PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

INTRODUCTION
 At the end of the chapter, learners should be able identify the concept of public
communication and the strategies of effective public speaking.

 Even with sophistication of communication technology today, public speaking is

still one of the most important channels to convey our message to the audience.
We speak in public to inform, to entertain, to influence, the audience in order to
achieve our goals. It is, therefore, important for us to understand and be able to
prepare the good speech. Ask yourself this question. If you assigned to prepare a
speech and at the end of your speech you should achieve your goals, what are the
steps you will take to produce an effective speech. Let us look at how we can do
it.
 GENERAL OUTLINE IN PREPARING AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKING
 Usually, we prepared a speech with a general outline, which comprises of 5 main
parts:-
 (i) Introduction
 (ii) Thesis sentence
 (iii) Body of the speech
 (iv) Conclusion
 (v) References and sources

 This outline is basis for any effective speeches. A speech without proper outline
and preparation sometimes termed as an impromptu speech, where it is difficult
and can be very risky at times.
 THE FIRST GENERAL OUTLINE: INTRODUCTION

 Every speech begins with an introduction that takes about 10% of the time taken
for the whole speech. The introduction can be a brief story, an interesting example
or statistic, a quotation, an illustration or startling remarks or perhaps just a simple
rhetoric question. An example is, “What will happen if water does not exist
anymore on earth?”.

 The introduction serves an as audience puller or a method to capture the attention
of the audience who are not really focused on the speaker at the beginning of the
speech.
 THE SECOND GENERAL OUTLINE: THESIS SENTENCE

 Thesis sentence of thesis statement represent the main idea of the entire speech. It
expresses the central purpose of the speech. To catch the audience’s attention, a
preview or the thesis sentence should always be mentioned after the introduction
 is made. It should be simple and straight to the point. Here are some examples of
thesis sentence:

 THE THIRD GENERAL OUTLINE: BODY OF SPEECH
 Body of speech consist of 85% of the time use for the whole speech. The body
clarifies, explains, extends, defends and support the thesis sentence with the help
of supporting the materials or references. One way to enrich a speech presentation
is use to a verity of supporting materials. Example and illustration in the body of
speech is useful when we wish to make an abstract concept and concrete idea. For
example, to illustrate the damaging impact of drug to our lives we may use
illustration such as pictures depicting drug addicts scavenging the garbage.
 THE FOURTH GENERAL OUTLINE: CONCLUSION
 The fourth part of the outline of speech is the conclusion, which is a short review
of the body of the speech, the thesis sentence and the introduction. Conclusion
must be brief and take about half as long as the introduction. It is a way to tell the
audience that the speaker, is about to end the speech. Sometimes, conclusion can
be in the form or rhetoric question or statement. For example, we may ask the
audience to think together weather we are going to continue living in this polluted
environment or we can forward it as a form of statement that reflects expectation
or hope.
 THE FIFTH GENERAL OUTLINE: REFERENCES AND SOURCES
 A list of references of sources is needed for the speech outline as a way to credit
the sources of materials we obtain and to avoid the charge of plagiarism.
Plagiarism means using someone else ideals and words without giving that person
credit. It is an illegal as well as an unethical practice.

 In preparing to deliver a speech, you owe your audience and yourself good
presentation, but creating and effective presentation takes planning and practice.
While good text and ideas are important, your ability to express the ideas and get
others to join you is an important. Among the key points to consider in preparing
a speech are: use an effective introduction, use supporting materials to flesh out
main points, organize your presentation clearly and simply, and create an
effective conclusion.
 Presenting a speech
 IMPROMPTU SPEECH
 Do quickly jot down two or three ideas and supporting details about topics.
 Do decide on your conclusion.
 Do use and develop an introduction.
 Don’t apologize for not being prepared for the speech.
 Don’t reach negatively either verbally or non- verbally.

MEMORIZED SPEECH
 Pausing too long to recall the words or text.
 Rushing through the speech so as not to use the words memorized.
 Forgetting an important sentence and the rest of the speech.
 Finding it difficult to provide feedbacks for the ongoing enquiry from the
audience.
 Losing the benefits of face to face contact.

READ SPEECH
 This speech method can also be called speaking from the manuscript.
 The whole speech is written out and then read aloud to the audience.
 There is no danger of forgetting or saying the wrong thing because everything is
thought out first.
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH
 The word extemporaneous in this context means 'carefully prepared but delivered
without notes or text'.
 MEANING: Although the speaker has prepared the speech thoroughly, he or she
is not bound by or committed to its exact wording.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

 Use simple and accurate language.

 Use effective introductions and conclusions.
 Adopt natural or conversational approach to the speech.
 Attend to feedback signals from the audience.
 Prepare your speech and rehearse, perhaps with a friend or in front of a mirror.

CONCLUSION
 There are various ways to deliver a speech effectively depending on the situations
and our ability to identify appropriate methods of presenting the speech.
 A wrong approach will result in message not getting across since there are
advantages and disadvantages associated in each method.

