Public Speaking

A Public Speaking Definition

What is public speaking? Basically, it's a presentation that's given live before an audience. Public speeches can cover a wide variety of different topics. The goal of the speech may be to educate, entertain, or influence the listeners. Often, visual aids in the form of an electronic slideshow are used to supplement the speech. This makes it more interesting to the listeners.

 

A public speaking presentation is different from an online presentation. The online presentation is available any time. A public speech is typically limited to a specific time or place. Online presentations often use slideshows. Or they use pre-recorded videos of a speaker. This includes recordings of a live public speaking presentation).

Because speaking in public is done before a live audience, you need to consider some special factors. We'll touch on those shortly. Now you've got an understanding of the meaning of public speaking so let's take a quick look at the history of (and the importance of) public speaking.

Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, has traditionally meant speaking in person to a live audience. Today it includes speaking, formally or informally, to an audience through technology – live, pre-recorded, or at a distance.

Confucius, the philosopher and public speaking scholar, thought a good speech should impact individual lives, regardless of whether they were in the audience. He believed that someone of power could influence the world with words and actions.

Public speaking has many purposes, but usually mixes teaching, persuasion, and entertaining. Each purpose calls on slightly different approaches and techniques.

Public speaking was studied in Ancient Greece and Rome, where prominent thinkers analyzed it as a central part of rhetoric. Today, the art of public speaking has been transformed by technology, such as videoconferencing, multimedia presentations, and other non-traditional forms of presentation.

Purpose of public speaking

The function of public speaking is determined by the speaker's intent when addressing a particular audience. It is possible for the same speaker, with the same intent, to deliver substantially different speeches to two different audiences. The main objective is to evoke a change in the audience, whether in their hearts, minds, or actions.

Although the name suggests otherwise, public speaking is often delivered to a closed, limited audience who share a common outlook. This audience can be composed of fervent supporters of the speaker, antagonistic individuals attending the event unwillingly or out of spite, or strangers with no particular interest in the speaker. However, effective speakers understand that even a small audience is not a homogeneous mass with a single point of view but rather a collection of diverse individuals.

Broadly speaking, public speaking aims either to reassure an anxious audience or to alert a complacent audience to something important. Once the speaker has determined which of these approaches is required, they will use a combination of storytelling and information delivery to achieve their goals.

Persuasion

Persuasion is a term derived from the Latin word "persuādēre." Persuasive speaking aims to change the audience's beliefs and is used commonly in political debates, where leaders attempt to persuade their audience, whether the general public or government officials.

Persuasive speaking involves four essential elements: (i) the speaker or persuader; (ii) the audience; (iii) the speaking method; and (iv) the message the speaker is trying to convey. When attempting to persuade an audience to change their opinions, a speaker appeals to their emotions and beliefs.

Various techniques exist for speakers to gain audience support. Speakers can demand action from the audience, use inclusive language, like we and us, to create unity between the speaker and audience, and choose words with strong connotations to intensify a message's impact. Rhetorical questions, anecdotes, generalizations, exaggerations, metaphors, and irony also can be employed to increase the likelihood of persuading an audience.

Education

Public speaking can transfer knowledge to an audience. TED Talks are examples of educational public speaking. The speakers inform their audience about different topics, such as science, physics, biology, technology, religion, economics, human society, astronomy, animal studies, and psychology. TED speakers can use the platform to share personal experiences with traumatic events, such as abuse, bullying, grief, assault, suicidal ideation, near-death encounters, mental illness, or to raise awareness and acceptance for stigmatizing issues, such as disabilities, racial differences, LGBT rights, children's rights, and women's rights.

Studies have shown the benefits of teaching public speaking strategies to students in an academic setting, including a higher level of self-confidence and helping to render community well-being with access to a variety of information. Harvard University offers a range of courses in public speaking including persuasive communication and personal narratives. With the continued popularity of academic conferences and TED talks taking place worldwide, public speaking has become an essential subject in academia for scholarly and professional advancement. Additionally, work meetings and presentations require proficiency in public speaking to actively formulate ideas and solutions, and modern technology helps companies to release information to a wider audience.

