Public Speaking 1b: Finding Your Voice

In this unit, you’ll learn all about writing speeches, including how to use the correct language register, how to use emotive language, and how to integrate specific literary techniques. By the end of the unit, you’ll be ready to write your first well-argued and emotionally powerful speech.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Explain what “language register” means.
• Correctly choose a register to use.
• Describe the most important principles of speech writing.
• Describe the qualities Aristotle believed were essential in good speech writing.
• Use emotive language subtly.
• Avoid overly “loaded” and propagandist content.
• Use various literary techniques to create an emotional effect.
• Define “amplification” and “anaphora.”

In this unit, you’ll learn all about developing the two essential aspects of confidence: a sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem. You’ll also learn about techniques to reduce your fear of public speaking, visual aids to enhance your presentations, and rehearsal strategies.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Define both self-efficacy and self-esteem.
• Demonstrate how to develop your sense of self-efficacy through achievable goals.
• Demonstrate how to develop your self-esteem by challenging negative perceptions.
• Demonstrate how to improve your confidence by “faking it.”
• Demonstrate how to control your thoughts and emotions using mindfulness techniques.
• Demonstrate how to use positive thinking and visualization techniques to control nerves.
• Describe various visual aids that can be used for a presentation and explain why and why to use them.
• Describe the three most important delivery techniques for a presentation and demonstrate how to practice them.

In this course, you will learn all about how to use body language effectively as well as how to avoid common body language pitfalls, how to develop a strong vocal technique, and how to effectively engage with your audience.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Define “body language.”
• List some of the behaviors that commonly signal deception and nervousness.
• Explain why nervousness can be fatal to rhetorical speech.
• Define “resonance.”
• Explain how to use body language effectively in a public speech.
• Explain how to use pauses effectively in a public speech.
• Explain how to effectively interact with the audience during a public speech.

In this unit, you will learn how to critically evaluate the speeches of others in terms of their purpose, presentation, organization, argument, introduction and conclusion, word choice and literary techniques. You’ll also learn how to stand back and critically examine your own work in order to identify areas for improvement.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Determine the success of a speech in terms of its purpose.
• Determine the success of the presentation of a speech, including the appearance of a speaker and his/her vocal technique, body language, and visual aids.
• Determine the success of the organization of a speech.
• Determine the success of the argument of a speech.
• Determine the success of a speech’s introduction and conclusion.
• Determine how well written a speech is and how appropriate to its purpose.
• Critically examine your own work.
• Identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in your own work

In this unit, we’ll take a deeper dive into when, why, and how to most effectively use presentational aids as part of a speech. You’ll learn about the many different types of presentational aids that can be used. We’ll also explore a few guidelines to consider when using presentational aids.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Explain the purpose of using presentational aids in public speaking
• Identify the different types of presentational aids used in speeches
• Understand general guidelines for effectively using presentational aids
• Learn what pitfalls to avoid when using presentational aids

There are many speaking situations where it makes more sense to have a group make the presentation instead of just one individual. In this unit, we’ll look at the different kinds of group presentations and the various roles you might play in preparing and delivering one. We’ll also spend some time exploring guidelines to help a group prepare and present most effectively.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Understand various kinds of group presentations
• Identify the different roles in group presentations
• Describe general guidelines for preparing a group presentation
• Recognize the best ways to present a group presentation