Midterm SPC2608

brainstorming

A method of generating ideas for speech topics by free association of words and ideas. Personal Inventory First, make a quick inventory of your experiences, interests, hobbies, skills, beliefs, and so forth Clustering Take a sheet of paper and divide it into nine columns as follows: People, Places, Things, Events, Processes, Concepts, Natural Phenomena, Problems, and Plans and Policies. Internet Search By clustering, most people come up with a topic rather quickly. But if you are still stymied, try an Internet search

informing audiences about concepts and processes

A process is a systematic series of actions that leads to a specific result or product. Speeches about processes explain how something is made, how something is done, or how something works. Here are examples of good specific purpose statements for speeches about processes: To inform my audience how flash floods develop. To inform my audience how to write an effective job resumé. To inform my audience how U.S. currency is made. Concepts include beliefs, theories, ideas, principles, and the like. They are more abstract than objects, processes, or events. The following are examples of subjects for speeches about concepts: numerology sustainability philosophies of education original-intent doctrine Net neutrality Confucianism

room size impact on visual aids

A visual aid is useless if no one can see it. Keep in mind the size of the room in which you will be speaking and make sure your aid is big enough to be seen easily by everyone. As you prepare the aid, check its visibility by moving to a point as far away from it as your most distant listener will be sitting

conclusions of info speeches

After summarizing the main points of the body, the speaker closes by echoing language from the introduction.

how visual aids affect audience perception of speaker

An early study found that low-credibility speakers who use visual aids can overcome an audience's view of them as untrustworthy and nonauthoritative and can elicit the same level of respect as another speaker

impromptu speaking

An impromptu speech is delivered with little or no immediate preparation. Few people choose to speak impromptu, but sometimes it cannot be avoided.

types of general purpose statements

Are you going to explain, report, or demonstrate something? Then your general purpose is to inform. Are you going to sell, advocate, or defend something? Then your general purpose is to persuade. But no matter what the situation, you must be certain of exactly what you hope to achieve by speaking.

how to practice delivery

As you practice the speech, "talk through" your extended examples without relying on your notes. By the day of your speech, you should be able to deliver your extended examples as naturally as if you were telling a story to a group of friends.

the appropriate number of steps in an info speech

At least two no more than five

types of examples and stories

BRIEF EXAMPLES Brief examples—also called specific instances—may be referred to in passing to illustrate a point. EXTENDED EXAMPLES Extended examples are often called narratives, illustrations, or anecdotes. By telling a story vividly and dramatically, they pull listeners into the speech. HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES All the examples presented up to now have been factual; the incidents they refer to really happened.

rules for successful use of power point

Be confident that the fonts, which have been preselected according to the design of the theme, are clear, legible, and consistent. USE COLOR EFFECTIVELY USE IMAGES STRATEGICALLY DISPLAY VISUAL AIDS WHERE LISTENERS CAN SEE THEM

how to choose the right type of graph

Because a pie graph is used to dramatize relationships among the parts of a whole, you should keep the number of different segments in the graph as small as possible. A pie graph should ideally have from two to five segments; under no circumstances should it have more than eight. The bar graph is a particularly good way to show comparisons among two or more items. It also has the advantage of being easy to understand, even by people who have no background in reading graphs.

technical language use

Can a nontechnical audience still understand you? Be clear and don't use too big of words

ways to organize the main points of a speech and how to decide which to use

Chronological Order Speeches arranged chronologically follow a time pattern. They may narrate a series of events in the sequence in which they happened. Spatial Order Speeches arranged in spatial order follow a directional pattern. That is, the main points proceed from top to bottom, left to right, front to back, inside to outside, east to west, or some other route Causal Order Speeches arranged in causal order organize main points so as to show a cause-effect relationship. When you put your speech in causal order, you have two main points—one dealing with the causes of an event, the other dealing with its effects. Problem-Solution Order Speeches arranged in problem-solution order are divided into two main parts. The first shows the existence and seriousness of a problem. The second presents a workable solution to the problem Topical Order Topical order results when you divide the speech topic into subtopics, each of which becomes a main point in the speech

ways to vividly end a speech

Conclude with a bang, not a whimper. Be creative in devising a conclusion that hits the hearts and minds of your audience. Work on several possible endings, and select the one that seems likely to have the greatest impact.

