This chapter introduces public speaking and its benefits. It discusses how public speaking skills can enhance one's career as a student by learning research, analysis, outlining and supporting claims. These skills also apply to civic engagement by allowing one to consider different viewpoints on meaningful topics. The chapter then covers the classical roots of public speaking in ancient Greece and how Aristotle developed the canons of rhetoric. It emphasizes that public speaking is an acquired skill that improves with practice, and draws similarities between public speaking and conversation as well as composition skills. The chapter concludes by framing public speaking as an interactive communication process between a speaker and audience within a given context and rhetorical situation.

1. YOUR
GUIDE TO
PUBLIC
SPEAKING
Chapter 1
Becoming a Public Speaker

2. Gain a Vital Life Skill
Skill in public speaking
 Gives you an unmistakable edge;
 Leads to greater confidence and satisfaction;
 Is a potent weapon in career development.

3. Enhance Your Career as a
Student
Skills used when preparing speeches:
 Researching topics
 Analyzing audiences
 Outlining and organizing ideas
 Supporting claims
These skills apply to other courses.

4. Find New Opportunities for
Civic Engagement
Studying public speaking allows you to
 Research topics meaningful to you;
 Consider alternate viewpoints;
 Choose a course of action;
 Distinguish between arguments and uncivil
speech.

5. The Classical Roots of Public
Speaking
Ancient Greece
 Developed rhetoric (making effective speeches—
also called oratory)
 Used rhetoric to persuade public policy
 Practiced public speaking in forums

6. The Classical Roots of Public
Speaking (cont.)
Aristotle developed the canons of rhetoric:
 Invention
 Arrangement
 Style
 Memory
 Delivery

7. Learning to Speak in Public
Public speaking:
 Acquired skill
 Improves with practice
 Similar to speaking and writing
 Utilizes skills you already have

8. Draw on Conversational Skills
Skills you commonly use in conversation:
 Checking to ensure you are understood
 Adjusting your meaning as necessary
 Discussing issues appropriate to the
circumstances
 Uncovering the audience’s interests and attitudes

9. Draw on Skills in Composition
Skills used in writing:
 Having a sense of the audience
 Researching a topic
 Offering credible evidence
 Employing effective transitions
 Devising persuasive appeals

10. Draw on Skills in Composition
(cont.)
Similar components of speeches and essays:
 Compelling introduction
 Clear thesis statement
 Supporting ideas
 Thoughtful conclusion

11. Develop an Effective Oral
Style
Practices of successful speakers:
 Using familiar words
 Using easy-to-follow sentences
 Using transitional words and phrases
 Repeating key words and phrases

12. Develop an Effective Oral
Style (cont.)
Relate your message to the audience.
 Specific references to yourself, audience
Use clear, recognizable, and organized
speech.
Offer the audience something of value.

13. Become an Inclusive Speaker
Address diverse audiences with sensitivity.
Cultivate your cultural intelligence.
Strive for inclusion.
Adopt an audience-centered perspective.

14. Public Speaking as a Form of
Communication
Four categories of human communication:
 Dyadic communication
 Between two people
 Small group communication
 Small number of people
 See, speak directly with one another

15. Public Speaking as a Form of
Communication (cont.)
 Mass communication
 Speaker and large audience (usually not present)
 Public speaking
 Speaker delivers message with specific purpose
 Audience is present during speech

16. Public Speaking as a Form of
Communication (cont.)
Public speaking always includes
 A speaker with a reason for speaking;
 An audience that gives its attention;
 A message meant to accomplish a purpose.

17. Public Speaking as an Interactive
Communication Process
Elements of communication:
 Source (creates a message)
 Receiver (receives the message)
 Message (content of the communication process)
 Channel (medium of the message)
 Shared meaning (mutual understanding)

18. Public Speaking as an Interactive
Communication Process (cont.)

19. Public Speaking as an Interactive
Communication Process (cont.)
Context
 Influences the speaker, audience, or occasion
 May include:
 Recent events
 Physical setting
 Cultural orientation of audience members

20. Public Speaking as an Interactive
Communication Process (cont.)
Rhetorical situation
 Circumstance calling for a public response
Speech purpose or goal
 What the audience should learn or do