Page 255 - Essentials of Human Communication

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

5. Starting early is the best way to ensure adequate time for Step 6: Organize Your information
dealing with unexpected problems.
12. Organize your speech materials into a clear, easily iden-
The preparation of a public speech involves 10 steps. The tifiable pattern. Useful examples include time patterns,
first six of these were discussed in this chapter; the remaining spatial patterns, topical patterns, problem-solution pat-
four are discussed in Chapter 12. terns, cause-effect/effect-cause patterns, and the moti-
vated sequence (attention, need, satisfaction, visualiza-
Step 1: Select Your Topic, Purposes, and Thesis tion, and action). Other available patterns include
6. Speech topics should deal with significant issues that inter- structure–function, comparison and contrast, pro and
est the audience. Subjects and purposes should be limited in con, claim and proof, multiple definition, the five W’s
scope. The thesis should be stated as a complete sentence. (who, what, why, where, when), and fiction–fact.
These first six steps in preparing a public speech entail
Step 2: Analyze Your Audience a variety of specific skills. Place a check mark next to those
7. When analyzing the audience, consider audience mem- skills you most want to work on.
bers’ sociology: age; sex; cultural factors; occupation, in-
come, and status; and religion and religiousness. Also con- 1. When preparing a public speech, I follow a
sider the psychology of the audience: that is, the degree to logical progression of steps, such as the
which the audience is willing to hear your speech, their at- sequence outlined here.
titudes toward the topic and thesis, and the knowledge 2. I select appropriate topics, purposes, and theses
they possess of the topic. and narrow them to manageable proportions.
3. I analyze my audience in terms of members’
Step 3: Research Your Topic sociological and psychological characteristics,
8. Research your topic, beginning with general sources and and I adapt the speech on the basis of these
gradually exploring more specific and specialized sources. findings.
9. In evaluating research material (especially material on the 4. I research topics effectively and efficiently and
Internet) consider the qualifications of the author, the cur- critically evaluate the reliability of the research
rency of the information, and its fairness, sufficiency, and material.
accuracy. 5. I collect materials relevant to my topic, pur-

Step 4: Collect Supporting materials pose, and thesis—for instance, examples, sta-
tistics, and visual aids and with logical, emo-
10. Support your main points with a variety of materials that tional, and ethical proofs.
amplify and provide evidence. 6. I identify my major propositions from my
thesis statement.
Step 5: Develop Your main Points
7. When organizing the speech’s main points, I
11. Formulate the thesis of your speech. Develop your main select a pattern appropriate to the subject mat-
points by asking relevant questions about this thesis. ter, purpose, and audience.

key Word Quiz

the language of Public speaking g. logical support (224)
Match the terms about public speaking with their definitions. h. visualization (230)
Record the number of the definition next to the appropriate i. plagiarism (222)
term. j. specific purpose (215)
a. topical pattern (228) 1. A speech pattern consisting of attention, need, satisfac-
b. database (220) tion, visualization, and action.
c. collectivist culture (222) 2. The act of presenting another’s material as your own.
d. thesis (216) 3. A form of communication in which a speaker addresses
a relatively large audience with a relatively continuous
e. motivated sequence (229) discourse.
f. public speaking (208)