Public Speaking Foundations and Course Logistics - Notes

Session Overview

• Transcript captures a classroom session focused on public speaking foundations, course logistics, and student engagement during the first weeks of a college course.
• The instructor interleaves personal anecdotes, campus-life tips, and concrete guidelines for building a successful speech-writing and delivery process.
• Key goals: establish a foundation for outlining, practice delivery, manage classroom logistics, and reduce anxiety around public speaking through a structured, incremental approach.

Campus Life and Engagement Tips

• Student anecdotes about campus life set a relatable tone (dorms, clubs, getting involved).
• Advice to live visibly in dorms to meet peers: keep the door open to signal availability and invite others to engage.
• Emphasis on getting involved in major-related clubs and organizations; faculty advisers are required for many clubs.
• Examples of campus clubs mentioned:
  • Skydiving club
  • Hiking club
  • Aztec class (misinterpreted as about furries; clarified as a club related to furry interests, not dogs)
• Realistic note: with ~37000 people on campus, there’s likely someone who matches every interest; the goal is to find one thing to connect over.
• Acknowledge post-COVID challenges: students may have missed important years for friendship and adaptation; campus social life may feel different post-pandemic.
• The instructor emphasizes empathy and real-world social navigation—finding many small communities can help build a sense of belonging.

Public Speaking Foundations

• Core purpose of communication: to create understanding, not necessarily agreement.
• Understanding is a prerequisite for other outcomes like informing, persuading, entertaining, or honoring.
• Public speaking extends the goal of understanding from one-on-one to a group (e.g., 21 audience members).
• Foundational analogy: building a house
  • Foundation first: establish a solid base before adding more complex elements.
  • In this course, the foundation is developing a solid outline and clear thesis.
• Important distinction: being understood is not the same as being agreed with.
• Practical implication: if your message is understood, you can influence attitudes and decisions more effectively.

The Thesis and Outlining Process

• The thesis statement is a one-sentence version of the speech’s core goal.
• Criteria for a good thesis:
  • Concrete and specific (not abstract)
  • A statement (not a question)
  • Truthful and defensible
• The thesis is treated as a work in progress: you can draft it first, then build the body, and tweak the thesis to ensure alignment with the content.
• Guidance: write the thesis first, then draft the body; if the body doesn’t align with the thesis, adjust one sentence to restore coherence.
• The conclusion should mirror the introduction: a seamless alignment between what was promised and what was delivered.
• For a successful introduction, body, and conclusion:
  • Introduction sets up what you will tell the audience (future tense)
  • Body presents the content in the present tense
  • Conclusion summarizes what you have told them (past tense)

Structure of a Speech: Introduction-Body-Conclusion

• Introduction (example framing):
  • Present an outline of what you will cover
  • Use the instruction: "I will introduce myself to the class with two objects" as a model
  • Include a clear thesis in the introduction so the audience knows the purpose
• Body: two main points or objects that support the thesis; this is where you deliver the bulk of the message
• Conclusion: restate and summarize, connecting back to the thesis and the promises in the introduction
• Important cueing: transitions only occur between main points, not after the final point
• For this first speech, the instructor suggests a simple structure with a single transition to demonstrate the transition concept

The Two-Object Self-Introduction Exercise

• Purpose: ease into public speaking by focusing on delivery rather than dense content
• Structure guidance for the intro speech (aim for ~3 minutes total):
  • Introduction: ~30 seconds
  • Object 1: ~30 seconds
  • Object 2: ~30 seconds
  • Conclusion: ~30 seconds
  • Remaining time goes to delivery and practice
• Topic approach: choose two objects that reveal your passions, values, or life narrative; can be sentimental or playful
• Personal anecdotes allowed but optional; topic should feel authentic and comfortable for the speaker
• Example: a Hershey’s candy bar story from a past student to illustrate a personal moment relevant to the speaker’s life

Informative vs Persuasive Speech Guidance and Examples

• Informative and persuasive speech samples are used to illustrate how to craft concrete, robust statements:
  • Effective informative statements should be concrete and not merely abstract; they should aim to inform with clear, testable details
  • An example of a concrete informative statement: "The history of pollution begins with the rise of the industrial age, and though large in scope, we all can make a difference in reducing air pollution."
  • For persuasive content, the thesis should still be concrete and specific, with arguments that are testable and grounded in evidence
• Avoid vague wording (e.g., "air pollution is bad" is too abstract); opt for statements with measurable or observable impact
• The instructor models how to compare options (e.g., A, B, C) to illustrate choosing the most concrete option

