Public Speaking
Lesson One: What is your purpose?
Vocabulary
Purpose Statement:
Public Speaking:
Brainstorm:
Vocabulary
Purpose Statement: a short statement that tells the audience what your purpose for speaking is
Public Speaking: a speech that usually involves one person standing before an audience
Brainstorm: the gathering of ideas, with the goal being to generate a lot of ideas without attacking or judging
Purpose Statement
When determining your purpose statement, ask yourself…
What do I want my audience to know?
What do I want my audience to feel?
What do I want my audience to do?
… as a result of listening to my speech?
Three Purposes for Speaking
To persuade - move your audience to action
To inform - teach your audience something
To entertain - make your audience experience a specific emotion
What are some examples of each purpose?
Example Purpose Statement
I am giving a speech about good study habits to a group of middle school students.
My purpose statement could be:
I want my audience to understand the characteristics of good study habits and to take action by incorporating good study habit skills into their daily study routine.
Brainstorm Activity - 10 minutes
Imagine you are speaking to a group of students from Southern California who plan on visiting Cottage Grove over Winter Break. Your job is to tell them how to prepare for their trip.
What is your purpose for this speech?
What do you want your audience to know?
What do you want your audience to feel?
What do you want your audience to do?
Brainstorm a list of all the things you would want to include in your speech.
Purpose Statements
Consider the following speeches, what would your purpose statement be?
You’re speaking to middle school students about the hazards of smoking.
You’re speaking to neighborhood residents about the importance of
recycling newspapers.
You’re speaking to corporate executives about fundraising for anti-bullying
education at Cottage Grove Middle School.
You’re speaking to a group of athletes about the value of a healthy diet.
You’re speaking to Ms. Block about the advantages of using cell phones as a
resource in the classroom.
Dalton Sherman
Lesson Two: I’m so afraid! (Overcoming Stage Fright)
Today is the day we stare down the beast!
Don’t be afraid...
Sources of Fear
What are some things we worry about when we get up in front of an audience?
Looking Foolish
Being Stared At
Negative Past Experiences
Forgetting Our Speech
What are some other sources of Fear?
Make a list of additional sources of fear you’ve experienced when speaking in front of an audience.
Overcoming Fear
How do i overcome my fear?!?
Visualization - You are what you think
Self-fulfilling Prophecy: An expectation, positive or negative, about a situation or event that affects an individual behavior in such a manner that it causes that expectation to be fulfilled.
Example: I am terrified I will oversleep. -> I don’t sleep well because I am so worried. -> I oversleep because I am too tired.
the worst things that could happen are…
Be specific and detailed (but appropriate) in order to get a complete picture of exactly what you fear.
If these things happened, how would i feel?
Match an emotion to each worst thing you came up with.
Take back the control
Think about all the things you are afraid might happen when you get up to speak in public.
Now, think about what you can do to make sure these things don’t happen.
Is there anything you don’t have control over?
Visualization Method Exercise
Close your eyes and picture yourself on the day of your speech. See yourself looking relaxed and calm. Your clothes are neat and clean. Maybe you have your favorite outfit on!
Now, see yourself walking into the classroom. Everyone is smiling at you and they look excited to hear your speech. You calmly wait for your turn to speak. You are a respectful and interested listener.
It’s your turn to give your speech. You’re actually excited to give your speech. You know your topic is interesting, and you know you did all your research.
Visualization, Cont’d
You get up to the front of the room and take a deep breath. Everyone looks respectful and ready to listen. As you begin talking, your voice is steady and clear, all your main points and details are in order. You feel yourself beginning to relax.
You can tell everyone thinks your speech is really interesting. No one is talking to their neighbors. They laugh at your joke. As you end your speech, everyone begins applauding. You know your speech was successful. Ms. Geier is nodding her head; she looks really impressed. You feel a rush of happiness. You are proud of yourself for giving such a great speech.
Now slowly open your eyes and enjoy the feeling of success.
Lesson Three: Adding Research and Data
Why add research and data to your speech?
Data adds credibility to your speech.
Vocabulary
Credibility
Relevance
Statistic
Fact
Data
Vocabulary
Credibility - having the audience’s trust; trustworthiness
Relevance - appropriateness (“fits” with the topic)
Statistic - numerical data
Fact - something that is true and can be proven
Data - information, facts, and figures
Sources of Data
The Library - Books
The Internet
Make sure to check the credibility of internet sources!
.net; .org; .gov
Cross-reference data to see if it’s true
Interviews with first-hand sources
Your own experiences
Types of Data & Why We Use It
Examples, Stories and Quotes
Explain or clarify a point
Add interest to your speech (Like Ms. Geier)
Statistics and Facts
Clarify and support your argument
Make your point stronger
Don’t forget to cite the source
Begin Collecting Data
Look through your Paper Bag Book.
Collect your data on a separate piece of notebook paper.
**Make sure to write down why your data is relevant!
Lesson Four: Presentation Skills & Body Language
Vocabulary
Nonverbal Communication
Enunciation
Audible
Monotonous
Vocabulary
Nonverbal Communication - communication without spoken words. (body posture, facial expressions, hand gestures)
Enunciation - the way you make the distinct sounds within a word, the way you pronounce a word
Audible - out loud, able to be heard
Monotonous - dull, repeated, unvaried
Voice
How does a speaker’s voice affect your interpretation of a speech?
How does a speaker’s voice affect your engagement in his/her speech?
Voice
Speak audibly and vary your volume
Speak with expression
Speak slowly and deliberately
Enunciate
Body Language
Stand straight and tall
Focus on a spot at the back of the room
Look above the audience’s head - fake eye contact
Facial Expressions
Smile
Hand gestures
Using Gestures
Read the following statements. Think of how you would interpret the statements with gestures. Take turns with your partner.
Lesson Five: Introductions and Conclusions
On a sheet of notebook paper, brainstorm ideas about what makes a good introduction to a speech.
You can use examples from speeches or presentations you’ve heard in the past.
Do this independently and silently. We will share with the class in 5 minutes.
Vocabulary
Closure
Emphasize
Spur
Vocabulary
Closure - and act of closing
Emphasize - to highlight, bring someone’s attention to
Spur - to prompt or urge
Introduction
Capture the attention of your audience.
“Hook” your audience
Prepare your audience for the message of your speech
Don’t tell them, “Today, I’m going to tell you…”
Find a creative way to introduce the topic
Introduce your speech in a way that lets the audience
know your purpose
Introduction
Ways to open a speech
Ask a question
Tell a startling statistic
Use humor
Make a historical reference
Give a quote
Conclusion
The conclusion of a speech provides closure. The audience knows you’re done speaking.
Summarize your main points.
What do you want your audience to do?
Conclusion
Ways to conclude a speech:
Summarize main points
Refer back to something you said in the introduction
Answer the question you asked in your introduction
Use a quote
Outline Your Speech
Why should I outline my speech?
Outlining is a good way to organize your thoughts and information before giving a speech.
Outlines divide the topic into several sections:
Main Topic
Subtopic
Details
Sample Outline
Learning to Swim (Main Topic)
A. Enjoyment (Details)
In warm weather
All year
B.Team Sport
C. Survival
My own
Helping others
Sample Outline
Learning to Swim (Main Topic)
2. Where to get lessons (Subtopic)
A. Swim Club
B. Sports Center
C. School
D. Neighborhood pool
Things to Remember
List your ideas separately to keep your points clear.
Use between 2 to 5 subtopics when giving a speech
Remember the purpose of your speech, this will help you
decide what information you want to include.
Don’t forget your introduction and conclusion!!!