Introduction to Persuasive Speaking

1. Introduction to Persuasive Speaking Part 5: Overcoming Fear John E. Clayton Nanjing University, Spring, 2005

2. Syllabus 02/28 Orientation; Photos; Communication; Speaking types & purposes 03/07 Persuasion and reasoning; Peer Criticism 03/14 Speech 1 03/21 Writing process; Outline & components; Monroe Sequence 03/28 Movie: Remember the Titans 04/04 Overcoming fear; using an outline 04/11 Speech 2 04/18 Review of speech 2; 04/25 Selecting topic & thesis 05/02 HOLIDAY – NO CLASS 05/09 Researching & supporting material 05/16 Speech 3 05/23 Review of speech 3; Speech delivery tips 05/30 Using visual aids 06/06 Clean-up – final review and preparation for speech 4 06/13 Speech 4 06/20 Speech contest prep; Final exam; Evening – speech contest

3. Most People Feel Anxiety • What people fear most... • Snakes • Public speaking • Death

4. Why Are You Afraid? • You are at the center of attention • Lack of experience • Feelings of strangeness • Fear of rejection or embarrassment • Fear of looking stupid in front of others • Fear that your mind will go blank

5. Effects of Anxiety • Anxiety effects people differently. • You may... • feel your heart start beating faster • feel your mouth getting dry • get nauseous • feel like fainting • hear your voice tremble • feel your legs or body shaking • stutter or start speaking rapidly • ramble through the material incoherently

6. Five Steps to Overcome Fear • Be well prepared • Practice • Have a backup • Reduce fear of your audience • Relax yourself

7. 1. Be Well Prepared (1) • Leave nothing to chance • Lay out your strategy • Ensure all material is ready • Make contingency plans

8. 1. Be Well Prepared (2) • Know your material • know exactly what you are going to talk about • have a good outline of facts and information

9. 1. Be Well Prepared (3) • Know the Conditions • Check out the lectern and microphone • Visualize how you will be doing things • Going through this process will relax you & give you more confidence

10. 2. Practice Your Speech (1) • Practice alone • many times • speak out loud • speak looking into a mirror • stand in the corner • record your practice

11. 2. Practice Your Speech (2) • Practice before • friends • Gets you closer to the "real world" of speaking to a group • Even one person is good for this type of practice

12. 3. Have A Backup 3. Have a backup, in case you forget what you want to say.

13. 3. Have A Backup in Case You Forget • Prepare a "safety net" • Outline your speech • use paper or cards • Referring to notes is • generally acceptable, as long as you are not reading your speech. • You may never even use your notes, but they can reduce the “butterflies”.

14. 4. Reduce Fear of Audience (1) The more important the audience or the occasion, the greater your fear can be.

15. 4. Reduce Fear of Audience (2) • Negative approach • visualize the audience as not being all that important. • old trick: imagine audience is naked, or in clown suits -- the ridiculous image will make them seem less important. • Problem: the negative image may be reflected in your speech.

16. 4. Reduce Fear of Audience (3) • Positive approach • the audience is usually on your side • they want to hear what you have to say • it is just like talking to your friends

17. 5. Relax (1) Relax yourself just before you speak.

18. 5. Relax (2) • Take two breaths to settle you before you get out of your chair. • thank the person who introduced you. • count to 5 before you start speaking. • This will allow the audience to get settled and ready to hear you. • It is also a way to show that you are now in control.

19. 5. Relax (3) • Stress-Control Breathing • Centered in your abdomen, not your chest. • Stage One • Inhale air and let your abdomen go out. • Exhale air and let your abdomen go in. • Stage Two • As you inhale, use a soothing word such as "calm" or "relax”.

20. 5. Relax (4) • The Wave • Under stress, breathing and speaking can get uncoordinated. • To coordinate breathing and speaking, begin speaking at the crest of the wave.

21. Mini-Quiz • 1. Why are most people afraid to speak to a group? • a. They fear the audience will get angry at them • b. They are afraid of looking foolish • c. It is an excuse for their incompetence • 2. How can you gain confidence in your speaking ability? • a. Gather together a series of small speaking successes • b. Only speak before people you know • c. Have several alcoholic drinks before speaking • 3. How can you reduce fear of your audience? • a. Visualize them as friendly toward you • b. Don't look at them while you speak • c. Tell them you are better than they are

22. Use A Monroe Outline • Introduction (attention) • Attention Getter • Reveal Topic • Relevancy • Credibility • Thesis & Preview • Main point 1 - (need) Why is this important? • Reason 1 • Reason 2 • Main point 2 - (satisfaction) This is how we solve it... • Example 1 • Example 2 • Main point 3 - (visualization) "How great it would be if..." • Sample vision 1 • Sample vision 2 • Conclusion - (action) "This is what we have to do..." • Action 1 • Action 2 • Review Main points • Clincher

23. Use A Monroe Outline • Introduction (attention) • Attention: Statistic - young adult deaths due to drunkenness • Topic - The danger of uncontrolled alcohol sales • Relevancy – many of us know someone who has been injured under the influence of alcohol • Credibility – It has happened to me • Thesis & Preview – “Alcohol sales to young adults must be controlled, otherwise deaths will continue, academics will suffer, and costs to society will skyrocket”. My experience is only one of thousands each day. Young adults think it is “cool” to get drunk, but the end result is often a lifetime of misery and suffering. • Main point 1 - (need) Why is this important? • Reason 1 – Deaths of students • Reason 2 – Damage to academics • Reason 3 – Costs to society • Main point 2 - (satisfaction) This is how we solve it... • Example 1 – Establish new laws regulating the sale of alcohol • Example 2 – Create an advertising program to make students aware of the dangers. • Main point 3 - (visualization) "How great it would be if..." • Sample vision 1 – If only one life is saved, it will be worth it. • Sample vision 2 – Picture a new generation free of alcoholism • Conclusion - (action) "This is what we have to do..." • Action 1 – Contact leaders who claim to support progress in our society. • Action 2 – Establish a committee to make recommendations. • Review Main points • Clincher – I miss my roommate. He was my best friend. I will never see him grow up now, thanks to poor laws regulating the sale of alcohol.

24. Grade Sheet • Introduction (attention) 5 points • Main point 1 - (need) 5 points • Main point 2 - (satisfaction) 5 points • Main point 3 - (visualization) 5 points • Conclusion - (action) 5 points • ----------- • Total 25 points

25. Homework You should be almost finished with speech 2 3 minutes Type: argumentative Topic: some current event Presentation: from a Monroe outline (note – please avoid political or religious topics)