Speech and Communications Lesson

Communication means sending and receiving information.

We communicate through our 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell). We communication nonverbally, verbally, and through writing.

Sender - the one giving the information

Receiver - the one getting the info

Message - the info

Feedback - a response to the info

Medium - how the info is sent

Noise - anything that interferes with the message being received or understood

Nonverbal

Verbal

Written

Mass Communication

Wassup with that?

Facial Expressions - looking angry, happy, nervous, surprised, scared...

Eye movement - wide eyes, side eye, narrowed eyes, rolling eyes...

Gestures - waving arms & hands, thumbs up & down, shaking a finger...

Use of Space - hunching, pacing, crossing arms, feet wide apart...

alarms, sirens, bells, alerts...

music, Foley art in movies...

sighs, growls, groans, laughter...

clapping, foot stomping...

To sell products

To save lives

To promote ideas

What, exactly, is a speech, anyway? 

It’s a formal address that’s delivered to an audience.

An INTRODUCTION (with a hook that might be a question, an anecdote (small story), or a piece of interesting information).

3 - 5 MAIN POINTS supported by details, evidence, explanations, statistics, quotes, examples, or anecdotes (small stories).

A CONCLUSTION that wraps things up and leaves the audience with something to think about

Entertain - fun or amusing

Inform - give information on a particular subject

Demonstrate - show how to do something

Persuade - convince listeners of an idea or action 

Motivational - encouraging

Oratorical - speaks to a particular view (can be similar to 

Congratulatory - celebrates or shows gratitude

Debative - argues a side of an argument

Impromptu - unplanned, off-the-cuff

PLANNED

RESEARCHED

PRACTICED

Often, the public speaking you do is pre-planned.

You know you’re going to be speaking to a

 group, and you know what your topic is ahead of time. 

You prepare your remarks by researching, writing, and practicing.  

That is not always the case, however.

UNPLANNED

SPONTANEOUS

IMPROVISED

UNPREPARED

UNREHEARSED

This is an important skill to have when applying to schools or for jobs.

Make a list of things you might want to include.

Give facts, tell a story, discuss what you know, discuss what you don’t know, describe an experience, etc.

Talk about what you know.

Be relaxed and conversational.

LISTENING IS AN ART!!!!

Verbal communication is NOT only about TALKING! It’s also about LISTENING and taking in information. 

#1

Listen to learn and understand.

Don’t just listen to be polite  - or to argue.

#2

Practice calm patience. Don’t rush the other person. Be INTERESTED in what the other person is saying.

#3

Ask follow-up questions. Take turns listening and speaking, and listen more than you speak. Try not to interrupt.

#4

Acknowledge what you hear with the occasional nod or affirmation. Listen quietly and with your full attention.

#5

Practice whole body listening - turn your body and face to the speaker. Look at them. Listen with your ears and with your heart.