1. PowerPoint prepared by George F. Colangelo, M.A. Communication,
Seminole State College
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2. Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes
Chapter 18
Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes
Chapter Overview:
Public Speaking in the Workplace
Ceremonial Speaking
After-Dinner Speaking: Using Humor Effectively
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3. Public Speaking in the Workplace
Group Presentations
Selecting a format
Planning – assigning responsibility
Delivery – delegating sections
Public Relations Speeches
Identifying the problem or need
Discussing the problem or need
Anticipating criticism/argument >
NOTES:
Nearly every job requires some public-speaking skills. In many careers and professions, public speaking is a daily part of the job. Workplace audiences may range from a group of three managers to a huge auditorium filled with company employees. Presentations may take the form of routine meeting management, reports to company executives, training seminars within the company, or public-relations speeches to people outside the company. The occasions and opportunities are many, and chances are good that you will be asked or expected to do some on-the-job public speaking in the course of your career.
Figure 18.1 – Use the audience-centered model of public speaking to help your group plan a group presentation. As our familiar model in Figure 18.1 suggests, the central and most important step is to analyze the audience who will listen to the presentation. Who are these listeners? What are their interests and backgrounds?
As you do when developing an individual speech, make sure you have a clear purpose and a central idea divided into logical main ideas. This is a group effort, so you need to make sure each group member can articulate the purpose, the central idea, main ideas, key supporting material, and the overall outline for the presentation.
Wouldn’t presenting outside be great?
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4. Group Presentations Presentation formats:
Forum – impromptu answers to audience questions
Symposium – short prepared speeches
Panel Discussion – informal informative group presentation >
NOTES:
Selecting a presentation format:
A symposium is a public discussion during which the members of a group share responsibility for presenting information to an audience. Usually, a moderator and the group members are seated in front of the audience, and each group member is prepared to deliver a brief report. Each speaker should know what the other speakers will present so that the same ground is not covered twice. In a forum presentation, audience members direct questions and comments to a group, and group members respond with short impromptu speeches. A panel discussion is an informative group presentation. Individuals on the panel may use notes on key facts or statistics, but they do not present formal speeches. Usually, a panel discussion is organized and led by an appointed chairperson or moderator.
Planning a group presentation: Working in groups takes a coordinated team effort. If you are used to developing reports and speeches on your own, it may be a challenge to work with others on a group assignment. 1. Make sure each group member understands the task or assignment. 2. Work together to identify a topic. 3. Consider the audience 4. Give group members individual assignments. 5. Keep in touch. 6. Develop a group outline and decide on an approach. 7. Choose your presentation approach. 8. Assign speaking responsibilities. 9. Rehearse the presentation, just as you would an individual speech. 10. Deliver an audience-centered presentation.
Making a group presentation: Clarify your purpose. Just as with an individual speech, it’s important for listeners to know what your speaking goal is and to understand why you are presenting the information to them; it’s also important for each group member to be reminded of the overarching goal of the presentation. Use presentation aids effectively. You can use presentation aids not only to clarify your purpose, but also to summarize key findings and recommendations. Visual aids can serve the important function of unifying your group presentation. Choose someone to serve as coordinator or moderator. Groups need a balance between structure and interaction. Without adequate structure, conversation can bounce from person to person, and the presentation will lack a clear focus.
Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton and Zero Mostel in:
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
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5. Group Presentations Planning a group presentation:
Identify and understand the topic together
Assign members individual goals
Develop a group outline and choose a format
Assign speaking responsibilities
Rehearse – together and separately
Keep in touch and deliver >
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6. Group Presentations Making a group presentation
Clarify your purpose for the group and the audience
Use presentational aids effectively
Choose a moderator for balance between structure and interaction
Be ready to answer questions >
Even little kids can do group presentations
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7. Public- Relations Speeches
Identify the problem or need
Collect scientific data
Solicit suggestions from stakeholders
Gage emotional reactions to problem
Discuss the problem or need
Begin with stating the problem
Explain the company’s solution
Anticipate criticism/argument
Prepare for likely questions
Plan refutation of objections
Be flexible and sensitive >
NOTES:
People who work for professional associations, government agencies, universities, churches, or charitable institutions, as well as commercial enterprises, are often called on to speak to audiences about what their organization does or about a special project that the organization has taken on. These speeches are public-relations speeches. They are designed to inform and improve relations with the public—either in general or because a particular program or situation has raised some questions.
Discuss the Need or Problem: A public-relations speaker first discusses the need or problem that has prompted the speech. Then he or she
explains how the company or organization is working to meet the need or solve the problem or why it believes that there is no problem.
2. Anticipate Criticism: It is important in public-relations speaking to anticipate criticism. The speaker may acknowledge and counter potential problems or objections, especially if past presentations have encountered opposition to the policy or program. The speaker should emphasize the positive aspects of the policy or program and take care not to become defensive. He or she wants to leave the impression that the company or organization has carefully worked through potential pitfalls and drawbacks. It should be noted that not all public-relations speeches make policy recommendations. Many simply summarize information for those who need to know.
The ultimate PR agent!!!
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8. Ceremonial Speaking: aka Special Occasion Speeches
Should always include:
An introduction:
Your name
An attention getter
The body:
Clear main points
Entertaining/Inspiring supports
Conclusion:
Re-focus on your topic
Strengthen the group’s sense of identity >
Rodney Dangerfield
A man who can’t get no respect!

