Become a Great Public Speaker

Lesson 16 Using Language "Style" for Your Speech

2011-09-29T23:16:00.004-06:00

The purpose of this lesson is to help you understand and learn how language style influences speech. Style refers to both the specific words choices and the rhetorical devices (techniques of language) used to express ideas and achieve your speech purpose.

Of course rhetoric doesn't doesn't move mountains, but it is the catalyst of action.

To quote one of my favorite authors Thomas Sowell, he states, “The big divide in this country is not between Democrats and Republicans, or women and men, but between talkers and doers.”

Good use of rhetoric creates action and results!

(Quote by me, Professor Brendan Dalley)

and one more quote by your mother.

"It's not what you say, it's how you say it."
(Usually said to you after getting in trouble for back-talking or teasing a younger sibling)

Giving a speech is not like reading out of a textbook.

Effective speeches:

Use familiar words, easy-to-follow sentences, and straight forward syntax. (Again, know your audience)
Make much frequent use of repetition and transitions than written text.
Are more clearly organized and have a specific pattern to help listeners follow along.
Are much more interactive and can be changed/altered by the feedback (verbals/nonverbals) of the audience.

Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS)

It is of utmost preponderance that the the assemblage apprehends your exposition; do endeavor for elementariness of your elocution.

In other words,
Make sure your audience understands you. Strive for simplicity of expression in your speeches.

Be Concise

Use fewer words words to express your thoughts.
Use contractions
(I'm instead of I am, he's instead of he is, Dalley's the best instead of Dalley is the best, etc.).
This creates a speech that is more easily understood and allows for better flow.

A Sentence Fragment (yes that was just a fragment)
It's okay to use sentence fragments and short phrases when giving a speech (but not in written language).

Often sentence fragments coupled with tone and body movement enhances the "feeling" of the speech and can give it some personality (your personality).

Repetition is the Mother of Skill and Remembering
Good speeches often repeat key words and phrases.
Repetition adds emphasis to main ideas, helps listeners follow the speaker's logic, creates a style to the speech.

Transitions
Transitional statements help the audience follow along with the flow and intent of the speech. The use of good transitions helps to connect main ideas to supporting details to other main ideas to other supporting details.
Think of transitions as street signs that are telling you where you are going (or in my case a GPS that talks in a sexy computer voice).

We Like Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns in speech (I, you, me, we, us) are great to use when speaking because it personalizes the speech and can help audience members connect to you as the speaker and to the message.

Use Culturally Sensitive Language you Hippy!
As a public speaker it's critical to be sensitive to cultural variations.
Here are some things to be aware of:
Biased Language. This refers to language that relies on unfounded assumptions, negative descriptions, or stereotypes a given group's age, class, gender, disability, geographic, ethnic, racial, or religious characteristics.
Colloquial Language. Refers to language/sayings that are specific to a certain region or group of people. Use of colloquial language can help you "hit the nail on the head" with your speech, or just might make look "dumb as a load of coal." If you're not getting what I'm saying than there's a good chance you are "as slow as mud" or just "too dumb to pound sand in a rat hole."
Need some enLightenment, Click Here

Don't be Sexist. Steer clear from referring to everyone as "he" or being generic when referring to stereotypical jobs. All nurses are not females, and not all construction workers are males. No longer is there such thing as "chairmen" it's now "chairperson." If you're struggling with this, then go ahead and struggle, but it's not going to change.

Sensitive to Disabilities. A disability does not define a person. There are many different types of mental and physical disabilities, so be aware of language that will accord dignity, respect, and fairness.

Choose Concrete over Abstract
Use concrete words that are specific, tangible, and definite. Use a Thesaurus and Dictionary to help you understand and use this.
The opposite of concrete is abstract. Abstract words are general and nonspecific. The problem with using abstract words is these words can be left to the interpretation of individual audience members, which may confuse and frustrate listeners.
If audience members start of ask questions in their head like, "What did he mean by that?", then they are not listening to what you just said.
Examples of Abstract Words:

old
bad
a lot
short
good
thing
big
long
new
late

Let me add some clarity by looking at Abstract vs. Concrete phrase.
Abstract: The road was rough.
Concrete: The road was pitted with muddy craters and basketball size boulders.

Paint a Picture with Words
Using vivid images to paint a mental picture for the audience will get their imaginations involved. Key words to help you do this: (taken from Dictionary.com)
Similes: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose.”
Metaphors: a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”
Analogy: a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based: the analogy between the heart and a pump.

Side Note-Stay away from overly used similes, metaphors, or analogies. These are also known as Cliches.

Select words that are colorful and concrete.

Here are some other for you to look up:
Personification
Understatement
Irony
Allusion
Hyperbole
Onomatopoeia

A good rule is to use words that appeal to the 5 senses

Use Appropriate Language
Enough said with this. Don't be using language that offends others.
NO *#$%#! SWEARING!

Ewes Language Correctly
Credibility can be lost when you use words incorrectly.
A malapropism occurs when one uses a word or phrase in the place of one that sounds similar but has a different meaning. "It's a strange receptacle" is wrong. It should say, "It's a strange spectacle."
Be careful of connotative meaning of words. A connotative word is a word that bear different associations or feelings when used. For example, you may consider yourself big-boned or husky, but not fat.

Be Confident and Convincing

Active Voice
Use and active voice not a passive voice. An active voice is when the subject performs the action. An example would be:
Passive: A test was announced by Professor Dalley for Monday.
Active: Professor Dalley announced a test for Monday.

Use I, Me, My
The "I" language will often create an impression of conviction and ownership. Remember, act credible, and by using "I" in an active voice, it can show confidence. People follow confident people. People believe confident people.

Avoid Wimpy Speech
Avoid phrases that show lack of decision, confidence or understanding, such as:
I'm not sure, but…
I may not be right, but…
I think….
This might….
….or at least I thought.
….wasn't it?
….is that okay?

Leave a Lasting Impression

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
As stated earlier, repetition is the mother of skill and remembering.
A form of repetition called anaphora, you the speaker repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. An example of this is Dr. Martin Luther King's speech, "I Have a Dream" where he repeats the phrase "I have a dream" numerous times.

Repetition reinforces key ideas and can be used to create a thematic focus of your speech.

Similar to repetition is alliteration.
Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close to a row) have the same first consonant sound. For example, “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-short” or “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” are both alliterative phrases.
Word of Caution- when alliteration is poorly crafted, it can distract from from a message.

Use Parallelism

Parallelism is not just a mathematical expression. In language it refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, or sentences in a similar form.

For more information on parallelism Click Here

In conclusion, a well crafted speech that uses appropriate language style and rhetorical devices will help you to convey a message that will be considered unforgettable.

Rhetoric can be the seed of hope that just may blossom into action and produce the fruit of results!
- Brendan Dalley

Questions

Why would it be important to use personal pronouns in your speech? Is there a time that you might not want to use personal pronouns? Why?
How is repetition helpful in a speech? How is repetition helpful in a speech? How is repetition helpful in a speech? How is…..okay, you got it, but when or how does repetition become harmful to your speech?

Lesson 15 Developing a Memorable Conclusion

2011-09-29T22:59:00.002-06:00

The purpose of this lesson is to help you develop a conclusion that will make you and your speech memorable. There is nothing more disappointing when giving a speech and no one remembers you or the speech, or they do remember it because it was LAME!

BE MEMORABLE IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS!!!

Basic Function of Conclusion

It's a signal to the audience that the speech is coming to an end.
It gives you a chance to summarize main points and goals.
It allows you to reiterate the thesis or central idea of the speech.
It can allow you to challenge the audience to respond.

An Ending Signal that the END IS NEAR!

Alert your audience that you are coming up to the end of your speech.
Use transitional words or phrases to help your audience know that the end is near.

Examples of concluding transitional words or phrases:
Finally…
Looking back…
In summary...
In conclusion...
To wrap it up...
To put this all in perspective…
Let me close by saying…
Once you've given the closing "signal" wrap it up and finish.
DO NOT do a "wait a minute, I forgot to say…"

The biggest mistake I see in speeches is poor time management and you (the speaker) realize that you're out of time so you quickly wrap it up.

"Oh it looks like I'm out of times, so I hope you enjoyed the presentation, I know I have, and…..thank you."

Doing this does not create closure for the audience. It's like sitting down and having a nice enjoyable dinner and then you have 30 seconds to scarf down your dessert and leave. Just doesn't feel good.

Summarize the Main Points and Reiterate the Topic and Main Points
As stated in earlier lessons (and grade school), you will tell them (audience) what you are going to tell them (the introduction), then tell them what you said you were going to tell them (the body), and finally, tell them what you told them (the conclusion).
By reiterating the main points, you help the audience remember the "good stuff" of your speech.

Challenge the Audience to Respond
What does this mean exactly? It means that whatever your speech is about you can challenge the audience members to put to use what you have taught them. This applies to both persuasive and informative speeches.

It is a call to action, whether to explore further what you shared (informative) or to change thinking/habits or go along with what you shared (persuasive).

A "Memorable" Checklist

Use quotations (similar to what you learned in Lesson 14). Quotes can come from poetry, lyrics, and pertinent statements from others.
Pose rhetorical questions to make your audience think about the speech topic and your speech purpose/intention.
Tell a story that illustrates or sums up a key speech idea or ideas.
Use appropriate humor.
Issue a challenge.
Make a startling statement.
Link back to the introduction to give the audience a sense of having come full circle.

In closing I would like to sum up some areas to remember when preparing for a conclusion (Hey, did you catch that? I just used a transition statement to move into the conclusion of this lesson).
Ask yourself these questions: Does my conclusion...

alert the audience the the speech is coming to an end?
actually come to an end when I give the signal? (Remember a conclusion should only take about 6-10% of you speech time).
reiterate the main points?
reminds the audience of the speech topic and purpose?
challenge the audience to respond to your ideas or appeals?
provide a sense of closure and make a lasting impression?

If you have done these things well, you will be memorable!

Questions

How can posing a rhetorical question help your speech be memorable?
Think of a time that you listened to a speech that ended abruptly or someone that just quickly ended a conversation with you. How did it make you feel? Why is this important to understand?
What's more important, a first impression or a last impression? Explain.

Lesson 14 Developing the Introduction to Your Speech

2011-09-27T18:01:00.002-06:00

This lesson is going to go over how to develop a great introduction to your speech. Having a good introduction can and will set the tone for the rest of your speech, likewise, a poor introduction will be disaster for the rest of your speech.

Purpose of Introduction

Capture the audiences attention

A good introduction will do the following:

It will arouse the audience's attention and make them want to listen to you.
It will introduce your topic, purpose and intention.
It will preview what you are going to tell them.
It will motivate your audience.
It will make the topic relevant to the audience.

How to Capture the Audiences Attention

Lead with a quote.

Not just any quote, but a quote that will resonate with your audience (remember- know your audience). A quote can come from a variety of sources- poetry, literature, film, or from an individual.

JUST MAKE SURE IT'S APPROPRIATE AND CLEAN.

REMEMBER- Inappropriate jokes or quotes will lessen your credibility.

Tell a story.

Noted speech writer and language expert William Safire once remarked that stories are "surefire attention getters."
A good story can personalize and issue and help audience members relate to the topic (plus it humanizes you the speaker).
Something that will help you is understanding what an anecdote is. An anecdote is a brief story of interesting, humorous, or real-life incidents.
The key to successfully introducing a speech with an anecdote is choosing one that strikes a chord with the audience.

Pose a question.
There are two types of questions you can ask your audience- REAL or RHETORICAL.
A real question invites the audience for a response, whereas a rhetorical does not solicit an actual response but allows the audience to "think" about the answer.
Depending on the rhetorical question, you may need to explain to the audience that the speech will answer the question.
Other types of rhetorical questions are what I call positive response rhetorical questions. It is an question that you know the audience will answer or agree with. This is a great way to get the audience involved without actually having them respond.
There is also a mixture of REAL and RHETORICAL questions. It's a question that you pose (usually a yes or no question) and the audience will answer through body language (head nod, head shake, smile, or laughter).

The drawback to asking questions is if you get an audience that will not respond at all. This usually happens when one doesn't know who their audience is and the questions do not resonate with them.

Say something that "startles" the audience.
I'm not talking about making some random goat noise or something. To say something startling is introducing a fact or statement that is not highly known by the audience and (this is important) it is going to relate to your topic.

Example: Let's say I am going to talk about the Rules of Golf. I could start out with this:
"Did you know that you cannot putt with a pool cue? This is true, the USGA forbade the use of pool cues for putting in 1895 after a dispute came up during the U.S. Amateur."
It's startling because it's weird, it's strange, and it's not common knowledge.

Will Ferrell Always Makes Me Laugh

Make the audience laugh.

As I have said many a time, there is nothing that will build trust faster than by making someone smile or laugh. Humor is a powerful tool to establish rapport with an audience, but if it is used inappropriately, it will be the death of your speech.

Here's a great checklist to make sure you are using humor appropriately:

Is your humor appropriate to the occasion?
Does your humor help you make a point about your speech topic or the speech occasion?
Have you avoided any potentially offensive targets, such as race, gender, or religion?
Is your humor likely to insult or demean anyone?
Will the audience understand your humor?
Have you given your humor a trial run?
Is your humor funny?

A great resource for humor is the Comedy Bible by Judy Carter.

Refer to the occasion.
Referring to the occasion just means that you give reference to the speech occasion and to any relevant facts about the event.
An Example of this would be if I were giving a speech at the annual Golf Hackers Executive Club Meeting. It would go something like this:

"I wish to express my thanks and to let you know that it is an honor to be invited to participate in the 10th annual Golf Hackers Executive Meeting. I would like to recognize those who have been awarded for their Hacking Excellence and I wish to your continued excellence in hacking."

Establish common ground.
Establishing common ground is done by showing and expressing interest in the audience and most importantly, showing how you and they are similar. This could be a common belief, gender, religion, purpose, etc.
Remember, establishing common ground should not offend anyone (present or not present) and it must have some emotional connection.
Saying that we are all Homo Sapiens doesn't really work.

Declare Your Purpose and Intentions
This goes back to grade school paper writing. The introductory paragraph must tell the reader what you are going to tell them. The same holds true for the introduction of a great speech; tell them what you are going to tell them. I would enhance that by really getting into the purpose of the speech and what your desired outcomes should be.

Example: "After my speech you will understand the mechanics of a basic golf swing and will be able to implement this new skill in lowering you overall handicap."

Tell the Audience What You are Going to Tell Them
Start by previewing the main points.
To continue with my golf swing introduction, I could go on to tell them that they will be learning the importance of grip and stance and how it affects the swing.

Give the Audience a Reason to Believe
Emphasize the topic's practical implications.
Show what the audience has to GAIN or LOSE by listening or not listening (Pleasure Pain Principle)

I would say that most of the time it is better to focus on a positive outcome rather than a negative outcome, but just remember that the feeling of a negative outcome can be just as (if not more) powerful than a positive outcome.

Establish Your Credibility
State your qualifications for speaking on the topic.
Briefly emphasize some experience, knowledge, or perspective you have that is different from or more extensive than that of your audience.

Preparing the Introduction

Prepare the introduction AFTER you have completed the body of the speech.
Keep the introduction brief and to the point (purpose and intention)
Review any of your research material that you can use in your introduction.
Practice and time the length of your introduction.
Introduction is only 10 to 15 percent of the overall speech.
Revise until you feel good about it and it has a good "flow" to it.

Questions

Why do you want to have a good introduction. What is the downside of having a poor introduction?
Can you still have a great speech after a poor introduction? Why or Why not?
How could helping the audience see what they have to lose (pain) be a good way to captivate your audience? Do you think it's best to use the "pain" or "pleasure" approach in your introduction? Why or why not?

Lesson 13 Outlining Your Speech

2011-09-22T21:49:00.006-06:00

Two Outlines- One Speech

Before I get into outlining your speech, just know that this process can make or break your speech. Outlining a speech takes some effort, but the payoff will be huge, so sit back, relax, and grab a Diet Coke because it just may take some time.

The Working Outline
A working outline will go through many revisions and changes (thank goodness for word processors).
A working outline is in sentence format.
A working outline will include everything you want to say (again, using full and complete sentences)

Click Here

Hint: I like to use a program called Dragon Speech Dictate to help me write out my speeches. I find it much easier to dictate what I want to say and have my computer write it out. I then can go back and make the revisions where necessary.

Sentence Format in Working Outline

Express speech points in full sentences.
Used to give you the speaker practice before the speech.
Used to make sure ALL key points/important events are covered in a specific order.
This is a "no-mistake" format.
Used commonly with a teleprompter.

Working Outline Checklist

Write out your topic, general purpose, specific speech purpose, and thesis (this will help you stay focused).
Establish your main points (optimally 2 to 5).
Add supporting points (minimum of 2 per main point).
Label each part of your speech (Introduction, Body, Conclusion).
Label and write out transitions.
Note sources in parentheses.
Prepare a list of sources, and append it t the outline.
Title your speech.

Speaking Outline
A speaking outline is in a phrase and/or key-word word format.

Phrase Format in Speaking Outline

Limited words used.
Key words to guide you.

Remember, if you have a lot of information/words down on your notes- YOU HAVE TO READ THEM ALL. It's a human nature thing. The more you read from your notes the more "unprofessional" your speech becomes.

Key-Word Format in Speaking Outline

This is the preferred format for notes (if you have to use notes).
Use one key word that is associated with the main idea.
The benefit with this format is it allows you to connect with the audience through eye contact and reading non-verbals.
You must be well-rehearsed to give an effective key-word format presentation (use sentence format to practice then move to practicing key-word).

Introduction and conclusions
Remember, a great introduction captures the audience and tells them what you are going to tell them. It is the preface to your speech.
You can break up your introduction into the following:

Attention Getter
Preview
Transition

Conclusion
A great conclusion is your final chance to make you and your speech memorable while telling the audience what you just spoke about. It is the epilogue of your speech.

Make sure you separate your introduction and conclusion from the body of your speech in your notes.

You can break up you conclusion into the following:

Transition to
Recap
Memorable Statement

As you get ready to present, here are some tips on using note cards (or sheets of paper if you have to)

Use note cards if you do not have lectern or pulpit from which you are presenting from.
Do not use hand gestures that are holding your note cards as this can be a distraction.
Leave blank spaces and margins on paper.
Use large print or font (bold) so it is easy to see (Use a Sharpie).
Glance at your notes- DO NOT READ FROM THEM, unless you have a long quote that must be read correctly and can't be memorized.
Number your notes
Do not staple papers or note cards together.
Slide note cards/paper under each other. DO NOT TURN OR FLIP THEM OVER.

PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE ahead of time so you can present without using notes a majority of the time.

Questions

Which do you think is the most important, the Introduction, the Body, or the Conclusion? Why?
What are some other "techy" things out there that can help you prepare and give a great speech?

Lesson 12 Types of Organizational Arrangements

2011-09-22T21:07:00.001-06:00

Types of Organizational Patterns

Before I jump into the different organizational patterns it's important that you have a good understanding of who who your audience is. Once you are clear on your audience, you can then select a pattern that your audience can easily follow.

The four basic organization patterns are topical, chronological, spatial, and cause and effect patterns.
There are others, but the main focus will be on these four.

This is a topical solution not a topical pattern

Topical Pattern: used to stress natural divisions or categories in a topic. Don't confuse this with a topical solution like Rogaine that is used for hair regrowth.
This type of speech gives you the greatest freedom to structure.
A speech organized topically has main points organized more randomly by sub-topics. Let's say you are giving a speech about enrolling in Professor Dalley's speech class. The first main point discusses teaching style; the second main point discusses work load; the third main point discusses application of information learned. In this format, you discuss main points in a more random order that labels specific aspects of the topic and addresses them in separate categories. Most speeches that are not organized chronologically, spatially, or causally are organized topically.

Chronological Pattern: used to describe a series of developments in time or a set of actions occurring sequentially.
A speech organized chronologically has main points oriented toward time. For example, say you were giving a speech on dressing for success, you would the have main points organized chronologically. The first main point focuses on selecting the right outfit for the occasion; the second main point focuses how to put on the clothes you picked out; the third point focuses on adding accessories to enhance your attire. In this format, you discuss main points in an order that could be followed on a calendar or a clock.

Spatial Pattern: used to emphasize physical arrangement.
A speech organized spatially has main points oriented toward space or a directional pattern. Let's say you are giving a speech on a large national company called Dizzle Corp. The first main point discusses the New York branch of the organization; the second main point discusses the Midwest branch; the third main point discusses the California branch. In this format, you discuss main points in an order that could be traced on a map.

Cause-Effect Pattern: used to demonstrate a topic in terms of its underlying causes or effects.
An example of a causal speech would look something like this. Let's say you are giving a speech about government welfare. The first main point would inform about the problems of the welfare system and the need for monetary assistance; the second main point discusses additional welfare projects and how they are draining the tax payer. In this format, you discuss main points in an order that alerts the audience to a problem or circumstance and then tells the audience what action resulted from the original circumstance.

Other Organizational Arrangements

Monroe's Motivated Sequence: used to motivate and/or give a call to action.
Comparative Advantage Pattern: used to show the advantage of one viewpoint over another.
Refutation Pattern: used to disprove an opposing claim to your position.
Problem-Solution Pattern: used to demonstrate a problem and then provide justification for a solution.
Narrative Pattern: used to convey speech ideas through a story.
Circular Pattern: used to demonstrate how each speech idea builds on the previous idea and in turn supports the main thesis.

Whatever format you decide, you want to make sure it flows well and follows the checklists provided in Lesson 11 and uses good transitional statements.

Above all, you need to make sure that the organization arrangement is a good fit for the audience.

How would you handle this audience?

Question

How would you decide what organization arrangement to use for your audience and why is it so important?
Have you ever found yourself telling someone a story and forget what you were trying to explain? Why do you think this happens and what can you do to make sure it doesn't happen?
Which arrangement pattern do you think would be the easiest to use and why?

Lesson 11 Organizing Your Speech

2011-09-22T20:49:00.005-06:00

Create Main Points that will Express Your Main Ideas

Organize Your Thoughts First

Use the Specific Purpose (Lesson 2: Preparing Your First Speech) and your Thesis Statement to guide you.

IMPORTANT!!! Your Thesis is your introduction to your speech and sets the tone for your speech.

Your Thesis/Introduction should Inform-Explain-Captivate!

Body of Speech-Main Points, Supporting Points, & Transitions

Main Points
All your main points will come from your Thesis Statement.
Limit your main points between 2 and 5.
Make sure that each main point focuses on ONE idea.
Write out each main point in a full "purposeful" sentence.
Make sure the main point statements support the Thesis Statement.
State your main points in a logical order.

Supporting Points
Supporting points do what they say, they support the main points.

IMPORTANT!!!Use at least 2 supporting points to support each main point. You may need more but don't go over-board.

Use different research/material from different sources for supporting points (This creates credibility and support to your speech).
Use research material as supporting points.
Make sure the supporting points align with the main point.
Make sure you are using well documented supporting points (especially if using facts and statistics).

FYI on Main and Supporting Points
Make sure each point supports the main or thesis. Think of it as a hierarchy (supporting supports main supports thesis).
Keep information in a logical, "free-flowing" order.
Keep transitions from main point to supporting point to next main point to supporting point, etc., smooth in its transitions.
Dedicate "roughly" the same amount of time on each main point and supporting points.
Good rule of thumb to have the Introduction + Conclusion = the same amount of time as the main body of the speech.

Check List

Are the most important ideas in your speech expressed in the main points?
Are any key ideas implied by your thesis not addressed by main points?
Does each supporting point offer sufficient evidence for the corresponding main point?
Do your supporting points reflect a variety of appropriate supporting material, such as examples, narratives, testimony, and facts and statistics?
Does each main point refer directly to your specific purpose of thesis statement?
Does each point focus on a single idea?
Do your main points follow logically form your thesis statement?
Do your supporting points follow logically from the main points?
Do you spend roughly the same amount of time on each main point?
Is each main point substantiated by at least two supporting points?

The Art of the Transition
Use clear transitions to move from one point to another.
Use full-sentence transitions to move from one main point to another.
Prepare the audience for transitions.
Use "mini-summaries" to help audience review what's been said.

Transitional Words and Phrases

FUNCTION	EXAMPLE
To show comparison:	similarly, in the same way, likewise, in comparison, just as
To contrast ideas:	on the other hand, and yet, at the same time, in spite of, however, in contrast
To illustrate cause and effect:	as a result, therefore, hence, because, thus, consequently, so the evidence shows, for this reason
To illustrate sequence of time or events:	first, second, third, following this, before, after, later, earlier, at present, in the past, until now, tomorrow, next week, eventually
To indicate explanation:	to example, to illustrate, in other words, to simplify, to clarify
To indicate additional examples:	not only, in addition to, let's look at To emphasize significance: most importantly, above all, remember, keep in mind
To emphasize significance:	most importantly, above all, remember, keep in mind
To summarize:	as we have seen, altogether, in summary, finally, in conclusion, let me conclude by saying

Here's a basic outline form

Thesis statement
A. Main Point
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
B. Main Point
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
C. Main Point
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
Conclusion

Questions

How does having supporting points from different resources give your speech credibility?
What is the benefit and drawback of creating two outlines? Have you ever given a speech that you "bombed"? What do you think you would do differently preparing for that speech?

Lesson 10 Using the Internet to Support Your Speech

2011-09-08T22:58:00.000-06:00

The purpose of this lesson is to help you use the Internet to find supporting material for your speech.

Using a Good Mix of Sources (Print and Internet)

Using a variety of sources will enhance the credibility of your speech. Although the Internet is considered an integral part of our life, it still carries a stigma of not be credible.

Why? Well there is so much information on the Web and most of it comes from unreliable and/or undocumented claims. It's okay to use the Web for some of your research, but not all of it.

Now I am going to confuse you. A majority of what we call "printed material" can be accessed online, but is not considered to be the Internet. Printed material can be thought of as material that is found somewhere on a shelf or database. Printed material is often well documented and researched based. A medical journal that is online can be considered printed material, but medical advice on someones blog or website is Internet material. Comprende? Good, let's move on.

Starting at the Library

Physical libraries or a library portal is a great starting point. As stated in Lesson 9, libraries have access to large amounts of printed material and databases.

Here's another great resource- Virtual Libraries
www.vlib.org

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking has been described as "purposeful reflective judgment concerning what to believe or what to do." This will play a role in gathering resources for your speech.

It's a good habit to ALWAYS question the credibility of a source. Here are some good questions to ask:

Is it well documented?
How long ago was the research done? (As we all know, research findings change. If you go back far enough in your research you can find where smoking was good for your health. Crazy)
How long ago was the site updated?
Will my audience accept the source(s) I am using?
Is there similar information/data that can also be found relating to this information?

Ask a better question and you will get a better answer.

What's the Deal with Search Engines

Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google Founders)

Let me get a little techy on you with search engines. Currently Google is the God of all searches engines and everyone wants to get ranked high so their site comes up first. Well those geniuses at Google (who I envy very much) have developed a fancy algorithm called PageRank (named after the co-founder Larry Page) to determine who gets listed above somebody else. I will not go into great detail here, but just know it's not always the most credible and relevant information you searched for.

Now the boys at Google are always working on making searches more relevant, and with the growth of social media there is going to be some more changes of how search results appear. Just know that you must use your critical thinking skills when clicking on any web site.

