How to approach public speaking

1. How to approach public speaking Oral Presentations in VCE English

2. Why give a Speech? • What is the purpose of your speech? • What are you trying to achieve? • Engage • Inform • Impact

3. How do you prepare an effective speech? • Understand the task – what do you need to do? • Present your interpretation of the context and how it is presented in your chosen text. • Have a clear interpretation with supporting points • Use a variety of evidence from the text

4. How do you prepare an effective speech? • Brainstorm your ideas for the topic • How does the text explore identity? • How does the text explore belonging? • What is your initial interpretation?

5. How do you prepare an effective speech? • Form a Theory • Clearly state your interpretation. • Consider the questions you must address from the Easter homework hand out. • What are your main points and what order will you present them in? • Is the progression of ideas logical?

6. How do you prepare an effective speech? • Flesh out • Develop supporting explanations for each point, referring to the text to support your ideas!

7. Structuring your Speech: Introduction • Introduction: • Greet your audience and introduce yourself • HOOK - Grab attention – unusual fact, emotive anecdote, statistic, quote, question, shock tactic. • State your purpose clearly • Refer to main points you will expand on, in the order you will make the points.

8. Structuring your Speech: Body • Body: Give the reasons that support your contention in a clear, logical order (like paragraphs) • Paragraph 1, 2, 3, 4: • State the point you are making (question you are addressing)(TOPIC SENTENCE) and signpost clearly (firstly, secondly, additionally, finally etc) • Give evidence: discuss how the text, the words, lyrics, characters, themes, events etc reflect the questions you are addressing. • Elaborate! Don’t just tell us that ‘Wolverine struggles to belong.’ Discuss why and how!

9. Structuring your Speech: Conclusion • Conclusion: re-state • Restate your theory • Refer to main points (briefly) • Finish with punch (POW): question, quote, prediction: eg. What have you learned about identity/belonging based on the text? Or how does it affect humanity overall?

10. How to deliver your speech • The 3 Ps: • Pause: use gaps in your speech to add meaning and emphasis. Wait before and after important points to ensure your message is being heard. • Pace: watch the speech of your deliver – if it is too fast, your audience won’t follow and your words will have less impact. Vary the pace to be interesting. • Pitch: Vary your volume, register, and intonation to maintain interest and emphasise different points. Don’t be monotone and DON’T READ! • Know your speech and avoid ums and aahs • Don’t giggle, laugh or apologise

11. How to deliver your speech • The Audience • The focus of your speech should be the audience. Don’t ignore them. • Make meaningful eye contact – Four Corners rule (ensure you direct your attention to all parts of the room, not just at the teacher) • Speak to them, don’t read to them

12. How to deliver your speech • Additional Resources • Use additional resources to support your speech • They shouldn’t detract from what you are saying • Visual texts should support the point you are making • Slideshows should have minimal words (10 per slide). • Words on the slide must be consistent with what you are saying! • Videos should be short (30 seconds) and relevant • Practice using your technology to ensure it runs smoothly. • No excuses for technology failure

13. How to deliver your speech • Non-verbal communication: • Posture: stand straight and strong, don’t slouch, sit, lean. Square your shoulders. • Body Language: Don’t slouch; keep your head up; open body (don’t cross arms or turn away). • Movement: Move purposefully across a room, if you wish to use the space, otherwise keep still, don’t shift your weight from leg to leg. • Gestures: can be powerful and meaningful, but must be intentional. Avoid hand movements that are distracting: tapping, playing with your hair, general waving, shrugging etc. • Eye Contact: make regular contact with individuals in all areas of the room.

14. How to deliver your speech • Cue Cards • Have notes as prompts for your speech, dot points and key facts. • Small enough to hold in one hand. • Don’t have an A4 page or strips of an A4 page cut up! • Key words will help you speak your ideas rather than read them • Do not write too much on one card, or write it too small – use as many cards as you need. These can help you from losing your piece.

15. How to deliver your speech • Rehearsal • ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!! • You need to completely know your speech and what you want to say. • Reading your speech will not allow you to pass the outcome • Use all your resources when practising (cue cards, powerpoint) • Practise in front of a mirror, friends, family. • Take critical feedback and improve.

16. How to deliver your speech • Believe what you’re saying: • Your audience won’t be interested if you’re not. • Ensure you know what you are talking about (or appear to be!). This will engage the audience.

17. What prevents people from making an effective speech? • Fear, nerves • Lack of Knowledge and rehearsal; underprepared; Not interested in the topic • Reading • Speed of speech (usually too fast) • Trying to give too much information without leaving the audience time to process and think. • Thinking you must be perfect • Think that the audience will be critical • Speaking to the teacher!

18. How to overcome these things • Practise, Practise, Practise