Public Speaking: Non-Verbal Delivery, Eye Contact & Presentation Logistics

Nervous fidgeting with objects
- Speakers often grab pens, keys, or the lectern out of anxiety.
- Those objects create audible clicks, taps, or thuds that get amplified by microphones and distract the audience.
- Instructor’s caution: “If your department ever mics you up for a conference, recital, etc., test everything that might make noise.”
Family-style gesturing
- Many of us inherit or mimic distinctive hand/arm motions from relatives.
- Class prompt: “Anybody have a family member whose gestures punctuate every syllable?” → minimal student response (only one student mentions a sister).
Political-figure case study (gesture + vocal affect)
- Bill Clinton: trademark thumb-to-fist "beat" on important words.
- George W. Bush: comparatively sparse, less stylized gestures.
- Hillary Clinton: described as “pretty stoic.”
- Barack Obama: fluid hand movement between syllables and a melodic, rising-falling pitch/intonation pattern.
- Bernie Sanders: “crazy emphatic,” large motions that amplify urgency.
- Saturday Night Live uses these signature gestures for caricature, proving how visually memorable they are.

Nervousness is normal.
- Physical sensations (shaky voice, rapid gestures) happen to nearly everyone.
- Mastery takes more than a short course; even professionals refine skills over years.
Innate vs. trained performers
- A small subset “just have it.”
- Groups such as ROTC, theatre majors, marching band members typically cope better because they rehearse in public from an early age.

Never read the whole speech
- Eye-down delivery flattens vocal variety and severs connection with listeners.
Single exception (class policy)
- For Monday’s Pop-Culture Presentation you may read the verbal citation word-for-word without losing points.
- Everything else must be extemporaneous. Continuous reading is labeled “creepy.”

Goal in class: “Super non-threatening” gaze—brief sweeps, inclusive of all sections of the room, no staring.
Other social contexts where eye contact feels weird or intimidating
- Strangers at the gym.
- Restroom stall gaps.
- Intense gaze during kissing.

Source: Journal of Intra- and Interpersonal Communication article (cited by instructor).
Method: Online survey with 20,000+ participants.
Findings (Top-3 most awkward situations)
1. Public restroom stall gaps – \approx15,000 respondents flagged this as #1.
2. During a kiss – listed as #2.
3. Staring at the gym – not top-3 but within top-10; specifically mentioned by participants.
Implication for speakers: Know the threshold where gaze shifts from “engagement” to “threat.”

Pets leverage prolonged stares to demand food, outdoor time, or play.
Analogy: Audiences send similar non-verbal signals—fidgeting, knob-twisting, or prolonged gaze when they need clarity or speed-up.

Look for signs like:
- Listeners leaning forward or tilting heads = curiosity.
- Hands on phones or backpacks = distraction.
- Long, fixed gazes = either strong interest or discomfort—adjust tone or pacing accordingly.

Pop-Culture Presentation topics must be “medicated” (i.e., finalized/approved) before class ends.
Off-campus review session:
- Scheduled for Sunday.
- Attendance is optional but beneficial for grammar, writing, and formatting feedback.
Email policy:
- Instructor checks email about 8{:}30 PM nightly.
- Questions welcome, but be specific (avoid vague requests like “Look over my paper”).

Silence or remove any object that can click, clack, or jingle before you speak.
Rehearse natural gestures; avoid repetitive ticks that distract.
Practice delivering without a script—use bullet prompts only.
Employ a soft, roaming gaze: three-second glides to different audience zones.
Observe and decode audience body language; be ready to adjust pace or emphasis.
Attend Sunday’s review or email concrete questions by 20{:}30 for timely assistance.