sp 211 ch. 2 ethics and public speaking

Ethics

deals with issues of right & wrong in human affairs. This is important to public speaking because you are speaking to a large audience.

Ethical Decision

weighing potential course of action against ethical standards.

Guidelines for Ethical Speaking

• make ethically sound goals in topic selection

• be fully prepared & know what you’re talking about (don’t waste audience’s time)

• be honest

• avoid name calling or abusive language: deflective, defensive mechanism, not healthy dialogue

• put principles into practice

Name-calling

using language to defame, degrade, and abuse an opposing side.

Plagiarism

• presenting language/ideas of another one as your own

• three types:

  • Global

  • Patchwork

  • Incremental

Global Plagiarism

stealing from a single source, passing off as one’s own

Patchwork Plagiarism

stealing ideas/languages from two or three sources, passing off as one’s own

Incremental Plagiarism

failing to give credit for parts borrowed from other sources. Not considered stealing, simply failing to cite/credit sources—just make sure all sources used are credited properly

Ethical Listening

• speech-making is a two-way street

• listeners have ethical obligations

• Guidelines:

  • be courteous & attentive

  • avoid prejudging the speaker

  • maintain open & free expression of ideas