Persuasive Speaking

In this lesson, we'll learn about how to select an appropriate topic for a public speaking assignment. We'll start with some simple suggestions for selecting a topic based on what you know, brainstorming, or doing an internet search. After you've selected a topic, it's important to evaluate it by considering if it meets the assignment, if it's appropriate for your audience, and if you have enough time to cover it. Finally, we'll learn how to translate your topic into a specific purpose statement by identifying the general purpose of your speech, keeping it simple and avoiding figurative language, and avoiding vagueness. By following these suggestions, you'll be able to select a good topic that can help you craft a successful speech and be confident in your ability to perform in front of an audience.

In this lesson, the instructor addresses the challenges of doing research in the digital age, where convenience and accessibility come at the cost of reliability and quality. The lesson covers how to find sources, including search engines, news sources, libraries, and academic databases. The instructor also offers three suggestions for evaluating the quality of evidence, including understanding primary and secondary sources, identifying bias, and selecting sources with an editorial process. The lesson emphasizes the importance of practicing research skills and not relying solely on the internet for information. By highlighting the challenges of doing research in the information age, the lesson encourages critical thinking and evaluation skills that are essential in the modern world.

In this lesson, you will learn how to organize a speech by following a linear progression, starting with introductions and followed by body points and a conclusion. The first part of the lesson covers introductions, which have four parts: an attention-getter, a significance statement, a purpose statement, and a preview. The second part of the lesson covers body paragraphs, which can be organized in different ways, including chronological, topical, and persuasive. Lastly, the lesson covers conclusions and the importance of using transitions between the different parts of your speech. By following these general principles, you will be able to develop an important speech writing skill that can be applied in various settings. Remember to use transitions to make your speech flow smoothly and keep the attention of your audience.

In this lesson, you will learn about the art of persuasion and how it is used in our daily lives. From political campaigns to convincing a friend to go to a certain restaurant, persuasion is all around us. The lesson will begin by introducing you to the three areas of change that people try to influence through persuasion: attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. You will then move on to understanding the three questions that a persuasive topic is typically based on: questions of fact, questions of value, and questions of policy. After that, you will learn about the importance of understanding your audience and the three types of audience members to consider: those who already agree with you, those who are neutral or undecided, and those who already disagree with you. Ultimately, the goal of persuasion is to create change, and understanding the components of persuasion can help you achieve that in various aspects of your life. By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of the power of persuasion and how to use it to your advantage.

This lesson explains the importance of creating a detailed outline when preparing for a speech, instead of writing the speech out word for word. The lesson outlines the three types of outlines - preparation, keyword, and formal sentence - and explains how to use them to organize your speech. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of consistent formatting using the principle of subordination, and gives tips for creating note cards from your formal sentence outline, either electronically or by printing. By following these guidelines, students can develop a strong speech outline that will help them deliver a successful presentation. Ultimately, this lesson stresses that creating a strong outline can lead to strong delivery, and by being disciplined about generating outlines in a timely manner, students can ensure the success of all their public speaking requirements.

In this lesson, you will learn about the three fundamental things that all speakers should attend to for every speaking situation they might find themselves in, which are ethos, logos, and pathos. The first of the three is ethos, which is roughly translated to mean credibility, and can be broken down into two dimensions, character and competence. It is essential to strike a balance between these two dimensions to appear credible to your audience. The second proof, logos, roughly translates to logic, and is about using evidence to come to conclusions that make sense to your audience. Logic can be broken down into two fundamental approaches: inductive and deductive reasoning. It is crucial to avoid faulty reasoning and understand fallacies to make effective use of logos in your speech. The third proof is pathos, which roughly translates to emotion, and is about giving your speech "heart." Emotional intelligence is crucial to express appropriate levels of communication and use emotional appeals ethically. Understanding these three fundamental proofs can provide a broad "big picture" perspective for your journey to becoming a great speaker.

This lesson discusses the significance of figures of speech in language, particularly in the context of debate. It introduces the idea that language itself is a series of games, and explores the difference between schemes (figures of speech that focus on the sequence of words) and tropes (figures of speech that modify the meaning of words themselves). The passage goes on to provide examples of several popular schemes and tropes, such as antirrhesis, rhyme, alliteration, antithesis, accumulatio, metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony, and explains how they can be used effectively in debate. The passage also emphasizes the importance of language in persuasion and the power of a well-worded sentence to change lives.

This lesson is all about the different methods people use to deliver speeches. The ability to speak without a teleprompter is considered by many to be the true test of a candidate's ability to represent the United States and its people. The lesson will cover the two most popular scripted methods, which are reading from a teleprompter and memorizing your speech, as well as the two unscripted methods, which are impromptu and extemporaneous speaking. The benefits and drawbacks of each method will be discussed, as well as the subtle differences between them. It is important to make a conscious decision about how you plan your delivery, depending on the setting and topic of your speech. By the end of the lesson, you should have a good understanding of which method works best for you, and be prepared for any circumstance that might require you to speak in public.

This lesson explains the concept of vocalics, which refers to the aspects of communication that are outside of the words themselves, but still contribute meaning to speech. It specifically focuses on the five properties of vocal tone, including pitch, rate, volume, articulation, and pronunciation, and how they can be used to effectively communicate a message. Additionally, the lesson covers the issue of verbal fluency, specifically how to identify and reduce verbal fillers, such as "um" and "uh," and offers practical techniques to overcome this problem. Understanding the nuances of paralanguage and vocalics is a valuable skill for anyone interested in public speaking, or for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills in general.

This passage explores the difference between pronunciation and articulation, two concepts that are often used interchangeably. Pronunciation refers to the way a word is spoken, including the combination of rhythm, stress, intonation, and sound of spoken words. While there are norms in pronunciation, the more important characteristic to understand is its variety. Articulation, on the other hand, refers to the clarity with which words are spoken. It is a physical act that can be practiced and refined. English speakers can understand a word spoken with different pronunciations, but cannot understand a speech that lacks articulation. The passage suggests that it is more important to focus on articulation than pronunciation, and provides tips and exercises to improve articulation, such as recording a video of yourself delivering a speech and using resistance training with a pen in your mouth.

The lesson covers the concept of kinesics, which refers to the study of non-verbal communication that transmits messages through body movement. Specifically, the lesson focuses on four aspects of kinesics, which are the eyes and face, gestures, body movement, and attire. Eye contact is crucial in public speaking, and facial expressions can help convey how we feel about our speech. Gestures can add meaning and importance to our message, and body movement can help transition between different parts of the speech. It is also important to choose appropriate attire that is not distracting and communicates the importance of the message. By understanding and utilizing these aspects of kinesics, speakers can effectively communicate their message to their audience.