Communicating: Speaking

1. Communicating: Speaking Study Skills Series Presented by General Studies

2. Before Beginning • Understand the goal of the assignment from the instructor’s point of view • Look at syllabus and try to link the specific assignment to the overall goals of the course • Ask questions to clarify anything that is unclear

3. Selecting a Topic • Look through your notes – what concepts stand out as the most interesting to you? • Do some research on these concepts – determine how much information is available • Explore your personal experience • Consider what topic would be the most fun or would have the most future value for you

4. Narrow Your Topic • Avoid Topics that are: • Too large • Too obscure • Too emotional • Too complicated to explain in the allotted amount of time

5. Many speaking assignments require research to enable you to state: Facts Figures Background information on topic Good research involves gathering information from a variety of resources such as: Books Journals Internet Sites Journal Articles Do Your Research

6. Who, What, How, When, Where, Why • Who are you speaking to? What are their interests, presuppositions and values? What do they share in common with others; how are they unique? • What do you wish to communicate? One way of answering this question is to ask yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you have successfully communicated what you have in mind? • How can you best convey your message? Language is important here, as are the nonverbal cues discussed earlier. Choose your words and your nonverbal cues with your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-visual aids.

7. Who, What, How, When, Where, Why • When? Timing is important here. Develop a sense of timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as 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 sing a bad tune.’ • Where? What is the physical context of the communication in mind? You may have time to visit the room, for example, and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and visibility if you are using audio or visual aids. • Why? In order to convert hearers into listeners, you need to know why they should listen to you – and tell them if necessary. What disposes them to listen? That implies that you know yourself why you are seeking to communicate – the value or worth or interest of what you are going to say.

8. Writing Your Speech • ALL famous speeches were written before they were delivered and became memorable • Always develop a thesis statement • Research your topic thoroughly • Create an outline • Organize your points into an: • Introduction • Main Body • Conclusion

9. Know your goal. Are you supposed to: Persuade Inform Entertain Debate Submit a thesis statement and outline to your professor to get feedback on your progress Define Your Purpose

10. Deliver a Good Speech • Rehearse • The time put into rehearsal usually makes or breaks the speech • Look the Part • Dress to meet the expectations of the audience • Polish Your Delivery • Stand straight and breathe in a controlled manner • Use Media Effectively • Use stories, video clips, quotations, statistics, charts, etc. • Finish Gracefully • Summarize what’s been covered and repeat objectives

11. Public Speaking Need Not Be Scary Keep in mind… • Anxiety usually decreases when you begin speaking. • Your listeners generally aren’t aware of your anxiety. • Some anxiety can be beneficial. • Practice makes perfect. • Don’t think about it, just jump into it! I won’t be scared!I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!

12. Six Steps to Successful Speaking Be thankful you aren’t speaking with a mouthful of stones. • Step 1: Clarify your objective. • Step 2: Analyze your audience. • Step 3: Collect and organize your information. • Step 4: Choose your visual aids. • Step 5: Prepare your notes. • Step 6: Practice your delivery.

13. Using Your Voice and Body Language • Don’t hide behind the lectern or your notes. • Make eye contact. • Make gestures for emphasis. • Pay attention to volume, pitch and speed of your voice • Enunciate clearly • Consider your appearance: dress for success.

14. Learn from Your Speeches • All great speakers suffer an occasional bad performance • Learn from experiences that don’t go well • Commit yourself to: • better preparation • Goal setting • Improved future performances • See if you can work out a second chance with your instructor

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

16. Unforgettable Delivery: • 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.