approach
C. skills approach
D. positive thinking approach
D. positive thinking approach
Good movement is
A. any movement.
B. appropriate and purposeful.
C. movement during the main points only.
D. pacing like a "caged lion."
B. appropriate and purposeful.
Which of the following is NOT true of using people and other living things as a visual
resource?
A. They can gain and maintain attention.
B. They may detract from the presentation.
C. They are easy to control.
D. They can provide good examples for the presentation
C. They are easy to control.
When using gestures in a presentation, you should
A. keep your hands in your pockets so the audience doesn't see them shaking.
B. make your gestures big and broad.
C. gesture with the hand holding your notes.
D. avoid practicing with them so that they are spontaneous.
B. make your gestures big and broad.
