Public Speaking:

An Audience-Centered Approach – 7th edition

Chapter 2
The
Audience-Centered
Speechmaking
Process

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Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
 “If all my talents and
powers were to be
taken away from me
by some inscrutable
providence, and I had
my choice of keeping
but one, I would
unhesitatingly ask to
be allowed to keep
the power of
speaking, for
through it, I would
recover all the rest.”
- Daniel Webster
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 An Audience-Centered
Speechmaking Model
Always think of
your audience
• Show sensitivity to
their needs.

• Think if they understand

your words.

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Consider Your
Audience
• Gather & analyze
information about
audience.

• Consider culturally diverse

backgrounds of audience.

• Adapt speech to particular audience.

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Select & Narrow
Your Topic
• Who will be hearing
your speech?

• What is the occasion (event)?

• What are your interests, talents &

experiences?

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Determine Your Purpose
General Purpose: overarching goal
of your speech

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Types of General Purposes
• Inform: teach, define or clarify.
• Persuade: change or strengthen
thoughts or behaviors.
• Entertain: amuse with stories,
illustrations
and humor.

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Specific Purpose

• Exact response you

want from audience.

• Concise statement
indicating what you want
audience to do, think, feel
or remember.

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Develop Your Central Idea

• Overview of speech.

• One-sentence summary
of speech.

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An example:
• Topic: The South Beach Diet.
• General Purpose: To inform.
• Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech,
the audience will be able
to identify the three key
elements in the South
Beach diet.
• Central Idea: The South Beach diet is
based upon reducing the
amount of carbohydrates
you eat, drinking more
water, and increasing the
amount of exercise.
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Generate Main Ideas
• Identify how speech
will logically divide.
• How central idea
logically divides will determine main ideas.
• Reasons why central idea is true can
be main ideas.
• Series of steps to illustrate central idea can
be main ideas.

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Gather Supporting Material
• Material that
“backs up” ideas.
• Can be personal & concrete.
• Should appeal to listeners.
• Research your supporting material.
• Can be verbal, visual, or both.

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Organize Your Speech

• Start with body.

• Arrange ideas to
make most sense.
• Prepare introduction &
conclusion AFTER body.
• Follow effective outlining techniques.

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Rehearse Your Speech

• Prepare early.
• Practice out loud.
• Observe your
behaviors.
• Make adjustments.
• Rehearse in front of others.

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Deliver Your Speech
• Walk calmly.
• Walk confidently.
• Remember rehearsals.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Speak loudly.
• Vary your pitch.

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