Exam Speech Fundamentals

Speaker

person START communication

Listener

person RECEIVE communication

Message

WHAT INFORMATION communication

Channel

HOW communication TRAVELS

ex. In person, Virtual, sign/posts

Feedback

Listener’s RESPONSE

Situation

LOCATION

(Communication changes base on where you are)

Interference

DISRUPTS communication (Anything)

Interference (Physical)

Happens on YOUR ENVOIREMENT (Anything outside)

Interference (Physiological)

Happens in YOUR BODY (Anything in your body)

Interference (Psychological)

Happens in YOUR MIND (Anything in your mind)

Frame of Reference

point of view or position you use to understand or describe something

Ex. Person grew up in big city may see crowds as normal, while someone from small town see them overwhelming

Ethnocentrism

The belief that our own group or culture is SUPERIOR to all other groups or cultures

Global Plagiarism

Whole thing as YOUR own (One cite)

Ex. Taking someone’s work (EXACT) copy then write your name as your own

Patchwork Plagiarism

Take information from different places have it put all together (Many cites)

Incremental Plagiarism

Small amount without sources (Small amount)

Paraphrases

Take information but put in your OWN words

Cite your sources

Say your sources out loud

Ex. “I learn from Fox News…”

Ethical Guidelines for Listeners (1/3)

1. Listen courteously and attentively

(give speakers their full attention)

Ex.

• Sitting up rather than slouching

• Maintaining eye contact

• Showing support through facial expressions

• Avoiding distraction

Ethical Guidelines for Listeners (2/3)

• Avoid prejudging the speaker

(NOT judge speaker’s name, race, lifestyle, appearance, or reputation)

Ex.

• Listen to the ideas

• Evaluate the evidence

• Make a fair judgement after hearing the full message

Ethical Guidelines for Listeners (3/3)

Maintain the free and open expression of ideas

(Protect the speaker’s right to be heard)

Ex.

• Free expression is essential in a democratic society

• You can disagree with the message but still support the speaker’s right to express it

• Ethical listeners avoid behaviors that silence or intimidate speakers

Ethical Guidelines for Listeners

1. To listen courteously and attentively

2. To avoid prejudging the speaker

3. To maintain the free and open expression of ideas

Ethics

Behaving responsibly, honestly, and respectfully when creating and delivering a speech. Ethical speakers consider how their words affect others, avoid misleading information, and communicate in ways that support fairness and respect. Ensures that communication builds trust rather than causing harm.

Guidelines for Ethical Speaking

1. Be honest

2. Be prepared

3. Use sound evidence and reasoning

4. Avoid name-calling or abusive language

5. Promote the free and open expression of ideas

Speakers have an Obligation to Avoid Abusive Language

1. Harms others

2. Shuts down communication

3. Violates ethical responsibility

4. Threatens free expression

Ethical Communication

BOTH the speaker and the listener

• The speaker

• Must be honest, respectful, prepared, avoid abusive language, and support open expression

• The listener

• Must listen courteously and attentively, avoiding prejudging, and help maintain the free and open expression of ideas

Difference Between Public Speaking and Conversation (1/3)

• Public Speaking: Clear structure, stay within time limits, and deliver a complete message without interruptions

• Conversation: Interrupt by people, ask questions, or changes topics freely

Difference Between Public Speaking and Conversation (2/3)

• Public Speaking: Clearer, more precise, and more polished language (Understand the message easily)

• Conversation: Slang, incomplete sentences, and relaxed phrasing are normal

Difference Between Public Speaking and Conversation (3/3)

• Public Speaking: Pay attention to voice projection, pacing, gestures, posture, and eye contact

• Conversation: Speak naturally and informally

Obstacles to effective Listening

1. Distractions → Noise, phones, or other things that take your attention away.

2. Thinking about your response → Focusing on what you'll say next instead of listening.

3. Interrupting → Not letting the speaker finish.

4. Making assumptions → Deciding what the speaker means before they are done.

5. Judging too quickly → Rejecting ideas before fully understanding them.

6. Emotions → Anger, stress, or excitement can make listening harder.

Types of listening (1/4)

Appreciative Listening: Listening for pleasure or enjoyment

EX: Music, comedy shows, & entertaining speeches

Types of listening (2/4)

Empathic listening: Listening to support and understand someone’s feelings

EX: Helping a friend who is upset, counseling

Types of listening (3/4)

Comprehensive listening: Listening to understand and remember information

EX: Classroom lectures, instructions, directions

Types of listening (4/4)

Critical listening: Listening to evaluate and judge a message before accepting or rejecting it

EX: Political speeches, advertisements, sales pitches

Types of Listening

Appreciative = Enjoy 🎵

Empathic = Support ❤

Comprehensive = Understand 📖

Critical = Evaluate 🤔

Four Causes of Poor Listening (1/4)

Lack of Concentration: Daydreaming or thinking about other things.

Not paying full attention to the speaker.

‘Spare brain time’

Four Causes of Poor Listening (2/4)

Listening Too Hard: Trying to remember every word instead of understanding the main idea.

Four Causes of Poor Listening (3/4)

Jumping to Conclusions: Judging the message before hearing all of it.

