SPEAKING IN PUBLIC: SPEECH DELIVERY - Pearson

1 SPEAKING IN PUBLIC: SPEECH DELIVERY334335 Consider Mia s story:My sister needed an organ transplant and, as she waited and waited on theorgan-transplant waiting list, I learned a lot about the many rules that govern theorgan-donation waiting-list system. I decided to give my informative SPEECH on thiswaiting list, as it is something that I now know a lot about. I practiced my SPEECH andI felt that I was ready. When I delivered my SPEECH , I concluded by telling my audienceabout my sister. We were very close and she passed away waiting for an organ that neverarrived.

2 I started crying; I couldn t help it. I think it upset the audience. I think everyonewill remember my SPEECH and the DELIVERY , but I m not sure what they ll remember aboutorgan s DELIVERY on the topic of organ-donation waiting lists definitely made animpression on her audience. After her SPEECH , her classmates looked as though theywanted to say something but didn t know what to say. One student hugged Mia,and everyone will remember Mia s SPEECH because it touched them, she had acommand of the subject matter, and her DELIVERY demonstrated her strong commit-ment to the topic.

3 It also left many students feeling people think of public SPEAKING as all about DELIVERY , but DELIVERY is as wehope you have seen in the previous chapter only one aspect of the entire alone will not result in a strong SPEECH . In this chapter, we will discussimportant issues surrounding SPEECH DELIVERY , including overcoming anxiety, set-ting the tone, considering language and style, incorporating visual aids, being awareof the time, choosing a DELIVERY method, projecting a persona, and practicing thespeech. Finally, we ll address some ethical issues relevant to SPEECH DELIVERY .

4 Butfirst, we ll learn what DELIVERY is and why it is you have read this chapter, you will be able to: Explain the importance of SPEECH DELIVERY . Identify key issues in SPEECH DELIVERY . Connect SPEECH DELIVERY to the three artistic proofs: ethos , pathos and logos. Understand the ethical issues in SPEECH OUTLINEWHAT IS SPEECH DELIVERY ?THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEECHDELIVERYKEY ISSUES IN EFFECTIVESPEECH DELIVERYO vercoming AnxietyPreparing CarefullySetting the ToneConsidering Language and StyleIncorporating Visual AidsBeing Aware of Time LimitsChoosing a DELIVERY MethodProjecting a PersonaPracticing Your SpeechTHE INDIVIDUAL, SPEECHDELIVERY, AND SOCIETYE thos, pathos , and LogosSPEECH DELIVERY AND ETHICSUse Language SensitivelyUse Visual Aids CarefullyRespect Time LimitsSummaryKey TermsChapter Review QuestionsActivitiesWeb Activities336 CHAPTER 14 SPEAKING in Public.

5 SPEECH DeliveryWHAT IS SPEECH DELIVERY ?In the context of public SPEAKING ,deliveryrefers to the presentation of the SPEECH you haveresearched, organized, outlined, and practiced. DELIVERY is important, of course, because itis what is most immediate to the audience. DELIVERY relies on both verbal communication(see Chapter 3) and nonverbal communication (see Chapter 4). While some rhetoriciansseparate style from DELIVERY , we have found it useful to discuss the two together, as the styleof the SPEECH should be connected to its IMPORTANCE OF SPEECH DELIVERYOnce you have selected and researched your topic, and prepared and organized your pres-entation, you will need to work on your DELIVERY .

6 Without diligent work on the initial partsof the SPEECH process, however, even the most impressive DELIVERY has little meaning. Onthe other hand, combined with a well-prepared and practiced presentation, DELIVERY can bea key to your success as a can communicate your confidence and preparedness to your DELIVERY shows your audience that you have researched your topic and understandwhat you are SPEAKING about. An effective DELIVERY allows you to pull it all together toshowcase your work and to speak with confidence during your about some of the brief courtroom speeches you ve seen or heard by lawyerson various television shows, such as Law and about how they communicateconfidence and enthusiasm in their arguments when making a case to the jury.

7 If anattorney does not seem confident in his or her DELIVERY , how might it affect the jury sdecision?In the following section, we focus on eight important aspects of DELIVERY : overcominganxiety, setting the tone, considering language and style, incorporating visual aids, beingaware of time, choosing a DELIVERY method, projecting a SPEAKING persona, and finally,practicing and putting your SPEECH into ISSUES IN EFFECTIVE SPEECH DELIVERYW hile we often think of DELIVERY as happening at the moment of the SPEECH , the fact is thatthe foundations of effective DELIVERY should be laid out well before you step up to thepodium.

8 Let s look at some of these key AnxietyIf you feel nervous about SPEAKING in public, you should know that it is normal to experi-ence some communication apprehension, or stage fright, when you deliver a people you wouldn t expect to experience SPEECH apprehension do. The well-knownactor Mel Gibson is reputed to have been so overcome with nervousness in front of otherpeople during his first performance that he had to sit down his legs were too weak tosupport him. Other notable celebrities who have experienced similar stage fright includeRod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Laurence Olivier, and Carly Simon, among others ( ).

9 Mick Book and Michael Edelstein (2009) haveeven interviewed 40 celebrities about stage fright and how they overcome it, as a guide tohelping others overcome their anxiety. Extreme fear of public SPEAKING is the number-onesocial phobia in the United States (Bruce & Saeed, 1999).Speakers may express apprehension in a variety of ways as Mel Gibson experiencedwhen his legs felt weak but some of the most common symptoms include shaking handsand legs, voice fluctuations, and rapid SPEECH . Moreover, almost all speakers worry that theirnervousness is going to be obvious to the audience.

10 Fortunately, many signs of anxiety arenot visible. For example, if your hands sweat or your heart pounds when you speak, youraudience will probably not notice. Read It Happened to Me: Jamiefor the story of one of ourstudents, who realized she was the only person who knew she was presentation of the SPEECH you have researched, organized,outlined, and practicedcommunication apprehensionfeelings of anxiety that accompanypublic SPEAKING . Commonlyreferred to as stage fright Key Issues in Effective SPEECH Delivery337As a speaker, your goal is not to eliminate feelings of apprehension, but to use themto invigorate your presentation.