Page 274 - Essentials of Human Communication

Critically Evaluating Speeches 253

Movement Use movement to emphasize transitions and to introduce important Communication
assertions. For example, when making a transition, you might step forward to signal Choice point
that something new is coming. Similarly, use movement to signal an important as- unexpected Feedback
sumption, bit of evidence, or closely reasoned argument. Walk slowly and deliber- In your last speech, you in-
ately (but not too slowly, of course) to and from the podium. Avoid appearing hur- cluded a brief anecdote you found ex-
ried, as if you want to get your speech over with as soon as possible. Walking more tremely amusing—in fact, you laughed out
slowly will help you convey an air of control. loud after you finished telling the story. Un-
fortunately, the audience just didn’t get it—
not one smile in the entire audience. What
usinG nOtes can you have done to turn this negative into a
Speakers who prepare their speeches around a series of slides made with one of the positive? What might you have said?
presentation software packages (such as PowerPoint or Corel Presentations) may use
these slides as their notes. In most public speaking classes, your notes will consist of
a delivery outline and your audiovisual aids. Effective delivery depends on the smooth use of
1
notes—whether a series of slides or transparencies or an 8 × 11 inch piece of paper or an
2
index card or two—during the speech. A few simple guidelines may help you avoid common
errors (McCroskey, 2006).
● Use only your delivery outline when presenting your speech; never use the preparation
1
outline. One 8 × 11 inch page and no more than four index cards should be sufficient
2
for most speeches. This aid will relieve anxiety over forgetting your speech but not be
extensive enough to prevent meaningful speaker—audience interaction.
● Know your notes intimately. Rehearse at least twice with the same notes you will take to
the speaker’s stand.
● Use your notes with “open subtlety.” Don’t make your notes more obvious than necessary,
but don’t try to hide them. Don’t gesture with them, but don’t turn your back on the audi-
ence to steal a glance at them, either. Watch the way television talk show personalities use
notes; many of these media hosts provide models you’ll find useful to imitate.

Objectives self-Check
● Can you deliver your speech with appropriate and effective voice and bodily action (along with
the use of notes)?

Critically evaluating Speeches

Part of learning about public speaking is learning to evaluate finished, delivered speeches and
to express your evaluations in a clear and constructive way. Let’s look first at some of the ques-
tions you’ll want to consider and then at some suggestions for expressing these evaluations.

QuestiOns tO COnsider
The following questions, which come from topics covered in this chapter and Chapter 11, can
serve as a beginning guide to speech evaluation. Use them to check your own speeches as well
as to evaluate the speeches of others.
subject, purpose, and thesis
1. Is the subject worthwhile? Relevant? Interesting to the audience and speaker?
2. Is the general purpose of the speech to inform or to persuade?
3. Is the topic narrow enough to be covered in some depth?
4. Is the specific purpose clear to the audience?
5. Is the speech’s thesis clear and limited to one main idea?