66 5 Listening to speeches
Learning Objectives
5.1 Describe the five stages of listening.
5.2 List and describe five barriers to effective listening.
5.3 Identify and implement strategies for becoming a better listener.
5.4 Identify and implement strategies for improving your critical
listening and critical thinking skills.
5.5 Use criteria to effectively and appropriately evaluate speeches.A psychology professor had dedicated his life to teaching and worked hard to
prepare interesting lectures, yet he found his students sitting through his talks
with glassy-eyed expressions.^1 To find out what was on his students’ minds if
they were not focusing on psychology, he would, without warning, fire a blank
from a gun and then ask his students to record their thoughts at the instant they
heard the shot. Here is what he found:
20 percent were pursuing erotic thoughts or sexual fantasies.
20 percent were reminiscing about something (they weren’t sure what they
were thinking about).
20 percent were worrying about something or thinking about lunch.
8 percent were pursuing religious thoughts.
20 percent were reportedly listening.
12 percent were able to recall what the professor was talking about when the
gun fired.
Like this professor, you probably would prefer that more than 12 percent of
your audience could recall your messages. Understanding how listeners
listen can help you to improve your ability to connect with your audience.5.3 How to Become a Better Listener
Listen with Your Eyes as Well as
Your Ears
Listen Mindfully
Listen Skillfully
Listen Ethically
5.4 Listening and Critical Thinking
Separate Facts from Inferences
Evaluate the Quality of EvidenceEvaluate the Underlying Logic and
Reasoning
5.5 Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches
Understanding Criteria for
Evaluating Speeches
Identifying and Analyzing
Rhetorical Strategies
Giving Feedback to Others
Giving Feedback to YourselfM05_BEEB3981_05_SE_C05_065-094.indd 66 07/11/14 11:44 AM