TUT5 R13 Public Speaking

The Communication Skills Book, by McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P., Revised ed., San Francisco, CA, New Harbinger Publications, 2009, 295 - 311

Public vs Casual Communication

Public speaking is

• Less spontaneous

• Requires careful preparation

• Organized logically

• Pays attention to audience needs

Example: Addressing coworkers about United Way donations versus a casual coffee break talk

Audience and Setting Challenges

Speakers communicate to larger, often passive audiences, some of whom may be uninterested, and may have limited control over timing or environment

• Requires adapting message and delivery style to suit the occasion

Preparation and Purpose

Effective speeches need a clear purpose, well-organized content, and an appropriate style.

• Awareness of these factors helps manage challenges like stage fright and enhances overall communication effectiveness.

Considerations for Public Speaking

These are things you should consider for public speaking:

• Defining your purpose

• Outlining the subject

• Presentation

• Organization

• Audience analysis

• Style

• Supporting materials

• Delivery

• Dealing with stage fright

Defining your purpose

The first step in speech writing is identifying the purpose—either to inform or persuade—and refining it into a clear, single sentence

• Example: United Way speech purpose: “This speech is intended to persuade the audience to sign up for the automatic payroll contribution plan.”

Behavioural Goals

What you want the audience to do following your speech (e.g. donating money, voting, volunteering)

• A good starting point to create an effective purpose statement

Informative Speeches

Purpose statements also apply to informative speeches by specifying what the audience should understand or remember

• For instance: I want my speech to highlight the aspects of public speaking.

Outlining the Subject

Keep speeches tightly focused; a single main point with up to three subpoints is optimal because audience retention is limited.

• Longer, all-inclusive speeches overwhelm listeners.

Types of Presentations

Four main styles

• Impromptu

• Extemporaneous

• Memorized

• Manuscript

Impromptu

no prep, highly spontaneous

Extemporaneous

prepared but not memorized, balances organization and spontaneity

• generally builds the best audience rapport

Memorized

word-for-word recitation, often sounds stiff

• eye contact is crucial, pacing should allow comprehension, and using a marker (finger) helps maintain flow while reading

• should be avoided unless there’s no other way to conquer your anxiety or convey difficult material

Manuscript

read aloud, used for formal occasions

• eye contact is crucial, pacing should allow comprehension, and using a marker (finger) helps maintain flow while reading

• generally best for formal occasions where exact word-for-word content is more important than style of delivery or audience rapport (e.g. political announcements, or presentation of scientific papers)

Organization

Effective speeches follow a basic principle:

• Tell them what you’re going to tell them

• Tell them

• Then tell them what you’ve told them

In line with the 2 most important facts about speeches:

• All good speeches have an intro, a body, and conclusion

• Information must be repeated at least 3 times for good retention

Introduction

Captures attention, sets tone, establishes speaker-audience relationship, and previews the speech’s content.

• Writing or revising the introduction after preparing the body is often recommended.

Body

Contains the bulk of the content for the speech. Can be organized in different ways:

• Sequential

• Spatial

• Structure and Function

• Topical

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

Sequential

Follows time order; best for historical topics.

• Example:

  • The history of space exploration:

    • First the launch of Sputnik in 195

    • Then the Apollo moon missions in the 1960s

    • Followed by the Space Shuttle program in the 1980s

Spatial

Similar to sequential. Proceeds in space rather than time; good for geographic or spatial topics.

• Explaining the layout of a medieval castle:

  • The outer walls

  • The inner courtyard

  • The keep

  • Surrounding moat

Structure and Function

Explains complex subjects by first describing parts (structure) and their roles (function), or vice versa.

• A flower has roots, stems, leaves, and petals (structure)

• Roots absorb water, stems transport nutrients, leaves make food via photosynthesis, and petals attract pollinators (function).

Topical

Covers unrelated subtopics clearly and separately; simple, short, and casual.

• In a company meeting, discussing sales, marketing, and customer support as three separate topics

Problem and Soltuion

Presents a problem and clearly outlines a solution; ideal for persuasive speeches.

• Problem: Traffic congestion in the city.

• Solution: Build new bike lanes and improve public transit to reduce car use.

Cause and Effect

Shows causes leading to effects or traces effects back to causes; flexible and highlights selected facts.

• Cause: Deforestation.

• Effect: Loss of habitat, increased carbon dioxide, and climate change.