Here is something that will help you though. Any site ending in .edu or .gov has to go through a special process to get that extension. It's safe to say that a .edu is going to be a educational institution and .gov will be government.

Anyone can get a .org or any other domain extension.

Search Engine vs. Subject Directory

A search engine can be defined as a program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. Although search engine is really a general class of programs, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Google, Alta Vista and Excite that enable users to search for documents on the World Wide Web and USENET newsgroups.

Typically, a search engine works by sending out a spider to fetch as many documents as possible. Another program, called an indexer, then reads these documents and creates an index based on the words contained in each document. Each search engine uses a proprietary algorithm to create its indices such that, ideally, only meaningful results are returned for each query.

A subject directory can be defined as a directory that is comprised of links organized into subject categories by human beings. Subject directories are intended primarily for browsing; that is, the searcher may peruse a subject hierarchy in search of information. Many also feature a search program.

Common search directories include:

DMOZ (www.dmoz.org)
Yahoo! Directory (dir.yahoo.com)
Academic Info (www.academicinfo.net)

There are also meta-search engines that scan a variety of individual search engines simultaneously. Meta-search engines run "wide" but not necessarily "deep." Some example of meta-search engines include:

Dogpile (www.dogpile.com)
Metacrawler (www.metacrawler.com)
Ixquick (www.ixquick.com)

FYI: I use Metacrawler quite frequently!!!

"Tainted" Searches

Here's the quick and dirty with what I call "tainted" searches. All search engines make money of advertising. You will find that anytime you do a search there are two to three search results at the top (usually highlighted in a different color) that paid money to get there. Just because someone paid to get to the top, doesn't mean they are the best.

Advertising is big money and I'm all for it. In fact all the advertisements on my site are paid advertisements. Because I am listing them on my site, I get a portion of the money when someone clicks on an ad.

Many of these ads are great in what they offer and the information they give. As with all things, you just need to use your critical thinking skills when viewing a site.

If you are on a site and you see an ad that interests you, go and click on it. There just might be something that interests you and you are helping someone out financially.
Good Search Commands

There are a few tips that will help you find what you are looking for. Sometimes it is good to be very specific in your searches and sometimes it is good to be general.

If you are needing to be specific or need to refine your search because there is a billion returns on your inquiry, you can do the following:

Use quotation marks around the complete phrase your are looking for. The search engines will return results that have the complete phrase together. Example- if I type in mad cow in the search box I could get back anything that has the word mad in it and anything with cow in it. If I enclosed the words "mad cow" then the search engine will only return results that have those two words together.
You can use the Advanced Search tab located on the search engine to narrow down you searches.

Citing Your Sources

I use this site.
http://www.citationmachine.net/

Questions

What do you look for when you are searching for credible sources on the Internet? How do you know that the site you are on is a "credible" site?
Why or why not would you want to click on advertisements on a site you are on? Is there any benefit to you for those advertisements?

Lesson 9 Where to Find Supporting Material for Your Speech

2011-09-08T22:29:00.000-06:00

The purpose of this lesson is to discuss the different sources to gather material for your speech and to make you aware of what to look out for in terms of non-credible sources.

Primary Sources

Primary sources of research are considered to be the research that you gather through interviews or surveys. It's you going out and talking to people about the subject you are researching.

Interviewing
Interviewing deals with face-to-face, telephone, or email communication. The biggest mistake I see during the interview process is there are no prepared questions. Your job in conducting an interview is to get specific information. Here are some techniques that will help you.

Know your purpose/intent for the interview. What is it you are trying to find out?
Write down specific questions you would like to know. Word of caution though. You want to keep the questions "neutral" as in they don't direct the answer to a wanted response.
Forewarn the person you are interviewing by giving him or her a list of the questions you would like to ask at least 48 hrs in advance (email it to them).
Make sure the person you are interviewing know why you are interviewing them.
During the interview process, if you feel an answer given to you needs expanding, use the phrase (or something similar), "that's interesting, can you tell me more about _______?" or simply use a why, how, when, where, question to get additional information.
Don't be pushy.
Actively listen and restate what the interviewee stated to make sure you (and they) understood what was said.
Record the interview, but MAKE SURE THE INTERVIEWEE KNOWS IT'S BEING RECORDED!

Surveys
Surveys are similar to an interviews. You are gathering information from many individuals but you are not directly interacting with them. Just like an interview question is "neutral" so should your survey questions be neutral. Let the respondents be able to respond however they please. There are plenty of online services out there to help you with survey questions.

One tool that I use often is SurveyMonkey.com. It's a free tool that I can used to send out online surveys and gather information easily.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources of information include the vast knowledge that is already out out there that has been gathered by someone else rather than yourself.

Internet. We live in a time that there is more information available at our fingertips than ever before. REMEMBER, just because it's on the Web, doesn't mean it is true.

Library. Nothing like some "old school" research and a crazy looking librarian that just got out of jail.

Reference Desk. This is where you go and ask a Librarian to help you find a "unique mix" of print works and database subscriptions.
Databases. Think of a database as an online room with specific material/resources. There are often full text articles from credible resources. Your local library, school, or college should have access to a variety of databases.

Preferred List of Databases

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) www.eric.ed.gov
Scirus (Science specific) www.douglassarchives.org/
PsycINFO (Psychology/Psychiatry) http://www.apa.org/
American Rhetoric (Speeches, Sermons, Lectures, etc.) www.americanrhetoric.com
PubMed (Medicine Database) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
FedStats (Government Statistics) www.fedstats.gov

Books. Just make sure the author is credible and it helps if the material is researched based that is well documented. There are a lot of books out there that are not worth the paper they are printed on.
Newspapers and Periodicals. Again credibility is the key here. Unfortunately, the media has been getting a bad rap on much of their reporting practices (just making stuff up). Be careful and be critical of articles written in any newspaper and periodical. Use common sense. If something sounds outrageous, it probably is.
Government Publications. Most government publications are pretty safe. It's hard to say if what the government puts out is actually true or not or what crazy formula they used to come up with their numbers and statistics. I for one am not that trusting of what the government puts out.

SIDE NOTE AND PERSONAL OPINION. I have and MBA and I have taken courses in Economics. The formulas that the government uses to keep track of GDP and the National Debt or somewhat skewed. I just know if I ran a private business the way the government runs, I would be thrown in prison for illegal practices.

With that said, "we the people" use the data that the government provides as a "reliable" and "credible" source. It's what we have to work with, so do as you see fit.

Encyclopedias. As noted in an earlier lesson, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia is NOT considered a credible source because ANYONE can add to it. Personally, I think it's great and use it all the time. To get around the "Academia" issue of not being credible, I just trace the information back to it's root sources that are often documented and supply that information.
Other secondary resources include Almanacs, Fact Books, Biography/Genealogy references, Books of Quotations, Poetry Collections (often speakers use lines of poetry to support or enhance a speech), and Atlases.

Your Plan of Action

The old saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" fits appropriately here. You need to have a plan on how you will begin your research for your speech topic.

A general outline of a plan may look like this:

What is my General Speech Purpose? (Informative, Persuasive, Special Occasion)
What is my Specific Speech Purpose? What do I want to accomplish with my speech? How will I know that I have been a success? (Measurable Outcome)
What is my thesis statement?
Who is my audience and what do they already know?
What do I already know about the topic?
What type of supporting material does my topic call for?

Interviews or surveys?
Facts and statistics?
Examples that will clarify?
Stories that will capture attention and make a point?
Testimony that will support my argument/material?

What type of supporting material will have the greatest affect/impact on my audience (NEED TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE)

Interviews or surveys?
Facts and statistics?
Examples that will clarify?
Stories that will capture attention and make a point?
Testimony that will support my argument/material?

Documenting Your Sources

A credible resource becomes credible if it can be verified. Here is a site I use to reference my material when I write papers or when I give speeches.
BOOKMARK THIS SITE!!!

http://www.citationmachine.net/

I prefer to use APA citation rather than MLA.

Evaluating Credibility of Your Sources

I have discussed this in previous lessons, but evaluating the credibility of your sources comes down to using common sense and looking to see if the information being used is well documented itself. Well known and name-brand sources will also help you (i.e. The Wall Street Journal as compared to The Muskrat High Gazette). Going through a database or library reference desk will help you with finding credible and reliable resources.

Questions

Do you feel that using Primary Sources (Interviews and Surveys) is easier or better than Secondary Sources? Why or why not?
Have you ever had to interview someone? What was your experience with it? Why did you have to interview them? What would you do differently next time?
How can you perception of a source make it credible? What if you are working on a group project and there is a disagreement on the credibility of the source? What would you do to resolve this conflict?

Lesson 8 Developing Supporting Material for Your Speech

2011-09-06T20:20:00.000-06:00

In this lesson you are going to learn how to use different types of supporting material to give your speech credibility. Not all speeches need researched data and statistics, but all speeches need to be credible.

Dictionary.com defines credible as:

capable of being believed; believable: a credible statement.
worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy: a credible witness.

Synonyms of credible include: plausible, likely, reasonable, and tenable.

Important!!! If you are not a credible person yourself, it doesn't matter what you say or do, you won't be believed. Credibility of any speech begins with YOU!!!!