guidelines for effective info speeches

DON'T OVERESTIMATE WHAT THE AUDIENCE KNOWS RELATE THE SUBJECT DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE DON'T BE TOO TECHNICAL AVOID ABSTRACTIONS PERSONALIZE YOUR IDEAS BE CREATIVE

tips for research interviews

Define the Purpose of the Interview Decide Whom to Interview Arrange the Interview Decide Whether to Record the Interview Prepare Your Questions

qualities of a good conclusion

Do I signal that my speech is coming to an end? Do I reinforce my central idea by: Summarizing the main points of my speech Ending with a quotation Making a dramatic statement Referring to the introduction Is the conclusion limited to 5-10 percent of my entire speech? Have I worked out the language of my conclusion in detail? Have I practiced the delivery of my conclusion so I can present it fluently, confidently, and with strong eye contact?

what is an audience wondering when listening to an info speech

Do not leave the audience wondering how much "lots" amounts to.

types of supporting information you can use

Doing Library Research Encyclopedias Yearbooks Quotation Books Biographical Aids NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL DATABASES ACADEMIC DATABASES SEARCH ENGINES

doing a demonstration in a speech

Doing a demonstration well requires special practice to coordinate your actions with your words and to control the timing of your speech. Explain each pose, communicate directly with the audience, and maintain eye contact throughout demonstration.

types of testimony and when to use

EXPERT TESTIMONY In most speeches, you will probably rely on expert testimony—testimony from people who are acknowledged authorities in their fields. Citing the views of people who are experts is a good way to lend credibility to your speeches. It shows that you are not just mouthing your own opinions, but that your position is supported by people who are knowledgeable about the topic PEER TESTIMONY Another type of testimony often used in speeches is peer testimony—opinions of people like ourselves; not prominent figures, but ordinary citizens who have firsthand experience on the topic. This kind of testimony is especially valuable because it gives a more personal viewpoint on issues than can be gained from expert testimony.

internet vs. library

Even in this age of the Internet, you will get some of the information for your speeches from the library. It contains many resources to help you find what you need, including librarians, the catalogue, reference works, and databases. We'll look at each in turn. The Internet has been called the world's biggest library. But unlike a library, the Internet has no central information desk, no librarians, no catalogue, and no reference section. Nor does it have a person or depart- ment in charge of determining whether materials are of high quality. You can unearth a great deal of information on the Internet, but you cannot always find the same range and depth as in a good library. This is why experts advise that you use the Internet to supplement, not to replace, library research.

circulating take home materials

Every once in a while, of course, you will want listeners to have copies of some material to take home. When such a situation arises, keep the copies until after you've finished talking and distribute them at the end. Keeping control of your visual aids is essential to keeping control of your speech.

gestures

Few aspects of delivery cause students more anguish than deciding what to do with their hands. "Should I clasp them behind my back? Let them hang at my sides? Rest them on the lectern? And what about gesturing? When should I do that—and how?" Even people who use their hands expressively in everyday conversation seem to regard them as awkward appendages when speaking before an audience.

Q&A

For first-time online speakers, the best bet is usually to save Q&A for the end of the speech. This will allow you to communicate your message in an orderly fashion and to answer whatever questions your listeners may have.

different types of plagiarism

GLOBAL PLAGIARISM Global plagiarism is stealing your speech entirely from another source and passing it off as your own. The most blatant—and unforgivable—kind of plagiarism, it is grossly unethical. PATCHWORK PLAGIARISM Unlike global plagiarism, in which a speaker pirates an entire speech from a single source, patchwork plagiarism occurs when a speaker pilfers from two or three sources INCREMENTAL PLAGIARISM In global plagiarism and patchwork plagiarism, the entire speech is cribbed more or less verbatim from a single source or a few sources. But plagiarism can exist even when the speech as a whole is not pirated. This is called incremental plagiarism. It occurs when the speaker fails to give credit for particular parts—increments—of the speech that are borrowed from other people. The most important of these increments are quotations and paraphrases

nonverbal communication

Gestures, facial expressions, eye movements—all become more noticeable, and potentially distracting.

objectives of introduction

Get the attention and interest of your audience. Reveal the topic of your speech. Establish your credibility and goodwill. Preview the body of the speech.

ethical guidelines for using stats

Give credit for sources

how to narrow a Google search

Google Scholar. A fast and easy way to search a broad range of scholarly literature. Advanced search tools let you narrow your search by author, publication, date, and subject matter.

the steps to speech preparation

Have I considered the special nature of the online speech environment? Do I understand the capabilities and limitations of my presentation software? Do I control the visual environment of my presentation so it will work to my advantage? Have I adapted my nonverbal communication so it will be effective when viewed online? Will the pacing of my speech keep the audience focused on my message? Have I considered how best to handle questions and answers? Have I taken all the steps necessary to rehearse my speech for online presentation? Do I have a backup plan in case I run into technical problems?

