China Debate Education Network
Teaching Public Speaking
Teaching Public Speaking
• Ethics
• Anxiety
• Basics of Public Speaking
– Organization
– Content
– Delivery
• Sample Syllabus
Ethics
• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to
the audience
• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to
the ideas
• Ethical Responsibilities that speakers have to
themselves
• Sprague And Stuart A Speaker’s Handbook
Speaking Anxiety
• Give students tools for dealing with anxiety
they produce with self-talk
• Give students tools for dealing with the
physical effects of speaking anxiety
• Provide opportunities for students to have
positive speaking experiences
• Facilitate an environment where students feel
supported by one another to achieve success.
Tools for dealing with anxiety
• Cognitive Restructuring
• Relaxation Exercises
– Get them to work out some adrenaline before the
speech.
– Breathing exercises
– Muscle exercises
Creating positive speaking
experiences and facilitating a
supportive atmosphere
• Introduction assignment
– Introduce another student to the class
• Imagine an occasion
• A few guidelines
• Ungraded
• Video Tape first graded speech
• Lessons on being a good audience member
• Assignments to practice with one another
Other ways of dealing with anxiety
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Non-speaking graded assignments
Lots of ungraded speeches in class
Reflection papers: evidence of progress
Checklists
Practices
Public Speaking Basics
• Organization
– Introduction, Body, Conclusion
– Transitions
• Content
– The arguments and evidence
– Using and citing credible sources
• Delivery
– Using body in delivering speeches
– Using voice in delivering speeches
Topic Selection
• Brainstorming Exercise: In class
Organization
• Brainstorm sub-topics
• Arrange the sub-topics into categories
– Some will get left out.
– Some could fit into multiple categories.
– Some whole categories will get left out
• Arrange categories logically according to some
organization pattern
Organization
• Organization Patterns
– Chronological
– Topical
– Spatial
– Cause-Effect
– Problem-Solution
Organization
• Introductions
– Attention getter
– Link topic to audience
– Thesis statement
– Preview of main points
• Body
– Organized along main points
• Conclusion
– Review points
– Review thesis
– Final thought (clincher)
Organization
• Transitions
– Transitions move the audience FROM a previous
point.
– Transitions move the audience TO the next point.
– Transitions show the logical link between the two
points.
Content
• Basic Persuasion
– Ethos
– Pathos
– Logos
• Basic Argumentation
– Toulmin Model
• Source Credibility
• Citing Sources Orally
Delivery
• Using the Body in Delivery
– Movement
– Gestures
– Facial Expressions
• Using the Voice in Delivery
– Volume
– Rate
– Tone
Syllabus
• Three graded speeches
– Informative Speech focusing on Organization
– Persuasive Speech focusing on Content
– Commemorative Speech focusing on Delivery
• Three speech reflections
• Final Exam
• Participation
– Ungraded speeches
– Being good audience members
Syllabus
Course Schedule
Oct 25
Introduction to the course and each other, Basics of Public Speaking
Oct 27
Speaking Ethics, Speaking Anxiety
Introduction Speeches
Nov 1
Topic Selection, Thesis Statements, Organization, Visual Aids
Nov 3
Outlining, Introductions
Nov 8
Informative Speeches
Nov 10
Informative Speeches
Nov 15
Argument and Persuasion
Nov 17
Persuasion, Impromptu Speeches
Nov 22
Persuasive Speeches
Nov 29
Persuasive Speeches
Dec 1
Delivery
Dec 6
Commemorative Speeches
Dec 8
Commemorative Speeches
Dec 12
Final Exam Due by 11:59pm online