Page 233 - Essentials of Human Communication

212 CHAPTER 11 Public Speaking Preparation (Steps 1–6)

Objectives self-check
● Can you explain the nature of public speaking and its benefits?
● Can you explain the nature of communication apprehension and apply the suggestions for man-
aging apprehension in public speaking?
● Can you explain the nature of procrastination and apply the suggestions for avoiding it?

Step 1: Select Your Topic, Purposes, and Thesis
Watch the Video “Martin
Cox Discusses Tips on The first step in preparing an effective public speech is to select the topic on which you’ll
Developing a Topic speak, the general and specific purposes you hope to achieve, and your thesis or central idea.
for a Speech” at
MyCommunicationLab
YOur tOPic
Select a worthwhile topic that will be interesting to the audience. If your first speech is to be
informative, select a topic about which your audience probably knows little but would be
Explore the Concept “Topic”
at MyCommunicationLab curious to learn more. If your first speech is persuasive, you might select a topic about which
you and the audience agree, and aim to strengthen their attitudes. Or you might select a topic
on which you and the audience disagree; your aim would be to persuade them to change
their attitudes.
Not surprisingly, the appropriateness of a speech topic will vary with the culture of
the audience. For example, each culture has its own topics that tend to cause conflict.
Generally these subjects should be avoided, especially by visitors from other cultures.
Although the topics that are taboo vary from one culture to another and from one time to
another, generally it is best to avoid criticizing any deeply held belief, whether about reli-
gion or politics or child-rearing practices. If you’re going to address an audience with
members from cultures other than your own, find out what these taboo topics are and
avoid them; or at least present them in a way that will not cause audience members to
tune you out.

finding Your topic Public speaking topics are all around you. Select a topic that you’re
interested in and know something about. And, of course, select a topic that your audience
will find interesting and worthwhile. Here are a few ways you can find topics:
● Keep yourself in mind. What are you interested in? What news articles or blogs do you read,
what feeds do you subscribe to? What titles of articles would interest you enough so that you

Skill DEvEloPmENT ExPERiENCE

using Cultural Beliefs as Assumptions

How effective would it be to use each of the following cultural beliefs as a basic assumption in a speech to your
public speaking class? Use the following scale: A = the audience would favorably accept this assumption and
would welcome a speaker with this point of view; B = some members would listen open-mindedly, but others
wouldn’t; or C = the audience would reject this assumption and would not welcome a speaker with this point
Knowing your audience’s of view.
beliefs will help you _____ 1. Religious differences are the main causes of war.
identify with your _____ 2. The group is more important than the individual.
listeners, avoid _____ 3. The rich (countries, individuals) are morally obligated to give to the poor.
offending them, and _____ 4. Men and women should each enter occupations for which they are biologically suited.
adapt your speech. _____ 5. Pleasure is the only real goal in life.