PRE-READING 1

Speech Skills: Public Speaking

By Yohana Andini, 1206218511


Studying public speaking adds our communication abilities within a culture that
values them. We can develop critical thinking skills and presentational skills that will serve
you well in almost any profession, while we sharpen our abilities to engage in the broader
cultural conversation that makes a difference in the world. On top of these benefits, we also
can gain confidence as we face our fears and meet the challenge of preparing and giving
speeches (Jafe, 2013).
Before starting to speak in public, there are some things that need to be prepared as
you have to preparing our presentation (Gareis, 2006).
Considering our audience
o What are the age range and educational background of your audience? Marital
status? Children? Gender and sexual orientation? Occupations?
o What do you know about their ethnic diversity? Languages represented? Group
affiliations? Regional characteristics?
o Do you know something about their interests? Values? Political views? Religious
beliefs?
o What do the audience members know? What do they want to know? What are
their reasons for listening?
o What is the relationship between time of delivery and expected states of mind
(e.g., hunger before lunch, tiredness in the evening), between the physical
environment and its effect on the audience (e.g., lighting, temperature, seating
arrangements, outside noise), between occasion and emotional climate? Are there
reactions to previous speakers?
Choosing a topic
o Skim headlines in newspapers for current events.
o Check television schedules for interesting news programs or documentaries.
o Surf the internet.
o Think about people (individuals or groups), places (local, national, or
international), objects (natural or human-made), events (personal or public),
processes (how something is done or made), concepts (theories, complex ideas),
and controversial issues.
o Make an inventory of your own interests, experiences, and classes you have taken.
o List things you are curious about and skills you have always wanted to learn.
Determining our purpose
The general purpose of a speech usually is to entertain, to inform, or to persuade; the
specific purpose describes exactly what a speaker wants to accomplish; and the central
idea is the core of your message.
Researching our topic
Books, Encyclopedias, Almanacs, Atlases, Magazines, Newspapers, Professional
Journals, Audiorecordings, Videos and Films, Internet, Electronic Databases, Lectures,
Interviews, Surveys, etc.
Selecting support material
Research furnishes you with information about your topic and can lead you to suitable
support materials. These materials are essential for effective speech-making because they
arouse interest, provide substance, and emphasize important ideas. (Facts, statistics,
testimony, examples, humor, analogies, quotations, etc)
Organizing our speech, make an outline
o Body
o Introduction
o Conclusion
Language use
To be effective, language should be: correct, clear, concrete, concise, appropriate,
culturally sensitive, and colorful.
Ethics and plagiarism. Guidelines for Responsible Sharing of Information
1. Research your topic well so that you dont present falsehoods and half-truths.
2. Avoid plagiarism and identify all of your sources.
3. Dont even think about fabricating information!
Rehearsing our speech
The different modes of delivery necessitate different preparation and rehearsal methods.
In impromptu speeches, speakers are asked to speak without little time to prepare.
Preparing for an Impromptu Speech
o If you have to give an impromptu speech and have a little time to prepare, jot
down three or four main points.
o Think of a few examples to illustrate each main points.
o To prevent forgetting something important, think of the question who, what,
when, where, why, and how.
Extemporaneous speeches should be prepared well but delivered without the help of a
written-out text. It may be tempting to use a text initially and memorize it, but this
method is not a good idea, for the following reasons.

When we have ready with the material that will be presented to public, the next step is
going to delivering our speech (Gareis, 2006).
Setting up
Appearance and body language
o Appearance
o Eye contact
o Facial expressions
o Gesture
o Body posture and movement
Vocal behavior
o Pitch
o Rate and fluency
o Volume
Audiovisual support
o Using AV Aids Effectively
o Illustrating Statistics
Question and Answer Session

As a beginner, many people still feel less confident and then being confused to deliver
what message when asked to speak in public. We can call it as public speaking
apprehension. Public speaking apprehension is the level of fear a person experiences when
anticipating or actually speaking to an audience. Because public speaking apprehension has
multiple causes, there is general metods that can help us to reduce our anxiety and manage
our nervousness (Verderber, 2012).
Communication Orientation Motivation (COM) techniques are designed to reduce anxiety
by helping the speaker adopt a communication rather than a performance orientation
toward the speech.
o Performance orientation, viewing public speaking as a situation demanding
special delivery techniques ti impress an audience aesthetically or viewing
audience members as hypercritical judges who will not forgive even minor
mistakes.
o Communication orientation, viewing a speech as just an opportunity to talk with a
number of people about an important topic.
Visualization is a metodh that reduces apprehension by helping speakers develop a mental
picture of themselves giving a masterful speech. If people can visualize themselves going
through an entire process, they will have a much better chance of succeeding when they
are in the situation.
Relaxation exercise is breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation exercises
that help reduce anxiety.
Systematic desensitization ia a metodh that reduces apprehension by gradually having
people visualize and perform increasingly more frightening events while remaining in a
relaxed state.
Cognitive restructuring is a process designed to help you systematically change your
intrapersonal communication (self-talk) about public speaking. Effective speakers do so
with regard to each of the fears we mentioned earlier: the fear of being stared at, the
unknown, failure, and of becoming fearful.
Public speaking skills training is the systematic practicing of the skills associated with the
processes involved in preparing and delivering an effective public speech with the
intention of improving speaking competence and reducing public speaking apprehension.

Confidence builds with time and exposure. We will find that the more we speak in
public, the less nervous we will be. It is therefore a good idea to use any opportunity to
practice and gain experience. Remember: Practice makes perfect!

References:
Jeff, Clella Iles. (2013). Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society. Canada:
Wadsworth Cengange Learning
Gareis, Elisabeth. (2006). Guidelines for Public Speaking. Retrieved from
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/tutorials/weissman/oral_presentations/public_speaking_gui
delines.pdf
Verderber, Rudolph F, Deanna D. Sellnow, dan Kathleen S. Verderber. (2012). The
Challenge of Effective Speaking. 15th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengange Learning