With that being said, let's look at the next area of making your speech credible.

Use different types of supporting material.

Even if you are an expert in an area, your speech will be better received if you use a variety of supporting material.

14 Clubs and some luck

To help illustrate this point, let's look at the greatest game ever invented…Golf. The rules of golf say that the maximum number of clubs one can carry in their bag is 14. If you follow golf, you will notice that pros do not always carry the same clubs to each tournament, but they almost always carry 14 clubs. They know that each course plays different, and different clubs will serve different purposes. A pro will not be a pro for long if they do not adjust their equipment to the courses they are playing, and there will NEVER be a pro who only carries around a putter only.

This same approach applies to giving a great speech. Different material is needed for different speeches, but not always the same material will be used. Most importantly, you will always need more than one item of supporting material to be successful.

Before discussing the types of supporting material, make sure when you use supporting material that you cite the resource in your speech. Citing a credible resource in your speech actually makes you the presenter more credible.

Let me give you a personal example of how this works. Recently I was the Master of Ceremonies for an event where a well known United States Senator was the guest speaker. My wife and I also had the privilege of sitting with the Senator and his wife at the head table. We had an enjoyable evening together discussing politics and life in general. There were many other guests in attendance and many of them saw me "mingle" with the Senator. At the end of the evening, my wife and I had our pictures taken with the him. Later these pictures found there way on Facebook for many more to see. I instantly gained credibility with many associates because of my brief association with this man. This may seem like a "superficial" credibility to you, but the fact is, perception of credibility is still a form of credibility (in fact, I would say it's the only form of credibility).

Using the "good name" of others will help you become more credible. If you fail to let the audience know that you were using material from someone/somewhere else, you will lose your credibility.

Lost credibility can be difficult to regain.

Types of supporting material

When using credible sources for your material, it is going to take some common sense. For some this may be a difficult task and you will need to rely on the help of well respected, educated persons. You need to realize that quoting from an article in the National Inquirer is not the same as quoting from an article in Forbes magazine.

NOTE!!! Unfortunately, Wikipedia does not count as a credible source of information in the world of academia. The reason is, Wikipedia is open source and anyone is free to go in and change/add information. I often use Wikipedia as a starting point in my research because most of the information there is cited. I just go to the cited material and make sure it's credible.

Choose the best supporting material

So what's the best supporting material? That depends on the type of speech you are giving and what your audience needs. Going back to my golf analogy, you pick the right club based on the shot. I know that if I am sitting 150 yards out from the green, I am going to use a 9-iron.

If you are giving a speech on the importance of education, you will need to use research from credible education journals, statistics, and maybe even a testimony or two.

Here are 5 types of supporting material and their purpose.

Examples. Examples are used to illustrate, describe, or represents things. Examples can be real or hypothetical. You will often hear it said as "For example….". Using examples helps by making ideas, items, or events more concrete and it helps to create interest.

Story. Stories can be personal, fictional, imaginary, about somebody else, etc. It's a story, but make sure you let your audience know it's a story and if it's imaginary, make sure the audience knows it's imaginary. If you don't, it's not a story, IT'S A LIE! Stories help to personalize and a speech and can allow a "dry" topic to become humorous. A story can generate interest and make your speech relatable.

Testimony. A testimony is a first-hand or eye-witness account of something that has happened. It can also be the opinion of someone. Testimonies can come from "experts" or from just an ordinary "nonexpert" person. Based on what your speech needs will determine what kind of testimony you want. Someone who has lost weight following your instructions does not have to be an expert in losing weight. On the other hand, if you are giving a speech on the benefits of a new weight loss drug, a doctor would be a more credible resource for a testimony.

Facts. Facts are actual events, dates, times, places that are documented and can be independently verified. Facts are great for providing evidence and backing up the main points of an argument.

Statistics. There is an old saying that goes, "Liars use statistics." The truth is, any information can be skewed, that's why it's important to use a variety of sources, especially if the information your are providing is considered controversial. Statistics are data that demonstrate relationships.

WARNING!!! There can be a tendency to "skew" supporting material data in a way that really does not portray what the data was intended for. A "half-truth" is also a "half-lie."

Lastly, not everyone is going to believe the sources you use for supporting material, and rightly so. There is a lot of information out there that is not credible. You may need to convince your listeners that material you are using is reliable and credible. As stated earlier, make sure you cite you resources orally and MAKE SURE YOU USE THE NAME OF THE REFERENCE MATERIAL IT CAME FROM. This may not be enough though so you will need to build up the referring source by describing why it's a credible source. This may take some research on your part. Find out how long the "source" has been around and who has been involved with the referring source (maybe it's a journal that has had famous scientists contribute to it). Just ask yourself WHY this is a credible source, and then go answer the question.

Questions

Credibility in public speaking often comes from exposure to public speaking opportunities. How can you increase your credibility in public speaking?
Click on 2 or 3 of the advertisements on this blog. Which companies appear credible and why? (This is a personal perception based question, but see if there are items that make the web site credible)

Lesson 7 Selecting the Right Topic and Speech Purpose

2011-09-01T23:32:00.000-06:00

There are really only two types of speech topics- ones that are assigned to you and ones that you get to choose.

Hopefully if the topic is assigned to you it will coincide with what the audience wants. If not, refer to the Guidelines for Appealing to Different Audiences in Lesson 6.

Regardless of the topic you will also need to define a speech purpose. There are three GENERAL speech purposes.

Informative
Persuasive
Special Occasion

Informative. An informative speech does just what it says, it informs. Hopefully it will assist in increasing the audiences understanding and/or awareness of the topic. If you are to give an informative speech, make sure you don't try to be persuasive about the information provided. Let the "facts" do the talking.

Think of it as walking up to a wall, painting some kind of picture, and then walking away without explaining why whoever is looking at it should like it.

Persuasive. Yes this kind of speech does what it says, it is meant to persuade the listener. The goal is to change the audience attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior on a given topic.

Referring back to the painting example above, now you are telling why this is a masterpiece and why such a piece of artwork should be enshrined.

Special Occasion. This type of speech is associated with a specific event like acceptance speech, funeral (eulogy), or some kind of celebratory event. These speeches are usually narrowly defined with what is expected. They usually are long in length.

Selecting A Topic (if you get to)

For many, selecting a topic to speak on is a difficult process because they feel there is so many things to talk on or they don't feel like they have anything to talk on.

Whatever side you are on, you must first take into consideration your audience (Lesson 6).

Once you are clear on your audience and you have a GENERAL speech purpose (inform, persuade, or special occasion), you can begin the process (and yes it can be a process) of selecting a topic.

Some helpful hints are:

Rely on your own interests and what you feel passionate about (again, remember audience).
Consider something you can do better than others or something that not a lot of others know that is interesting.
Consider issues/events going on around you locally or globally.
Consider controversial issues (You will need to prepare for this. I highly suggest that those new to public speaking stay away from controversial issues until they gain confidence and better skills).
Avoid boring or overused topics.

Brainstorm to Create Ideas

The one thing that will help you with brainstorming is to realize that there is no right or wrong way of brainstorming. There is no right or wrong word(s) you write down while brainstorming.

The key to brainstorming is getting anything and everything out on paper.

Here are some ideas that you may want to try (just do something):

Write out lists
Use word associations
Diagram your ideas by using a topic map.
Use the Internet to search for ideas.
Ask others.
Write down every thought (crazy or random as it is) and see where it leads you.

Define Your Topic and Purpose

Once you have an idea of the topic you want to speak on, start to narrow it down.

Begin by looking at:

what time constraints you will have
what the audience expects
what does the audience already know about the topic
what are the values, beliefs, and attitudes that you will need to take into consideration

(All Lesson 6 again)

Next come up with a SPECIFIC speech purpose. This is like the GENERAL speech purpose but it is written out in a sentence and explains what you are going to accomplish.

Example: To persuade the audience to only purchase TOMS shoes in order to help third world children with no shoes.

After you have a SPECIFIC speech purpose you can then develop a thesis statement. This statement will be a single, declarative statement that possesses the central idea of your speech. It goes along with SPECIFIC speech purpose statement.

Example: TOMS shoes is an organization that supplies thousands of new shoes to third world countries many children do not have shoes.

The thesis statement is your "grabber" or your "hook." A good thesis will set the tone for the speech. Worry about this later though, just get something down and come back and tweek it later.

After the thesis begin to develop main points of your speech. This is also known as developing the body of the speech.

Gather resources (information) you will need to add support to the main points. This is known as expanding the body of the speech.

Make sure you are adding relevant information. Use words that will enhance your speech and are appropriate for the audience (understanding).

Finally, add a closing statement that wraps up what you just said or reiterates a call to action. A good closing remark is memorable and creates something for the audience to ponder about or want to do. It leaves them on a positive, high note.

Questions

Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable?
What tips and tricks do you use to brainstorm? How does brainstorming help you?
Is it easier to have a topic assigned to you, or would you rather have the choice of choosing a topic to speak on? Why? When would you want a topic assigned to you and when would you want to choose a topic?

Lesson 6 Understanding Who Your Audience Is

2011-09-01T22:09:00.001-06:00

There is one all important item that makes public speaking, public speaking…an audience. If you don't have an audience then you aren't public speaking, you're talking to yourself.

In sales there is a saying that the customer is number one; the same holds true in public speaking.

