Communicating: Communicating: SpeakingSpeaking

Study Skills Series Study Skills Series Presented by General StudiesPresented by General Studies

Before BeginningBefore Beginning Understand the goal of the Understand the goal of the

assignment from the instructor’s assignment from the instructor’s point of viewpoint of view

Look at syllabus and try to link Look at syllabus and try to link the specific assignment to the the specific assignment to the overall goals of the courseoverall goals of the course

Ask questions to clarify Ask questions to clarify anything that is unclearanything that is unclear

Selecting a TopicSelecting a Topic

Look through your notes – what concepts Look through your notes – what concepts stand out as the most interesting to you?stand out as the most interesting to you?

Do some research on these concepts – Do some research on these concepts – determine how much information is determine how much information is availableavailable

Explore your personal experience Explore your personal experience Consider what topic would be the most fun Consider what topic would be the most fun

or would have the most future value for youor would have the most future value for you

Narrow Your TopicNarrow Your Topic

Avoid Topics that are:Avoid Topics that are:

Too largeToo large

Too obscureToo obscure

Too emotionalToo emotional

Too complicated to explain in the allotted Too complicated to explain in the allotted amount of timeamount of time

Do Your ResearchDo Your Research

Many speaking Many speaking assignments assignments require research to require research to enable you to enable you to state:state: FactsFacts FiguresFigures Background Background

information on information on topictopic

Good research Good research involves gathering involves gathering information from a information from a variety of resources variety of resources such as:such as: BooksBooks JournalsJournals Internet SitesInternet Sites Journal ArticlesJournal Articles

Who, What, How, When, Where, WhyWho, What, How, When, Where, Why WhoWho are you speaking to? What are their interests, are you speaking to? What are their interests,

presuppositions and values? What do they share in presuppositions and values? What do they share in common with others; how are they unique?common with others; how are they unique?

   WhatWhat do you wish to communicate? One way of do you wish to communicate? One way of

answering this question is to ask yourself about the answering this question is to ask yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you have successfully communicated what you have in have successfully communicated what you have in mind?mind?

   HowHow can you best convey your message? Language is can you best convey your message? Language is

important here, as are the nonverbal cues discussed important here, as are the nonverbal cues discussed earlier. Choose your words and your nonverbal cues with earlier. Choose your words and your nonverbal cues with your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-visual aids.visual aids.

  

Who, What, How, When, Where, WhyWho, What, How, When, Where, Why When?When? Timing is important here. Develop a sense of Timing is important here. Develop a sense of

timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as relevant to the issue or matter at hand. There is a time to relevant to the issue or matter at hand. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. ‘It’s better to be silent than speak and a time to be silent. ‘It’s better to be silent than sing a bad tune.’sing a bad tune.’

   Where?Where? What is the physical context of the communication What is the physical context of the communication

in mind? You may have time to visit the room, for example, in mind? You may have time to visit the room, for example, and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and visibility if you are using audio or visual aids.visibility if you are using audio or visual aids.

   Why?Why? In order to convert hearers into listeners, you need to In order to convert hearers into listeners, you need to

know why they should listen to you – and tell them if know why they should listen to you – and tell them if necessary. What disposes them to listen? That implies that necessary. What disposes them to listen? That implies that you know yourself why you are seeking to communicate – you know yourself why you are seeking to communicate – the value or worth or interest of what you are going to say.the value or worth or interest of what you are going to say.

Writing Your SpeechWriting Your Speech ALL famous speeches were written before ALL famous speeches were written before

they were delivered and became they were delivered and became memorablememorable

Always develop a thesis statementAlways develop a thesis statement Research your topic thoroughlyResearch your topic thoroughly Create an outlineCreate an outline Organize your points into an:Organize your points into an:

IntroductionIntroduction Main BodyMain Body ConclusionConclusion

Define Your PurposeDefine Your Purpose Know your goal.Know your goal. Are you supposed to:Are you supposed to:

PersuadePersuade

InformInform

EntertainEntertain

DebateDebate

Submit a thesis Submit a thesis statement and outline statement and outline to your professor to to your professor to get feedback on your get feedback on your progress progress

Deliver a Good SpeechDeliver a Good Speech RehearseRehearse

The time put into rehearsal usually makes or The time put into rehearsal usually makes or breaks the speechbreaks the speech

Look the PartLook the Part Dress to meet the expectations of the Dress to meet the expectations of the

audienceaudience Polish Your DeliveryPolish Your Delivery

Stand straight and breathe in a controlled Stand straight and breathe in a controlled mannermanner

Use Media EffectivelyUse Media Effectively Use stories, video clips, quotations, statistics, Use stories, video clips, quotations, statistics,

charts, etc.charts, etc. Finish GracefullyFinish Gracefully

Summarize what’s been covered and repeat Summarize what’s been covered and repeat objectivesobjectives

Public Speaking Need Not Be Public Speaking Need Not Be ScaryScary

Keep in mind…Keep in mind… Anxiety usually Anxiety usually

decreases when you decreases when you begin speaking.begin speaking.

Your listeners generally Your listeners generally aren’t aware of your aren’t aware of your anxiety.anxiety.

Some anxiety can be Some anxiety can be beneficial.beneficial.

Practice makes perfect.Practice makes perfect. Don’t think about it, Don’t think about it,

just jump into it!just jump into it!

I won’t be scared!I won’t!I won’t!I won’t!

Six Steps to Successful Six Steps to Successful SpeakingSpeaking

Step 1: Clarify your Step 1: Clarify your objectiveobjective..

Step 2: Analyze your Step 2: Analyze your audienceaudience..

Step 3: Collect and Step 3: Collect and organize organize your information. your information.

Step 4: Choose your Step 4: Choose your visual visual aidsaids..

Step 5: Prepare your Step 5: Prepare your notesnotes.. Step 6: Practice your Step 6: Practice your

deliverydelivery..

Be thankful you aren’t speaking with a

mouthful of stones.

Using Your Voice and Using Your Voice and Body LanguageBody Language

Don’t hide behind the Don’t hide behind the lectern or your notes.lectern or your notes.

Make eye contact.Make eye contact. Make gestures for Make gestures for

emphasis.emphasis. Pay attention to volume, Pay attention to volume,

pitchpitch and speed of your voice and speed of your voice

Enunciate clearlyEnunciate clearly Consider your Consider your

appearance: appearance: dress for success.dress for success.

Learn from Your SpeechesLearn from Your Speeches All great speakers suffer an occasional All great speakers suffer an occasional

bad performancebad performance Learn from experiences that don’t go wellLearn from experiences that don’t go well Commit yourself to:Commit yourself to:

better preparationbetter preparation Goal settingGoal setting Improved future performances Improved future performances

See if you can work out a second chance See if you can work out a second chance with your instructorwith your instructor

Keep it Simple:Keep it Simple:

When it comes to wording your message, When it comes to wording your message, less is more. You're giving your audience less is more. You're giving your audience headlines. They don't need to and are headlines. They don't need to and are usually not expecting to become experts usually not expecting to become experts on the subject as a result of hearing your on the subject as a result of hearing your talk. talk.

Your delivery of your speech or presentation will make or break it, no matter how well you've prepared and crafted your clear, concise message. Some useful tips for keeping your presentation vivid include:

• Use examples to bring your points to life • Keep your body language up-beat - don't stay stuck

behind a rostrum • Don't talk to fast. Less is more here too. Pauses are

effective. • Use a variety of tones of voice • Use visual aids.

Unforgettable Delivery:Unforgettable Delivery: