Public Speaking 101 - AVID

Moving with ease; polished. A fluent speaker rarely stumbles through a presentation. It comes from preparation and practice.

• Fluency/Continuity

• Volume

• Eye Contact

• Pacing

The degree of loudness of sound. A speaker must be heard clearly. Additionally, adjusting this is an excellent way to emphasize and deemphasize words.

• Fluency/Continuity

• Volume

• Eye Contact

• Pacing

Making a visual connection with individuals in audience. Speakers cannot read from papers or cards continually. The audience doesn’t feel that the speaker spoke to them. Looking at individuals garners attention and makes the presentation personal.

• Fluency/Continuity

• Volume

• Eye Contact

• Pacing

The degree of quickness with which one delivers a speech. We often speak to quickly when we’re nervously speaking to a group. Be aware of how fast or slow you go and take moments to pause and allow the audience to absorb points.

• Fluency/Continuity

• Volume

• Eye Contact

• Pacing

Changing physical position. Sometimes, like when speaking from a podium, moving from one place to another is limited. Other times, like when speaking from a stage, the audience will expect the speaker to move within the space. Be careful. Too much moving around is distracting.

• Movement

• Gesticulation

• Facial Expression

• Enunciation

The act of making gestures or moving one’s body parts, usually arms, hands, legs, as a means of expression. Gesturing should be planned and practiced. It’s hard to gesture when holding papers or cards. Usually a speaker memorizes first.

• Movement

• Gesticulation

• Facial Expression

• Enunciation

Communicating ideas and emotions nonverbally by contorting one’s face. Sounds strange, but you can communicate that something smells bad by crinkling up your nose. Using gesture and different facial features emphasizes those points that you’re making in your speech.

• Movement

• Gesticulation

• Facial Expression

• Enunciation

Clearly saying the sounds and syllables in words. It is important to speak clearly and not slur or mumble words or parts of words. Being nervous or moving at a quick pace often makes us fail to say the latter parts of words or phrases clearly.

• Movement

• Gesticulation

• Facial Expression

• Enunciation

Speaking words as they are meant to be spoken. This is the tomato (tuh-may-toe), tomato (tuh- mah-toe) issue. Pronouncing words incorrectly reflects poorly on the speaker. Pronouncing a word in a way that others have heard it before creates a specific affect. Preparation prevents errors in pronouncing the words wrong.

• Pronunciation

• Audience

• Tone

• Diction

The people who are listening and/or viewing a presentation or speaker. Pay attention to the people you are talking to. Know the group of people you are talking to and what matters to them. Adjust the speech or presentation accordingly.

• Pronunciation

• Audience

• Tone

• Diction