Developing your ideas for informative speeches

Al Gore excerpt (attention step)Chili Peppers excerpt (full CARRP)

Relate the topic to the audience

State the importance of your topic

Startle the audience Arouse curiosity Question the

audience Begin with a

quotation

Tell a story Establish common

ground Use humor Refer to the speech

situation or context Use an analogy Do an action Do whatever you do

with eye contact and confidence

Clarity of Thought/Structure Engaging Audience Interest

◦Supporting Materials Chapter 14 Advice

◦Don’t overestimate what the audience knows

◦Relate the topic directly to the audience◦Don’t be too technical◦Avoid abstractions◦Personalize your ideas

How about Edible Insects?

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the uses of insects in our diet.

Central Idea: Insects have been, are and will continue to grow as an important part of the human diet because of their nutritional value.

I. Insects are already a part of our daily diet.

II. Insects have been used by humans as a food source throughout history.

III. Insects have impressive nutritional value.

IV. Insects are likely to become a greater part of our diet in the future.

And tell them something they can use

W. p. 38

Scientific Monthly 1941 study took images of people sneezing at 1,260 frames a second

particles traveled anywhere from 61 to 94 feet per second!

Attention: curiosity is aroused in #1-3 through vivid description.

Relating to Audience is limited to putting the listener into the speech with “you” and “your.”

Topic is clearly revealed in the first sentence of paragraph 4.

Credibility: personal experience? No expertise at all here, some goodwill?

Preview: clearly signals three main points.

I. Sneezing can be understood in terms of the superstitions surrounding it throughout history.

II. Sneezing can be understood as the body's complex reaction to a number of stimuli from pollen to strong emotion.

III. Sneezing can be understood as something that can be done safely and politely.

First Main Point, paragraphs 6-12◦ Extended Example: story of Xenophon from

the Concise Dictionary of Ancient History--nice details

◦ Extended examples across cultures: Zulu, India, western culture, (South Pacific--brief). All from Encyclopedia of Occult Sciences, Superstitions, and Folklore.

◦ Also increased credibility with citation of info from Science magazine.

Second Main Point, paragraphs 13-17◦ Stat. 104 miles an hour--no citation; problem

Fix it◦ Examples based on the discussion in the New

York Times.◦ Example of June Clark--interesting, but no source

cited.

Third Main Point, paragraphs 18-19◦Information in paragraph 18 is not cited.◦Quote from Jane Brody in the New York

Times.

Introduction: ◦ "you," and "your" ◦ preview is clear but not overly blatant.

First Main Point:◦ Concrete details and interesting word choices

help to bring the story to life. ◦ The strong word choices continue: "sneezing,” is

called "the nose's most conspicuous function."◦ The language also continues to try to relate to the

audience: "If you were walking down the dusty streets of Karim Nagar."

Second Main Point:◦ He avoids getting overly technical; where it

borders on technical he does it for humorous effect as in "overly active equilibriating mechanism."

◦ Colorful word choice continues: "rampaging predators," and "banishing intruders."

◦ Again, he addresses the audience: "If a man lunged at you with a knife.”

Accuracy means making sure you have the right word for the idea or object.

Clarity means making sure you have the right word for your audience in terms of their knowledge base and listening skills.

Appropriateness means that you have the right word for your audience in terms of their attitudes toward the situation, topic and speaker.

Take a hint from Stephen Colbert, Wikipedia is not always reliable

Identify author Identify sponsoring organization

◦ if you can’t identify author or sponsoring org., don’t use the document!

Determine recency◦ copyright date◦ publication date◦ date of last revisions Will using this source help or hurt my credibility?

Build on the sense of structure developed in the Paired Perspectives Speech

Find engaging materials--examples are especially helpful

Integrate them nicely into the presentation

Use language that is clear and lively Develop a delivery style to enhance the

material you have prepared.

See you Monday

What are the components of good visual aids and delivery and how do I improve mine?

Visual aids can add a great deal to the speech when nicely integrated.◦ But don’t let your visual aid substitute for the

speech. Visual aids can add attention and

interest, but they can also distract. ◦ Never pass around a visual aid during a

formal speaking engagement. ◦ Show it while talking about it; but leave it up

long enough for all listeners to take in◦ Use common sense (no fires, weapons, live

animals, no graphic images, etc..)

Ch. 13-5

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100

80

60

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01981 1988 1997

Year

TV & home video

Box office

Movie-industry revenues

Aim for a professional look.◦ Make sure whatever aid you use is large enough

for all to see. Practice delivery with it.

