Chapter 1: Becoming a Public Speaker
(Develop an Effective Oral Style) Although writing and conversation can be similar to public speaking, what makes public speaking different?
-Although public speaking has much in common with every- day conversation and with writing, a speech is a unique form of communication characterized by an oral style of language. -Spoken language is simpler, more rhythmic, more repeti- tious, and more interactive than either conversation or writ- ing.7 Effective speakers use familiar words and easy-to-follow sentences. -Spoken language also is often more interactive and inclu- sive of the audience than written language. Audience mem- bers want to know what the speaker thinks and feels and that he or she recognizes them and relates the message to them. Speakers accomplish this by making specific references to themselves and to the audience.Yet in contrast to conversation, in order to develop an effective oral style you must practice the words you will say and the way you will say them.
Explain how public speaking started flourishing in the Greek city-state of Athens in the fifth century b.c.e.
-Athens was the site of the world's first direct democracy, and public speaking was the vehicle that allowed it to suc- ceed. Meeting in a public square called the agora, Athenians routinely spoke with great skill on the issues of public policy; and their belief that citizenship demands active participation in public affairs endures in modern democracies to this day. -Greek, and later Roman, teachers divided the process of preparing a speech into five parts—invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery—called the canons of rhetoric. These parts correspond to the order in which these teachers believed a speech should be put together.
How does a public speaker create a sense of inclusion with the audience? (Demonstrate Respect for Difference)
-Every audience member wants to feel that the speaker has his or her particular needs and interests at heart, and to feel recognized and included in the message. -To create this sense of inclusion, a public speaker must be able to address diverse audiences with sensitivity, demonstrating respect for differ- ences in culture and identity. Striving for inclusion and adopting an audience-centered perspective will bring you closer to the goal of every public speaker—establishing a genuine connection with the audience.
Explain the canons of rhetoric that Greek and then eventually Roman teachers developed
-It's the process of preparing a speech into five parts which are: 1.) Invention -refers to discovering the types of evidence and arguments you will use to make your case 2.) Arrangement -organizing the speech in ways best suited to the topic and audience 3.) Style -the way the speaker used language to express the speech ideas 4.) Memory -the practice of the speech until it can be delivered artfully 5.) Delivery -the vocal and nonverbal behavior you use when speaking
What was the practice of giving speeches known as?
-Originally, the practice of giving speeches was known as rhet- oric or oratory. Rhetoric flourished in the Greek city-state of Athens in the fifth century b.c.e. and referred to making effec- tive speeches, particularly those of a persuasive nature.
What is a public forum?
-Today, the term public forum denotes a variety of venues for the discussion of issues of public interest, including traditional physical spaces such as town halls as well as virtual forums streamed to listeners online. Participation in any of these forums offers an excellent opportunity to pose questions and deliver brief comments, thereby providing exposure to an audience and building confidence. To find a forum in your area, check with your school or local town government, or check online at sites such as the National Issues Forum (www.nifi.org)
What is encoding?
-producing the message ; the process of converting thoughts into words
What is agora? What is the forum?
-thens was the site of the world's first direct democracy, and public speaking was the vehicle that allowed it to suc- ceed. Meeting in a public square called the agora, Athenians routinely spoke with great skill on the issues of public policy -Where the Romans went to utilize their public speaking.
Explain how preparing a speech is in common with writing. (Draw on Skills in Composition)
1.) Both depend on having a focused sense of who the audience is. 2.) Both speaking and writing often require that you research a topic, offer credible evidence, employ effective transitions, and devise persuasive appeals 3.) The principles of organizing a speech parallel those of organizing an essay, including offer- ing a compelling introduction, a clear thesis statement, sup- porting ideas, and a thoughtful conclusion.
What are two other factors that are critical to consider when preparing and delivering a speech?
1.) Context -Context includes anything that influences the speaker, the audience, the occasion — and thus, ultimately, the speech. In classroom speeches, the context would include (among other things) recent events on campus or in the outside world, the physical setting, the order and timing of speeches, and the cultural orientations of audience members. Successful communica- tion can never be divorced from the concerns and expecta- tions of others. -Part of the context of any speech is the situation that created the need for it in the first place. All speeches are delivered in response to a specific rhetorical situation, or a circumstance calling for a public response.8 Bearing the rhetorical situation in mind ensures that you maintain an audience-centered perspective — that is, that you keep the needs, values, attitudes, and wants of your listeners firmly in focus. 2.) Goals -A clearly defined speech purpose or goal—what you want the audience to learn or do as a result of the speech—is a final prerequisite for an effective speech. Establishing a speech purpose early on will help you proceed through speech prep- aration and delivery with a clear focus in mind.