In a MUST READ article by Shawn Doyle of Toastmasters titled
Tips for a Terrific Talk: Secrets from the Pros
states that "when speaking to an audience, it's not about you; it's about them."

In order to be a successful public speaker you MUST understand who your audience is by Analyzing them.

Your message is only as successful as how well it is received. In order to have the greatest chance of success, a great public speaker will do the following:

1, Prepare a message that will meet audience needs and wants.

It is important to realize that an audience will evaluate a message in their own way, based off their own perception, rather than your own attitude, beliefs, and values. There is skill (and practice) that is involved in preparing a message that allows you to keep your own style and convictions while still giving a speech what they want or need.

Usually you will be asked to give a presentation and this is where the discovery process begins. Ask lots of questions to the person who asked you or the person in charge of organizing the event. Some questions might include:

What is my topic and why does the audience want to hear it?
How much does the audience know already about the topic?
What does the audience (or those organizing the presentation) want to accomplish?
What's the goal or end result supposed to look like?
How will you know that you as the speaker have been "wildly successful?" (This is one of my favorite questions to ask myself)
What is the age, socioeconomic status, education level, religious preference, political preference, and cultural of the audience?

2. Evaluate the audiences attitudes, beliefs, and values toward message topic.

Knowing your audience attitudes, beliefs, and values goes back to asking questions in the very beginning and doing your homework. Here is a quick breakdown of each one:

Attitudes are our general evaluations of people, ideas, or events. Attitudes deal with how someone feels about something (i.e. "Public speaking is fun," or "Public speaking is hard").

Beliefs shape attitudes. Beliefs are the ways people perceive reality. Belief is the level a confidence that is felt about something (i.e. "I know/believe that Bigfoot is real"). Often belief coincides with faith, which is believing in something that has not been seen but is "felt" to be true.

Values actually shape attitude and belief. Your value system is your ultimate judgment about right and wrong and is shaped by culture, experiences, and knowledge.

Once you can determine your audience's core values, beliefs, and attitude, you can refer to them in you speech helping you build common ground.

3. Establishing trust with the audience.

Trust ties into what I stated above, but there is a secret that will help you build instant trust with an audience (or anyone). It's pretty concept, if you can make someone smile and laugh, they will trust you more than if you had not. Now once this trust is established you must build upon it to strengthen it.

4. Prepare a message at the level (understanding) of audience.

We are living in a time where there are some very distinct generations that affect understanding (language used, references, values, etc.) See Article on Generations.X, Y, Z and the Others.

5. Prepare a message at the level of knowledge of the topic the audience has.

Here are the guidelines for appealing to different types of audiences.

If the topic is new to the audience...Show how the topic is relevant to them by relating it to familiar issues and ideas the audience already holds a positive attitude towards.
If the audience has some knowledge about the topic...Explain the topic's relevance to them, use background information and defined unclear terms to help the audience connect, and stay away from jargon.
If audience holds negative attitude toward the topic...First establish trust, rapport, and credibility. Find areas of agreement rather than challenging the audience (they will win). Offer credible evidence of why topic is positive/good (not why the audience is wrong in their perception). Have good reasons why DEVELOPING a positive attitude is beneficial. It's all about baby steps.
If the audience holds a positive attitude about the topic...Reinforce their positive attitude with vivid and colorful language and stories.
If you are working with a captive audience...Pay close attention to time. Find areas of interest and relevance. Pay close attention to body language if possible.

6. Take in consideration the socioeconomic, religious, political, age, race, and cultural differences of audience.

7. Avoid stereotyping and using sexist language.

8. Aware and prepare for audience members with different types of disabilities.

Other Resources to Gather Audience Info

There are some good techniques that you can use to gather information on your audience, they are:

Interviews the person who set up the presentation or you can interview potential audience members. Interviews can be done face-to-face, over the phone, or via email.

Surveys or questionnaires. There are many different surveys or questionnaires out there (Google it). The best advice for using one of these it to make sure it supplies you with what you need. Ask a better question and you will get a better answer.

Another resource to learn about an audiences are published sources such as:

Pew Research Center
National Opinion Research Center (NORC)
Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
The Gallup Organization

Finally, Analyze the Speech Setting

Know the size of your audience and the physical layout of the setting. This will help determine how you can present and how personal (up-close) you will be.

Know the time and length of your speech.

A good rule of thumb is:

An award acceptance speech = 3-5 minutes.
A toast = 1-2 minutes.
A presentation to boss = 1-10 minutes.
An in-depth speech = 15-20 minutes.
A training = 30-45 minutes.

Questions

1. What generation are you and how is your generation (Boomer, X, Y, or Z) different from other generations? Why would it be important to understand the values, beliefs, and attitude of your generation and others? (See article link on Generation X, Y, Z and the Others)

2. What does it mean to avoid stereotyping and sexiest language? Have you ever experienced this (giver or receiver)? What is the fallout of such language?

3. In the article Tips for a Terrific Talk: Secrets from the Pros, which tip do you like and why?

Lesson 5 The Ethics of Public Speaking

2011-08-26T00:10:00.002-06:00

Referring back to lesson 4 about active listening and critical thinking, you learned that as you increase in those abilities and skills you will be better at discerning credible speeches and those that are not.

As a public speaker you have the responsibility to make sure that the information you use and provide is credible. This is where Ethics comes into the picture.

Ethics in public speaking refers to the moral conduct and responsibility we have in what we do and say.

As an "ethical" speaker, you get to take responsibility for the information and the words you use in your speech.

REMEMBER: EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS NOT TRUE.

Often you will need to decide if information is credible or not by using critical thinking skills and logic. If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Your ethical conduct is a direct reflection of your personal values. This holds true for all your audience as well so it is important to construct your speech with your and the audiences values in mind (see Lesson 2 in reference to understanding your audience).

There is a balance of free speech and there are responsibilities that accompany it. Ideas are to be challenged, inspected, dismantled and re-evaluated. People, on the other hand, are to be treated with respect, even when we disagree.

To understand more about values that are important to people, Milton Rokeach, a prominent psychologist, identified thirty-six values that are important to most people. You can link to it here:
http://www.mio-ecsde.org/protarea/Annex_4_3_values_lists.pdf

An ethical speaker will avoid speech that provokes people to violence, is hurtful to others reputation, or invades someone's privacy.

Believe me when I say that there are times that it would be satisfying at some level to be what I term as "brutally honest." This of course is in theory only, as I am sure I would feel bad when I tell the guy next to me at my daughters soccer game to shut up because he sounds like a bumbling idiot (well maybe I wouldn't feel that bad although I might get punched).

Sometimes you may have an urge to "exaggerate" or "distort" the truth some to make your speech more exciting. Don't do it. Just find a better, more creative way of expressing your point. A stretched, exaggerated, or half truth is nothing more than a lie. I compare that to someone saying they are "kind of pregnant" or "half pregnant." That doesn't work, you are either pregnant or you are not.

A good speech is one that contributes to the audience in a positive way. That's not to say that a speech must be exactly what the audience wants; it can allow the audience to question their assumptions or beliefs on a given topic, clarify a topic that has been misrepresented, or provide another view point.

The key in expressing these "alternative" positives is how you convey the message. Public speaking is learning to master the art of language.

Good ground rules for ethical speaking include what I learned from the Boy Scout law. I have added to each word with how it applies to public speaking.

A Scout/Public Speaker is:

trustworthy- speak the truth
loyal- be steadfast in doing what's right
helpful- helping your audience have a "meaningful" experience
friendly- smile be an enjoyable presenter
courteous- show respect for others beliefs, values, and opinions
kind- be friendly, generous, and considerate
obedient- do what you're going to say you're going to do
cheerful- be someone that makes others feel better
thrifty- Be resourceful
brave- It takes courage to speak in front of others
clean- Dress nice and always use clean language
and reverent- show respect for rights and responsibilities that come with Free Speech

Give credit where credit is due.

Just like much of my material comes from my experience, Toastmasters, a variety of books (see credit tab), much of your material will come from other resources.

When giving a speech, let the audience know where the information came from (if it did come from another source). Items to include would be:

Source type (magazine, Web site, interview)
Author or origin of source
Title or description of source
Date of publication or interview

Also let the audience know if it is a direct quote or if you are paraphrasing the information.

Any time you use a fact or statistic, it is important to cite where that information came from. Make sure the site is a credible site or source (not your Uncle Joe, unless your Uncle Joe is the head of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics).

Always check the copyright laws on material/information you are using.

The "doctrine of fair use" is a nice thing to know as it permits to the limited use of copyrighted works without permission for the purposes of scholarship, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, and research.

For more information on copyright you can visit the U.S. Copyright Office.

Question

How does the use of cited material help bring credibility to your speech?
Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others? Think about this one. What if your wife/girlfriend/friend asks you if she looks fat in the dress she is wearing, and she does.
What will (or does) make you a great public speaker? What "Boy Scout laws" are your strength and why?

Lesson 4 Active Listening and Speaking

2011-08-25T23:54:00.001-06:00

Being a great listener is just as important as being a great speaker (maybe even more). In the world of public speaking, if you don't have anyone that will listen to you then you have no reason to speak. Listening and speaking go hand in hand (or maybe ear to ear).

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: A skilled listener will always be a better speaker.

