February 11   Building the Informative Speech

I. The Central Strategies you will use to build your speeches will be:

Clarity of Thought/Structure

Engaging the Audience

Supporting Materials

Language Use

Chapter 14 Advice

II.  We viewed a speech from the appendix of the textbook and then analyzed it: Speech Analysis: Dying To Be Thin

• Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the serious, potentially fatal disorder, anorexia.
• Central Idea: Anorexia is a serious disorder that has serious consequences for its victims, several major causes and several possible treatments.

A. Structure
I. Anorexia is a serious disorder that has serious consequences for its victims.
II. Anorexia is a serious disorder that has several possible causes.
III. Anorexia is a serious disorder that has several possible treatments.
B. Speech Development: Support Materials
 
1. Introduction
• strong specific example: Julie
• strong startling statistics: “one in every 100” and the New York Times says it is growing….

2. First Main Point
• Definition: anorexia nervosa is a disorder of self-starvation.
• Maclean’s magazine lists 4 common characteristics
• Speech Development
• First Main Point
• Description: hair becomes brittle, etc.
• Sports Illustrated says… (paraphrase)
• example of Julie referred to again
3. Second main point (3 causes)
• Newsweek notes society's image obsession
• Dying to Please notes the personality causes.
• Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found a physiological cause.
• Julie example.

4. Third Main Point (treatments)
• Dr. Katherine Halmi quote
• New York Times statistics on relapses
• Angie Melnyk quote (peer testimony)

5. Conclusion
• summary
• reference back to the Julie example

B.  The speech does some things to relating to the audience, but could do much more.

• personal credibility helps
• does strike men, but 44 percent of victims are college-females
• Use of the Julie example throughout since it personalizes the topic.
• Using questions for connectives may help some listeners.

C.  Language Use and other Choices

1. First we talked in general about LANGUAGE USE.
• Words have dictionary definitions, but they can also suggest or imply other associations.
• Denotation is the dictionary definition
• Connotation is the cultural meaning of the term--or what it suggests or implies
• House vs. Home
• Speaking well involves choosing the best words.
• Accuracy means making sure you have the right word for the idea or object.
• Clarity means making sure you have the right word for your audience in terms of their knowledge base and listening skills.
• Appropriateness means that you have the right word for your audience in terms of their attitudes toward the situation, topic and speaker.
2.  Then we tried an exercise.  In each of the following sentences, select the most appropriate word to complete the statement:
 
a. insisted, persisted, urged, persevered
 I ________ her to treat her roommates more kindly.

 Though he tried to prove his innocence, the district attorney ________ in believing him guilty.

 Despite the difficulty of the job, she ________ until she completed it.

 He ________ that gun control legislation will do little to
 reduce crimes of violence.

• 3. Then we looked at Language choices made by the speaker in "Dying to Be Thin."
• Avoids technical language
• Uses concrete language
• excellent user-friendliness

III.  Then we looked at the SNEEZING SPEECH closely to uncover some of the choices this speaker made that you might want to imitate.

A. STRUCTURE OF THE BODY
• I. Sneezing can be understood in terms of the superstitions surrounding it throughout history.
• II. Sneezing can be understood as the body's complex reaction to a number of stimuli from pollen to strong emotion.
• III. Sneezing can be understood as something that can be done safely and politely.


B. SUPPORT MATERIALS
    1. First Main Point, paragraphs 6-12

• Extended Example: story of Xenophon from the Concise Dictionary of Ancient History--nice details
• Extended examples across cultures: Zulu, India, western culture, (South Pacific--brief).  All from Encyclopedia of Occult Sciences, Superstitions, and Folklore.
• Also increased credibility with citation of info from Science magazine.
    2.  Second Main Point, paragraphs 13-17
• Stat. 104 miles an hour--no citation
• Examples based on the discussion in the New York Times.
• Example of June Clark--interesting, but no source cited.
    3. Third Main Point, paragraphs 18-19
• Information in paragraph 18 is not cited.
• Quote from Jane Brody in the New York Times.