9. Special Occasion Speaking
Types of Speeches:
Toasts and roasts
Speeches of Introduction
Award Ceremonies
Presentations
Acceptances
Addresses
Keynote
Commencement
Commemorative
Eulogies >
NOTES: If the occasion is one that brings people together to celebrate, thank or praise someone else, or mourn, a speech given on that occasion is known as a ceremonial speech or epideictic speech. We will explore nine types of ceremonial speeches:
Speeches of introduction: A speech of introduction is much like an informative speech. The speaker who is delivering the introduction provides information about the main speaker to the audience. The ultimate purpose of an introduction, however, is to arouse interest in the main speaker & his or her topic. When you are asked to give a speech of introduction for a featured speaker or an honored guest, your purposes are similar to those of a good opening to a speech: to get the attention of the audience, build the speaker’s credibility & introduce the speaker’s general subject. You also need to make the speaker feel welcome while revealing some of his or her personal qualities to the audience so that they can feel they know the speaker more intimately. There are two cardinal rules of introductory speeches: Be brief & be accurate. Toasts: A toast is a brief salute to such an occasion, usually accompanied by a round of drinks and immediately followed by the raising or clinking together of glasses. The modern toast is usually quite short—only a few sentences at most. Some toasts are very personal. Award Presentations: Presenting an award is somewhat like introducing a speaker or a guest: Remember that the audience did not come to hear you, but to see & hear the winner of the award. Nevertheless, delivering a presentation speech is an important responsibility, one that has three distinct components, described in the How To box (next slide). Nominations: Nomination speeches are similar to award presentations. They too involve noting the occasion and describing the purpose and significance of, in this case, the office to be filled. The person who is making the nomination should explain clearly why the nominee’s skills, talents & past achievements serve as qualifications for the position. The actual nomination should come at the end of the speech. Acceptances: Anyone who receives an award or nomination usually responds with a brief acceptance speech. Follow the fairly simple formula in the How To Box (Accepting an Award Slide 10) should help you to compose a good acceptance speech on the spur of the moment. Keynote Address: keynote address is usually presented at or near the beginning of a meeting or conference. The keynote emphasizes the importance of the topic or the purpose of the meeting, motivates the audience to learn more or work harder & sets the theme & tone for other speakers & events. Commencement Address: To be audience-centered, a commencement speaker must fulfill two important functions: Praise the graduating class, and turn them toward the future. Commemorative Addresses & Tributes: Commemorative addresses—those that are delivered during special ceremonies held to celebrate some past event—are often combined with tributes to the person or people involved. For example, a speech given on the Fourth of July both commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence &nd pays tribute to the people who signed it. Eulogies: A eulogy—a speech tribute delivered when someone has died—can be one of the most significant & memorable and also one of the most challenging forms of commemorative address.
Beam me up, Scotty!!!
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10. Toasts An honored person A celebratory occasion
A salute with glasses held aloft to recognize:
An honored person
A celebratory occasion
Wedding
Birth
Reunion
Finalized divorce
Successful business venture >