TYPES AND PURPOSES OF INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

INTRODUCTION:
 Public speaking is a vast field in the area of communication . In the previous
section we looked at the general principles of public speaking by giving emphasis
on the issues of speech preparation
Public speaking can be divided into three categories:
 Informative speech
 Persuasive speech
 Argumentative speech

Informative speech is a very significant to us as learners especially in the era of

information technology. Furthermore, with the development of knowledge economy
and the revolution of Information and Communication Technology, the conveying of
information to others (and ourselves) is crucial in our daily lives.
 Informative speech
 Persuasive speech
 Argumentative speech

Informative speech is a very significant to us as learners especially in the era of

information technology. Furthermore, with the development of knowledge economy
and the revolution of Information and Communication Technology, the conveying of
information to others (and ourselves) is crucial in our daily lives.
 Informative speaking is a form of speech
with the motive of giving information
to the audience. Informative speeches mainly
describe, define and tell how to use
something or how something works.
 Examples of statements in informative
speech are:
In public speaking, the different ways in which we present new
information or engage in new ways of looking at “old” information
can be viewed in terms of the following types of informative
speech. They are:
 speech of description
 speech of definition and
 speech of demonstration
(Devito,2002,page 361)

SPEECH OF DESCRIPTION
 When we speak to describe, we attempt to
explain event, person, object or process in
the best possible manner.
 For example, we may want to speak about
the parts of a personal computer ,the
structure of a building, the map of a
university campus, the day- to-day
activities of a student, or the working of
the human body .
 We can do all this by a variety of describing
strategies and the use of appropriate are most
speeches, but it is also possible have an entire
speech that deals with describing events, persons,
objects and/or processes.

SPEECH OF DEFINATION
When we define something, we state the meaning
or the importance concept or term, especially
When we want to explain new or difficult concept
And ideas. Of course, definitions may be found
In any kind speech, but the speech of definition
(or definition speech) is an entire speech that
focuses on explaining the meaning and significance
of a new or unfamiliar concept, or theory. This kind
of speech mostly used in university lecture as the
lecturer explains concepts and theories to students
to make them understand better the subject
matter
 In a definitional speech, when speaking to define
something, you as the speaker will have to first state
the meaning of the term or concept in question.
then you will probably need to highlight
similarities and/or differences between this
term and other closely associated or competing
term or set of concept.
 Example: you might define the meaning of the
message model of communication in on order to identify
the similarities and differences between them.
 Example: Of defining concepts in this, manner is when
you talk about ‘modernism’ versus ‘postmodernism’.

SPEECH OF DEMONSTRATION
 Speech of demonstration is used to demonstrate a process or procedure. When
demonstrating something, we usually explain
how certain procedure is being carried out or how something
works (since to demonstrate mean ‘to show’). It is possible, of course, to give a
speech that is solely
concerned with showing how a certain set of
process and procedures is being carried
out, or how something operates.

 Examples of demonstration speeches concerning process and

procedures will include how to drive a car, how to lose weight, how
to build an extension to the kitchen, how to cook fish, and so on.
 Examples of speeches concerning how something operates will cover topics such
as how to the Internet works, how a thunderstorm develops, how a blood pressure
gauge operates
and how to operate computer.
 In conclusion we can say that the overall
function of informative speech is to
communicate information. As mentioned
earlier , the act of informing through speech
can be achieved in several ways:
-speaking to define
-speaking to describe
-speaking to demonstrate
 Although they can function as a stand-
alone speech, it is normal to find
 elements of each in many of the
speeches that we make
(and listen to) in our day-to day lives.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES & STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVENESS

 Learning objective: Identify ways of improving the effectiveness of informative
speeches.
 Introduction: As there are different categories in public
speaking, there are also specific ways in
improving the effectiveness in the
presentation of each category of speech.
In this topic, we will look at the principles
and strategies of presenting effective
informative speech generally and also
according to types of speech in this
category.
 Mr. Soo, a doctor by profession, was invited to give a speech on the dangers of
smoking in a function organized by the Health Ministry. In his speech he gave a
lot of information on the dangers of smoking and how it affects the health of an
individual. However, many participants who attended the function complained
that they were not able to follow what Mr. Soo was saying and were confused.
This might be because the way Mr.Soo presented the information in the speech
was complicated and confused the audience.
Principles and Strategies
Principles are rules of necessary conditions that need to presented for something to
occur.
Strategies are tactical actions that may or may not be used to accomplish a task.
 There are certain principles and guidelines to ensure effective presentation of your
informative speech no matter what type of speech it is.
 There are also certain strategies that you can employ to deliver an informative
speech effectively.
 There are certain principles and guidelines to ensure effective presentation of your
informative speech no matter what type of speech it is.
 There are also certain strategies that you can employ to deliver an informative
speech effectively.
 Four general principles
 . You need to limit the amount of information that can be efficiently processed by
the audience.
 The first principle also called ‘the information load principle’. The audience will
not be able to absorb and process too much information at one time. Moreover too
much information will confuse the audience especially if the information is
technical.

 You should speak at an appropriate level of complexity.

 The second principle means, the way you present your speech should be at the
level of your audience. For example, the way you address a group of students is
different from the way you address a panel of professors.

 You as a speaker should highlight information that meets the audience’s needs
 Example for the third principle is when you give a talk on the dangers of smoking
for students, you should have done prior audience analysis on the expectations of
the audience when you present your speech

 You as a speaker should keep a balance between abstract and concrete ideas.
 The fourth principle means, when you speak of a term or concept, which is
abstract, you should give real examples so that audience will understand on what
you are saying. For example, when you speak about freedom of expression you
should also tell your audience that writing to the press to lodge a complaint or
expressing your dissatisfaction on certain issues is a form of freedom of
expression.
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