outline

OUTLINE Example

I. Eye contact is an important skill for public speakers.

A. People judge a speaker’s honesty and trustworthiness partially through

the speaker’s use of eye contact.

1. People distrust people who have “shifty eyes.”

2. Juries may decide a person is guilty because he or she won’t look at them.

B. Eye contact allows the speaker to perceive audience feedback.

1. Speakers can judge an audience’s interest by its nonverbal behavior.

2. Speakers can ascertain their listeners’ comprehension through their facial

expressions.

II. Three components of eye contact are essential to effective delivery.

A. Speakers should look directly at the audience.

B. Speakers should establish eye contact with the entire audience.

C. Speakers should look at an audience frequently.

III. There are three ways in which speakers can improve their eye contact with an

audience.

A. Speakers should talk from notes rather than from manuscripts.

B. Speakers should be familiar with their material so that they don’t have to look

continually at their notes.

C. Speakers should avoid “false” eye contact.

1. Glancing at the audience does not allow a speaker sufficient time to

establish eye contact.

2. Looking over people’s heads is not an effective way to establish rapport

with an audience.

3. Staring at one person or one segment of the audience makes the rest of the

audience feel excluded.