Public Speaking: Key Concepts and Techniques

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to public speaking techniques, audience understanding, speech preparation, and delivery methods.

K-F-C Method

Pick something you know about, feel strongly about, or can do.

General Purpose of Speaking

The overall intent of your speech, which can be to inform, persuade, or entertain.

What are the three general purposes for speaking?

1. Inform: To give information. 2. Persuade: To motivate change. 3. Entertain: For special occasion speeches.

What are some informative verbs?

Educate, teach, explain, show, describe, share knowledge of.

What are some persuasive verbs?

Convince, motivate, prove, prompt, encourage, influence, coax, choose.

Thesis Statement

A complete sentence that expresses the speaker’s most important idea, or key points, about a topic, which guides the development of the speech and serves as its 'roadmap'.

Why is it important to know your audience?

It helps you understand their relevance to your topic, their interests, and their beliefs.

Demographic Data

Defining characteristics of your audience, which may include age, educational background, and cultural heritage.

What three questions should you consider when thinking about the occasion of your speech?

1. When will your speech be given? 2. Where will your speech be given? 3. What are the restrictions for your speech?

When preparing a speech, should you write for the ear or the eye?

For the ear, not the eye.

What conditions define the setting for speech delivery?

Time, place, and all other conditions that define the setting in which you will deliver the speech.

What types of details are commonly used to support a thesis statement?

Facts, opinions, examples, illustrations, anecdotes, statistics, comparisons, definitions, descriptions, and quotations.

What are some tips for choosing a speech topic?

1. Look at what is current. 2. Think about things that will interest your audience. 3. Find new ways to talk about old topics. 4. Use the K-F-C Method: Pick something you know about, feel strongly about, or can do!

How can you limit your speech topic?

1. Create a specific focus. 2. Look at the most important material. 3. Always consider what will interest the audience.

Purpose (Speech)

What you intend to achieve in your speech.

Specific Purpose (Speech)

A speech's goal, stated in a complete sentence.

Audience

The group of people who will hear your speech.

Occasion (Speech)

The context of the speech delivery; knowing it helps in making choices as you develop your speech.

Expert Opinion

A statement of belief about a subject from a person who is recognized as an authority on that subject.

Example

A single instance that supports or develops a statement.

Illustration (Speech)

A detailed example.

Anecdotes

Brief, often amusing, stories.

Statistics

Numerical facts.

Comparison

A statement that shows the similarities between people, places, things, events, or ideas.

Figurative Comparison

Imaginatively shows similarities between things that are essentially not alike.

Literal Comparison

Shows the real similarities between things that are essentially alike.

Contrast (Speech)

Highlighting the differences between two things.

Description (Speech)

A word picture of a person, place, thing, or event.

Quotation (Speech)

Expresses someone's exact words.

Impromptu Speech

A speech given on the spur of the moment with no preparation.

Manuscript Speech

A speech written out completely and read to the audience.

Memorized Speech

A speech written out completely and recited word for word.

Extemporaneous Speech

A speech that is fully outlined and practiced but not memorized.

How can you control stage fright before and during your speech?

1. Remember stage fright is normal; your audience is unlikely to notice. 2. Experience and practice will help. 3. Before your speech, prepare carefully and completely, look your best, relax tense muscles, give yourself a pep talk, and be self-assured.

Appearance (Nonverbal Behavior)

How you look to your audience, impacting nonverbal behavior.

Eye Contact

Direct visual contact with the eyes of members of your audience.

Facial Expressions (Speech)

Give your audience clues about the content of your speech.

Effective Gestures

Natural gestures used in ordinary conversation that are applied effectively in front of an audience.

Posture

The way a speaker holds their body, creating an impression of confidence and authority.

Enthusiasm (Vocal Skill)

The strong positive feeling speakers show for their topics.

Vocalized Pauses

The regardless speech sounds that speakers use to fill time during a speech.

Articulation

The shaping of distinct speech sounds into recognizable words.

Enunciation

The distinctiveness of the sounds you make when speaking.

Pronunciation

The grouping and accenting of the sounds in words.

How to deal with unexpected events during a speech

1. Be well-prepared, never assuming everything will go as expected. 2. Overcome unexpected events with humor. 3. Engaged audiences are often willing to tolerate minor distractions.

Organizing the Body of an Informative Speech

1. Chronological order: By time. 2. Topical order: Breaks down into parts. 3. Spatial order: Based on position in space. 4. Climactic order: From least to most important. 5. Cause and effect order: Shows conditions and their results. 6. Compare & Contrast order: Shows similarities and differences.

How can you adapt your speech to your audience?

1. Experience: Relate the topic to their experiences. 2. Familiarity: Poll audience members beforehand to gauge their knowledge. 3. Technical Knowledge: Adapt wording and details to suit the audience's level of understanding, using technical specifics only for experts.

Technical Knowledge (Audience Adaptation)

Using technically specific details and wording only if presenting to experts; otherwise, adapt language to suit the audience’s level of understanding.

Essential Steps (Process Speech)

In a process speech, keep the essential steps and include enough information to make the process clear.

What techniques help listeners retain information?

1. Mnemonic devices: Provide easy-to-remember associations (e.g., rhymes, acronyms). 2. Audiovisual materials: Save explanation time, clarify points, and aid memory. 3. Demonstrations: Show the process while explaining it.

Mnemonic Devices

Techniques that aid memory through associations, such as rhymes or acronyms.

Key elements for effectively delivering a speech

1. Build credibility (audience trust). 2. Show enthusiasm (energy and passion). 3. Maintain eye contact. 4. Use vocal variety and emphasis. 5. Speak with clear articulation and enunciation. 6. Avoid poor pronunciation.

Informative Speech

A speech that provides information to an audience.

Expository Speech

A speech that gives information about a specific subject.

Process Speech

A speech that explains how to do something, how to make something, or how something works.

What are some elements of a powerful presentation?

Creative themes, animations, videos (including self-created), and hands-on demonstrations.

MLA Rules for Outlines

1. Times New Roman Font. 2. Size 12. 3. Double Spaced. 4. 1-inch margins. 5. Title at the center. 6. Pagination (4-tier heading). 7. Hanging indent for every new paragraph.

What sections are typically included in a speech outline?

Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, used to organize main points and supporting details.

Verbal Citations (Content)

When verbally citing sources, include: 1. The author(s) of the work (or title of container if no author). 2. The publication date (or access date if not specified). 3. The title of the work. Cite any information that is NOT your own.

Verbal Citations (Delivery Rules)

1. Say verbal citations BEFORE the fact you are using. 2. Do not include a citation slide at the end of the presentation. 3. Use a minimum of two pieces of citation info per main point. 4. Do not use 'According to' more than two times in a presentation.

Introduction (Speech)

The opening section of a speech, designed to gain audience attention, establish credibility, and preview the main points.

Body (Speech)

The main content section of a speech, where the speaker develops their primary arguments or ideas.

Conclusion (Speech)

The final section of a speech, used to summarize main points, reinforce the thesis, and leave a lasting impression.

Testimony

Quoting or paraphrasing an expert or a witness to support an idea or argument.

Visual Aids

Objects, models, pictures, graphs, or other materials used to enhance understanding and engagement during a speech.