Intervention

The intervention style of speaking is a relatively new method proposed by a rhetorical theorist named William R. Brown. This style revolves around the fact that humans create a symbolic meaning for life and the things around them. Due to this, the symbolic meaning of everything changes based on the way one communicates. When approaching communication with an intervention style, communication is understood to be responsible for the constant changes in the society, behaviors, and how one considers the meaning behind objects, ideologies, and every day life.

From an interventional perspective, when individuals communicate, they are intervening with what is already reality and might "shift symbolic reality."[  This approach to communication also encompasses the possibility or idea that one may be responsible for unexpected outcomes due to what and how one communicates. This perspective also widens the scope of focus from a single speaker who is intervening to a multitude of speakers all communicating and intervening, simultaneously affecting the world around us.

Greece

Although evidence of public speaking training exists in ancient Egypt, the first known writing on oratory is 2,000 years old from ancient Greece. This work elaborates on principles drawn from the practices and experiences of ancient Greek orators.

Aristotle was one who first oratory teachers to use definitive rules and models. One of his key insights was that speakers always combine, to varying degrees, three things: reasoning, which he called Logos; credentials, which he called Ethos; and emotion, which he called Pathos. 

The Importance of Public Speaking

If you ask most people, they'll probably say they don't like public speech. They may even admit to being afraid of it since fear of public speaking is a very common fear. Or they may just be shy or introverted. For those reasons, many people avoid speaking in public if they can. If you're one of those people who avoid speaking in public, you're missing out.

Whether you're a small business owner,  or a student, you'll benefit from improving your public speaking skills.

Some benefits to speaking in public include:

Improves confidence 

Better research skills

Stronger deductive skills

Ability to advocate for causes

And more

Speaking in public is especially important for businesses to market their offers. This allows them to get their message in front of potential customers. Sales people and executives are often expected to have good public speaking skills.

How to Become Better at Public Speaking (5 Quick Tips)

Okay, so now you understand the benefits of public speaking. You might be a little more interested in the topic. Still, you might think it's not for you. Maybe you gave a speech once and it didn't go well. Maybe you're afraid of speaking in public. Or maybe you think you don't have a natural ability for giving speeches.

The truth is that speaking in public is a skill. And you can learn any skill. While some people may have more natural speaking ability than others, anyone can learn to be a better public speaker. It just takes some know-how and some effort.

Writing the speech

Overcoming a fear of speaking

Practicing the speech

Preparing your presentation slide designs

Giving the speech

1. Write an Effective Speech

The first thing you'll want to do is work on writing a well-organized, engaging speech. Because even a great speaking voice or a great deal of charisma isn't enough if your material isn't any good. The following tutorials can help you learn to write better speeches:

2. Overcome the Fear of Speaking

Fear of public speaking is very real and can hold you back if you let it. If you don't feel confident when giving your speech, your listeners may pick up on that. This can make your presentation less effective. Fortunately, there are some techniques to help manage the fear of speaking in public. They also help you become more confident.

First, let's tackle fear of public speaking. The following tutorials can help you overcome a fear of public speaking:

3. Practice the Speech

Even if you're not afraid of speaking in public, practice helps you give a more effective speech. If you're in a rush, you may be tempted to skip practicing your speech to save time. While skipping practice may seem like a good idea, it's really not.

Practicing your speech improves your public presentation skills. It also increases your familiarity with the presentation. As a result, your speech will go smoothly. This tutorial includes a handy checklist to help you practice your speech (and other tips):

How to Get Better At Public Speaking (Improve With Practice)

4. Prepare Your Presentation Slide Designs

Your slide design needs to be on point. You’ll want to make sure it looks professional and is easy to read. Luckily, you can find plenty of modern and professional presentation templates on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. 

You'll also want to download The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations eBook now. Download it for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Learn how to get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that'll move your audience.

Don't forget to make good use of tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote. The right template for your slide deck can make a huge difference in your presentation. Here are some of the best presentation templates available:

5. Give the Speech

You've written a good speech. You feel more confident about giving a speech in public, and you've practiced. You're ready to actually give the speech. There are some tips and tricks you can use on the day of your speech to make it go more smoothly, though. Remember, you're giving a presentation before a live audience at a specific place and time. So, you've got some concerns about the speaking venue that those who give online presentations don't have to worry about.

