Notes on Ethics in Public Speaking

Learning Objectives

• Explain the legal, cultural, philosophical, and social origins of ethics in public speaking.
• Differentiate between plagiarism and correct appropriation of source materials.
• Understand the importance of ethics for a speaker's reputation.
• Accurately incorporate source material into presentations.

3.1 – Sources of Ethical Stances on Communication and Public Speaking

• Benefits of Public Speaking:

• Increases self-confidence.

• Enhances critical thinking through argument formulation.

• Fosters interpersonal connections and idea exchange.

• Prepares for future presentations in academic, civic, and professional life.

• Rhetoric’s Historical Role:

• Central in Western culture for community building, self-governance, sharing ideas, and policy creation.

• Ancient Athenian Greeks viewed rhetoric education as essential for citizen engagement.

• Aristotle on Rhetoric:

• Advocated that individuals should defend ideas rhetorically just as they would defend themselves physically.

• Ethics in Public Speaking:

• Essential for informed audience decision-making and credibility.

• Defined as the philosophical branch determining right and moral actions.

• Influenced by personal values and external factors.

• Articulating Ethical Standards:

• Understand and express personal ethical communication standards.

• Importance of ethical speaking in maintaining individual reputation and audience trust.

3.2 – Credibility and Ethics

• Definition of Credibility:

• Audience's perception of a speaker's trustworthiness.

• Factors contributing to credibility include:

  • Similarity: Shared experiences or beliefs with the audience.
  • Character: Speaker’s honesty and integrity.
  • Competence: Knowledge and experience in the subject matter.
  • Goodwill: Perceived ethical intentions toward the audience.

• Variability in Credibility:

• Different audiences perceive the same speaker differently (e.g., political figures).

• Credibility can change throughout a presentation and is categorized as:

  • Initial Credibility: Established before or at the speech's start.
  • Derived Credibility: Established throughout the presentation based on audience judgment.
  • Terminal Credibility: Final perception of the speaker after the presentation.

• Ethical Credibility:

• Must be established honestly without deceit or manipulation.

• Transparency and honesty are fundamental for maintaining credibility across all stages.

3.3 – Plagiarism

• Defining Plagiarism:

• Using another's words or ideas without attribution.

• Can lead to serious academic and professional consequences.

• **Common Types of Plagiarism: **

• Stealing: Presenting someone else's work as your own.

• Sneaking: Rearranging sentences or slightly altering them without proper credit.

• Borrowing: Citing sources incorrectly, misrepresenting ideas, or poorly paraphrasing.

• Preventing Plagiarism:

• Understand and apply proper citation practices.

• Use a consistent format (e.g., APA, MLA) as required.

• Know the difference between common knowledge (no citation needed) and original ideas (require citation).

• Ethical Use of Sources:

• Clearly cite sources to maintain transparency.

• Effectively summarize and paraphrase material with accurate management and understanding.

• Be wary of using direct quotations too frequently; substitute with paraphrasing when possible.

• Best Practices for Ethical Citations in Speeches:

• Provide context for citations: mention the author, their credentials, and the date of publication.

• Ensure audience understanding by framing information in relatable and clear language.

Conclusion

• Learning to cite source material correctly is essential for ethical communication.
• Establishing a habit of attributing sources helps build credibility as a speaker.