Conclusion

Summarize what you have told the audience

• Signals that you are about to end your speech

• Good conclusions have a clear summary, statement, resolution, and catchphrase / call to action that lets the audience know you’re finished

Persuasive Conclusion

In a persuasive speech, the conclusion is the most important part

• A conclusion in a persuasive speech serves as a call to action

Audience Analysis

When preparing, consider your audience:

• Demographics and background

• Circumstances and context

• Audience feedback

Demographics and Background

Consider audience age, gender, education, income, political views, ethnicity, occupation, attitudes, and interests

• Choose suitable language, examples, humour, and tone accordingly

Circumstances and Context

Account for timing, environment, comfort, and prior events.

• For example: if the audience just had lunch or is tired late in the day, shorten the speech or use a lighter, more engaging tone

Authentic Feedback

Observe nonverbal cues like smiles, frowns, restlessness, or applause during the speech

• Adjust volume, pace, length, or tone accordingly to maintain engagement

Style

Match your language to the audience, subject, and occasion

• Use Simple Terms

• Use Short Sentences

• Repeat Yourself

• Signposts

• Choose Personal Terms

Use Simple Terms

Never use a two-syllable word when one syllable will do

• The shorter, more common words have more impact and are more easily understood and remembered

• “Now” works better than “at this point in time”

Short Sentences

Break long, complex sentences into short, punchy sentences to help the audience follow your train of thought.

• Bad Example: “In order to run an effective business, you must not only have a firm grasp of the day-to-day and week-to-week operations and cash flow, but you must also project your earnings and expenses several weeks, months, yes, even years into the future…”

• Good Example: “Running an effective business is hard. You have to do several things at once. You have to have a firm grasp of day-to-day operations…”

Repeat Yourself

Repeat important points at least three times, either verbatim or paraphrased, and include summaries to reinforce memory.

Signposts

Use transitional words and phrases to guide the audience through your speech. Examples: “Now we’ll move on…,” “On the other hand…,” “In conclusion…,” “First… Second… Third…”

Choose Personal Terms

Use I, me, you, we, us to create rapport and clarify positions.

• Example:

  • Impersonal: “It has been argued…”

  • Personal: “I’ve heard… I feel we can be trusted…”

Supporting Materials

Fills out the speech and makes abstract points more concrete

• Illustrations, anecdotes, jokes

• Statistics and expert support

• Audiovisual aids

Illustrations, anecdotes, jokes

Best examples are specific, sensory-rich, and brief (e.g., “one man out of three goes bald” rather than precise percentages).

• As a general rule, give only two examples to support a given point, then summarize the point again

Statistics and expert support

Use simple, memorable statistics and, for persuasive speeches, support arguments with accurate quotes, expert opinions, or eyewitness testimony; credibility and relevance are key.

Audiovisual aids

Tools like PowerPoint, movies, handouts

• Enhances understanding

• Practice is essential (poorly executed aids are worse than none)

Speech Example

An example speech structure from the reading using most of the public speaking tips:

• Topic:

  • Divorce

• Purpose and content:

  • Purpose: persuade couples to choose mediation over litigation; content summarized in one sentence, making it easy for the audience to follow.

• Body organization:

  • Uses problem-solution structure with three main points: expense, children, emotional well-being, each supported by statistics, examples, and anecdotes. Example: Litigation costs $10,000–$200,000 vs mediation $3,000–$12,000; Joe and Jill’s credit card conflict illustrates emotional strain.

• Conclusion:

  • Summarizes key points and ends with a call to action: “Don’t hate, mediate.”

Practical Exercise 1

A short exercise from the reading to practice making an effective speech:

Step 1

• Pick a topic and define purpose

Step 2

• Outline your five-minute speech

Step 3

• Review and revise

Pick a topic and define purpos

• Topic example: The benefits of home gardening

• Purpose sentence (persuasive): “This speech is intended to persuade the audience to start a small home garden to improve health, save money, and reduce environmental impact.”

Outline your five-minute speech

I. Introduction

• Hook: “Imagine walking into your backyard and picking fresh tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables you grew yourself.”

• Purpose statement: Persuade audience to start a home garden.

• Preview: Today I’ll explain how gardening improves health, saves money, and helps the environment.

II. Body (organized by topical principle)

A. Health Benefits

1. Physical activity: Gardening burns 300–400 calories per hour.

2. Mental health: Studies show gardening reduces stress and improves mood.

3. Example: Local community garden participants report feeling happier and more relaxed.

B. Financial Benefits

1. Cost savings: Growing vegetables at home can save $500–$1,000 per year.

2. Example: A small backyard garden yields enough produce for a family of four during summer months.

C. Environmental Benefits

1. Reduces carbon footprint: Less reliance on store-bought produce reduces packaging and transport emissions.

2. Promotes biodiversity: Backyard gardens attract bees and other pollinators.

3. Example: Personal story of growing native flowers to attract pollinators and reduce pesticide use.

III. Conclusion

• Summarize: Home gardening improves health, saves money, and benefits the environment.

