Unit 1: The Basics of Public

Speaking

"According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two? Does that seem right? To the average person that means that if they have to go to a funeral, they'd be better off in the casket than giving the eulogy."-Jerry Seinfeld

What will this class do for me?

•Personal Benefits•School/Career Benefits•Social Benefits

Personal Benefits

•self-confidence•sensitivity to other people and other viewpoints•take into account your audience and listeners•learn the power of words and speaking--to build,

create, transform and hurt

School/Career Benefits

•Good communication is one of the top skills in demand by employers•More self-confidence in class presentations•It might inspire you to participate in a play/theatre

activity•Improve and refine your reading and writing skills•Become an active participant in your education•You will learn the fine art of persuasion (getting

people to do what YOU want them to do)

Social Benefits

•Advocacy--standing up for what you need or want•Will teach you how to seek social justice in a

productive way•It is the nature of humanity to form groups--oral

communication is key to these groups

The Vocabulary of Forensics

Forensics: art and science of public speaking  rhetoric: art of speaking or writing effectively  

The Vocabulary of Forensics

 Aristotle: Ancient Greek philosopher and teacher, developed the art of rhetoric.

The Vocabulary of Forensics

Message: information that a speaker is relaying to his/her audience  Listener: the audience of a speaker and receiver of a message  Feedback: the verbal and non-verbal responses of an audience to a message   

The Vocabulary of Forensics

Speaker: a person giving a speech or relaying information to an audience  Interpersonal: communication between two people  Mass Media: Type of media designed to reach a large audience     Ex: newspaper, TV

The Rhetorical Triangle

                                            

 Emotional (Pathos):Persuasion using emotion.

           Ethical           (Ethos): Persuasion using credibility, status, or trust.

Logical(Logos): Persuasion using logic, facts, statistics.

Rational (Logical) Types of Evidence

Emotional (Pathetic)Types of Evidence

Ethical (Ethos)Types of Evidence

Facts "Higher" Emotions Trustworthiness

Case studies Generosity Credibility

Experiments Love Expert Testimony

Statistics Reliable sources

Anecdotes "Base" Emotions Fairness

Greed

Lust

The Speech Model

•Made up of four facets.oSpeakeroMessageoListeneroFeedback•Works in a cycle.•When one facet of the model does not function

correctly, the communication process breaks down. 

Speech Model: Speaker

•The speaker formulates a thought and translates that thought into words, which is communicated to the audience.

What can go wrong with the speaker?     Example: Speaker does not speak loud enough for all of the audience to hear her.

Speech Model: Message

•The message is the speaker's words, carried through air, and delivered to the audience.

What can go wrong with the message?    Example: The speaker's message is in a language that is not spoken or understood by his audience.

Speech Model: Listener

•The listener is the receiver of the message, and translates the speaker's words into thoughts.

What can go wrong with the listener?

Example: The listener is not paying attention. Instead of listening to the speaker, they are texting and playing games on their cell phones.

Speech Model: Feedback

•Feedback is given, either verbally or nonverbally, to the speaker.

What can go wrong with the feedback?

Example: The speaker does not do anything when half of her audience has fallen asleep.

Five Communication Arenas

•Self-communication: I communicate with myself.•Interpersonal communication: I communicate with

one other person.•Group communication: I communicate with two or

more other people.•Public communication: I speak to a group or am part

of an audience.•Mass Media communication: I am an audience to a

media presentation or I communicate through the media.

Stage Fright: Fact or Myth?

•Most people have some degree of stage fright.•The best speakers have learned to eliminate their fear.•A speaker's fear is obvious to the audience.•Speaker experience commonly decreases fear.•Fear affects women more than men•If the inexperienced speaker is nervous, it is more obvious to the audience through non-verbal behaviors.

Stage Fright: Fact or Myth

•Most people have some degree of stage fright. FACT•The best speakers have learned to eliminate their

fear. MYTH•A speaker's fear is obvious to the audience. MYTH•Speaker experience commonly decreases fear. FACT•Fear affects women more than men. MYTH•If the inexperienced speaker is nervous, it is more

obvious to the audience through non-verbal behaviors. FACT

What can you do about it? BEFORE

•Practice, practice, practice.•Do not underestimate the power of preparation.•Have a positive attitude.•Volunteer to go first or early.•Take a deep breath.•Visualize.

What can you do about it? DURING

•Take a deep breath.•Use notes (large font).•Slow down your rate of speaking.•Look to a friend for support (or your teacher).•Have a closer ready--"Thank you, are there any

questions?" always works.•Fake it till you make it.

What can you do about it? AFTER

• Reflect on the speech/presentation. What went well? What should I do better next time?

• Listen to the feedback of your audience/teacher.