Build a Balanced Speech

1
Build a Balanced Speech

• Introduction-10 of the speech
• Gain audience attention via an example, quote,
  statistics or a visual aid
• State the Central Thesis (the main idea)
• Establish your credibility
• Identify with the audience and recognize the
  occasion
• Preview the main points, in the same order they
  will appear in the speech

2
Build a Balanced Speech (continued)

• Body-80 of the speech
• Use 3-5 main points
• Give balanced attention to each section
• Conclusion-10 of the speech
• This is a mirror image of introduction, with a
  review
• Refer back to the attention-getter in the
  introduction (e.g., a vivid example)
• Dont introduce new information
• End with authority, and always on time

3
Employ Frequent Transitions

• Transitions help adult learners knowwhat to
  expect
• Transitions link the main parts of the speech,
  and create a smooth flow
• Transitions can review, and then preview main
  points
• Transitions can be long or short
• Single words, phrases or sentences
• Numbers

4
Examples of Transitions

• Now that we have reviewed the problem of
  homelessness, lets examine three main causes
• The second major problem is
• Next, we will consider..
• That brings us to
• The final point

5
Employ Humor With Care

• Where humor is concerned, there are no standards
  - no one can say what is good or bad, although
  you can be sure that everyone will!
• John Kenneth Galbraith

6
Use Varied and MultipleTypes of Evidence and
Support

• Examples
• Vivid success stories or brief scenarios
• Visual aids or models
• Expert testimony
• Quotes attributed to an expert enhance the
  speakers credibility
• Statistics
• Be sure to round off and interpret

7
There are three kinds of lies lies, damned lies
and statistics.

• Benjamin Disraeli

8
Statistics always remind me of the fellow who
drowned in a river whose average depth was three
feet.

• Woody Hayes
• Coach, Ohio State Football

9
Always provide peoplewith a context to helpthem
understand.

• Richard E. Moran

10
A talk is a voyage with a purpose, and it must be
charted. The man who starts out going
nowhere,generally gets there.

• Dale Carnegie

11
Strategically Choose Your Organizational
Pattern(s)

• Chronological (in order of occurrence, as in a
  historical perspective)
• Topical (by subject)
• Spatial (by physical position, as in geographic)
• Problem-Cause-Solution
• Problem-Solution
• Monroes Motivated Sequence

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Monroes Motivated Sequence

• Attention
• Create interest in the problem
• Need
• Analyze problem characteristics andrelate these
  to the audience needs
• Satisfaction
• Propose a course of action that eliminates the
  problem and satisfies audience needs, desires and
  wants

13
Monroes Motivated Sequence (continued)

• Visualization
• Verbally depict the world as it will exist ifthe
  plan is or is not instituted, and contrast these
  possibilities
• Action
• Call for audience commitment and action
• Be specific
• Monroes Motivated Sequence is commonly used in
  advertising to persuade

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Delivery Tips

• A speaker is always on stage
• They are on from moment they are announced, to
  the time they return to their place in the
  audience
• Pause before beginning
• Vary intonation
• A slightly faster pace increases audience
  comprehension
• Maintain good eye contact
• Assume a relaxed, open posture,with few
  self-adaptors/touch

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(Sometimes, less is more)Talk low, talk
slow anddont say too much.

• John Wayne

16
The right word may be effective, but no word was
ever as effective as arightly timed pause.

• Mark Twain

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To Minimize Anxiety

• Convert anxiety to presentational energy
• Recognize that mild arousal is normal
• Seek public speaking opportunities
• More speaking experienceless anxiety
• Avoid stimulants
• Eat and sleep enough
• Deep breathing, activity andrelaxation may help

18
Practice the Presentation

• Rehearse
• Your emotional state
• Transitions (this is where many speakers
  experience the most difficulty)
• Introduction and Conclusion

19
Become Familiar With the Room

• Messages are perceived betterin an attractive
  room
• Check-out the sound systemand lighting
• Become familiar with audiovisual (AV)
  technologies
• Plan for water, pointer, etc.

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Always Have A Back-Up Plan

• What if the AV fails?
• Have a lo-tech back-up
• What if your available timeis diminished?
• Eliminate sub-points
• Dont speed rate
• What if you misplace your speech?
• Keep an extra copy, or quickly construct an
  outline

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FAQs

• What if I make a mistake?
• Remember that most speakers make them
• Correct it humor is ok
• Move ahead
• Dont apologize profusely or start over
• How can I avoid saying Um?
• Employ speaking transitions
• Tolerate silence

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FAQs

• How can I slow down?
• Pause between sections. Stop at the end of
  sentences. Underline key words.
• Tape record your practice sessions and count the
  words per minute. Then, practice speaking at a
  deliberately slower rate to gain conscious
  control over rate.

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FAQs

• What about eye contact?
• Dont bob your head up and down
• Dont fix your gaze at one person
• Look up at the end of a section, rather than lose
  your place, or train of thought
• Face the audience, not your slides
• Look more at friendly, supportive people
• Dont favor one side of the room
• Increased eye contact increases audience learning

24
FAQs

• What do I do with my hands?
• Dont play with your hair, clothes, objects or
  jingle money in your pockets
• Dont worry about your gestures--they will emerge
  naturally
• Keep your hands on or near the podium, or at your
  sides. Dont cross your arms, or clasp your hands
  in front of your body.

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Audience QAs

• Anticipate potential questions
• Draft answers
• Listen to the question
• Read the emotion
• Dont get defensive and never embarrass an
  audience member
• Maintain an open and relaxed posture
• Admit to not having an answer
• I really cant speak to that I will refer that
  concern to.

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Im glad this question came up,in a way, because
there are so many ways to answer it that one if
them is bound to be right. Robert Benchley I
was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I
said, I dont know. Mark Twain
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In Closing

• Speaking in public represents an opportunity to
  enhance knowledge, change attitudes, and promote
  action
• Most importantly, strive to communicate with your
  audience and to meet their unique needs
• The speaker has a responsibility to communicate
  publicly in an informed and ethical manner

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Source
Cohn, E. Public Speaking,University of
PittsburghCenter for Instructional Development
Distance Education,Fifth Edition, January 2001.