11. Presentation of Awards
Should include at least the following:
Refer to the occasion
Name of award & reason it is given
History and significance
Name of winner & why he or she won
Reason you are glad to present the award
Plan when to reveal the name >
Sally Field at the Oscars (1985)

12. Nominations Similar to award presentations Note the occasion
Describe significance of the office to be filled
Explain reasons for nominating this person
Skill
Talent
Past achievements >
President Obama and family after accepting the nomination

13. Acceptance Speeches Should include the following:
Thank the presenter and donor
Thank others who contributed to your success
Talk about the significance the award has for you
Relate the award to the aspirations of the audience
Express appreciation again in the conclusion >
The Oscars – the one that started it all

14. Keynote Addresses Aka: “kick-off speakers”
Presented at or near the beginning of conferences
Emphasizes the importance and purpose of the meeting
Motivates the audience to learn or work harder
Sets the theme or tone for later events >
President Bill Clinton – a popular keynote speaker

15. Commencement Addresses
According to Gary Trudeau:
“Commencement speeches were invented in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.”
Be audience centered:
Praise the graduating class
Turn their attention toward the future
If possible, employ humor >
Mr. Trudeau & “Friends”

16. Commemorative Addresses
Delivered during special ceremonies
Celebrate past events
Often combined with tributes to people involved >

17. Eulogies A tribute to someone who has died
Should strive to be significant & memorable
Focus on the decease’s achievements
Can include personal and humorous stories
Remind audience to celebrate the decease’s life rather than grieve >

18. After-Dinner Speaking: Using Humor Effectively
Humorous Topics
Humorous Stories
Humorous Verbal Strategies
Play on words
Hyperbole
Understatement
Verbal Irony
Wit
Humorous Nonverbal Strategies >
NOTES: Because humor is listener-centered, the central question for the after-dinner speaker seeking a topic must be this: What do audiences find funny? Interestingly, not only is the after-dinner speech not always after dinner (as Barry points out, the meal is just as likely to be breakfast or lunch), but it is also not always after anything. Regardless of these variations, the after-dinner speech is something of an institution—one with which a public speaker should be prepared to cope. After-dinner speeches may present information or persuade, but their primary purpose is to entertain—arguably the most inherently audience-centered of the three general purposes for speaking. We summarize several strategies for entertaining audiences with humor in Table 18.1 and discuss them in detail next.
Humorous Verbal Strategies:
Plays on Words Most of us are familiar with the use of such verbal devices as puns, which rely on double meanings to create humor.
Hyperbole Hyperbole, or exaggeration, is often funny.
Understatement The opposite of hyperbole, understatement involves downplaying a fact or event.
Verbal Irony A speaker who employs verbal irony says just the opposite of what he or she really means.
Wit One of the most frequently used verbal strategies for achieving humor is the use of wit: relating an incident that takes an unexpected turn at the end. Research suggests that witty humor may enhance a speaker’s credibility.
Humorous Nonverbal Strategies: After-dinner speakers often create humor through such nonverbal cues as posture, gesture, and voice. Well-timed pauses are especially crucial delivery cues for after-dinner speakers to master. One experienced after-dinner speaker advocates “a slight pause before the punch line, then pause while the audience is laughing.”
Whooping it up at a comedy club
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19. The End You may now applaud…
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