1. Qualities of a Good Speaker
Created Especially for
Miss Lawson’s Classes

2. How you stand or hold your body
STANCE
Informal Definition:
How you stand or hold your body

3. Stance Basics Do not lock knees or stand stiffly
Do not do the STORK or FLAMINGO
Do not sway
Do not rock
Do not kick
Do not lean on podium
Do not cross legs
Do not pace
Do not dance

4. Don’t do any “Happy Feet” Stuff!!!

5. What is good STANCE??? Stand flat on your feet
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart
Have some movement (like walking or using your hands) but don’t pace or flail your arms like you’re helping an airplane park

6. Looking at your audience
EYE CONTACT
INFORMAL DEFINITION:
Looking at your audience

7. Eye Contact Basics You must have it
Do not read word for word from notes or power point
Look at audience and support materials
If possible, look at audience 100% of the time when doing your introduction and conclusion
Scan your audience
Avoid looking at people who will cause you problems

8. Avoid these common problems
No Flash Eyes
No Cat-Following-Laser Eyes
No Bug Eyes
No Staring Eyes

9. The look you have on your face
Facial Expression
Informal Definition:
The look you have on your face

10. Facial Expression Basics
No Dead Pan looks
Show appropriate emotion
Look confident
Use your whole face

11. How hands and arms are used
Gestures
Informal definition:
How hands and arms are used

12. Gesture Basics Keep hand and arm movements to a minimum
Do not repeat the same
gesture over and over
Do not point. It is a rude
gesture.
Do not mess with stuff
in your pockets

13. Gesture Basics Do not “white knuckle” Do not tap
Do not mess with hair, face, or glasses
Do not do the “fig leaf” or “choir boy or girl”

14. The Fig Leaf Pose

15. The Choir Girl or Choir Boy Pose

16. Don’t Go Overboard

17. Always point at your visual

18. Using variety when speaking
Vocal Variety
Informal definition:
Using variety when speaking
Aspects:
Volume
Pace
Pitch
Attitude/tone
other

19. Volume
Informal definition:
How loud your voice is

20. Volume Basics Don’t be too loud or too soft Use variety
Use a volume appropriate for
your topic, setting,
and audience

21. The speed at which you speak
Pace
Informal definition:
The speed at which you speak

22. Pace Basics Do not speak too quickly or too slowly
Speaking slowly may make your audience members feel like you are talking down to them
Use variety
Use speed appropriate to audience, topic, situation, etc.

23. The highness or lowness of your voice
Pitch
Informal definition:
The highness or lowness of your voice

24. Pitch Basics “Ferris. Ferris. Ferris Bueller. “ Use variety
Don’t speak in a monotone or one “tone” or pitched voice. It is boring and annoying
Use pitch appropriate to audience and topic
“Ferris.
Ferris.
Ferris
Bueller. “

25. The emotion that comes through your voice
Attitude/Tone
Informal definition:
The emotion that comes through your voice

26. Attitude/Tone Basics
Use an attitude or tone appropriate for your topic, setting and audience
Have a believable one

27. Attitude/Tone Basics How would you talk to them?

28. My favorite things…. My GREATEST hunting moment…

29. Other
A few random pointers…

30. Using Accents Can help keep your speech entertaining
Could make it hard for people to understand
Could insult someone
Could make you say something you don’t mean to say
Could set you up to be criticized

31. Flow
Speak smoothly
Do not have awkward gaps
Plan your breaks…

32. I need some help because I’m going to pass out….
Pause
Use to keep attention
Use to add suspense
Use carefully
I need some help because I’m going to pass out….

33. Pass out?
Pass out papers or pass out as in faint and hit the floor?

34. Energy Have energy to keep us listening…

35. Language Usage
Informal definition:
The words you use

36. Language Usage Basics
Know how to pronounce all of the words you will use in your speech
Don’t make up pronunciations
Use correct grammar
Correct any errors you make while speaking
Avoid slang
Use appropriate language for topic, setting, and audience
Use words the audience knows

37. “Mom, I want a pony” or “Mom, I want that Appaloosa”
Vocabulary choice?
Vocabulary choice?

38. “Put it in the dirt” or “Put in in the soil”

39. The level of confidence a speaker displays
Poise
Informal definition:
The level of confidence a speaker displays

40. Poise Basics Shown through confident body language and eye contact
Shown through good use of voice
People who have good poise –
Have usually practiced their speech at least 5 times
Have all of their materials with them
Selected a topic they are passionate about
Have a good attitude

41. Sounds made to fill in gaps
Fillers
Informal definition:
Sounds made to fill in gaps
in speaking

42. Filler Basics They include sounds like: Uh Um Like Er
Der Ya know Ok See
They show that you are nervous
They show a lack of practice

43. Being ready to give your speech
Preparedness
Informal Definition:
Being ready to give your speech

44. Preparedness Basics
Do what you are supposed to do – type, assignment, etc.
Bring all of your stuff:
Outline
Note cards
Visual
Source List
Practice and practice checking with time requirements

45. Getting your presentation in order
Organization
Informal definition:
Getting your presentation in order

46. Organizational Basics
Have all required parts: An intro with an attention getter, transition to thesis and thesis; body segments; and a conclusion
Use an organizational pattern that fits your speech topic
Evident and planned transitions showing logical organization of speech
Use them between topics/sections/steps
They make the speech smoother and easier to follow

47. Why are you giving the speech (and for a grade is not the answer
Speech Purposes
Informal definition:
Why are you giving the speech
(and for a grade is not the answer
I’m looking for…)

48. Purposes To Inform: Explain and/or show a process
The elephant
How to go deer hunting
The Chicago Bears
Star Trek
To Entertain: Make us laugh
A story about getting lost in the woods
A story about how to survive being a student
To Persuade: Change belief or motivate to action
We need to stop global warming
You need to graduate

49. Giving credit to where your information came from
Sources
Informal definition:
Giving credit to where your information came from

50. Source Basics Name the actual source: book, magazine, electronic, etc.
If citing a web page, give its name not a search engine name
Have a source list
Always mention your sources in your speech because it makes you sound good...

51. Visual/Auditory Aids Informal definition:
The things you bring with you to help us “see” and “Hear” parts of your speech so we understand it better

52. Visuals Know where you will put it during speech
Do not pass it around during speech
Don’t read from it word for word
Be sure to practice with it
Make sure that the writing on it can be seen in the back of the room
Make sure it helps us get a better understanding of your topic
Make sure it is appropriate
Be sure that it is neatly done
Be sure we have the equipment to use it and that it works

53. Auditory Aids
Be sure we have the equipment to use it and that it works
Be sure that the words are appropriate
‘Be sure that it supports your speech and helps us understand better
Practice using it

54. Conclusion
Any questions?????