qualities of voice and how they affect perception

In ordinary conversation, we instinctively use inflections to convey meaning and emotion. People who do not are said to speak in a monotone, a trait whose only known benefit is to cure insomnia in one's listeners.

audience disposition towards a topic

Interest, Knowledge, Attitude

criteria for judging the reliability of research documents

Is the author of the document clearly identified? If the author is identified, is he or she an expert on the topic? If the author is not an expert, can his or her opinions be accepted as objective and unbiased? If the author is not identified, can the sponsoring organization be determined? Does the sponsoring organization have a reputation for expertise and objectivity? Does the document include a copyright date, publication date, or date of last revision? If a date is included, is the document recent enough to cite in my speech?

length of an intro and other things to keep in mind about delivery of the intro

Is the introduction limited to 10-20 percent of my entire speech?

what do you do when certain information on a document's source is missing

Just as you should not cite a book or magazine article without identifying the author and his or her credentials, so you should not cite an electronic work in the absence of this information. What if you can't verify the credentials of an author or identify a credible sponsoring organization for an Internet document? The answer is easy: Don't use the document in your speech!

rules to keep in mind when preparing main points in the body of your speech

Keep Main Points Separate Try to Use the Same Pattern of Wording for Main Points Balance the Amount of Time Devoted to Main Points

pauses

Learning how and when to pause is a major challenge for most beginning speakers. Even a moment of silence can seem like an eternity.

ethical responsibilities of speechmaking

MAKE SURE YOUR GOALS ARE ETHICALLY SOUND BE FULLY PREPARED FOR EACH SPEECH BE HONEST IN WHAT YOU SAY AVOID NAME-CALLING AND OTHER FORMS OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE

appearance

Many studies have confirmed that personal appearance plays an important role in speechmaking. Listeners always see you before they hear you. Just as you adapt your language to the audience and the occasion, so should you dress and groom appropriately. Although the force of your speech can sometimes overcome a poor impression created by personal appearance, the odds are against it. Regardless of the speaking situation, you should try to evoke a favorable first impression.

ways to deliver a speech (such as manuscript vs. extemporaneous delivery)

Most experts recommend speaking extemporaneously, which combines the careful preparation and structure of a manuscript presentation with the spontaneity and enthusiasm of an unrehearsed talk. Your aim in an extemporaneous speech is to plan your major points and supporting material without trying to memorize the precise language you will use on the day of the speech. The extemporaneous method requires you to know the content of your speech quite well.

types of visual aids and how to choose best one

OBJECTS AND MODELS PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS GRAPHS CHARTS VIDEO THE SPEAKER

barriers in info speeches

One of the biggest barriers to clear speech is using big, bloated words where short, sharp ones will do the job better.

dealing with abstractions in an info speech

One way to avoid abstractions is through description. When we think of description, we usually think of external events such as the explosion described by Conrad. But description is also used to communicate internal feelings

assessing the objectivity of a source

One way to gauge the credibility of an organization is to type its name into Google.

which type of supporting information is the life of a speech

Outside information is almost always necessary. But supplementing it with the personal touch can really bring your speeches to life. Try using examples with human interest in your speeches.

advantages of using visual aids

People find a speaker's message more interesting, grasp it more easily, and retain it longer when it is presented visually as well as verbally.

what happens when verbal and nonverbal cues contradict

People trust what they see over what they hear

egocentric audiences

People usually want to hear about things that are meaningful to them. People are egocentric. They pay the closest attention to messages that affect their own values, beliefs, and well-being. Listeners approach speeches with one question uppermost in mind: "Why is this important to me?"

how organization affects perception of the speaker

People who heard the well-organized speech believed the speaker to be much more competent and trustworthy than did those who heard the scrambled speech.

paraphrasing

Rather than quoting someone verbatim, you present the gist of that person's ideas in your own words

ways to grab an audience's attention

Relate the Topic to the Audience State the Importance of Your Topic Startle the Audience Arouse the Curiosity of the Audience Question the Audience Begin with a Quotation Tell a Story

is more research always better?