 
C. LANGUAGE USE IN THE SNEEZING SPEECH

1. Introduction:

• "you," and "your"
• preview is clear but not overly blatant.

2. First Main Point:

• Concrete details and interesting word choices help to bring the story to life.
• The strong word choices continue: "sneezing,” is called "the nose's most conspicuous function."
• The language also continues to try to relate to the audience: "If you were walking down the dusty streets of Karim Nagar."

3. Second Main Point:

• He avoids getting overly technical; where it borders on technical he does it for humorous effect as in "overly active equilibriating mechanism."
• Colorful word choice continues: "rampaging predators," and "banishing intruders."
• Again, he addresses the audience: "If a man lunged at you with a knife.”

 IV. We also reviewed the requirements for the Informative Assignment (W pp. 21-22)

• How long? 5-7 min.
• Requirements?
• sources--3 good sources
• visual aid--required
• means of delivery--extemporaneous, from note cards
• Outline: full sentence preparation outline due at the Informative Workshop next Monday.

 We began class by viewing another sample speech from the end of the informative speech chapter and analyzing it:

V.  We started watching another sample speech from the Informative Speech Chapter: Cryonics

Specific Purpose Statement:
To inform my audience about the development of the science of cryonics.
Central Idea Statement:
Cryonics may sound like science fiction but as we look at its history, methods, and future we discover an emerging science.

I. Cryonics has a very interesting history.
II. Cryonics requires that medical personal follow a specific procedure when a person who has signed up to be cryonically frozen dies.
III.  Cryonics faces future challenges due to high costs and lack of procedures for thawing patients.

      B. Speech Development

                1. Supporting Materials

• Ben Franklin’s wish to be immersed in wine.
• 1964 release of Robert Ettinger’s Prospect of Immortality.
• Example: the first man to be frozen in 1967.
• Statistics: 80 people have been frozen; 800 are signed up to be frozen. [needs a citation though!]
• Omni Magazine quote.
• Statistics on costs
• quote from a cryonics member
• statistic from Fortune Magazine.
• citation from New Scientist magazine.

                2. Relating to the Audience

• Introduction
• Imagine your mother or father, your grandmother, your close friend.
• Dealing with imagined audience response: “Does this sound like science fiction?”
• Showing us the term on the overhead as well as saying it, makes sure that we learn the new term.
• “I’d like to give you a brief overview….”
• In the Body
• reference to popular movies like Austin Powers and Sleepers
• connectives that re-engage between each of the main points: “So now you’re probably wondering how will they do it?  How does cryonics work?”  And later: “Now that we have explored the development…you may wonder about questions such as how much it costs and whether people that are frozen can be rethawed.”
• engage them directly as actors in the speech “You may be wondering, ‘Why would I preserve only my head?’”
• In the Conclusion
• “we have seen”
• reference back to the introduction: “think again of your father or mother,” etc.

       3. Language Use and other Choices

• Inclusive, concrete, “first person language” can help engage the audience.
• The Cryonics speech avoids being too technical.
• Chooses the less technical term for clarity and accuracy.
• When technical terms are used they are defined--often by analogy: “cryoprotectant which works as an antifreeze of sorts to help prevent cell damage.”


4. Works in source citations smoothly

• see the workbook pp. 10-12 for more advice on this issue.


5.  Questionable choices??

• Visual aid
• “rethaw”
• missing a couple of critical citations

     C. Tips for you as you develop your speech.

Find engaging materials--examples are especially helpful

Integrate them nicely into the presentation

Use language that is clear and lively

Develop a delivery style to enhance the material you have prepared.

February 13
Putting it All Together: Surviving the first formal speech round by good listening, good delivery and use of visual aids, and by using nervous energy constructively.

