Oral Com Exam 1

6 key factors for the communication process

• practice

• development of self

• well-being

• relational development

• career enhancement

• community engagement

Practice

improve through repetition

Development of Self

identity is shaped by communication

Well-being

good communication contributes to mental and physical health

Relational Development

builds and maintains relationships

Career Enhancement

essential for success in any profession

Community Engagement

key to being an active and informed citizen

Catharsis

mental and physical relief after sharing

Communication

a symbolic process of constructing meaning together

Communication is unavoidable

everything you do communicates something

Communication is unrepeatable

each interaction is unique

Communication is irreversible

think before you speak

Communication doesn’t solve all problems

knowing when to listen is crucial

Verbal Support Methods

• examples

• stories

• comparisons

• analogies

• testimonies/expert opinions

• statistics

• frame of reference

Examples

concrete illustrations of concepts

Stories

extended examples that illustrate points

Comparisons

Similarities and differences between concepts

Analogies

Links to familiar concepts

Testimonies/Expert Opinions

insights from authorities

Statistics

data to support claims

Frame of Reference

personal connection

Best Practices for Aids

• select appropriately

• preparation and design

• enhance, don’t distract

• timing

• focus on audience

Select Appropriately

choose the right aid for your message

Preparation and Design

ensure aids are well prepared

Enhance, Don’t Distract

aids should complement your speech

Timing

present aids when ready

Focus on Audience

engage with your audience, not the aid

Effective speech delivery

enhances message clarity and audience engagement

Non-verbal cues

tone, gestures, and eye contact contribute to how the message is received

Good delivery

increases credibility and persuade the audience

Voice & tone

adjust volume, pitch, and speed for emphasis

Body language

use gestures and posture to enhance your message

Eye contact

connect with the audience to keep their attention

Pacing

control your speaking speed for clarity and impact

Clarity & articulation

pronounce words correctly and clearly

Voice Control

• volume

• pitch

• pacing

• pauses

Volume

speak loudly enough for the back row to hear but don’t shout

Pitch

vary your pitch to avoid monotone delivery

Pacing

slow down for important points, speed up to convey urgency

Pauses

use pauses for emphasis and to let key points sink in

Body language

• posture

• gestures

• movement

• facial expressions

Posture

stand up straight to project confidence

Gestures

use hand movements naturally to emphasize points but avoid overdoing it

Movement

don’t be glued to one spot, but move with purpose

Facial expressions

show emotion to connect with the audience

Tips for Engaging the Audience

• ask questions

• use stories/examples

• show enthusiasm

• humor

Positionality

one’s social position in relation to others

Perception

process of gathering information based on what we observe

Selecting

focusing on certain stimuli and ignoring others

Selective Attention

choosing one aspect of an environment to focus on

Selective Exposure

opening ourselves to specific messages or experiences

Mood Effects

mood can influence what we notice or choose to engage with

Variations

we notice changes

Perception Process

• selecting

• organizing

Organizing

arranging information in a way that makes sense through schema

Schemas

mental categories based on past experiences

Types of Schemas

• prototypes

• personal constructs

• scripts

• stereotypes

Prototypes

mental image or model for a person, item, or situation

Personal Constructs

mental yardsticks we use to judge a person

Scripts

expected sequence of events or behaviors

Stereotypes

generalizations about a group based on traits of a few

Exploring Identity Process

• self-presentation

• altercasting

• self-fulfilling prophecies

• self-defeating prophecies
  

Self-Presentation

behaviors we use to communicate our identity to others

Altercasting

how we project our expectations of other identities

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

when perceptions reinforce themselves

Self-Defeating Prophecies

actions that unintentionally make negative outcomes happen

Social Comparison Theory

we judge ourselves against others to determine our worth

Downward Social Comparison

comparing ourselves to those who are worse off to feel superior

Perceived Self

who we believe we are internally

Looking Glass Self

how we want others to perceive us

Personal Identity

traits that remain constant over time

Master Identities

aspects unlikely to change

Interactional Identities

identities shaped by situational roles and cultural expectations

Relational Identities

how we see ourselves in relation to others

Situational Salience

we highlight features most relevant in each encounter

Stigma

communication aimed at disciplining behaviors through social punishment

Managing Our Self-Presentation

• face

• social

• facework

• self-monitoring

Face

the image we present to others

Social

shaped by our interactions

Facework

controlling our presentation

Self-Monitoring

awareness of how we present ourselves and adjust accordingly