Speaking in Public

How Can This Course Help you? –Gain Real-Life Skills –Advance Professional Goals –Enhance Your Career as a Student –Become a more engaged citizen –Gain Confidence

Develop your Professional and Personal Skills –No matter what the future brings; employers seek people who can –We will work on all of these skills in this class Listen effectively Present ideas clearly Think critically Exude enthusiasm

Public Speaking is Rhetorical Rhetoric: (In highly simplified terms) the art of persuasion Rhetorical theory was developed by Aristotle. In classical Greece it was a core part of the university curriculum. It is still offered in many different forms You need to adapt your message to particular audience. Your speeches & presentations should be audience- centered at all stages in the speechwriting process. Everything in a given message impacts your audience’s perception of your credibility.

Audience’s Judge you Based on 3 Main Areas The speaker’s knowledge The speaker’s level of clarity The speaker’s delivery

Speaker Credibility Delivery Clarity Knowledge

Clarity Clarity includes the following areas: –Organization –Use of Transitions –The order of your main points

Knowledge Knowledge includes the following areas: –Quality of your Research –Credibility of your Sources –Amount of sources –Use of language

Delivery Delivery includes the following areas: –Body Language –Vocals –Eye Contact

Public speaking is a dynamic and interactive form of communication in which you communicate with your audience verbally and nonverbally (and they communicate with you) in a real-time or “live” setting.

Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation Organizing thoughts logically Tailoring the message to the audience Telling a story for maximum impact Adapting to listener feedback

Differences Between Public Speaking and Conversation Public speaking is more highly structured Public speaking requires more formal language Public speaking requires a different method of delivery

So Let’s Get Started... In-Class Assignment: Introduce yourself to your neighbor (find a buddy). Ask the following questions: –Name –What is your favorite area of study? –Something interesting that happened to you over the summer (do NOT say “nothing interesting happened to me”—maybe you had the best hamburger ever... So think of something) –Introduce your new friend to the class. –Take notes and turn them in with your name at the end of class.