Research helps you feel more confident about the subject but don't overwhelm the audience

how to reinforce your central idea

Restating the main points is the easiest way to end a speech.

what is informative speaking

Selecting a topic and specific purpose, analyzing the audience, gathering materials, choosing supporting details, organizing the speech, using words to communicate meaning, delivering the speech—all must be done effectively if an informative speech is to be a success.

situational audience analysis

Situational audience analysis usually builds on demographic analysis. It identifies traits of the audience unique to the speaking situation at hand. These traits include the size of the audience, the physical setting, and the disposition of the audience toward the subject, the speaker, and the occasion.

jargon

Slang, jargon, and bad grammar have little place in public speeches

articulation

Sloppy articulation is the failure to form particular speech sounds crisply and distinctly.

preparing bibliographies

TAKE NOTES EFFICIENTLY Make sure you keep a record of the following: (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. You will need all this information for your speech bibliography.

eye contact

The eyes have been called "the windows of the soul." We look to them to help gauge a speaker's truthfulness, intelligence, attitudes, and feelings. Although patterns of eye contact in everyday conversation vary from culture to culture, there is wide agreement across cultures on the importance of eye contact in public speaking. In most circumstances, one of the quickest ways to establish a communicative bond with your listeners is to look at them personally and pleasantly. Avoiding their gaze is one of the surest ways to lose them.

what makes audience adaptation important

The key to a successful speech is how well you use what you know in preparing and presenting the speech Above all, it means two things: (1) assessing how your audience is likely to respond to what you say in your speech, and (2) adjusting what you say to make it as clear, appropriate, and convincing as possible. Be sure to keep an eye out during your speech for audience feedback. If your listeners are sitting forward in their chairs, looking at you with interest, and nodding their heads in approval, you can assume that things are going well.

how should a speech change the larger the audience gets

The larger the audience, the more formal your presentation must be. Audience size may also affect your language, choice of appeals, and use of visual aids

the value of examples in speeches

They bring your speech to life

back ups to technology

This is why experts recommend that you always have a backup plan in case the technology fails. That plan might be to distribute an outline of your speech via email. It might be to move the speech to an audio-only conference call. It might even be to reschedule the speech once the technical problems are resolved. Because we have all been sabotaged by technology at one time or another, audiences usually have sympathy for a speaker who encounters such problems. Having a backup plan will make you look conscientious and considerate.

specific purpose for an informative speech

To inform my audience about the benefits of xyz

writing a specific purpose for an info speech

To inform my audience about the xyz

parts of a speech conclusion

To let the audience know you are ending the speech. To reinforce the audience's understanding of, or commitment to, the central idea.

specific purpose for a persuasive speech.

To persuade my audience to xyz

when to use different rates of speaking

Two obvious faults to avoid are speaking so slowly that your listeners become bored or so quickly that they lose track of your ideas. Novice speakers are particularly prone to racing through their speeches at a frantic rate. Fortunately, this is usually an easy habit to break, as is the less common one of crawling through one's speech at a snail's pace.

rounding off stats

Unless there is an important reason to give exact numbers, you should round off most statistics

how to help examples or statistics have more impact

Use Statistics to Quantify Your Ideas Use Statistics Sparingly Identify the Sources of Your Statistics Explain Your Statistics Ask yourself: Do I use statistics to quantify my ideas? Are my statistics representative of what they purport to measure? Are my statistics from reliable sources? Do I cite the sources of my statistics? Do I use statistical measures (mean, median, mode) correctly? Do I round off complicated statistics? Do I use visual aids to clarify statistical trends? Do I explain my statistics and relate them to the audience?

using visual aids in intros

Use supporting materials to clarify and strengthen your ideas, and consider whether visual aids will enhance your message.

visual aids and stage fright

Visual aids can even help you combat stage fright. They heighten audience interest, shift attention away from the speaker, and give the speaker greater confidence in the presentation as a whole.

use of voice and body language

When a speaker's body language is inconsistent with his or her words, listeners may well believe the body language rather than the words.

using personal experience in a speech

When you choose a topic from your own experience, you may be tempted to depersonalize it by relying solely on facts and figures from books and the Internet. Such outside information is almost always necessary. But supplementing it with the personal touch can really bring your speeches to life.

physical setting factors

When you face any speaking situation, it is important to know in advance if there will be any difficulties with the physical setting, like it being too hot or crammed

incorporating blank slides

When you finish your discussion, place the object or model back out of sight. The same principle applies to PowerPoint slides. They should be visible only while you are discussing them. You can accomplish this by adding blank slides as needed, so the audience's attention will not be diverted by the previous slide. It is also a good idea to add a blank slide at the end of your presentation, so your last content slide will not continue to be exposed after you have finished discussing it.

