Theory

Public Speaking is the process or act of performing a presentation (a speech) focused around an
individual directly speaking to a live audience in a structured, deliberate manner in order to
inform, influence, or entertain them. Public speaking is commonly understood as a formal, faceto-face talking of a single person to a group of listeners. It is more planned than conversation. A
public speaker may spend hours or even days planning and practicing his or her speech. In public
speaking, as in any form of communication, there are five basic elements, often expressed as
"who is saying what to whom using what medium with what effects?" The purposes of public
speaking can range from simply transmitting information, to motivating people to act, to simply
telling a story. Good orators should be able to change the emotions of their listeners, not just
inform them. Public speaking can also consider a discourse community. Public speaking can be a
powerful tool to use for purposes such as motivation, influence, persuasion, informing. A public
speaker should know the following factors: oratory, the use of gestures, control of the voice,
vocabulary, register, word choice, speaking notes, pitches, using humors, developing a
relationship with the audience. The objectives of the public speaker's presentation can range from
simply transmitting information, to motivating people to act, to simply telling a story.
In public speaking, begin where you feel comfortable. You need to select the subject first, but the
title comes later. You have to also consider whether your speech is suitable for your age, your
interest and your audience. If you are interested and enthused about the subject, it will be an
interesting speech. If the subject is broad and general, you have to reduce it to a more specific
subject. You have to gather all the information by reading or listening and taking notes.
After thinking about the subject of your speech, the next step is to make an outline in point form
so you can build the speech on it. It should have three main parts.
1. Introduction
The speaker should begin their presentation with an appropriate salutation-"Mr. (Madam),
Chairman, Honorable judges, Fellow speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen..."
Introduce your subject clearly and precisely so the audience is not wondering what you are
speaking about. Use originality and creativity. There are many interesting ways of catching an
audience's interest; i.e. tone of voice, an anecdote, a poem or questions.
2. Body
The body represents about four-fifths of your speech. Describe the what, where, when and why
of your subject. Give audience concise and informative facts. Use reliable sources of
information, and cite the source if practical and appropriate. Develop this information in logical
order so the audience is not confused. Develop one main idea a select three or four important
points to build that idea.
3. Summary

Stress the main points of interest, without detail. Include what you especially want the audience
want the audience to remember. Relate the summary to the introduction so you show you have
achieved the objectives you set out in the beginning.
If you have completed with the above two steps, prepare your speech from your knowledge and
information about the topic, building it on the outline. You can write it out in full, then reduce it
again to your main points written on index cards, which you will be use during presentation.
If you are giving the presentation, speak from your knowledge of the subject. It doesn't matter if
you use the same words each time you practice or deliver the speech, as long as you stay with
your organized outline.
Talk with, not at your audience. A speaker who memorizes his speech may tend to forget that he
is trying to communicate an idea to his audience. Perhaps the best rule to keep in mind is for the
speaker to tell his audience what he wants them to know. It is important not to use the slangs or
casual languages too often. Audiences expect the speakers to use standard English grammar and
vocabulary.
Use a variety of delivery techniques. The nonverbal communication of public speaker is also
more formal than nonverbal behaviours in ordinary conversation. Hand gestures and body
movements, such as taking a couple steps, should be natural. Look at each member of the
audience. If the audience is large this may be impossible but be sure and like in the general
direction of all persons in the audience. Don't ignore those few sitting to the left side.
Varying the pitch of the speakers voice and the speed of delivery will help your audience
understand. Although shouting may be necessary for part of his speech, a whisper may also be
effective and a long pause may draw a great deal of attention to what you are about to say. Make
sure to pronounce each word correctly and project each word so everyone can hear. Dont let the
voice fall off at the end of a sentence some members of the audience may not hear.
Practice in front of mirror and for family or friends to get feedback-if audience can hear clearly.
Tape-record it to play it back to evaluate the voice.
Dress appropriately and use the environment to help, not hurt the presentation. Public
presentation may or may not require a suit or a dress depending on where the speaker is
delivering the presentation. Try to eliminate in the environment that may distract the audience.
Wait for an aeroplane to fly over or a clap of thunder to stop.
There is no absolutely right or wrong way to deliver speech. What other people say or do may
help them communicate an idea but might not work on one. Remember to communicate the
speakers idea to someone else. Use the techniques that work for the speaker. Dont imitate the
others speaker style as ones own.