Speech Presentation

presentation aids

are any materials you show to or share with the audience that assist in illustrating or supporting the content of your speech, and add interest and excitement to it

rhetorical questions

are asked for effect rather than to get a real answer from the listeners

gestures

are the large and small movements of the hands and arms that communicate meaning. they reinforce what you say, emphasize important points, and make presentations more interesting to watch as well as more natural and relaxed

competent language

enhances the listeners' understanding and enthusiasm for a speech by the use of words that are clear, vivid, and appropriate

pronunciation

focuses on stressing and accenting the right syllables in a word

vocal variety

heightens and maintains audience attention and interest in your speech by varying the rate (fast vs. slow), pitch (high vs. low), and volume(loud vs. soft) of your voice

metaphor

implies a comparison between two unlike things, but it does so without using the words like or as

figures of speech

include simile, metaphor, analogy, the rhetorical question, alliteration, and repetition

grammar

includes the rules and structure for putting words together in sentences

appearance

includes your clothing, shoes, jewelry, hairstyle, and even hair adornments

alliteration

involves the repetition of the same constant sound in a series of words or phrases to draw attention to certain ideas, and helps listeners remember what is said

eye contact

is a tool you can use to promote a sense of involvement with audience members that can make you seem credible, dynamic, believable, likable, and persuasive

articulation

is about forming individual speech sounds correctly with your mouth, so they combine to produce an understandable word

simile

is an explicit comparison that compares two unlike things using the words like or as

analogy

is an extended simile or metaphor that asks the listeners to accept that things that seem alike in most respects will be alike in the respect being discussed

posture

is defined as a position or attitude of body parts, and that is just what it communicates - your attitude

condescending language

is language that speaks down to your audience and may be offensive

delivery

is the actual presentation of the speech to the audience

imagery

is the creation of mental pictures and imagined sensory experiences through description

style

is the distinctive way a speech is presented that makes it memorable, which is achieved primarily through the speaker's use of language

pitch

is the highness or lowness of the speaking voice

speaker credibility

is the impression listeners form of a speaker in a given public-speaking context and at a given time

volume

is the intensity, the loudness or softness, of the speaker's voice

rate

is the speed at which a speaker delivers a speech

facial expression

is the vehicle you use to communicate how you feel about what you are saying to the audience

public voice

makes use of increased variety in volume, rate, and pitch, so that your own words are easily heard and understood by the entire audience

transparent delivery

means presenting a speech in such a way that the audience does not focus on the elements of the delivery, but instead pays full attention to the message

repetition

occurs when the speaker repeats the same word or phrase several times in a section of a speech

public speaking anxiety

popularly referred to as stage fright, refers to a person's fear or anxiety associated with an expected or actual public speaking event

appropriate language

presents information in a way that respects and treats all audience members as equals without being condescending or using biased language and stereotypes

vivid language

promotes enthusiasm for a speech by bringing the speaker's message to life, and moving the audience emotionally

clear language

uses words in such a way that listeners understand and can easily comprehend the meaning of the speaker's message

biased language

uses words or phrases that derive their meaning from stereotypes based on gender, race, ethnic group, age, sexual orientation, or disability