how organization impacts delivery

When you work to organize your speeches, you gain practice in the general skill of establishing clear relationships among your ideas. This skill will serve you well throughout your college days and in almost any career you may choose. In addition, using a clear, specific method of speech organization can boost your confidence as a speaker and improve your ability to deliver a message fluently.

personalizing ideas

Whether you are seeking alternatives to technical language, avoiding abstractions, personalizing ideas, or adapting to the audience's knowledge about the topic, you need to be creative in thinking about ways to achieve your objectives. A good informative speech is not an oral encyclopedia article. Like any other kind of speech, it requires a healthy dose of creativity.

advantages and disadvantages of Wikipedia

With more than 4.5 million articles in English alone, Wikipedia is the biggest encyclopedia in human history. Each month, some 500 million people access one or more of its articles, making it the fifth most visited Web site in the world. But is Wikipedia a reliable source of information? Several years ago, it was not. Today, however, its reliability ratings compare favorably with those for print encyclopedias.

the rules for a good general purpose and specific purpose statement

Write the Purpose Statement as a Full Infinitive Phrase, Not as a Fragment Express Your Purpose as a Statement, Not as a Question Avoid Figurative Language in Your Purpose Statement Limit Your Purpose Statement to One Distinct Idea Make Sure Your Specific Purpose Is Not Too Vague or General

what to emphasize when you have a very unpopular topic

You will need to make a special effort to ensure that your classmates will consider your point of view. Be clear about intentions and reasonable in your expectations so that by the end of the introduction, the audience knows you had their best interests at heart.

why should you limit the number of main points

You will not have time in your classroom speeches to develop more than four or five main points, and most speeches will contain only two or three. Regardless of how long a speech might run, if you have too many main points, the audience will have trouble sorting them out

space

Your online speech, however, should not be informal. It should be as polished and professional as an in-person speech. This requires, among other things, controlling the visual environment so it works for you rather than against you. Pay attention to lighting. You don't want the room to seem too dark; neither do you want so much light that it washes you out. You can usually gauge what the audience will see on their screens through the video preview window—sometimes called "participant view"—that is included in most software programs. When previewing yourself, check your distance from the webcam

different types of resources to find information

academic databases a government resource a periodicals guide virtual libraries

at what stage should you consider your audience in the speech preparation process

before and during

ways to analyze your audience

by looking at demographic traits such as age; gender; religion; sexual orientation; group membership; racial, ethnic, or cultural background; and the like. This is called demo- graphic audience analysis. It consists of two steps: (1) identifying the general demographic features of your audience, and (2) gauging the importance of those features to a particular speaking situation.

types of endings such as crescendo and dissolve endings

crescendo conclusion: in which the speech builds to a zenith of power and intensity. dissolve ending: A conclusion that generates emotional appeal by fading step by step to a dramatic final statement.

time limits on speeches

demonstration speech: 4-6 minutes informative speech: 5-7 minutes persuasive speech: 6-8 minutes

3 types of audience disposition

disposition toward the topic, the speaker, and the occasion

what might be the most important audience characteristic to know given a specific topic

it is not an end in itself. Your aim is not just to list the major traits of your listeners, but to find in those traits clues about how your listeners will respond to your speech

mean, median and mode

mean: The average value of a group of numbers. median: The middle number in a group of numbers arranged from highest to lowest. mode: The number that occurs most frequently in a group of numbers.

ethical obligations as a speaker

prepare fully for the speech and realize that name-calling and abusive language pose ethical problems in public speaking when they are used to silence opposing voices. A democratic society depends upon the free and open expression of ideas. In the United States, all citizens have the right to join in the never-ending dialogue of democracy. As a public speaker, you have an ethical obligation to help preserve that right

ethnocentrism

the belief that our own group or culture—whatever it may be—is superior to all other groups or cultures.

audience centered

the primary purpose of speechmaking is to gain a desired response from listeners. To be audience-centered, you need to keep several questions in mind when you work on your speeches: To whom am I speaking?What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a result of my speech? What is the most effective way of composing and presenting my speech to accomplish that aim?

types of connectives

words or phrases that join one thought to another and indicate the relationship between them. TRANSITIONS INTERNAL PREVIEWS INTERNAL SUMMARIES SIGNPOSTS

questionnaires

you can use questionnaires to find out where your classmates stand on your speech topic. This is your equivalent of market research. Once you know where your target audience stands, you can tailor your speech to fit their values and concerns—aim at the target, so to speak.