Module Week 4

Introduction to Public Speaking

Learning Activity 1 : Read this information on public speaking carefully

A. 1. Types of Public Speaking

Although public speeches are of various types, they can generally be grouped into three
categories based on their intended purpose: informative, persuasive, and entertaining.
Informative Speaking
One of the most common types of public speaking is informative speaking. The primary
purpose of informative presentations is to share one’s knowledge of a subject with an
audience. Reasons for making an informative speech vary widely. For example, you might be
asked to instruct a group of coworkers on how to use new computer software or to report to
a group of managers how your latest project is coming along. A local community group
might wish to hear about your volunteer activities in New Orleans during spring break, or
your classmates may want you to share your expertise on Mediterranean cooking. What all
these examples have in common is the goal of imparting information to an audience.
Informative speaking is integrated into many different occupations. Physicians often lecture
about their areas of expertise to medical students, other physicians, and patients. Teachers
find themselves presenting to parents as well as to their students. Firefighters give
demonstrations about how to effectively control a fire in the house. Informative speaking is
a common part of numerous jobs and other everyday activities. As a result, learning how to
speak effectively has become an essential skill in today’s world.
Persuasive Speaking
A second common reason for speaking to an audience is to persuade others. In our everyday
lives, we are often called on to convince, motivate, or otherwise persuade others to change
their beliefs, take an action, or reconsider a decision. Advocating for music education in your
local school district, convincing clients to purchase your company’s products, or inspiring
high school students to attend college all involve influencing other people through public
speaking.
For some people, such as elected officials, giving persuasive speeches is a crucial part of
attaining and continuing career success. Other people make careers out of speaking to
groups of people who pay to listen to them. Motivational authors and speakers, such as Les
Brown ([Link] make millions of dollars each year from people who
want to be motivated to do better in their lives. Brian Tracy, another professional speaker
and author, specializes in helping business leaders become more productive and effective in
the workplace ([Link]
Whether public speaking is something you do every day or just a few times a year,
persuading others is a challenging task. If you develop the skill to persuade effectively, it can
be personally and professionally rewarding.
Entertaining/Special Occasion Speaking
Entertaining speaking involves an array of speaking occasions ranging from introductions to
wedding toasts, to presenting and accepting awards, to delivering eulogies at funerals and
memorial services in addition to after-dinner speeches and motivational speeches.
Entertaining speaking has been important since the time of the ancient Greeks, when
Aristotle identified epideictic speaking (speaking in a ceremonial context) as an important
type of address. As with persuasive and informative speaking, there are professionals, from
religious leaders to comedians, who make a living simply from delivering entertaining
speeches. As anyone who has watched an awards show on television or has seen an
incoherent best man deliver a wedding toast can attest, speaking to entertain is a task that
requires preparation and practice to be effective.
A.2. Watch the videos and write a short summary of the main important points you find in
the video.
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]
4. [Link]

B. 1. Benefits of public speaking

Once you’ve learned the basic skills associated with public speaking, you’ll find that being
able to effectively speak in public has profound benefits, including
 influencing the world around you,
 developing leadership skills,
 becoming a thought leader.

Influencing the World around You

If you don’t like something about your local government, then speak out about your issue!
One of the best ways to get our society to change is through the power of speech. Common
citizens in the United States and around the world, like you, are influencing the world in real
ways through the power of speech. Just type the words “citizens speak out” in a search
engine and you’ll find numerous examples of how common citizens use the power of speech
to make real changes in the world—for example, by speaking out against “fracking” for
natural gas (a process in which chemicals are injected into rocks in an attempt to open them
up for fast flow of natural gas or oil) or in favor of retaining a popular local sheriff. One of the
amazing parts of being a citizen in a democracy is the right to stand up and speak out, which
is a luxury many people in the world do not have. So if you don’t like something, be the force
of change you’re looking for through the power of speech.
Developing Leadership Skills
Have you ever thought about climbing the corporate ladder and eventually finding yourself
in a management or other leadership position? If so, then public speaking skills are very
important. Hackman and Johnson assert that effective public speaking skills are a necessity
for all leaders (Hackman & Johnson, 2004). If you want people to follow you, you have to
communicate effectively and clearly what followers should do. According to Bender,
“Powerful leadership comes from knowing what matters to you. Powerful presentations
come from expressing this effectively. It’s important to develop both” (Bender, 1998). One
of the most important skills for leaders to develop is their public speaking skills, which is why
executives spend millions of dollars every year going to public speaking workshops; hiring
public speaking coaches; and buying public speaking books, CDs, and DVDs.
Becoming a Thought Leader
Even if you are not in an official leadership position, effective public speaking can help you
become a “thought leader.” Joel Kurtzman, editor of Strategy & Business, coined this term to
call attention to individuals who contribute new ideas to the world of business. According to
business consultant Ken Lizotte, “when your colleagues, prospects, and customers view you
as one very smart guy or gal to know, then you’re a thought leader” (Lizotte, 2008).
Typically, thought leaders engage in a range of behaviors, including enacting and conducting
research on business practices. To achieve thought leader status, individuals must
communicate their ideas to others through both writing and public speaking. Lizotte
demonstrates how becoming a thought leader can be personally and financially rewarding at
the same time: when others look to you as a thought leader, you will be more desired and
make more money as a result. Business gurus often refer to “intellectual capital,” or the
combination of your knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge to others
(Lizotte, 2008). Whether standing before a group of executives discussing the next great
trend in business or delivering a webinar (a seminar over the web), thought leaders use
public speaking every day to create the future that the rest of us live in.
B.2. Answer the following questions:
1. Why do we need to have the skills in public speaking
2. mention some occasions where you need to do public speaking
3. mention tips or strategies to overcome fear in public speaking
4. give examples of informative speech
5. give examples of persuasive speech give examples of entertaining speech
Learning Activity 2
A. Watch and listen to this short video clip:

[Link]
B. What do you learn from the video?

C. What about you? Can you relate the content of the video with your own experience?