Public Speaking

Summary (^) 2 11
• Personalize your material. Help listeners see the connection between your topic
and their experiences, goals, beliefs, and actions. When they see the information as
personally relevant, they’re more likely to listen and learn effectively.
• Compare the known to the unknown. Start with what your audience knows and
build on this foundation, showing similarities and differences between your topic and
what listeners already know.
• Choose your vocabulary carefully. To avoid bewildering listeners with technical
information and incomprehensible jargon, define your terms and explain them
in everyday, concrete images. Avoid trigger words with negative connotations that
might set off negative reactions in audience members.
• Build in repetition and redundancy. Repetition means that you say the same thing
more than once. Redundancy means that you repeat the same idea several times, but
you develop it somewhat differently each time. Phrases such as in other words or put
simply are ways to build in redundancy. Repeat and redefine the critical parts of the
message to reinforce these crucial points in your listeners’ minds.^29
• Strive to be interesting. In your preparation, occasionally try to hear your speech
as if someone else were delivering it. Do you find yourself drifting off? If so, where?
Search for ways to enliven your factual material. Examples and detailed descriptions,
for instance, engage your audience because they invite your listeners to form mental
images as you talk.
If you follow these guidelines, you will increase your listeners’ motivation and
interest in the topic. And your careful attention to details will help them understand the
material more clearly.

Summary

The ability to give and receive information has always been empowering; this is

especially so in the Information Age. Those who lack information do not have the basic

knowledge they need to perform competently in complex societies. As a result, a variety

of people in a variety of settings give informative speeches. Their goals are to present

new information, to supplement what’s already known, to review or update material, or

to correct misinformation.

There are several categories for informative speaking that answer listeners’

questions such as “How do you do that?” or “What does that mean?” These include

demonstrations and instructions, descriptions, reports, and explanations.

Finally, remember seven keys to informative speaking. Do an obstacle analysis

that identifies elements within the topic or within the listeners that might prove

to be barriers, and then work to overcome those obstacles. Organize the speech

carefully, and provide links that connect the material. Relate your topic to your

listeners, and make vocabulary choices that clarify your ideas. Think of creative

ways to present your information, and throughout your talk, tie abstract concepts

to concrete experiences that are familiar to your listeners. Finally, include repetition

and redundancy to reinforce the critical points of the message and, as always, strive

to be interesting.

Study and Review

Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society offers a broad range of

resources that will help you better understand the material in this chapter, complete

assignments, and succeed on tests. Your MindTap resources feature the following:

repetition saying the same

thing more than once

redundancy repeating the

same idea more than once,

but developing it differently

each time

Reflect on what you’ve

learned.

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