PUBLIC SPEAKING

One area of effective communication is public speaking. Public speaking provides the speaker with a platform to communicate a message to the audience. In-order for the speaker to communicate the message effectively he or she must understand the many elements and theories involved in connecting the message to the audience. The Blog will briefly cover just a few elements and theories in hopes that you will be motivated to seek out more information on public speaking in-order to aid in your development as a public speaker as a new student attending Alverno College.

Alverno College requires students to learn effective public speaking also known as speaking on your feet. Speaking on your feet can be a stressful and frightening experience, but during your first year attending Alverno you will have multiple opportunities to learn different strategies to aid you in easing these physical reactions to standing in front of an audience.  A few techniques that will be taught are learning breathing exercises, mediation and foremost pre-preparation of your subject matter.

Preparation will involve choosing some form of organizing your thoughts and one technique is mapping. Mapping provides a way of organizing what you are going to communicate to your audience. Your map will be a great tool to aid in your memorizing what you are presenting. Then you must rehearse repeatedly, and using your map as a peek guide as you speak. I have provided an example for viewing. On the right side of the map you will find an example of the speech content components that will be conveyed during your speech. By sticking to the steps presented in this model you will have an effective outline of what you will present to your audience. 

Now on the left of the map details the delivery contents. During your rehearsals you must be conscious of vocal sounds/wording as well as body movements to keep your audience focused and engaged, not distracted by “ums”, clearing of the throat, confused facial expressions, folded arms or hands in the pockets. During your Alverno public speaking studies you will learn how to effectively make use of your voice through pitch, tones, volume and expressive energy and effective non-verbal strategies.  

Last but not least is how communication theory connects to public speaking. Some theories you will confront are theories such as Rhetorical Theory involving Persuasive, Pathos and Ethical Theory. I find the best way to present these theories, and to keep them as simple as possible I will ask that you click onto the http:// below for a quick and simple video clip of Rhetorical Theory.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shl_cLZo4fE "Video discusses rhetorical theory (ethos, logos, and pathos) in a simplistic way."

Hence  in keeping with being simple, West, R. & Turner, H. Lynn (2010) states "'Theory at a Glance, The rhetoric' ...a speaker who is interested in persuading his or her audience should consider three rhetorical proofs: logic (logos), emotion (pathos), and ethics/credibility (ethos). Audiences are key to effective persuasiveness, and rhetorical syllogisms, requiring audiences to supply missing pieces of a speech, are used in persuasion." (p.312). 

In conclusion I hope that I have provided you as a new student a simple overview of what you can except in your studies concerning public speaking here at Alverno. If you apply these applications as well as other elements of communication into speaking on your feet you will have fun and become an effective communicator of public speaking.

Written by Glenda Haynes