Presenting with Confidence Haverford College November 12, 2013

Introductions Lionel Anderson Office of Academic Resources Haverford College Ralph Gigliotti Assistant Director of Leadership Programs Villanova University

Tonight’s Agenda 1) Introductions 2) Speech Organization 3) Speech Anxiety 4) Speech Delivery 5) Questions?

Introductions  Name  Major  Hometown  Why are you here?

Why does public speaking matter?

Tonight’s Agenda 1) Introductions 2) Speech Organization 3) Speech Anxiety 4) Speech Delivery 5) Questions?

Guiding Question What do you look for in the organization of a speech?

Thesis statement  A sentence that focuses your audience’s attention on the central point of speech  Usually in the introduction  Example: “The Heimlich maneuver involves applying pressure to the victim’s diaphragm to expel air from the lungs and thus dislodge what is caught in the throat.”

Specific Purpose  Expresses your speech goal  Be realistic  Be able to measure success  Begin with “to”  Example: “to have the audience understand the basic principles involved in the Heimlich maneuver.”

Organizing Your Speech © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Organizing Your Message  Focus on your audience:  Refine your specific purpose  Focus on your thesis statement  The first part of a speech you write is the... Introduction Body Conclusion

Relationship of Points in Traditional Speech © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Introduction  tell a story  give a quotation  make a startling statement  refer to the audience, occasion, or a current event  use appropriate humor  share personal experience  ask a thought-provoking question I. Attention Getter

Introduction II. Signal your thesis  Review the thesis statement that you have developed & reveal your speech’s “bottom line,” alerting listeners to your topic and purpose in delivering the presentation III. Show your audience “What’s in it for them” IV. Establish your credibility V. Preview your main points

Body  Present the main points of your speech  2 – 5 main points (3 is ideal)  Each main point should focus on one main idea  Parallel structure/coordination  Concise and simple language  Balance

Patterns of Organization  Spatial – geographically or physically  Temporal – chronological (time-based) sequence  Causal – cause-and-effect relationship  Comparison – major similarities & differences between the items  Problem-cause-solution – problem exists, identifying the causes, and proposing a solution  Criteria-application – proposes standards and then applies standards  Narrative – each point is a story event that uses characters & a plot to convey your message  Categorical – each point represents an important aspect of your topic

Conclusion I. Summarize Main Points  Briefly remind the audience of your thesis and review all main ideas II. Finish with a Memorable Clincher  Create a 30-second clincher that is tied to your introduction and leaves an imprint on your audience’s brains  Give a quotation  Tell a brief anecdote  Make a concrete call to action  Return to your opening theme  Emotional message

18 Putting It All Together  Use transitions and signposts among your main points  Prepare a formal working outline which includes a bibliography  Prepare a speaking outline and speaker’s notes using key words from outline  Use visual aids that reflect the main points from outline

Speaker’s Note Cards © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Activity  In groups of three, identify biggest issue at Haverford and create three main points using one organizational pattern, one attention getter, and one clincher.

Tonight’s Agenda 1) Introductions 2) Speech Organization 3) Speech Anxiety 4) Speech Delivery 5) Questions?

Survey Question

Speech Anxiety  Speech Anxiety  unpleasant thoughts and feelings aroused by the anticipation of a real or imagined public speech  can be managed through mental and behavioral skills

How Arousal Influences Performance © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Stage One: Managing Anxiety Before Speaking  Overcome uncertainty  Prepare and practice  Gain experience speaking  Develop a positive attitude  Establish realistic goals  Avoid negative self-talk  Don’t be overly concerned with grades  Use visual imagery  Use relaxation techniques  Combine techniques

“Wet Dog”

Stage Two: Managing Anxiety While Speaking  Remember your audience is rooting for you  Dress for confidence  Breathe deeply and relax  Smile before beginning  Make eye contact  Practice positive self-talk  “I can do this”  Use positive coping statements  “It’s going well...I’m halfway home”

Stage Three: Managing Anxiety After Speaking  Breathe deeply  Congratulate yourself  Be ready to record comments  Focus on instructor/audience feedback  List what you did well and what can be improved  Use positive self-talk

Self-Talk To Avoid  Self-criticizing  “I’m a terrible speaker”  Self-pressuring  “I can’t afford anything less than an A”  Catastophizing  “This is the worst experience I’ll ever have”

Tonight’s Agenda 1) Introductions 2) Speech Organization 3) Speech Anxiety 4) Speech Delivery 5) Questions?

Guiding Question What do you look for in the delivery of a speaker?

Methods of Delivery  Writing out the speech completely and reading it to the audience is …  Writing out the speech, committing it to memory and presenting it without notes is …  Presenting a spontaneous, unrehearsed speech is...  Preparing carefully but speaking spontaneously from brief notes is... Extemporaneous delivery Impromptu delivery Manuscript delivery Memorized delivery

Verbal Delivery Skills:  Volume – loud or soft  Tone – high or low pitch  Rate of delivery – quickly or slowly  Projection – “booming” your voice across large space  Articulation – crispness of your spoken words  Pronunciation – how correctly you say the words  Pausing – leaving gaps between words or sentences

Important: Find your own voice as a speaker!

Nonverbal Delivery Skills  Eye contact – panning  Gestures – hand movements  Physical movement – movement around room  Proxemics – space & distance  Personal appearance - impression you make  Clothing  Jewelry  Hairstyle  Grooming

Traditional Zone of Interaction Insert Exhibit 11.2 © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Shifting the Zone of Interaction Insert Exhibit 11.3 © 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Presentation Aids  Make sure everyone can see and hear your aids.  Control audience interaction with your aids.  Maintain eye contact.  Remember the purpose of your presentation aids.

Visual Aid Pointers  Keep visual aids:  SIMPLE!  Easy to read  Colorful  Almost always: Handouts at the end!  When in doubt…leave it out  PRACTICE!

Final tips…  Take control of your environment  Rehearse  Take control of your appearance  Use NATURAL gestures  Time your speech  Avoid self-adapting behaviors  Remember our tips on tackling speech anxiety!