What are the 4 things to consider when learning to speak in public?
1.) Draw on Conversational Skills 2.) Draw on Skills in Composition 3.) Develop an Effective Oral Style 4.) Demonstrate Respect for Difference
What are the four categories of human communication?
1.) Dydadic Communication -happens between two people, as in a conversation. 2.) Small Group Communication - involves a small number of people who can see and speak directly with one another 3.) Mass Communication -occurs between a speaker and a large audience of unknown people who usually are not present with the speaker, or who are part of such an immense crowd that there can be little or no interaction between speaker and listener. 4.) Public Speaking - a speaker delivers a message with a specific purpose to an audience of people who are present during the delivery of the speech. -Public speaking always includes a speaker who has a rea- son for speaking, an audience that gives the speaker its atten- tion, and a message that is meant to accomplish a specific purpose. Public speakers address audiences largely without interruption and take responsibility for the words and ideas being expressed.
Who passed on the canons of rhetoric to our modern-day world (some of the people)?
1.) Greek rhetorician Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E) 2.) Roman statesman and orator Cicero (106-43 B.C.E)
What are three things that public speakers do differently than writers and conversationalists? (Develop an Effective Oral Style)
1.) Repititon -Repetition in even the briefest speeches is key for public speakers, and speakers routinely repeat key words and phrases to empha- size ideas and help listeners follow along. 2.) More Interactive with the audience -Spoken language also is often more interactive and inclusive of the audience than written language. Audience members want to know what the speaker thinks and feels and that he or she recognizes them and relates the message to them. Speakers accomplish this by making specific references to themselves and to the audience. 3.) More Inclusive with the audience -Spoken language also is often more interactive and inclusive of the audience than written language. Audience mem- bers want to know what the speaker thinks and feels and that he or she recognizes them and relates the message to them. Speakers accomplish this by making specific references to themselves and to the audience.
What are the different elements that are present in any communication event?
1.) Source (also known as the sender) -The source, or sender, creates a message. Creating, orga- nizing, and producing the message is called encoding — the process of converting thoughts into words. 2.) Receiver -The recipient of the source's message is the receiver, or audience; interpreting the message is called decoding. Audience members decode the meaning of the message selectively, based on their own experiences and attitudes. Feedback, the audience's response to a message, can be con- veyed both verbally and nonverbally. 3.) Message -The message is the content of the communication process: thoughts and ideas put into meaningful expressions, expressed verbally and nonverbally. 4.) Channel -The medium through which the speaker sends a message is the channel. If a speaker delivers a message in front of a live audience, the channel is the air through which sound waves travel. Other channels include telephone, television, and the Internet. -Noise is any interference with the message. Noise can disrupt the communication process through physical sounds such as cell phones ringing and people talking or texting, through psychological distractions such as heated emotions, or through environmental interference such as a frigid room or the presence of unexpected people. 5.) Shared Meaning -Shared meaning is the mutual understanding of a message between speaker and audience. The lowest level of shared meaning exists when the speaker has merely caught the audi- ence's attention. As the message develops, a higher degree of shared meaning is possible. Thus listener and speaker together truly make a speech a speech — they "co-create" its meaning.
Explain the connection between having a conversation on an important topic with one of your peers and an actual public speaker (Draw on Conversational Skills)
Although public speaking requires more planning, both the conversationalist and the public speaker try to uncover the audience's interests and needs before speaking. -In several respects, planning and delivering a speech resem- bles engaging in a particularly important conversation. When speaking with a friend, you automatically check to make cer- tain you are understood and adjust your meaning accord- ingly. You also tend to discuss issues that are appropriate to the circumstances. When a relative stranger is involved, how- ever, you try to get to know his or her interests and attitudes before revealing any strong opinions. These instinctive adjust- ments to your audience, topic, and occasion represent critical steps in creating a speech.
What to effective public speakers, engaging conversationalists, and compelling writers all share as an important quality? (Develop an Effective Oral Style)
They keep their focus on offering something of value for their audience
Are the canons of rhetoric still used in the present day?
Yes, they are still taught in current books on public speaking, and will be taught in this pocket guide that is our textbook
Do you learn how to get better at public speaking?
Yes, you aren't born with it naturally