Some common concerns for public speakers include:

Will the audience be able the hear me?

Does the venue have the equipment I need?

Are there enough seats for all my listeners?

Example

High School Graduation Speech

Delivering a high school graduation speech is a special honor. After all, graduating from high school is a significant milestone in your life.

A few simple pointers to keep in mind about giving a high school graduation speech are:

Keep it short

Make it personal (share a school-related story)

Use humor

Leave your fellow students inspired

Use language that is comfortable and natural to you and your fellow students, but as the speaker remember that it's also important to keep your statement tasteful and in keeping with the formality of the occasion!

Start of a High school Graduation Speech

Principal Brown, members of the School Board, teachers, parents, friends, and fellow graduates, it is an honor to speak to all of you today.

A little over 12 years ago I was 6, and I remember my first day of school. I was excited with my new Power Rangers lunchbox. My parents were there with their camera, snapping pictures and wishing me well. And I met a cool kid named James. In some ways, not much has changed in 12 years.

Body of the High School Graduation Speech

Here I am today. OK, so I didn't bring my Power Rangers lunchbox but, my parents are here with their camera, snapping pictures and wishing me well. My best friend James is here, and he's still a really cool kid. And, I am excited. 

But this is how things are different. Twelve years ago I was excited, but I had no idea about the implications of the journey I was about to begin. I had no idea that after 1st grade there would be 2nd grade and 3rd grade and so on. I was just excited to be in first grade.

Today, I know that I am standing on the brink of my future - the first day of the rest of my life. As a "computer geek" I am inspired by the words of one of our greatest American computer scientists, Alan Kay. He said, "The greatest way to predict the future is to invent it."

Some of us here today, including our parents, are wondering how our lives are going to turn out. It is OK to wonder but, I also think it is important to realize that our future is not just something that happens to us. It is up to us to create.

Conclusion of the Graduation Speech

So, fellow graduates, I urge you today to embrace the opportunity before you. Take what you have learned throughout the last 12 years and put it to good use.

Leave behind what isn't helpful (I'm leaving my Power Rangers lunchbox) and bring forward with you the lessons that will be the working parts of your greatest invention ever, YOUR LIFE! Congratulations!

Graduation Speech

Critical elements of a student's speech at graduation are

being respectful of the institution and its leadership and faculty

honoring the achievement of your fellow students

leaving the audience with an inspiring message.

Use this free graduation speech as a guide and personalize it to create your presentation to deliver at the graduation ceremony.

Start of free graduation speech

President Wilson, Trustees, Faculty, family, friends, and fellow graduates, I am honored to speak to you on this very important day.

First, I'd like to thank the administration and faculty of State University for their hard work and dedication on our behalf. I think that college students often take their college experience for granted, as just the step between high school and the real world.

As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I do not take one bit of it for granted. So, I thank every one of you who has made this university what it is and every one of you who have supported my fellow students and me along the way. We have received an excellent education here, which makes it far more than a step between high school and the real world but rather a stepping stone to our futures.

On a personal note, being the first college graduate from my family, I would like to honor my parents. Present in the audience, they encouraged me and supported me. Without them, my graduation would not have been possible. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Fellow graduates, today we have finished something. Sometimes I think it is ironic that - in each endeavor in our academic lives - we learn and grow and achieve the highest level possible in that institution. Then, we graduate. The next year we are thrown back to being the "low man on the totem pole" in our future school.

Today, we are graduating seniors, and this summer or fall, many of us will be starting at those entry-level jobs that will be the beginning of our careers. Some of us will begin graduate school, once again on the bottom rung of the ladder. But thanks to everything we have learned so far, I am confident. We will keep climbing as if we are on an endless ladder to heights we've never achieved before. For that reason, I urge you to make sure that you are on the ladder on which you genuinely WANT to be. Remember that it is YOUR LIFE.

Carl Jung said, "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." So, today I remind you all to look into your hearts and be awake before you embark upon a dream that is not your own.

Up to this point in many of our lives, most things have been decided for us. From now on, it is up to us to choose. So be sure to make your choices when you are fully awake, decisions that are informed by your heart and not by what others say or think or believe.

