This presentation is meant to orient a student to public speaking and the structure of a typical speech.

1. Public Speaking
Why learn it?
The Parts of the Speech

2. Why learn public speaking?
• Confidence
• Job skill
• Effective
communicator
• Power

3. How can public speaking help you?
• You have to train a group of workers at your
job
• You are fighting to keep your local playground
open
• You are in sales/marketing/other jobs that
require you to work with the public
• You have to give a eulogy
• You want to have a second date with
someone!

4. What you ALREADY know
Similarities between public speaking and
conversations:
• Organizing your thoughts logically
• Tailoring your message to your audience
• Telling a story for maximum impact
(punchline)
• Adapting to listener feedback

5. What’s different about public speaking
• More highly structured – time limits, little to no
listener interruption/interaction, have a purpose
to accomplish, anticipating audience
questions/reactions, more detailed planning
• Requires more formal language – it is expected
slang, jargon and bad grammar have no place in
public speeches, a speech should be special
• Requires a different method of delivery – no vocal
crutches, speaking louder than you normally
would, good posture, avoid distracting
mannerisms

6. Introduction
• Get the attention and interest of your
audience
• Reveal the topic of your speech
• Establish credibility and goodwill
• Preview the body of the speech

7. Attention and interest
Attention devices:
• Relate the topic to the
audience
• State the importance of
your topic
• Startle the audience
• Arouse the curiosity of
the audience
• Question the audience
• Begin with a quotation
• Tell a story

8. Reveal the topic
• Don’t confuse your audience; do not assume
they know what you will be speaking about
• Do not assume your attention device is
descriptive enough
• Introduce your topic clearly

9. Establish credibility and goodwill
• Credibility = perception (audience)
• Are you qualified to speak on this topic?
• Why should we believe you are?
• Whatever the source of your expertise, let the
audience know!
• Goodwill = mean no harm
• How can you take a topic your audience feels
negatively about and reason your side?

10. Preview the Body of the Speech
• Most people are poor
listeners
• Preview statements let
your audience know
EXACTLY what you’re
going to be talking
about
• Identify what main
points are coming up in
the body of the speech

11. Tips for prepping the introduction
• Keep it brief – should be about 10-20% of your
total speech
• When conducting research, keep an eye out for
possible attention devices
• Be creative in developing the introduction
• Re-work wording after you’ve completed the
body of the speech – after you’ve determined the
main points, it’ll be easier to decide how to begin
the speech
• Work out the introduction in DETAIL. It is the first
– and most important – part of the speech

12. The body
• Organization is key
• See formal speech outline for structure
Order types:
 Chronological: follow a time pattern
 Spatial: directional pattern (from top to
bottom, from to back, east to west)
 Causal: illustrate a cause and effect relationship
 Problem-solution: 2 parts – first shows the
problem, second shows possible solutions
 Topical: dividing the speech topic into subtopics

13. Connectives
• Transitions: a word or phrase that indicated when
a speaker has finished one point and is moving on
to another
• Internal preview: much like your preview
statement in the introduction, this previews the
main points inside the body of the speech
• Internal summaries: sum up previous main point
as a method of moving on to the next
• Signposts: brief statements that indicate exactly
where you are in the speech (first, second, final)

14. Conclusion
Serves two functions:
• Let the audience know you are finishing
• Reinforce the audience’s understanding of, or
commitment to, the central idea

15. Conclusion
• Reinforcing the central idea:
• End with a quotation
• Make a dramatic statement
• Refer back to the introduction

16. Tips for prepping the conclusion
• Keep an eye out for possible concluding
statements during your research
• End with a bang, not a whimper
• Don’t be long winded (should account for 10%
of your total speech)
• Don’t leave anything to chance. The
conclusion is an opportunity to have the “final
say.” Prepare well and practice this often!