The Eye to Eye: Delivery, Verbal and Nonverbal Cues

• Emphasis on delivery: eye contact, gestures, voice modulation, and movement
• Delivery-focused approach to early assignments: emphasize how you deliver, not just what you say
• In class, the instructor uses a practical metaphor to describe guiding through a speech: you are the voice of Google Maps/Waze guiding the audience
• The goal of delivery is to ensure the audience can follow your outline and understand where you are in the speech

Outlining and Audience Understanding

• The outline is the foundation; many students have not outlined before, so emphasis on clear structure
• Three-step guiding adage for speeches: Tell them what you’re going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you told them
• For the introduction: tell the audience what you will cover and establish the thesis
• For the body: present main points with evidence and explanations
• For the conclusion: summarize and reinforce the main message
• Transition strategy: ensure transitions occur only between main points; avoid mid-point transitions after a point is finished
• A simple exercise used in class: practice a two-object introduction to get comfortable with the pattern
• A practical approach to outlines: keep it simple and consistent; do not reinvent the wheel; stay with a proven structure for the first several weeks

Classroom Logistics, Tools, and Important Deadlines

• iClicker app introduction and usage:
  • Starting next week, the class will use iClicker for quick polling
  • If you opt in, it's free; if you opt out, there is a ~$15.99 fee
  • Download and set up using your SDSU email; if you forget to download by the first session, the instructor will guide you through the setup
  • If you download and create a profile, you may need to add your class (the instructor has already set up the class on the system)
• Opt-in/Opt-out and Day One readiness deadlines:
  • The day-by-day schedule includes opt-in/opt-out choices and Day One readiness by specific deadlines (e.g., 11:59 PM)
  • After the first week, drops or schedule changes may cost fees (example: dropping a class after the deadline may incur a $50 charge)
  • Students should finalize their class load by the indicated deadline; late changes may be restricted
• Module and Canvas guidance:
  • Instructions for accessing Connect/Canvas resources exposed under the Canvas modules, including a PDF with screenshots to help administrators
  • Look for a module titled "Connect Canvas" at the bottom of the Modules section for screenshots and instructions
• Announcements and helpful links:
  • The instructor references handouts and announcements with detailed directions; students should review these to understand how to use the course tools
• Week-by-week plan overview:
  • Week 1: foundational lectures and introductions; focus on outlining and delivery basics
  • Week 2 and onward: introduction to informative and persuasive speech; build complexity gradually with a three-speech sequence

Grading, Participation, and Course Roadmap

• Assignments and points:
  • The first major assignment is worth 120 points (as stated in the transcript)
  • There is a provision for three votes related to the assignment, with some reference implying a 7-point increment equaling approximately 130 points; the exact interpretation is context-dependent and may refer to a scoring rubric or in-class votes
• The professor emphasizes transparency: you will hear feedback from the instructor who designed the assignment, ensuring consistency and alignment with the rubric
• The overall goal in early weeks is to establish a reliable foundation so students can advance to more complex speeches later in the semester

Practical Advice for New Students

• Start with baby steps: progressively add complexity to speeches across the first three assignments
• Focus on delivery first in early assignments; content depth can grow in later tasks
• Use simple, repeatable templates for the introduction, body, and conclusion to reduce anxiety and build confidence
• Practice speaking on familiar topics (e.g., two objects) to reduce fear of speaking in front of others
• Seek feedback from the instructor and peers to refine structure and delivery
• Keep in mind the social context of campus life and networking: joining clubs and forming connections can ease public speaking anxiety by increasing confidence and familiarity with audiences

Quick Reference: Key Concepts and Terms

• Goal of communication: to create understanding; not necessarily to achieve agreement
• Foundation metaphor: build a solid outline first; then add content and delivery
• Thesis statement: one concise, concrete, true sentence that guides the speech; a work in progress
• Structure: Introduction (future tense) → Body (present tense) → Conclusion (past tense)
• Transitions: used only between main points
• Two-object introduction: a practical, low-stakes practice to develop delivery and personal storytelling
• Concrete vs. abstract: prioritize concrete, specific language to enhance clarity and persuasiveness
• iClicker: a polling tool used to accelerate in-class interaction; setup requires a SDSU-linked account
• Deadlines and policy reminders: early drafts, opt-in/out, schedule drops, and late fees; deadlines emphasized to help students manage workload
• Real-world relevance: the classroom approach mirrors real-world communications—clarity, structure, and audience understanding are universally valuable

Final Takeaways

• Build a strong foundation with a solid, concrete thesis and a clear three-part outline
• Practice delivery early and progressively—eye contact, gestures, and vocal variety matter as much as content
• Use the two-object intro as a safe, personal entry point into public speaking
• Use the provided tools (Canvas, iClicker) and stay on top of deadlines to maximize success
• Remember the ultimate goal of any communication is understanding; this will guide both your content and your delivery