Introduction to
Persuasive Speaking
Part 5:
Overcoming Fear
John E. Clayton
Nanjing University, Spring, 2005
Syllabus
02/28 Orientation; Photos; Communication; Speaking types & purposes
03/07 Persuasion and reasoning; Peer Criticism
03/14 Speech 1
03/21 Writing process; Outline & components; Monroe Sequence
03/28 Movie: Remember the Titans
04/04 Overcoming fear; using an outline
04/11 Speech 2
04/18 Review of speech 2;
04/25 Selecting topic & thesis
05/02 HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
05/09 Researching & supporting material
05/16 Speech 3
05/23 Review of speech 3; Speech delivery tips
05/30 Using visual aids
06/06 Clean-up – final review and preparation for speech 4
06/13 Speech 4
06/20 Speech contest prep; Final exam; Evening – speech contest
Most People Feel Anxiety
What people fear
most...
Snakes
• Public speaking
• Death
•
Why Are You Afraid?
• You are at the center of attention
•Lack of experience
•Feelings of strangeness
•Fear of rejection or embarrassment
•Fear of looking stupid in front of others
•Fear that your mind will go blank
Effects of Anxiety
Anxiety effects people differently.
You may...
•feel your heart start beating faster
•feel your mouth getting dry
•get nauseous
•feel like fainting
•hear your voice tremble
•feel your legs or body shaking
•stutter or start speaking rapidly
•ramble through the material incoherently
Five Steps to Overcome Fear
1. Be well prepared
2. Practice
3. Have a backup
4. Reduce fear of your audience
5. Relax yourself
1. Be Well Prepared (1)
Leave nothing to chance
• Lay out your strategy
• Ensure all material is ready
• Make contingency plans
1. Be Well Prepared (2)
Know your material
•know exactly what you
are going to talk about
•have a good outline of
facts and information
1. Be Well Prepared (3)
Know the Conditions
• Check out the lectern and
microphone
• Visualize how you will be doing
things
Going through this process will relax
you & give you more confidence
2. Practice Your Speech (1)
Practice alone
many times
 speak out loud
 speak looking into a mirror
 stand in the corner
 record your practice
2. Practice Your Speech (2)
Practice before
friends
 Gets you closer to the
"real world" of speaking to
a group
 Even one person is good
for this type of practice
3. Have A Backup
3. Have a backup,
in case you
forget what you
want to say.
3. Have A Backup in Case You Forget
Prepare a "safety net"
Outline your speech
• use paper or cards
• Referring to notes is
generally acceptable, as long as you
are not reading your speech.
You may never even use your notes,
but they can reduce the “butterflies”.
4. Reduce Fear of Audience (1)
The more important the
audience or the occasion,
the greater your fear can be.
4. Reduce Fear of Audience (2)
Negative approach
 visualize the audience as not being all
that important.
 old trick: imagine audience is naked,
or in clown suits -- the ridiculous image
will make them seem less important.
 Problem: the negative image may be
reflected in your speech.
4. Reduce Fear of Audience (3)
Positive approach
 the audience is usually on your side
 they want to hear what you have to
say
 it is just like talking to your friends
5. Relax (1)
Relax yourself just
before you speak.
5. Relax (2)
Take two breaths to settle you
before you get out of your chair.
 thank the person who introduced you.
 count to 5 before you start speaking.
This will allow the audience to get
settled and ready to hear you.
It is also a way to show that you are
now in control.
5. Relax (3)
Stress-Control Breathing
Centered in your abdomen, not your
chest.
• Stage One
 Inhale air and let your abdomen go out.
 Exhale air and let your abdomen go in.
• Stage Two
As you inhale, use a soothing word such
as "calm" or "relax”.
5. Relax (4)
The Wave
• Under stress, breathing and speaking
can get uncoordinated.
• To coordinate breathing and speaking,
begin speaking at the crest of the wave.
Mini-Quiz
1. Why are most people afraid to speak to a group?
a. They fear the audience will get angry at them
b. They are afraid of looking foolish
c. It is an excuse for their incompetence
2. How can you gain confidence in your speaking ability?
a. Gather together a series of small speaking successes
b. Only speak before people you know
c. Have several alcoholic drinks before speaking
3. How can you reduce fear of your audience?
a. Visualize them as friendly toward you
b. Don't look at them while you speak
c. Tell them you are better than they are
Use A Monroe Outline
• Introduction (attention)
 Attention Getter
 Reveal Topic
 Relevancy
 Credibility
 Thesis & Preview
• Main point 1 - (need) Why is this important?
 Reason 1
 Reason 2
• Main point 2 - (satisfaction) This is how we solve it...
 Example 1
 Example 2
• Main point 3 - (visualization) "How great it would be if..."
 Sample vision 1
 Sample vision 2
• Conclusion - (action) "This is what we have to do..."
 Action 1
 Action 2
 Review Main points
 Clincher
Use A Monroe Outline
• Introduction (attention)
 Attention: Statistic - young adult deaths due to drunkenness
 Topic - The danger of uncontrolled alcohol sales
 Relevancy – many of us know someone who has been injured under the influence of
alcohol
 Credibility – It has happened to me
 Thesis & Preview – “Alcohol sales to young adults must be controlled, otherwise
deaths will continue, academics will suffer, and costs to society will skyrocket”. My
experience is only one of thousands each day. Young adults think it is “cool” to get
drunk, but the end result is often a lifetime of misery and suffering.
• Main point 1 - (need) Why is this important?
 Reason 1 – Deaths of students
 Reason 2 – Damage to academics
 Reason 3 – Costs to society
• Main point 2 - (satisfaction) This is how we solve it...
 Example 1 – Establish new laws regulating the sale of alcohol
 Example 2 – Create an advertising program to make students aware of the dangers.
• Main point 3 - (visualization) "How great it would be if..."
 Sample vision 1 – If only one life is saved, it will be worth it.
 Sample vision 2 – Picture a new generation free of alcoholism
• Conclusion - (action) "This is what we have to do..."
Grade Sheet
• Introduction (attention)
5 points
• Main point 1 - (need)
5 points
• Main point 2 - (satisfaction)
5 points
• Main point 3 - (visualization)
5 points
• Conclusion - (action)
Total
5 points
----------25 points
Homework
You should be almost finished
with speech 2
3 minutes
Type: argumentative
Topic: some current event
Presentation: from a Monroe outline
(note – please avoid political or religious topics)