I. Your Role as a Listener is very important.
 

A. There are several things to keep in mind when doing peer critiques.
• You will do more listening than speaking in the class and in your life.
• There are ethical obligations that we take on as listeners.
• Be courteous and attentive during the speech.
• Listeners should avoid prejudging the speaker.
• Listeners should maintain the free and open expression of ideas.
B. There are ways to improve your listening skills.
• Work at it
• Resist distraction
• Don't be overwhelmed by appearance or delivery
• Suspend judgment
• Focus on becoming a critical/thoughtful listener
• Develop your note-taking skills
II. In class we also viewed a sample informative speech with the following main points:

I. Roller coasters offer a thrill that Americans love.
II. Roller coasters have had an up-and-down history.
III. Roller coasters at today's parks offer a wide variety of designs and thrills.
IV. Roller coasters of the future will feature new developments like the pipeline.

Then we discussed the parts of its intro and conclusion and its use of connectives and being good listeners.

III.  There are several different modes of delivery.
• Extemporaneous style with a goal of "conversational" delivery is the most accepted delivery mode today.
• Other methods of delivery include: manuscript, memorized, and impromptu.
• Delivery is an Art not a Science.
• Though some have tried to treat it as a science as in Gilbert Austin’s Chironomia, 1806


IV. Tips for developing an extemporaneous style.

• Rehearse the speech out loud with the preparation outline.
• Develop a speaking outline (see workbook pp. 32-34)
• Practice aloud using the speaking outline.
• Polish and refine your delivery by practicing with others or recording your performance.
• Arrange for a dress rehearsal using your visual aids.
• Be familiar with your space.
• To do all of this, you must finish developing the speech content early.


V.  Delivery can be examined by looking at Nonverbal and Verbal elements.

• Nonverbal delivery aspects affect the success of our messages.
• Personal appearance
• Physical stance
• Gestures, eye contact and facial expressiveness
• The most important thing is to develop a nonverbal style that is comfortable for you, appropriate to the topic and occasion, and that helps establish a bond between you and your audience.
• Vocal Delivery affects the success of our messages.
• Pitch, rate, pauses, inflection, pronunciation, and articulation are the critical terms.
• Paralanguage refers to the manipulation of these variables to make a single sentence have a variety of meanings.
• Using your voice to help you carry meanings to your audience is the ultimate goal.

• Here are some general TIPS for success when using visual aids.

•  Do not let your visual aid substitute for the speech.
•  Do not let your visual aid distract the audience from your speech.
•  Never pass around a visual aid during a formal speaking engagement.
•  Show it only while talking about it
•  Use common sense (no fires, weapons, live animals, etc..)
• Make sure whatever aid you use is large enough for all to see.
• Follow ethical guidelines.
• Aim for a professional look


VII. Your Success as a speaker is linked to your ability to THINK as you Speak, but fear can make that a challenge!
    A. Extemporaneous speaking is the goal.

• Be responsive to feedback
• Be adaptable to the situation
• Aim for conversational delivery
• Have fun, look like you are enjoying the opportunity
• Know that fear can inhibit your thinking
     B. Controlling Nervous energy.
• Know that some nervousness is helpful: it increase adrenaline, makes your eyes shine, and adds an edge, a vigor to your delivery.
• Lucas makes several suggestions for controlling nervous energy.
• Prepare (practice)
• Be at your best
• Work especially hard on the Introduction
• Work to connect with the audience through eye contact
• Use Visual Aids
• Take Slow Deep Breaths
• W. Timothy Gallway's thoughts about overcoming inner obstacles can be applied to public speaking.
• Key to success is to overcome mental obstacles like self-doubt.
• The Outer game of performance is balanced by two inner game goals
• learning
• experience (enjoyment)
• THere are three major obstacles to performance
• Doubter: What if I don't have anything to say?
• Critic: always seeks perfection which inhibits the flow of thoughts
• Weakling: always focuses on what could go wrong
• To take charge of the Inner Game
• Refuse to listen to the doubter, critic, and weakling.
• Focus on success: visualize it.
• Recognize performance is an opportunity to share what you know [and that the audience wants to learn something!]
• Admit that you are ready

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