1. Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach – 7th edition
Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe

3. Why Study Public Speaking?
Empowerment Employment
Achieves desired goals.
Is an “advantage” over
your competition.
Shows confidence.
Shows conviction.
Corporations want skilled speakers- - -
to adapt information,
to be organized, and
to keep listeners interested.
Communication is the top skill sought by employers.

4. Top Factors in Helping Graduating College Students Obtain Employment
Not in Rank Order
Grade point average (gpa)
Specific degree held
Written communication skills
Listening ability
Leadership in campus/community activity
Technical competence
Work experience
Poise
Appearance
Resume
Part-time or summer employment
Enthusiasm
Recommendations
Accreditation of program
Oral (spoken) communication
Participation in campus/community activity

5. Top Factors in Helping Graduating College Students Obtain Employment
Oral (spoken) communication
Written communication skills
Listening ability
Enthusiasm
Technical competence
Work experience
Appearance
Poise
Resume
Part-time or summer employment
Specific degree held
Leadership in campus/community activity
Recommendations
Accreditation of program
Participation in campus/community activity
Grade point average (gpa)
Source: Winsor, JB,Curtis “National Preferences in Business and Communication Educatoin: A Survey Update,” Journal of the Associaton for Communication Administration 3, September 1997; 174.

6. Public Speaking Differs From Conversation
Public Speaking is Planned
More practice.
More preparation.
More research.

7. Public Speaking is Formal
Less slang & casual language.
More physical distance between speaker and audience.
More controlled gestures and movements.

8. Speaker & Audience Roles Clearly Defined
Expectations well-established.
Behaviors stable.
Speaker and audience follow rules more.

9. Speaking rules for this class
Class Activity-
As a group, let us establish rules for speaking and listening in this class.

10. The Communication Process
Communication as Action
Linear, one-way messages.
Source: encodes message.
Message: what is said & how it is said.
Channel: how message is transmitted.
Receiver: decodes message.
Noise: interferes with message .
Internal.
External.

11. The Action Model of Communication:

12. Values
Beliefs
Attitudes

13. Past events or activities that give knowledge.
Experiences

14. Values Beliefs Attitudes Experiences
Past events or activities that give knowledge.
Values
Beliefs
Attitudes
Experiences

15. Communication as Interaction
As message is sent, feedback to
sender is provided by receiver.
Communication happens within a context (environment/situation in which speech occurs.)

16. Communication as Transaction
Communication happens simultaneously.
Sender also receives message.
Receiver also sends message.

17. The Rich Heritage of Public Speaking
4th Century B.C. – The
“Golden Age” of Rhetoric
Rhetoric: use of words and symbols to
achieve a goal.

18. 15th Century – Public speaking used mostly by clergy.

19. 18th Century – Public speaking used by American patriots to promote
independence.

20. 19th Century – Public speaking plays role in abolition and suffrage
movements.

21. 20th Century – Television becomes a force in public speaking.
War & civil rights issues.

22. 21st Century – Technology & media revolutionize how
people communicate.

23. Public Speaking & Diversity
Different audiences have different expectations.
Speakers must adapt to audiences.
Audience-centeredness is key.

24. Improving Your Confidence
Nervousness is normal.
Public speaking number
one in highest anxiety.

25. Understand Your Nervousness
Brain triggers body.
Communication apprehension
(CA): fear of speaking.
Styles of CA:
Average: normal heart rate.
Insensitive: lower heart rate.
Inflexible: higher heart rate.
Confrontation: high to normal heart rate.

26. Nervousness – Use anxiety to your advantage.
Audience cannot see nervousness.
Use anxiety to your advantage.

27. Build Your Confidence Before your speech: Don’t delay preparing.
Learn as much as you can about your audience.
Pick a comfortable and familiar topic.
Rehearse your speech.
Present a structured speech.

28. Other advice Before your speech:
Be familiar with introduction and conclusion.
Simulate actual speech conditions.
Breathe deeply.
Think & act calm.
Picture positive outcomes.
Reassure yourself mentally (with a pep talk).
Tip: 1) Memorize your first minute of your speech. 3) Use 5 “Silent Reeelaaaax.” 4) Never tell an audience that your are nervous.

29. Finally… During the speech: Focus on content, not fears.
Look for supportive audience members.
After the speech:
Reflect on positives.
Seek other speaking opportunities.