• Call to action: “Start small, even with a few pots on your balcony, and enjoy the rewards of home gardening.”

Review and revise

• Check if the purpose is clear in one sentence.

• Ensure the body has 2–3 main points with supporting examples, stats, or anecdotes.

• Confirm introduction previews content and conclusion includes call to action.

• Time yourself to make sure it fits five minutes.

Delivery

Considerations for delivery:

• Voice

• Eye contact and body language

• Movement

Voice

Ensure correct volume, rate, clarity, and pitch.

• Speak slowly, pause at sentence ends, articulate consonants, dwell on vowels, and vary pitch to express emotion or highlight points.

Example: Let your voice rise at the end of a rhetorical question.

Eye contact and body language

Make good eye contact to show sincerity and interest; if nervous, focus on foreheads.

• Gestures and facial expressions should be natural and fit the occasion (e.g., minimal for a eulogy, energetic for a pep rally).

Movement

Use purposeful movement—stepping or shifting position—to signal topic changes and maintain audience engagement. Avoid staying trapped behind a podium.

Stage Fright

A common form of anticipatory anxiety triggered by thoughts of speaking in front of others

• Symptoms include butterflies in the stomach, clammy hands, dry mouth, and rapid heartbeat.

Preparation Strategies

Different preparation strategies to use to combat stage fright

• Week Before

• Hour Before

• During Speech

Week Before

Use Cautela’s (1967) covert modelling approach

Covert Modelling

A way to mentally rehearse to increase confidence:

1. Write out a description of yourself delivering the speech successfully: stepping on stage, smiling, speaking clearly and slowly, making eye contact, and feeling at ease.

2. Visualize the audience reacting positively (smiling, attentive, applauding).

Imagine others delivering your speech in the place where you will give the speech:

• Someone different from you (age, gender, appearance) to see how confidence can be developed.

• Someone similar to you to model a realistic but confident performance.

Repeat the visualization until you feel more confident.

• Mirror practice: Deliver your speech in front of a mirror to observe gestures, posture, facial expressions, and overall presence.

Hour Before

Use progressive muscle relaxation to release tension from head to toe:

• Sit in a comfortable position. Tighten your shins, raising your feet and toes off the ground, flex your ankles, and point your toes back toward you. Hold for five seconds, then relax.

• Curl your toes and tighten your calves, thighs, and buttocks. Hold for seven seconds, then relax for eleven seconds. Notice the relaxation flooding your legs.

• Clench both fists, tightening your forearms and biceps in a Charles Atlas pose. Hold for seven seconds, then relax for eleven seconds. Notice the wave of relaxation that goes through your arms.

• Arch your back as you take a deep breath into your chest. Hold for five seconds, then relax. Take a deep breath into your stomach. Hold seven seconds and relax for eleven seconds. Notice the relaxation in your chest and abdomen.

• Wrinkle up your forehead. At the same time, press your head as far back as is comfortable, roll it clockwise in a complete circle, then reverse direction. Now wrinkle up the muscles of your face like a walnut: frowning, eyes squinted, lips pursed, tongue pressing the roof of the mouth, and shoulders hunched. Hold for seven seconds, then relax for eleven seconds. Notice the relaxation in the many small muscles of your head.

Focus on noticing the wave of relaxation moving through each muscle group.

During the Speech

• Breathing: Take deep breaths before talking and let it out gradually (maintains voice control). Pauses for breathing also appear natural to the audience.

• Paradoxical admission: If anxiety arises, openly admit your nervousness (“I feel nervous, but I’ll do my best”)—this often reduces fear because revealing it lessens its power.

• Confidence reminders: Remember visualization and practice—your preparation is stronger than the nerves.

Practical Exercise 2

An exercise from the reading to help manage stage fright:

• Practice with mirror and recording: Deliver your speech in front of a full-length mirror while recording audio to observe gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.

• Evaluate delivery: Listen to playback to check volume, pace, clarity, pitch, and identify areas for improvement such as shorter sentences, better transitions, repetition, or personal language.

• Refine and repeat: Practice again with the microphone at the distance of your farthest listener, correcting errors and maintaining proper pace, continuing until your speech is as polished as possible.