Dealing with Nervousness

Acknowledge Your Fear
 Focus on Message, not Fear

Act Confident
 Give Yourself a Mental Pep Talk

Visualize Your Success
 Channel Nervous Energy

BREATHE

Practice, Practice, Practice
Understand Your Audience

CHALLENGES
 People Think Faster Than They Hear
 Short Attention Span
 Easily Distracted

How to Deal with…
 Keep Speech Focused
 Analyze Audience Carefully
 Adapt to Situation
What Audience most often
remembers:
#1—Last
thing
heard
#2—Introduction
#3—Topic
The Audience

Size

Demographics

Beliefs and Values

Receptive/Antagonistic
Understand the Speech Making
Process

Choosing Topic
 Focus
Purpose
Researching Topic
 Organizing Content
 Developing an Outline
 Delivering Speech
 Rehearsing

Choosing a Topic

Consider Assignment…
 Is It Important to You?
 Is It Important to Your Audience?
 Will It Hold Audience’s Attention?
 Is It Manageable in the Time Available?
 Is It Clear?
 Can You Support It?
Focus Purpose

General Purpose:
 TO Inform, Persuade, Entertain, Inspire, Pay Tribute, etc.
 Specific
Purpose:
What you hope to accomplish
 EXAMPLE: To inform the audience about the importance of having a
college education.
 Central
Idea:
1 sentence summary of speech content
 EXAMPLE: A college education opens the door to: greater earning
potential, more employment opportunities and allows for personal growth.
Researching Topic

Current Situation/Info

Background Info

Supporting Materials
Types of Supporting Material

Common Knowledge

Live/Direct Observation

Examples & Illustrations

Explanations & Descriptions

Data & Statisitics
Tests of Supporting Material

Is Information…
 Specific?
 Timely?
 Relevant & support point made?

Is Source…
 An expert/reputable?
 Unbiased?
Sources for Material

Online
 Search Engines
 Online Libraries

Libraries
 Books & Reference materials
 Periodicals & Newspapers
 Data Bases
 Government Documents
Organizing Content

Chronological

Topical

Spatial

Cause-Effect

Problem-Solution

Comparison- Contrast
Types of Outlines
Preparation
Outline
Title & Topic
Specific Purpose
Central Idea
Introduction
Main & Sub-Points
Support/Evidence
Conclusion

Speaker’s Outline
 Introduction
 Main Point
○ Support with Evidence
○ TRANSITION
 Main Point
○ Support with Evidence
○ TRANSITION
 --REPEAT AS NECESSARY--
 Conclusion
PURPOSE of Introductions

Introduce topic & preview what is to
come

State purpose

Establish importance of topic

Grab Attention

Build Credibility for speaker & topic
Types of Introductions

Story

Rhetorical Question

Quotation

Humor

Allude to conclusion
PURPOSE of Conclusions

Summarize Speech

Re-emphasize Main Idea

Motivate Response

Provide Closure
Types of Conclusions

Summary

Quotation, Story or Rhetorical Question

Refer to Introduction

Challenge to Audience

Offer Vision of the Future
Methods of Delivery

Manuscript Reading (hard to connect with audience)

Memorized (pressure to remember)

Impromptu (off the cuff)

Extemporaneous (best choice)
Delivering Speech - Beginning

Approach Calmly with
conficence

Establish Eye Contact

Smile Naturally

Deliver Introduction
Delivering Speech - During

Use Effective…
 Eye Contact
 Gestures & Expressions
 Volume & Pace

Use Clear…
 Language
 Coversational style

Be Enthusiastic
Elements of Vocal Delivery

Speech Rate and Pauses

Volume

Inflection and Pitch

Pronunciation and Articulation
Delivering Speech - Ending

Summarize Main Message

Be Concise & Memorable

Pause before Returning to
Seat

Accept Applause Graciously
Elements of Body Language

Appearance

Posture

Facial Expression

Eye Contact

Movement

Gestures
Rehearsing Speech

Practice Out Loud

Practice Actual Delivery (eye contact ,
volume, stance)

Watch Yourself

Keep Track of Time
Plan, Prepare, Polish, Practice,
Present

The better you know your material, the less
anxious you will be.

Smile and act natural.
 Don’t apologize for ANYTHING!
 No one will know you’re nervous unless you call attention
to it.
Sources
Adapted from 4-H Speaking PowerPoint
www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/gaofficertraining/4%20Public%20Speaking.ppt
 A Concise Public Speaking Handbook by Steven & Susan Beebe
 Lecture Notes from SPC 2608 by Heather Elmatti
