3: Introduction to Public Speaking

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Page ID: 400355

Hilary Altman
Merrit College

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Public Speaking may sound intimidating however, it is one of the most useful skills anyone can learn. This chapter will give you the basics of public speaking, including why it is important in education, career, and life, and the benefits of this skill. We will also explore the importance of ethical communication. If you have a fear of public speaking, don't worry. This chapter discusses communication apprehension and provides tools and strategies to overcome this. Finally, a thorough exploration into audience analysis is included. Once you have gone through the Basics of Public Speaking, you will have what you need to start speaking with increased confidence.

You may wonder why most college programs require students to complete a public speaking class. Public Speaking is a skill that is key to our success in school, but also in most careers and beyond. We need to look no further than the First Amendment to the United States Constitution to see the importance given to free expression in our country. As the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."^[1](opens in new window)

Notice that the First Amendment explicitly states that both "speech" and "the press" are protected. Public speaking includes all forms of speech, including written, oral, and nonverbal communication. Imagine how many places and situations you engage in every day that would be defined as "public speech."

Here are a few:

Raising your hand and speaking in your classroom
Singing or Rapping a song you love while walking down the street
Writing a poem and posting it on a website for anyone to see

Exercise: How Many Everyday Examples of Public Speech can you name?

We often think about politicians making speeches as the only example of Public Speaking. However, any time we deliver a message to an audience, this is considered public speech. On your own or with a small group, brainstorm as many everyday examples of public speech as you can in 5-10 minutes. Don't forget to include posts to social media, group emails, performances that may not include words (ie: dance), and discussions (whether online or in-person). If you have time, you might also discuss which of these types of speech have limits and which (if any) you or others feel have been diminished or have been made to be afraid to engage in and why.

This module will provide both some of the many benefits of learning public speaking skills and strategies, as well as the uses of these capabilities.

1. First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution(opens in new window) [constitution.congress.gov]

3.1: Basics of Public Speaking
3.2: Where Public Speaking is Used
This page explores the evolution of public communication from McLuhan's "the medium is the message," outlining key technologies like the printing press, radio, television, and the internet, which transformed message delivery. It discusses media ideologies and the internet's role in eliminating traditional gatekeepers while introducing new algorithmic ones.
3.3: Why It Matters- Benefits of Public Speaking
This page introduces a module designed to improve public speaking skills, targeting those who feel anxious or wish to express themselves. It focuses on replacing fear with knowledge and strategies to boost confidence, offering tips and techniques for refining speaking abilities. The page also acknowledges contributors and resources involved in the course.
3.4: Ethics of Public Speaking
3.5: Communication Apprehension and Learning to Speak with Confidence
This page highlights the significance of a speaker's credibility and confidence in audience engagement. It addresses communication apprehension, the anxiety faced during speaking, and promises to examine its causes while providing strategies to mitigate it. The aim is to help individuals communicate with increased confidence.
- 3.5.1: Reducing Communication Apprehension
3.6: Audience Analysis
This page outlines the functionalities for managing guide tabs and learning paths in the MindTouch platform, including features for deleting tabs, managing settings, and character limits for content. It warns users about potential character truncation and provides options for navigating through tabs to access more content, emphasizing effective user navigation and management of educational tools within the platform.
3.7: Choosing and Researching a Topic
This page provides guidance on selecting and researching a speech topic, including narrowing down ideas, defining the purpose and central concept, gathering quality supporting materials, and understanding the use of statistics and data in speeches. It concludes with an assignment focused on collecting quality resources and tips for selecting a speech topic.

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