Speech Chapters 1-3

Comprehensive Thinking Skills

One such skill is the ability to summarize information. Another is the ability to recall facts. A third is the ability to distinguish main points from minor points.

Ethnocentrism in Audiences

Audiences have a responsibility to listen courteously and attentively to speakers of all cultural backgrounds

Ethics

The branch of philosophy that deals with issues of right and wrong in human affairs. Ethical issues arise when we ask whether a course of action is moral or immoral, fair or unfair, just or unjust, honest or dishonest.

Differences to Speeches and Normal Conversation

There are usually time limits on the length of a speech. Public speaking requires more formal language than ordinary conversation. Public speaking requires a different method of delivery from ordinary conversation.

Efficient Note Takers

They learn to concentrate on a speaker's main ideas and supporting materials. They use key-word outlines to summarize the speaker's message

Critical Thinking

involves being able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of an argument. involves distinguishing fact from opinion. involves judging the credibility of sources. involves assessing the quality of evidence. involves discerning the relationships among ideas

Incremental Plagiarism

when a speaker fails to give credit for specific parts—increments—of the speech that are borrowed from other people

Retaining information

After 24 hours most people remember only 10 percent of the original message

Tips to help Nervousness

Be at your physical and mental best when speaking. Quietly tighten and relax hand or leg muscles while waiting to speak. Take a few slow, deep breaths before starting to speak. Work especially hard on your introduction. Make eye contact with people in the audience. Concentrate on communicating with the audience rather than on worrying about your nervousness. Use visual aids to help occupy the attention of the audience.

Similarities to Speeches and Normal Conversation

In both, people organize their thoughts logically. In both, people tailor their message to the audience. In both, people tell a story for maximum impact. In both, people adapt to feedback from listeners.

How to be an Ethical Listener

Listeners should be courteous and attentive during the speech Listeners should avoid prejudging the speaker Listeners should maintain the free and open expression of ideas

Four Main Causes to Poor Listening

Not concentrating, Listening too hard, Jumping to conclusions, Focusing on delivery and personal appearance instead of listening to a speaker's message

Six Steps to Help Stage Fright

One is to take a speech class in which they will learn about speech making and gain speaking experience. Another is to be thoroughly prepared for every speech they present. It is also crucial that speakers think positively about themselves and the speech experience. Using the power of visualization is another excellent way to combat stage fright. Most speakers are also helped by knowing that their nervousness is usually not visible to the audience. It is also important not to expect perfection when delivering a speech.

How to Make Ethical Speeches

Public speakers should make sure their goals are ethically sound Public speakers should be fully prepared for each speech. Public speakers should be honest in what they say. Public speakers should avoid name-calling and other forms of abusive language. Just as one needs to credit the authors of print books and articles, so one needs to credit the authors of documents found online

Public Speaking Forms

Public speaking helps people succeed in nearly all professions. Public speaking is a vital means of civic engagement. Public speaking is a form of empowerment.

Critical Thinking Skills

Separating fact from opinion is one. Spotting weaknesses in reasoning Judging the quality of evidence is yet another.

Seven Elements of the Speech Communication Process

Speech communication begins with a speaker The message is whatever a speaker communicates to someone else. The channel is the means by which a message is communicated. The listener is the person who receives the communicated message. Feedback consists of messages sent from the listener to the speaker Interference is anything that impedes the communication of a message. The situation is the time and place in which speech communication occurs.

How to Avoid Ethnocentrism in Speeches

When preparing the speech, they should put themselves in the place of listeners from different backgrounds to make sure the speech is clear and appropriate They should use examples, comparisons, and other supporting materials that can clarify ideas for a wide range of listeners. They should consider using visual aids to bridge gaps in language or cultural background. When presenting the speech, they should be alert to feedback that might indicate the audience is having difficulty understanding.

Listening

a mental process that involves paying close attention to, and making sense of, what is heard.

Hearing

a physiological process that involves the vibration of sound waves on the eardrums and the firing of electrochemical impulses from the inner ear to the brain.

Critical Listening

evaluating a message either to accept it or reject it

Comprehensive Listening

focuses on understanding the speaker's message

Appreciative Listening

listening for pleasure or enjoyment

Empathic Listening

listening to provide emotional support for the speaker.

Frame of Reference

sum total of the listeners knowledge, experience, goals, values, and attitudes.

Seven Ways to Improve Listening Skills

take listening seriously, become an active listener, to resist distractions, is not to be diverted by appearance or delivery, to suspend judgment until hearing a speaker's full message, develop strong note-taking skills

Ethnocentrism

the belief that one's own culture or group is superior to all others