Speech Fundamentals

ENC 3246Speaking & Writing for

Engineers

Engineers are poor communicators.

True or False?

Presentations are expensive. Consider whether it is really necessary.

Cost in salaries of audience

Cost in time for presentation

Cost in time to prepare presentation

Presenter can read audience and react

AB

C

C

D

Presenter receives instant reaction

! ? ! ?

Presentations have several advantages over documents

Work can come alive for audience Work

Speaker has limited chance to catch errors

? ? ?

Audience cannot reread text

has oneaudience

chanceto hear

Audience cannot look up background material

Presentations also have disadvantages

What are the most common public speaking challenges?

Anxiety Lack of preparation time Not knowing your purpose Not knowing the audience

Communication Apprehension

The Book of Lists ranks fear of public speaking as the #1 fear, even ahead of death, disease, and nuclear war.

A 2001 Gallup Poll found that public speaking was second only to a fear of snakes.

Fact Check: Updated research says this is not true! What is true about communication apprehension?

What are the causes of CA?

Fear of Embarrassment

Fear of Failure

Fear of Rejection

Overcoming or Controlling CA

Know your environment Relax Breathe Use extras wisely Keep your focus on the material Know your material & practice Your audience is on your side

Presentations can be viewed from three stylistic perspectives

Structure andSpeech

Delivery

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Visual Aids

Structure andSpeech

Visual Aids

Delivery

Archives, Cal-Tech

audience

purpose occasion

Begin preparing a scientific presentationby analyzing your constraints

Who are they?What do they know?

Why are they here?What biases do they have?

to inform

to persuade

to inspire

to teach

formality

size

time

There are 2 messages in any speech:

1. The one you send2. The one the

audience receives

Challenge: Audiences can be Poor Listeners

Reactive to trigger words or topics Listen faster than you can speak Prefer info similar to their beliefs Retain very little (about 10% of what they

hear)

Goal: Be Compelling

Know Purpose of Speech Know Audience Show Value of Message Build Rapport

Types of Speeches

Informative: Conferences, technical updates, new product

introductions Instructive:Training, coaching, orientation Persuasive:Client presentations, in-house proposals

Types of Audiences: Demographics

Technical or Non-technical Managerial or Staff Educational Level Age

Types of Audiences: Situational & Psychological

Occasion Size of Room & Group Roles & Motives Culture Feelings about you or your topic

Speech Overview/Preview Prepares Audience Use Connectives/Transitions Signals Topic Change Review Points Enhances Audience Retention

Goal: Present a clear message

Beginning

Ending

Middle

As with documents, the structure of presentations should have clear beginnings, middles, and ends

Beginnings prepare the audiencefor the work to be presented

Defines work

Work = A + B

Maps presentation

A

B

CD

Shows importance

Gives background

Speech Organization

Introduction purpose/central idea relation statement (why important) qualifications (if necessary) preview/forecast

Speech Organization-Organizational Patterns Body

Topical Triad Chronological Problem/Cause/Solution

pre-combustionmethods

combustionmethods

post-combustionmethods

combustionmethods

In the middle, make smooth transitions between major points

Speech Organization

Conclusion forewarn audience of ending summarize your main points remind audience of desired response end in an upbeat manner

Structure andSpeech

Delivery

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Visual Aids

The Importance of Good Delivery

Delivery How You Give the Speech Verbal Techniques Volume, Rate, Emphasis, Vocal Variety,

Articulation Non-verbal Techniques Personal Appearance, Gestures, Eye Contact Language Enhances Understanding

Goal: Be Captivating & Memorable

There are several choices speech delivery

Memorizing the Speech

+ allows eye contact- difficult for long speeches- room for precision errors- no room for improvising

Reading From a Text + ensures precision- does not sound natural- no room for improvising- hinders eye contact

Winging It + sounds natural- has much room for error

Speaking Extemporaneously

+ insures organization+ allows eye contact+ allows improvising- some room for error

Delivery Essentials~65% of total message Eye Contact and Facial Expression

50% of nonverbal message Body Movement--body language

hand gestures, walking, podium use Vocalics or Paralanguage

30% of nonverbal message Distracting Mannerisms

Engineers can be excellent communicators too!

Structure andSpeech

Delivery

Archives, Cal-Tech

Visual Aids

“The ability to communicate is everything.”

--Lee IacoccaFormer CEO, Chrysler Corporation