Page 275 - Essentials of Human Communication

254 Chapter 12 Public Speaking Preparation and Delivery (Steps 7–10)

audience

6. Has the speaker considered the relevant audience variables such as culture, age, gender,
occupation, income, status, and religion? How does the speaker take these factors into
consideration?
7. Has the speaker considered and adapted to the willingness, favorableness, and knowledge
of the audience?

research
8. Is the speech adequately researched? Are the sources reliable and up-to-date?
9. Does the speaker seem to understand the subject thoroughly?
supporting Materials
10. Is each major proposition adequately and appropriately supported?
11. Do the supporting materials amplify what they purport to amplify? Do they prove what
they purport to prove?
Major propositions

12. Are the speech’s main points clearly related to the thesis?
13. Are there an appropriate number of main points in the speech (not too many, not too
few)?

Organization
14. How is the body of the speech organized? What is the organization pattern?
15. Is the organization pattern appropriate to the speech and to the audience?
Conclusion, introduction, and transitions

16. Does the conclusion effectively summarize and close the speech?
17. Does the introduction gain the audience’s attention and provide a clear orientation?
18. Are there adequate transitions?

wording
19. Is the language clear, vivid, appropriate, personal, and powerful?
20. Are the sentences short, direct, active, positive, and varied?

delivery
21. Does the speaker maintain eye contact with the audience?
22. Are the volume, rate, and pauses appropriate to the audience, occasion, and topic?
23. Are the body actions (i.e., gesture and eye, face, and body movement) appropriate to the
speaker, subject, and audience?

expressinG and listeninG tO CritiCisM
The major purpose of classroom evaluation is to improve each class member’s public speak-
ing technique. Through constructive criticism, you—will more effectively learn—as both a
speaker and a listener-critic—the principles of public speaking. You will discover what you
do well and what you can improve.
Despite all the benefits of evaluation, however, many people resist this process, often per-
ceiving evaluations and suggestions for improvement as personal attacks. Before reading the
specific suggestions for expressing criticism, take the self-test, “What’s Wrong with These
Comments?” Then consider the suggestions for offering criticism more effectively that follow
the test.