Fundamentals of Public Speaking Midterm Chapters 1-6

When we communicate, listening...

...is more important than anything.

Public speaking offers you an opportunity to...

...make a difference in something you care about very much.

When business managers are asked to rank-order the communication skills most crucial to their jobs...

...they usually rank listening as number one.

On developing the speech:

1. Focusing your topic 2. Developing your topic 3. Using colorful and descriptive language

Questions to ask about a speaker's evidence

1. Is it accurate? 2. Is it taken from objective sources? 3. Is it relevant to the speaker's claims? 4. Is it sufficient to support the speaker's point?

Similarities between public speaking and conversation

1. Organizing your thoughts logically. 2. Tailoring your message to your audience. 3. Telling a story for maximum impact. 4. Adapting to listener feedback.

How should you start your speech?

1. face the audience 2. assume a relaxed but upright posture 3. plant your feet 4. allow your arms to hang loosely 5. arrange your notes before you start to speak 6. look over your audience and smile

guidelines for ethical listening

1. listen courteously and attentively 2. avoid prejudging the speaker 3. maintain the free and open expression of ideas

Causes of poor listening

1. not concentrating 2. listening too hard 3. jumping to conclusions 4. focusing on delivery and personal appearance

ways to brainstorm topics

1. personal inventory 2. clustering 3. Internet search (browse an online dictionary

What are some things you should concentrate on in your presentation?

1. starting your speech 2. gestures 3. eye contact 4. voice 5. dealing with nerves

dealing with nerves

1. take slow deep breaths 2. tighten and relax your leg muscles 3. remember that usually your nervousness will not be visible to your audience

avoiding plagiarism (internet)

1. the title of the Internet document 2. the author or organization responsible for the document 3. the date on which the document was last updated 4. the date on which you accessed the site

how fast we talk vs. how fast we process

120 to 150 wpm 400 to 800 wpm

extemporaneous speech (def)

A carefully prepared and rehearsed speech that is presented from a BRIEF set of notes.

chronological order (def)

A method of speech organization in which the main points follow a time pattern.

central idea (def)

A one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech.

identification (def)

A process in which speakers seek to create a bond with the audience by emphasizing common values, goals, and experiences.

specific purpose (def)

A single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker opes to accomplish in his or her speech.

informative speech (def)

A speech designed to convey knowledge and understanding.

persuasive speech (def)

A speech designed to create, reinforce, or change peoples beliefs or actions.

ice breaker speech (def)

A speech early in the term designed to get students speaking in front of the class as soon as possible.

transition (def)

A word or phrase that indicates when a speaker has finished one thought and is moving on to another.

interference (def)

Anything that impedes the communication of a message. It can be external or internal to listeners.

demographic audience analysis (def)

Audience analysis that focuses on demographic factors such as age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, group membership, and racial, ethnic, or cultural background.

50% of what we hear

Even when we think we are listening carefully, we usually grasp only ________________________.

incremental plagiarism (def)

Failing to give credit for particular parts of a speech that are borrowed from other people.

disposition toward the topic

In relation to the audience: How interested in the topic are they? What do they already know about the topic? What is their attitude toward the topic?

speech organization

Introduction Body Conclusion (sources???)

listening (def)

Paying close attention to, and making sense of, what we hear.

plagiarism (def)

Presenting another person's language or ideas as one's own.

scale questions (def)

Questions that require responses at fixed intervals along a scale of answers. (How much do you like _______ on a scale of 1 to 10?)

__________ was written by Aristotle

Rhetoric

global plagiarism (def)

Stealing a speech entirely from a single source and passing it off as one's own.

patchwork plagiarism (def)

Stealing ideas or language from two or three sources and passing them off as one's own.

ethnocentrism (def)

The belief that one's own group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures.

ethics (def)

The branch of philosophy that deals with issues of right and wrong in human affairs.

feedback (def)

The message, USUALLY nonverbal, sent from a listener to a speaker.

egocentrism (def)

The tendency of people to be concerned above all with their own values, beliefs, and well-being.

paraphrase (def)

To restate or summarize an author's ideas in one's own words.

clustering

Under these 9 topics, list the first 4 or 5 items that come to mind: people, places, things, events, processes, concepts, natural phenomena, problems, and plans and policies

residual message (def)

What a speaker wants the audience to remember after is has forgotten everything else in a speech.

stage fright

Your body is responding as it would to any stressful situation by producing extra adrenaline. This sudden shot of adrenaline is what makes your heart race, your hands shake, your knees knock, and your skin perspire.

disposition toward the occasion

Your speech shouldn't be longer than is asked for but it should be long enough to not be awkward.