Active Listening is PURPOSEFUL LISTENING that will allow you to RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND, and ACCURATELY understand what is being said by others.

Each audience member listening to the same speaker is not going to pick up on the same message exactly as everyone else because we all use a process known as selective perception to gather information.

With selective perception:

We pay attention to what we feel is important. If it's important to you, you will pay attention. Of course, we don't all think the same things are important.
We pay attention to information that we can relate to through personal experiences and our background.
We sort and filter new information by connecting it to information we already know. This is a great "conscious" strategy you can use with new information you must remember; just link it something you already know. You can do this to remember names. Here's a good video that demonstrates this (in a funny way).

Czech Officials Fighting

The best way to learn Active Listening is to first understand what gets in the way of Active Listening.

Distractions: External, Internal, and Other Barriers to Listening

Squirrels are distracting

An External Distractions is anything in the outside environment that is competing against the speaker. It can be a noisy fan, a radio, a baby crying, a shiny object, a pretty lady, a good looking guy, a stinky smell, a squirrel, or whatever takes attention away from what is being said.

There is some control over these distractions and we'll get to that in a bit.

Internal Distractions is what is going on inside. This can be a worrisome thought, an excited feeling, a sickness, stomach issues, bad gas (creates external distraction), anxiety, or anything that you are thinking or feeling that takes your attention away from what is being said.

C'mon 9th Floor, Get There

From personal experience the hardest internal distraction when it comes to listening is when I hear something that sparks a memory or thought and my mind then drifts to that event. We all do this when we listen and even when we are reading. There's a good chance when you read "bad gas" you had a memory of some unpleasant odor that was released (either by you or someone nearby) that created a lasting impression. For that brief moment, you were distracted.

Other barriers in active listening include scriptwriting listening, defensive listening, laziness, overconfidence, and cultural differences.

Scriptwriter listening is when you are more focused on what the speaker is going to say next rather than what is being said now.

Defensive listening occurs when you decide (usually prematurely) that you don't like what is being or will be said (goes against your values or is challenging a belief or opinion). Here's great example of this occurring in politics.
Fedex Commercial

Laziness is another barrier. You are too lazy in your attitude to put forth an effort to actively listen.

A close cousin to laziness is overconfidence. You have decided that you already know (or know more) than the speaker. Rarely do we know as much as we think we know.
(This does not apply to me because I know everything I need to know except for the things I don't know that I will know when I finally know them)

Finally there are cultural differences that get in the way of active listening. A great example of that was my statement above about me knowing everything except for what I don't know…etc. If you don't know me personally, this may seem like a dumb statement. Those that do know me may understand that it's my dumb sense of humor. Those from another country, may not understand the statement at all. Often we use "slang" words and phrases that may only be understood within other culturals. In the South (United States) they often use the word "fixin" as some kind of decision, like "I'm fixin to go to the store." Where I come from, I add a "g" to the end of that word and use it differently, such as, "I'm fixing my bike tire that has a hole in it."

Hopefully I haven't confused you and made you "dumber than a bag of hammers." (Figure that one out)

Now the good stuff.

How to Become a Great Active Listener

Control the distractions that you can control. You may have some control over external distractions by preparing ahead of time. Get to the speaking event early so you can be close and not be bothered by others around or in front of you.

Control your inner distractions by consciously preparing for the speaking event.

Set listening goals- what you want to get out of the speech.
Listen for main ideas (and write them down).
See if you can pick up on the organizational patterns of the speaker.
See if you can pick up on the speakers nonverbal cues.
Take notes on those ideas, concepts, or delivery method that you liked or didn't like.

*A Note on Note Taking
There are many different styles to note taking. Find/experiment with what works best for you. Depending on the speaker and YOUR purpose, the note taking may change. One thing I discourage is writing in full sentences because it just takes too long. I personally like to use the 2 column method. I put a line down the middle of my paper and on the left side I write down anything I feel is important that the speaker says. On the right side I right down how it applies or is important to me (this is sometimes done after the speech).

The great thing about Active Listening is it make you a better critical thinker. In the world of business, critical thinking is highly sought after because those that posses good critical thinking skills can evaluate claims on the basis of well-supported reasons.

An increase of critical thinking ability allows you to discern between a speech that is valid and credible and one that is not.

Active listening and critical thinking are used together. When you use critical thinking you can learn to:

Evaluate the evidence used as accurate or not.
Assess an argument's logic (Is it solid logic based on facts or fiction?).
Resist the trap of believing everything you hear, especially if it's from a "perceived" credible source. It's okay to question and challenge an argument.
Consider multiple perspectives.

REMEMBER THIS- YOUR TRUTH IS BASED OFF YOUR PERCEPTION, AND YOUR PERCEPTION CAN CHANGE.

Active Listeners are Better at Evaluating Others

Often in the realm of public speaking you will be called upon to evaluate others. Because your are more aware of what is being said and how it is being said, you become a better at evaluating someone.

Keep this in mind when you are evaluating others.

Have a plan to evaluate. Have some kind of score card or rubric to evaluate from if possible (see Evaluation Form Examples).
Understand the level of experience of the speaker you are evaluating. A good speech for a novice is different than a good speech of someone who has been professionally speaking.
Be honest in your evaluation. Remember that you are evaluating from your experience and what you believe to be good or bad. Just be honest and fair.
Find positives to evaluate as well as some areas of improvement.
Separate the speech from the speaker. You may or may not like the individual giving the speech. Focus on the speech rather than the individual.
Give feedback that can be used. Often I see evaluations that say "You did a great job." Well that doesn't help. You need to explain how and/or why they did a great job. BE SPECIFIC.

In conclusion, I would say that becoming an active listener will help you in all areas of your life. Being a good listener takes practice, lots of practice.

Questions

How has active listening helped you personally or professionally in your life?
How has the lack of active listening hurt you in your personal or professional life?
Why is critical thinking so important to you? How can increasing your critical thinking skills help you get what you want in life?
Think back to the statement, "Your truth is based off your perception and your perception can change." What does that mean to you and how does it affect your listening skills?

Lesson 3 How to Overcome Speech Anxiety and Those Dreaded Armpit Tacos

2011-08-04T22:57:00.003-06:00

Everyone gets nervous their first time in front of a big audience, and many get nervous after their hundredth time in front of an audience.

Armpit Taco

The fact is, we all experience the emotion of anxiety, and we all experience it differently (like getting sweating armpits that soak through your shirt (aka Armpit Tacos).

The purpose of this lesson is to help you understand public speaking anxiety and what you can do to lessen those "jitters."

PSA (public speaking anxiety)
Yes that is a real term (at least in textbooks). By definition it is "fear or anxiety associated with either actual or anticipated communication to and audience as a speaker."

Experts have identified some potential causes of PSA. They are:
No experience in public speaking.
Having had a negative experience when giving a speech.
The feeling of being different from the audience.
Being the "center of attention."

Solutions to your anxiety

Everyone experiences anxiety differently and at different times throughout the speechmaking process. As you become more comfortable and advanced in your public speaking abilities, your anxiety(s) will also change.

Number one solution to control your anxiety in public speaking is…to always be prepared. Of course that is a good rule for anything you are doing in life-BE PREPARED.

How to BE PREPARED

Research. Know your topic, your audience, the environment you will be presenting in, etc. (See Lesson 2)

Practice. Repetition is the mother of skill and the more you practice giving your speech (in front of a mirror, in front of family/friends, in an empty classroom) the better you will be.

Expect Anxiety. Yes, you need to expect that you will have some butterflies. It's better to expect this feeling than try to deny it. Some feel anxiety before the speech (during preparation), some feel anxiety during the speech, and some will feel anxiety before and during. It's okay, it's expected.

Visualize. Yes this actually works and can help you while you are practicing. Close your eyes while you are practicing your speech. I have used this technique with numerous students and many have commented that it helped considerably.

Other Solutions to Speaker Anxiety

Fake it Until You Make It. This saying has stuck with me since I was a young buck in college. I was stressed out that I wasn't going retain everything from all of my studies. One of my professors told me that sometimes in life I will need to fake it til' I make it, in other words, be confident and act like I knew what I was doing until I did know what I was doing. Hey, it worked, and it still works to this day.
**This is not good advice for doctors and those who are in the profession of saving lives.**

Be Positive. Having good "positive" thoughts about speaking will relieve your stress. Have you ever heard the saying "Attitude is Everything!"? Well it's another one of those cliches that are true.

Create a Checklist. Some people feel better when they have a checklist to check off, such as

Appropriate topic selected.
Researched information for topic.
Audience researched.
Outline completed.
Practiced in front of mirror.
Visualized the speech.
Timed my speech (Time was_______).
Checked out all audio/visual equipment.

Learn to Meditate. I'm a personal fan of Dr. Wayne Dyer and his book/CD on relaxation called "Getting in the Gap."

Relaxation Breathing. Inhale slowly through your nose and let your abdomen fill up (your belly not your chest). Hold it in for five seconds and imagine little oxygen cells cleaning out your body. Exhale slowly while imagining all that anxiety leaving your body in a black cloud. Feel yourself being cleansed from the inside out.

Move Around. You can control anxiety by moving around when you talk. Make sure these are natural and "non-distracting" movements. You might just want to video yourself speaking to see what your body movements are.

