Teaching Public Speaking

China Debate Education Network

Teaching Public Speaking

• Ethics• Anxiety• Basics of Public Speaking– Organization– Content – Delivery

• Sample Syllabus

Ethics

• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to the audience

• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to the ideas

• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to themselves

• Sprague And Stuart A Speaker’s Handbook

Speaking Anxiety

• Give students tools for dealing with anxiety they produce with self-talk

• Give students tools for dealing with the physical effects of speaking anxiety

• Provide opportunities for students to have positive speaking experiences

• Facilitate an environment where students feel supported by one another to achieve success.

Tools for dealing with anxiety

• Cognitive Restructuring• Relaxation Exercises – Get them to work out some adrenaline before the

speech. – Breathing exercises– Muscle exercises

Creating positive speaking experiences and facilitating a

supportive atmosphere• Introduction assignment– Introduce another student to the class• Imagine an occasion• A few guidelines• Ungraded

• Video Tape first graded speech• Lessons on being a good audience member• Assignments to practice with one another

Other ways of dealing with anxiety

• Non-speaking graded assignments• Lots of ungraded speeches in class• Reflection papers: evidence of progress• Checklists• Practices

Public Speaking Basics

• Organization– Introduction, Body, Conclusion– Transitions

• Content– The arguments and evidence– Using and citing credible sources

• Delivery– Using body in delivering speeches– Using voice in delivering speeches

Topic Selection

• Brainstorming Exercise: In class

Organization

• Brainstorm sub-topics• Arrange the sub-topics into categories– Some will get left out. – Some could fit into multiple categories. – Some whole categories will get left out

• Arrange categories logically according to some organization pattern

Organization

• Organization Patterns– Chronological– Topical– Spatial– Cause-Effect– Problem-Solution

Organization• Introductions– Attention getter– Link topic to audience– Thesis statement– Preview of main points

• Body– Organized along main points

• Conclusion– Review points– Review thesis– Final thought (clincher)

Organization

• Transitions– Transitions move the audience FROM a previous

point.– Transitions move the audience TO the next point.– Transitions show the logical link between the two

points.

Content

• Basic Persuasion– Ethos– Pathos– Logos

• Basic Argumentation– Toulmin Model

• Source Credibility• Citing Sources Orally

Delivery

• Using the Body in Delivery– Movement– Gestures– Facial Expressions

• Using the Voice in Delivery– Volume– Rate– Tone

Syllabus

• Three graded speeches– Informative Speech focusing on Organization– Persuasive Speech focusing on Content– Commemorative Speech focusing on Delivery

• Three speech reflections• Final Exam• Participation– Ungraded speeches– Being good audience members

SyllabusCourse ScheduleOct 25 Introduction to the course and each other, Basics of Public Speaking

Oct 27 Speaking Ethics, Speaking AnxietyIntroduction Speeches

Nov 1 Topic Selection, Thesis Statements, Organization, Visual Aids Nov 3 Outlining, Introductions Nov 8 Informative Speeches

Nov 10 Informative Speeches Nov 15 Argument and Persuasion Nov 17 Persuasion, Impromptu Speeches Nov 22 Persuasive Speeches

Nov 29 Persuasive Speeches Dec 1 Delivery Dec 6 Commemorative Speeches Dec 8 Commemorative Speeches Dec 12 Final Exam Due by 11:59pm online