Top Factors in Helping Graduating College Students Obtain Employment Oral (spoken) communication Written communication skills Listening ability Enthusiasm Technical competence Work experience Appearance Poise Resume Part-time or summer employment Specific degree held Leadership in campus/community activity Recommendations Accreditation of program Participation in campus/community activity Grade point average (gpa) Source: Winsor, JB,Curtis “National Preferences in Business and Communication Educatoin: A Survey Update,” Journal of the Associaton for Communication Administration 3, September 1997; 174.

Communication as Interaction As message is sent, feedback to sender is provided by receiver. Communication happens within a context (environment/situation in which speech occurs.)

Consider Your Audience Gather & analyze information about audience. Consider culturally diverse backgrounds of audience. Adapt speech to particular audience.

Build Your Confidence Don’t delay preparing. Before your speech: Don’t delay preparing. Learn as much as you can about your audience. Pick a comfortable and familiar topic. Rehearse your speech. Present a structured speech.

Three parts of a Speech: Introduction, Body & Conclusion Your speech introduction should be about 10 percent of your speaking time. The same 10 percent estimates applies to your conclusion. The body of your speech should represent 80 percent of speaking time.

2. Determine Your Purpose General Purpose: overarching goal of your speech Three (3) Types of General Purposes Inform: teach, define or clarify. Persuade: change or strengthen thoughts or behaviors. Entertain: amuse with stories, illustrations and humor.

Specific Purpose Exact response you want from audience. (YOU must have a “Special Purpose” note card.) Exact response you want from audience. Concise statement indicating what you want audience to do, think, feel or remember. “At the end of my speech, the audience will be able to. . .” Use verbs such as: list, explain, describe or write. Do not use words such as: know, understand or believe.

An example of SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT: Topic: The South Beach Diet. General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, the audience will be able to identify the three key elements in the South Beach diet. Central Idea: The South Beach diet is based upon reducing the amount of carbohydrates you eat, drinking more water, and increasing the amount of exercise.

Organizational Arrangements Once a speaker has determined what the main and supporting points will be, he/she can proceed to organize them according to one or a combination of patterns*

Organizational Arrangements Topical Arrangements A topical pattern of arrangement is used when each of the main points of a topic is of relatively equal importance, and when these points can be presented in any order relative to the other main points without changing the message*

Organizational Arrangements Chronological Arrangements The chronological pattern of arrangement is used to reflect the natural or sequential order of the main points*

Organizational Arrangements Spatial Arrangements Spatial or geographical patterns of arrangement are used when main points are arranged in order of their physical proximity or direction relative to each other*

Organizational Arrangements Causal Arrangements A causal pattern of arrangement is used when the main points of the speech compare something known to be a “cause” to its “effects”*

Organizational Arrangements Problem-Solution Arrangements A problem-solution pattern of arrangement is used when the main points are organized to demonstrate the nature and significance of a problem and then to provide justification for a proposed solution*

Organizing Your Main Ideas Topically. Chronologically. Spatially. Cause & Effect. Problem & Solution. Acknowledging Cultural Differences in Organization.

Organizing Your Main Ideas Organizing Ideas Topically Ideas naturally divide. Ideas cover types of topics. Ideas broken down by: Recency (save most memorable point for last). Primacy (first point is most convincing). Complexity (simple to complex points). Speaker decisions (on what themes should be points).

Organizing Your Main Ideas Topically Benefits of bilingual education Types of living arrangements for college students I. Cultural II. Intellectual III. Professional I. Dormitory II. Apartment III. Fraternity/Sorority IV. Home

Organizing Your Main Ideas Ordering Ideas Chronologically Ideas arranged based on sequence of steps. Ideas need to be arranged in specific order. History speeches. “How to” speeches (process).

Organizing Your Main Ideas Chronologically Stripping paint From furniture Evolution of Rock & Roll I. Prepare surface II. Apply chemicals III. Remove with scraper IV. Clean and sand. I. 1960’s Rock & Roll II. 1970’s Rock & Roll III. 1980’s Rock & Roll IV. 1990’s Rock & Roll

Organizing Your Main Ideas Arranging Ideas Spatially When each idea has a specific location or direction. Can focus on different parts of a building, organization, machine, etc. Can examine different regions of a city, nation, continent, etc.

Organizing Your Main Ideas Spatially Regions impacted by Hurricane Katrina Places to study on campus New Orleans State of Louisiana State of Mississippi State of Alabama I. Classrooms II. Student Union III. Libraries IV. Computer Labs

Organizing Your Main Ideas Organizing Ideas to show Cause and Effect Ideas show relationship between certain factors and certain results. From effect to cause. From cause to effect.

Organizing Your Main Ideas Cause and Effect Effect to Cause Cause to Effect I. Huge national debt (Effect) Increased pollution emissions (Cause) Government overspending. II. Warmer global climate

Organizing Your Main Ideas Organizing Ideas by Problem & Solution A relationship between something that is wrong, and how it can be corrected. From problem to solution. From solution to problem.

Organizing Your Main Ideas Problem and Solution Problem to Solution Solution to Problem Increased crime on college campuses (Problem) Service learning benefits students & the community (Solution) Stricter enforcement of Campus Security Act. Assign student ID #’s. Use key cards in buildings (Solutions) Cities have a lack of volunteers for social service agencies. Students are not getting real world experience (Problems)