Our contribution to the world will not be measured by the money we make or the accolades we receive, but rather by how we share our unique gifts with the world. And the only place to find those gifts is to look within yourself.

Global Warming Speech

Beginning of Global Warming Speech

"That so many of us are here today is a recognition that the threat from climate change is serious, it is urgent, and it is growing. Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it - boldly, swiftly, and together - we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe."
These are the words President Obama used to begin his global warming speech before the United Nations Summit in 2009.

Search Google for global warming and you will get almost 65 million pages of results.
The subject has certainly drawn a lot of attention. But just what is global warming? What is causing it? What effects does it have on the earth and its inhabitants? What are some possible solutions? These are the questions that I will be addressing in this short, informative speech today.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the gradual increase of the temperature of earth's atmosphere and oceans.
Over the past century the average temperatures have gone up by just over one degree. This may not seem like much, but many scientists agree that the earth's temperatures are starting to increase at a faster rate.

What Causes It?

Greenhouse Gases as a Cause of Global Warming

Global warming occurs when greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane trap heat inside the earth's atmosphere.

Think about what happens when you open your car door after the windows have been rolled up on a hot day. Heat from the sun enters the car, but the frame of the car prevents it from escaping.

To a small extent, this is a representation of what happens during global warming. Burning fossil fuels like petroleum and deforestation both contribute to the problem.

What Effects does Climate Change Have on the Earth and its Inhabitants?

Global warming has already started to affect the earth in several ways.

Arctic glaciers have begun to melt, threatening indigenous life such as the polar bears. Melting glaciers also cause sea levels to rise. This could become a problem for low land areas like the ones in the South Sea Islands.

Ocean temperatures have begun to rise. This causes some of the algae to die which can affect the entire food chain.

What are some Possible Solutions to the Problem?

There are ways we can combat the effects of global warming. The Clean Air Act of 1990 is a law in the United States that attempts to protect and improve the earth's air and atmosphere.

Some of the components of this law include limiting harmful vehicle emissions and phasing out the use of chemicals that can damage the ozone layer.

On a more personal level, we can work to prevent global warming by planting trees and by car-pooling.

Climate change is seen as a serious threat that is receiving serious attention world-wide. Hopefully, this global warming speech has helped inform you of what causes it and the effects that it has on the earth. It's up to you to decide how you can help to do something about it.

Eat healthy

[Your Name]

[Instructor]

[Class]

[Date]

WHY EVERYBODY needs to eat healthy

Introduction

In our society today, everybody feels the need to be productive and compete with the rest of the world by being quick and efficient. We feel compelled to use each hour in a way that will benefit us that it often affects our eating habits. Because fast foods and junk foods are available anywhere we go and don’t require long minutes of waiting and preparation, we find it difficult to exclude it from our diet. Fast foods are also often cheaper than many of the healthier foods.

So, why bother to eat healthy and add all the troubles of developing a healthy habit into our lives? Today, I will give you three reasons to start eating healthier.

Body

Eating healthy helps us fight and prevent diseases.

The University of Rochester Medical Center explained how eating the right kinds of foods in the right way could help us prevent many types of diseases. For one, controlling our intake of carbohydrates, especially in the form of sugar, could significantly cut our chances of developing diabetes type 2. Also, by choosing to consume good fats instead of bad fats, we reduce our risk for heart diseases and stroke.

The American Institute for Cancer Research also says that a combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables can offer good protection from many types of cancer. We can also help our bodies prevent the development of osteoporosis by eating calcium-rich foods and Vitamin-D fortified foods such as skim milk, yogurt and broccoli. These are just a few examples of how our eating habits directly affect our chances for developing diseases.

Eating healthy lengthens our lives.

With a great and healthy body, free from diseases, our lives can be lengthened too. Dr. Robert Schreiber of Harvard Medical School noted that although there are some people who live a long life of unhealthy choices, there are countless others who die prematurely as a result of them.

The World Health Organization also named the Ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections and chronic obstructive lung disease as the top major killers during the past decade. Diabetes and hypertension had also been included in the ten leading causes of death in the world from 2000 to 2012. These diseases, murderous as they are can actually be controlled by eating right, combined with proper exercise.

Eating healthy improves our overall performance.