You Get to Speak. Choosing to, or getting to speak is much more relaxing than having to speak. Enjoy the opportunity that you "get to" speak.

Dress for Success. It is a fact that your dress changes how you act. Dress nice, comb your hair (get a haircut), ladies get your hair and nails done (yep, I just gave you an excuse) and there is a good chance you will feel better. Oh yeah, wear clothing that will not show perspiration (Armpit Tacos).

Drink Water. It is acceptable to have bottled water when you speak (it will help with dry mouth). It is looked down upon to have anything else to drink. Your 64 oz Big Chill mug is not "cool" (actually, it's never cool looking in any setting). Your Starbucks Grande Machachino Whatever is also not considered professional. Coffee is casual not professional.

Finally, evaluate yourself appropriately. Don't be hard on yourself. List all the positives that you did during your speech and then list all the areas you "get to" improve on. It is "highly recommended" to always list more things you did well than those things you want to improve on. I recommend a 2:1 ratio- two positives for every one area of improvement.

Questions

What are some other techniques that you use to help with anxiety?
Describe a time that you felt confident in an activity you were doing. How did you feel, what did you do to prepare, and how can you recreate that feeling when you are going to give a speech?
What is your biggest fear in public speaking and how can you overcome it?

Lesson 2 Your First Speech

2011-08-03T22:43:00.000-06:00

Every journey begins with your first step and every great speaker had to start with their first speech. Your first speech is meant to “test” the waters and begin to get a feel for what public speaking is all about. Experts will tell you that the best way to overcome nervousness about speaking in public is to get up and deliver a speech (a short one preferably).

There are many tools and techniques in giving a great speech and you will learn those in later lessons, but for now you will just need to have a sense of the various steps involved in developing and presenting a speech. Really, preparing a speech is not very different than organizing and writing a paper (one you did in 5^th grade).

The Speech Development Process

Select a Topic. You can’t speak if you don’t know what to speak about. Your first speech (and most speeches) is about a topic that you are familiar with, and better yet, passionate about. Here are some questions that will help you discover a topic.

What am I passionate about?
What inspires me?
What is something that I am good at?
What is unique about me?
What is a good story about me?
What is controversial?
What is a hobby of mine?
If I could be doing anything right now, what would it be and why?

The “what, why, and how” statements are always good for starting the thought process. One of my sayings is, “Ask a better question, and you get a better answer.” This applies to so many problems in life, including finding a topic to speak on. There is a book that I highly recommend that deals with asking yourself good questions, it’s called The Question behind the Question. This is a book I have included in my resource library.

Analyze the Audience. The process of analyzing your audience is actually a highly systematic process that I will discuss in another lesson, but just know for now that it is important to know whom you are going to be speaking to. What is the audience’s age, gender, religion, interest, etc. What does the audience already know and how much do they know about the topic you have picked? The more you know about your audience, the better off you will be.

Speech Purpose and Specific Purpose. Once you have selected an appropriate topic and you understand your audience, you need to determine the purpose of your speech. There are two types of purpose, general and specific. A general purpose would be to inform, persuade, or for a special occasion such as a wedding or dinner event. A specific purpose is a declarative statement that states what you expect your speech will accomplish. An example would be: To persuade the audience that running is the best form of exercise.

Compose a Thesis Statement. A thesis statement clearly expresses the central idea of your speech. It follows the general and specific purpose you have already created. A thesis statement is often called a topic sentence.

Main Points. Main points are the primary concepts or arguments of your speech. Each main point directly relates to your specific purpose and thesis statement.

Supporting Material. Supporting material “supports” the main points. Each main point will need additional material to help clarify and give strength to your speech. Supporting material can be direct quotes, statistics, personal experiences, research, etc. The more reputable your supporting material, the more credible your speech will be. Remember, everything on the Internet is not true!

Outline Your Speech. Every speech is made up of three major parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: welcomes the audience, introduces yourself, introduces the topic and purpose, catches the audience’s attention and interest, and provides a clear transition to body of speech.
Body of Speech: introduces the main ideas of the speech and illustrates them with supporting material. The body of the speech is an organization of your ideas and is well suited for the audience. There is a transition statement at the end of the body to the conclusion statement.
Conclusion Statement: tells the audience what you just told them (reiterate the specific purpose and main points). A good conclusion leaves the audience satisfied and with something to think about. This is your last chance to be memorable.

Presentation Aids. Always consider what presentations aids will be used to make your speech more effective. You will also need to consider the venue you will be presenting in because it may not be equipped with the technology or layout for your presentation aids (PowerPoint, audio, video, displays, etc.).

Practice. Practice your speech ahead of time. If you can video yourself or record yourself (it will surprise you and may even embarrass you). You will want to practice the following: Volume of voice.

Speed at which you talk (most beginners will talk much faster when presenting, even after they have practiced).
Using words correctly (pronunciation).
Reducing your filler words (um, and, uh, and so, yah, etc.).
Smiling and using appropriate facial expressions.
Making eye contact with your audience.
Using appropriate body language.

Your first speech will be a lot easier than you think. Just remember to follow these simple steps as described and you will do fine.

Questions

What are some other tips and tricks that will help you prepare for your first speech?
Reflect back on a recent speech (or your first speech) you have given, what would you have done differently and why?
Do you really think picturing your audience naked or bald is a good technique to use (especially in your first speech)? Why or why not?

Lesson 1 Public Speaking Makes You a Better Citizen

2011-08-02T17:34:00.002-06:00

Have you ever been unsatisfied with how something is being handled (say, the national debt) or maybe there is some organization or cause out there that you wish you could support more. Well, being a better public speaker can help you become the “model citizen” you always wanted to be. Currently there is a lot of change that is happening in the world today, some for the good and some for the worse. We’ve all been affected by it and there is a good chance that there is something going on right now that really “irks” you.

So have done anything about it? Why not? Too many people think that they can’t make a difference; there just one person. Well I’m glad no one told that to Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Steve Jobs, or anyone else that has made a change in this world.

Rebecca Rimel in a speech given the Common Wealth Club in San Francisco said, “Imagine, for a moment, our nation in 20 years time if our citizenry remains as disengaged – and special interests remain as engaged – as they are now. We’d have a democracy that responds to the particular interests of the few over the pressing demands of the many…a society increasingly alienated from its government and each other.”

Pretty scary.

Well it’s time to speak up and let your voice be heard,but before you go and jump on your soap box on the street corner, realize that you will do a lot better if your rhetoric improves. This course in public speaking will help you do just that.

If you feel like you want to get involved (in something), here are some organizations that just might help.

Public Agenda – They provided non biased research that explains public attitudes about complex policy issue.

The Public Forum Institute – They also offer unbiased research on on a variety of important issues, such as oceans under stress and homeland security.

Project Vote Smart – They offer a wealth of information about political candidates and elected officials, including their voting records, campaign contributions, etc.

e.thePeople – They explore political issues and allow you to publish “conversations” for the e.thePeople community to read. Of course, this site does the same thing in a way.

Questions

How can public speaking help YOUR involvement in community/national events?
Who do you know that has made a difference (to you or someone else) because they spoke up? What did they do that helped make a difference?
Do you think our politicians use “good rhetoric?” Why or why not?

Introduction: The Benefits of Public Speaking

2011-08-01T17:32:00.003-06:00

Why should you become really good at public speaking?

The ability to speak confidently and convincingly in public is an asset to anyone who wants to take an active role in the classroom, workplace, and community. Mastering the skills of public speaking will accelerate your professional and personal goals.

Let me repeat that. MASTERING THE SKILLS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING WILL ACCELERATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GOALS.

Public speaking is a vital part of communication, and effective communication is critical to living successfully and happily in today’s society. There have been studies that have shown “a direct correlation between how well you communicate and how well you are satisfied with life.” Unless you live on a deserted island with a volleyball named Wilson, there is a good chance that you will need to master your oratory and nonverbal skills while incorporating and understanding the appropriate uses of rhetoric (if not for your personal and professional success, at least for your personal happiness).

Side note- Rhetoric is how we use (or study) language effectively and persuasively, or as the ancient Greeks said, “The use of words to change ideas.”

In a job survey performed by the National Association and Colleges and Employers, they found that the top personal qualities and skills rated by Employers included:

Communication skills (written and verbal)
Honesty/integrity
Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)
Motivation/initiative
Strong work ethic
Teamwork skills (works well with others)

As you can see, all of these tie into communication skills directly or indirectly.

Enhancing your ability to communicate through public speaking will:

Help you more quickly accomplish your personal and professional goals (and most likely achieve even a higher success than what you imagined).
Enhance your career as a student, employee, employer, family member, and all the different social circles (social networks) you belong to.
Allow you to explore and share your values. (Speaking to an audience whose knowledge or opinions differ than your own can quite rewarding).
Allow you to hone in your critical thinking skills and listening skills.

Please respond to one (or more) of the following questions.

How will public speaking help you accomplish your goals or how have you seen public speaking help you accomplish your goals?
How can public speaking help you enhance your career or how has it helped you in your career?
Why would speaking to an audience that does not share your some views be rewarding or have you had an opportunity to speak to an audience that does not share your views- what did it feel like and how did it turn out? What would you have done differently?
How does public speaking enhance your critical thinking skills and listening skills?