Know how you can best refer to it while you speak.

Practice the mechanics of it. Additional tips in T ch. 13 and W p. 35.

HEART LINE

HEAD LINE

LINE OFDESTINY

LIFE LINE

Ch. 13-4

Roller Coaster Speech (video)Gore speech (PowerPoint+)

I. Roller coasters offer a thrill that American’s love.

II. Roller coasters have had an up-and-down history.

III. Roller coasters at today’s parks offer a wide variety of designs and thrills.

IV. Roller coasters of the future will feature new developments like the pipeline.

Preview: ◦ “Today I would like to discuss America’s

addiction to the thrill of roller coaster riding and then present to you the past, present and future of the roller coaster….”

Connectives◦ Thrill-seeker or not, the question most of us ask

ourselves as we are nearing the top of a coaster’s incline is, “Who would ever build such a contraption?” (transition)

◦ “Let’s take a look at some of today’s hottest rides.” “First,” “Next we travel,” “Now we venture,” “Finally,”

(signposts)◦ “So far we have seen….” (internal summary)◦ “In conclusion…”

Support Materials◦ Smithsonian Magazine; Professor Farley;

leading designer of roller coasters; and video

Critique strengths and weaknesses

A scientific approach to delivery

Gilbert Austin’s Chironomia,1806

Elocutionists had rules for◦ Stance◦ Broad gestures◦ Fingers◦ Eyebrows

Delsarte’s system introduced in the 1880s kept this alive

The Speaker’s Body Matters◦Personal appearance is important.◦Physical stance is important.◦Gestures, eye contact and facial

expressiveness are important.◦“People trust their ears less than their

eyes.”

The Speaker’s Voice Matters◦Pitch, rate, pauses, inflection,

pronunciation, and articulation are the critical terms.

◦Paralanguage refers to the manipulation of these variables to make a single sentence have a variety of meanings.

Rehearse the speech out loud with the preparation outline.

Develop a speaking outline (see workbook pp. 29-31)

Practice aloud using the speaking outline (and put it down too)

Polish and refine your delivery by practicing with others or recording your performance.

Arrange for a dress rehearsal so you are familiar with your space.

To do all of this requires two things◦ finish developing the speech content early◦ working with anxiety

Mark Twain Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894

is very common◦ James McCroskey, a leading communication

apprehension researcher, finds that 70-75% of American’s say they experience anxiety

is typically a response to the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol◦ an adrenaline rush should feel good and be useful ◦ as adrenaline gives out and the stressor remains

cortisol rises as adrenaline falls and there we have some physical and mental discomfort

is triggered by OLD brain wiring◦ “fight or flight” response◦ Speech trainer Mary Fensholt says: “The fear of public

speaking is more than anything a fear of being eaten”

Think positively◦ Use visualization: imagine your success◦ The goal is communication, not perfection

Prepare◦ Work on content early; choose something you

know◦ Work especially hard on introduction

On your speaking day, be proactive.◦ Do simple muscle relaxation◦ Create an outlet for extra energy before or during◦ Take slow deep breaths◦ Bring some water to drink◦ Use Visual Aids◦ Use eye contact with members of the audience

I don’t have any strengths as a speaker.

I’m too nervous to do well.

THEY will think I’m stupid (boring, inarticulate)

I don’t have anything important to say.

It has to be a perfect performance.

I can do __X__ well. A little nervousness

can help!◦ It is a source of

energy My audience wants

me to succeed. I have prepared well

and will give my best.

I can share what I know.

They want you to succeed! They feel your anxiety They are eager to listen and learn They hope to be taken by your

enthusiasm and excitement about the topic

They want you to succeed! They feel your anxiety They are eager to listen and learn They hope to be taken by your enthusiasm and excitement about the topic

Build the skeleton first [the outline]◦ What’s the big goal, the take away idea?◦ What are the main points everyone should know?◦ How can you structure your ideas to make them

easier to follow and retain?◦ What kinds of connectives can drive the points

home? Find engaging materials—examples are

especially helpful◦ Integrate them nicely into the presentation◦ Use language that is clear and lively

Develop a delivery style to enhance the material you have prepared

Use Positive Preparation

The thinking speaker is able◦to respond to feedback◦to adjust to the situation and

interference◦to achieve conversational delivery◦to help the audience think that this is

what the speaker want to be doing right now

Eleanor Roosevelt