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.