Four Causes of Poor Listening (4/4)

Focusing on Delivery Rather Than Message: Paying attention to the speaker's appearance, voice, or style instead of the content.

Become Better Listener

• Take listening seriously

  • Decide to give the speaker your full attention.

• Be an active listener

  • Focus on what is being said and stay involved.

• Resist distractions

  • Avoid phones, side conversations, and other interruptions.

• Don't be diverted by appearance or delivery

  • Focus on the message, not the speaker's looks, voice, or style.

• Suspend judgment

  • Keep an open mind and wait until the speaker finishes before evaluating.

• Focus on main ideas

  • Listen for the key points instead of trying to remember every word.

• Listen critically

  • Analyze and evaluate the message carefully.

• Improve note-taking skills

  • Write down important ideas to help understanding and memory.

Better Listening (Simple)

Pay attention

Stay active

Avoid distractions

Focus on message

Don't judge too soon

Find main ideas

Evaluate carefully

Take notes

Three General Purposes of Public Speaking

1. Inform = Teach 📚

2. Persuade = Convince 👍

3. Entertain = Amuse 😄

Three General Purposes of Public Speaking (1/3)

To Inform

• Goal: Teach, explain, or give information.

• Examples:

  • Classroom presentation

  • Report about climate change

  • Speech explaining how a process works

Three General Purposes of Public Speaking (2/3)

To Persuade

• Goal: Change people's beliefs, attitudes, or actions.

• Examples:

  • Political speech

  • Sales presentation

  • Speech encouraging people to recycle

Three General Purposes of Public Speaking (3/3)

To Entertain

• Goal: Amuse or provide enjoyment.

• Examples:

  • Wedding toast

  • After-dinner speech

  • Comedic speech

Three General Purposes of Public Speaking RECOGNIZE THEM

Purpose	Key Question
Inform	"Is the speaker teaching me something?"
Persuade	"Is the speaker trying to change my mind or get me to act?"
Entertain	"Is the speaker mainly trying to amuse or entertain?"

What is central idea?

Central Idea = Main Message (what is the speech about) in One Sentence; Reveal topic

Topic = Subject Central Idea = What you're saying about the subject ✅

How to Recognize a Central Idea

Ask yourself:

"What is the speaker's main message?"

Properly Phrase a Central Idea

My speech will [purpose] + [topic] + [main points].

EX:

Topic: Exercise

• ❌ "Exercise" (just a topic)

• ❌ "Why is exercise important?" (question)

• ✅ "Regular exercise improves physical health, mental health, and energy levels." (central idea)

What is egocentric?

‘Self centered People’

Ego = Me → Egocentric = "It's all about me." 👤

What is identification?

creating a connection between the speaker and the audience.

What is audience-centered?

Think about audience

• keeping the audience in mind and focusing on their needs, interests, and understanding.

What is demographic audience analysis?

Characteristic of audience

Demographics = "Who are they?" (age, gender, education, etc.) ✅

EX:

• Age

• Gender

• Race/Ethnicity

• Religion

• Education

• Occupation (job)

• Income level

• Cultural background

What is situational audience analysis?

Can’t control but audience sizes

• Why the audience is there

• Their interest in the topic

• What they already know about the topic

• Their attitude toward the speaker and topic

• The occasion or setting of the speech

situational audience analysis?

1. Size: Amount of audience

2. Physical Setting: Lights, Chairs

3. Disposition Towards the Topic: What audience value/interested/attitudes/knowledge/Beliefs; What’s right for the audience

4. Disposition towards the speaker: why the audience came

5. Disposition towards the Occasion: What the reason

What is Disposition?

1. Disposition Towards the Topic: What audience value/interested/attitudes/knowledge/Beliefs; What’s right for the audience

2. Disposition towards the speaker: why the audience came

3. Disposition towards the Occasion: What the reason

Disposition = a person's attitude or mindset toward something.

Decision Factors

Part making of speech process out of your control

1. Assignment

• General Purpose

• Time

1. Audience

• Egocentric

• Audience Centered

• Demographic

• Situational

1. Resources

• Library

• Websites/Interent

What do you look for to determine the credibility of an internet source?

✅Author - Who wrote it? Are they qualified or an expert?

✅ Accuracy - Is the information correct and supported by evidence or sources? Can it be verified elsewhere?

✅ Currency - Is the information recent and up to date?

✅ Objectivity/Bias - Is the information fair, or is it trying to push an opinion or agenda?

✅ Purpose - Why was the website created? To inform, persuade, entertain, or sell?

Credible Internet Source = Reliable + Objective (Unbiased) ✅

What is periodical databases?

a searchable online collection of magazine, journal, and newspaper articles

Biased?

✅ One-sided information - Only presents one viewpoint.

✅ Strong emotional language - Uses words meant to make you angry, afraid, or excited.

✅ Trying to persuade you - The goal is to convince you rather than inform you.

✅ Lacks evidence - Makes claims without facts, data, or sources.

How to cite sources while speaking?

Magazines → Name + Date
Newspapers → Name + Date
Books → Author + Title + Date
Internet → Organization/Author + Date
Interviews → Type + Date + Name + Credentials