When we eat right, we give our body the energy it needs to perform well. According to Harvard Health Publications, healthful eating helps us keeping the energy level high. Eating a balanced diet including unrefined carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, we get the calories we need to boost energy while also supplying proper nutrients to keep our metabolism going.

The opposite is true for eating refined carbs and fast foods. Energy bars and junk foods only give us a quick boost, and very little or no vitamins and minerals. It makes us feel depleted and craving for more.

CONCLUSION

Getting the energy we need daily from healthy sources helps us maximize the benefits we get from food. Eating right will also help us avoid all those extra calories we don’t need, eliminating layers of stored fat. When we regulate our weight, we feel lighter and more energetic. Thus, when we eat right, we possess the kind of energy that is pure and long-lasting. By preventing diseases, eating healthy also helps us live our lives longer. Soon, we’ll realize how good food improves our mood and healthy eating habits make us more efficient and generally happier with our lives.

Violent Video Games do not CAUSE VIOLENCE

[Your Name]

[Instructor]

[Class]

[Date]

Introduction

Correlation does not prove Causation.

Since 1992, there have been 387 school shootings in America. In the wake of these tragedies, the investigators and our society have looked to find somewhere to point the blame. Some blame gun laws, some blame our school system, but almost all conclusions place at least some blame on video games. When 90% of today's teenagers video games are 90% likely to include mature levels of violence, there's clearly an issue. However, the issue is mistakenly simplified down to the equation that violence in games = violence in real life, mistakenly because correlation does not prove causation. Today, I want to talk about why video games do not cause violence, and can even be a healthy way to release aggression.

body

Research is inconclusive.

Unfortunately, research on video games and violence is inconclusive and does not ever come to a consensus. For every study that you find that proves video games cause violence, you have a study that proves that video games have no correlation to real-life violence. Media psychologists, communication scientists, and pediatricians disagree greatly among themselves as to whether or not there is a causal relationship between gaming and violence. There is more than a 20% variation in opinion over whether or not gaming produces real-life violence. That variation does not sound convincing to us, who like to pretend we are 100% certain about things, but you have to realize that for a scientific hypothesis to be considered valid, it can only vary about 2% in its results.

Alternative logic to research.

Since we cannot truly trust research to tell us whether violence and video gaming is causal, we have to take a different approach to understand why video games do not cause violence. The only thing that research tends to agree on is that video gaming increases aggression. However, this is not because of the content. When you're out in a forest, the trees themselves don't inherently make you frustrated or angry. But if you try to climb a tree and struggle to find good footholds, strong branches etc., you might get frustrated, because you can't get to the top. So it is with gaming. The game is not what creates aggression; often times, it's the mechanics that increases frustration. To quote Dr. Przybylski, a scientist who studied this concept thoroughly, "Players of games without any violent content were still feeling pretty aggressive if they hadn't been able to master the controls or progress through the levels at the end of [a] session."

Japanese Analogy.

Let's take another example. The Japanese culture is emotionally repressive. They do not show negative emotions because their societal focus is on group harmony. Yet if you read their literature, watch their television, play their games, you'd think they were all psychotic. That's just the thing -- they use their media as an outlet for the emotions they repress every day. Manga isn't graphic and outspoken because the Japanese are graphic and outspoken, it's just the opposite: the Japanese are highly contextual and soft-spoken. Japanese media is an outlet for emotions, not an instigator of emotions. Video games for our culture is like manga and media for the Japanese culture: an outlet, not an instigator.

Video games do not cause violence, they cause aggression.

Does aggression lead to violence? It can, if the person hasn't learned how to handle aggression in a non-violent way. Do video games teach how to handle aggression well? They can, because they are a form of handling aggression in a healthy, non-violent way. In fact, many studies point to the idea that teens who have a high-risk for violence are actually less aggressive and violent after they play games like Halo, GTA, and Mortal Kombat. Saying that video games cause violence is ignoring the true issue at hand, which can be as simple as handling aggression, or as complex as being self-confident and knowing your identity

CONCLUSION

So next time you want to throw your controller at the TV, you can remind your parents and teachers that you're not being violent -- you're just trying to cope with the fact that you're not as adept as you'd like to be with the game. Thank you for your attention.