Teaching Public
Speaking
Faculty Fellows @ UK
Dr. Deanna Sellnow
Dr. Jami Warren
• Anxiety
• Components
• Assignment
Descriptions
• Reviewing, Revising,
Rehearsing
• Grading
The Elephant in the Living Room:
Public Speaking Anxiety
 75% of the adult population experiences PSA . . .
 and that’s a GOOD thing!
 Key: Managing anxiety effectively
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Visualization
Relaxation
Systematic Desensitization
Cognitive Restructuring
Communication (NOT performance) orientation
One minute essay:
• Think of a time when you saw/heard a really
engaging speaker. Describe the specific
reasons you thought it was so good.
Components of an effective
(audience-centered) speech
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•
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Content
Structure
Delivery
Presentational Aids
Audience-Centered CONTENT
• Ultimately, its not
about me (the
speaker)
• “The audience is the
end and object of the
speech” (Aristotle)
• Exigence: the
reason a speech
NEEDS to be given
(Bitzer, 1968)
Content
• Analysis:
– Appropriate
focus/purpose?
– Supporting points
(appropriate, thematic,
rhetorical appeals,
breadth, depth, and
listener relevance)?
– Reasoning
(Claim/Support/Warrant
)?
– Time constraint?
• Supporting Material:
Relevant?
Varied?
Credible?
Clear?
Distributed throughout
Properly Credited (on
outline & in speech)
– Number?
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structure
• Macrostructure:
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Attention Catcher
Listener Relevance
Speaker Credibility
Thesis statement & M Pt Preview Transitions
Thesis restatement & M Pt Summary
Clincher (creative)
• Microstructure:
– Language (appropriate, clear, accurate,
vivid)?
– Style (rhetorical figures/structures, novelty,
connectives)?
– Technical jargon/Slang
– Vocalized pauses (verbal garbage-- "uh,"
"um," "like," "ya' know”)
• Tell them what you’re going to
tell them (INTRODUCTION)
• Tell them (BODY)
– Thematic, recognizable main point
pattern (chronological, spatial, causal,
problem-solution, etc.)
• Tell them what you told them
(CONCLUSION)
Drafting Outlines
• Iterative Ongoing Process of
Developing Content & Structure
• Rough Outlines & Peer Reviews
• Formal Outline
Complete Sentences
Listener Relevance Links
Presentational Aid Markers
Internal References and Reference
List
– APA(or other) Style
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• Speaking Outline/Notes
Drafting outlines
1
2
3
4
Goal, Thesis, Listener Relevance (Rhetorical Situation)
Body

Main ideas (grouping supporting materials)
Main Point Pattern
Main Point Development (Breadth, Depth, Listener Relevance
Links)
Transitions
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Attention Catcher
Listener Relevance
Speaker Credibility
Thesis and Main Point Preview
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Thesis Restatement & Main Point Summary
Clincher
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Introduction
Conclusion
microstructure
• Language & Style Choices
–Appropriate
–Inclusive
–Accurate
–Concrete
–Vivid
–Novel
Presentational aids
• Construction of Visuals
– Large, neat, colorful, clear,
simple, etc.
– Symbol system
• Other Aids (audio, audiovisual,
sensory, etc.)
• Peer Review
• Integration
– Concealed/Revealed
– Referenced
– Smoothly demonstrated
Integration
The
“Vanna”
Method
Conceal
Reveal
Touch
Integrate
Conceal
Delivery
• Use of Voice
– Intelligibility (rate, volume, pitch, quality,
enunciation, pronunciation)
– Conversational style
– Emotional expression (convincing, committed,
compelling)
• Use of Body
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Attire
Poise (no distracting cues)
Eye contact
Facial expressions
Gestures
Motivated movement
Initial & Terminal Ethos?
• Modalities/Audience
• Rehearsals/Peer Review
Writing a Speech prompt
Purpose & Description
Rationale
Grading Criteria
Examples (formal outline, speaking outline,
recorded speech)
• Grading Forms (Instructor Critique Form,
Classmate Critique Form, Self-Critique Form)
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Grading
Holistic and Criterion-based
Consider Criteria and Individual Growth
Verbal Critique Comments
During the speech
After the Speech
Rubrics
Outcomes
• Content (analysis,
supporting material)
• Structure (macro, micro)
• Delivery (voice, body)
• Presentational Aids
(construction, integration)
Values
• For the assignment
• In the course