Public Speaking for Kids Ages 10 - 14

Text lesson:

How does the history of communication matter to us now?

• If you know the history of public speaking, you understand how and why things were done. You can see what creates impact so that you can replicate those things in your own speeches. You know what type of techniques you can use.

  
  

• If you have been struggling with the idea of giving a speech because you are concerned that you won’t be able to get your point across, using the tools and tricks that have been around for centuries can make everything easier for you. Imagine having the cheat codes for public speaking. Those codes exist. They’re right there in the speeches of history.

• 80% of employers look for employees who have excellent communication skills. If you are not studying public speaking, you may lose the opportunity to get your dream job or the internship you are aiming for. Studying successful public speakers from the past can help. I know that may seem a little far off from where you are now, but this will sneak up on you quickly. It is better to be prepared so that you can be the most successful version of you.

Where and how did Public Speaking begin?

Some theories suggest that the study of public speaking originated in Athens (Greece) around 2,500 years ago. There, the men needed to give speeches to be good citizens. They spoke in court, in legislative assemblies, and at public gatherings.

One of the most well-known speakers in the history of public speaking was Aristotle, a Greek philosopher. Along with Quintilian (a roman educator), he shaped modern public speaking with many of its rules and models.

For example, Quintilian published a 12-volume textbook about rhetoric (the art of persuasion). To this day, many references and ideas from this textbook are still used by business people, politicians, and world leaders.

Aristotle broke down rhetoric into three strategies, known as ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos means the credibility of the speaker.
For example, if you have an illness, you will follow a qualified doctor's advice because it can be trusted. You know he acquired his knowledge while studying medicine. Therefore, when you speak on a subject, make sure you understand the subject so your audience can trust you. If possible, tell your audience where you learned this information or what makes you qualified to speak about it.

Logos - Appeal to reason (facts, figures, and testimonials)
Logos appeals to logic. It is an effort to convince your audience using logic or reason. When using logos, you need to research and ensure that you have found facts, stats, stories, recorded evidence, credible testimonials and present them in a way that makes sense to your audience. In other words, you need reasoning to back up your argument.

For example, see this advertisement below. It says 9 out of 10 dentists recommend Colgate. Needless to say, after seeing this ad, you are more likely to buy Colgate toothpaste.

Pathos means emotional appeal.
For example, if you want to convince your audience, you must connect on a personal level. Your argument must evoke emotions such as joy, sorrow, or sympathy. You can tell a true personal story that touches people's hearts and allows them to engage with you.

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Let's practice!

Choose a topic and create a Ethos, Pathos, and Logos example. The more you practice this, the easier it will become.

Let’s go back to the cell phone argument shall we? Take a notecard and write “This is my formal request to get a cell phone.”

Now, on the back create your three persuasive statements, but instead write them in terms of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. So, for the toothpaste example it would look like this:

"This is my formal request to switch to Colgate toothpaste.

"Now in all of the years that I have been alive I have taken great care of my teeth. In fact, I’ve had no cavities.

"One of my friends switched to Colgate and she has the whitest teeth I have seen. I would feel so confident if my teeth looked like theirs.

"And...9 out of 10 dentists recommend Colgate."

Would it be possible to switch to Colgate?

So try it yourself. Write out your version of Ethos, Pathos, Logos for your cell phone request and run it by your parents again. Don’t forget to mention that it is an activity.

Cicero was a significant rhetorician because he devised the five canons of rhetoric, which is a process that helps us create more effective communication.

The five cannons are:

1. Invention - coming up with what to say
2. Arrangement - organizing your ideas
3. Elocution - the words you choose to convey your idea
4. Memory - remembering the ideas and structure
5. Delivery - how you present the idea

All of these creations are the foundation of the public speaking we have today.

Public speaking in the modern age -

Since the 20th century, public speaking has become a crucial skill for people to be successful. Schools and universities offer a variety of courses regarding communication skills, and the professors teach different types of rhetoric and social science.

As the internet dominates the planet, online courses offer a more in-depth insight into speech analysis, theories, and the development of rhetoric.

The 21st century -

These days public speaking skills are more needed than ever and can help you achieve the most significant achievements. It has been significantly more difficult to avoid situations involving these skills so why not just master the art of public speaking and change the world?

Experts carefully create speeches from famous people such as President Barack Obama with an exceptional understanding of the theory of communication, anthropology, sociology, psychology, etc.

Public speaking has come a long way, and by learning necessary communication skills, you will be very successful and possibly change the world!

Text lesson:

How can you use the three parts of communication to create a bigger impact with your audience?

• Communication isn’t just the words you say. It’s also how you say them. You can use these three parts of communication to communicate effectively: verbal, non-verbal, and written. Even if your words are well chosen, they will fall flat if your body language is not aligned. If you can’t write clearly, it isn’t easy to give a good speech, since most speeches start with written ideas.

• Can you remember when you saw someone at the front of the classroom and looked scared to be up there? What did you notice about them? How could you tell? Was it the words that they were using? The tone of their voice? Or the way that they had their arms crossed and were looking at the floor? All of the parts of communication can give you away when you are at the front of the room in the very same situation. In order for you to stand strong and enjoy presenting and sharing you need to master the three parts of communication.

• Studies show that nonverbal communication makes up as much as 93% of our communication. If you want to be an effective communicator, it is absolutely necessary that you nail all three parts.
  
  Effective communication is the process of giving the right message to the right people at the right time.

Communication consists of three elements: verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.

Verbal:
Verbal communication is transmitting messages through the spoken word.

Nonverbal:

Nonverbal communication is the messages you transmit through eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and body language.

Written Communication:
Written communication is transmitting messages using the written word.

In the next few lessons, we will learn how we can use these three parts of communication to make our speech effective.

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Let's practice!

Write a small speech (2-5 minutes) where you are trying to comfort a friend who failed in a math quiz. Use encouraging and motivating words. Offer help. Now make the same speech in front of a mirror. Observe your body language. Make sure you sound genuine, caring and empathetic. Always align your body language and gestures with your words.

When you are done, take 2-5 minutes and write down what you noticed about yourself when you delivered the speech in the mirror.

We will cover the three elements in detail shortly!

Text lesson:

Why are non-verbals such a big deal?

• Great speakers don’t stand still and deliver their speech in a monotone. They move and gesture. They make eye contact. They smile, frown, and laugh. Many great speakers of history have been described as charismatic, or confident in a positive way. Their personality affected their audience positively.

• Have you noticed how different lessons feel when your teachers are angry or frustrated? Maybe their tone changes, maybe they move differently. Whatever it is, you find yourself struggling to focus on the lesson because you’re worried about the emotion around it. Presenting a great idea in a boring way can be worse than presenting a boring idea with energy and enthusiasm.

• Sometimes we are not in the best mood, have low energy or don’t find certain topics interesting but we still have to talk. This can happen in school, at a friend’s place or during an internship interview. With a little effort you can shift your mood. Try listening to your favorite music, savoring healthy food, keeping an open mind. Clearing your mood lets you keep your audience engaged.
  
  

What are the top three non-verbals affecting your audience?

1. Posture: Correct speaking posture is easily achieved by positioning the soles of the feet directly under the shoulders. Relax and flex the knees. The speaker’s torso is directly supported by the pelvis, i.e. no slouching. This means that the weight of the upper body is evenly distributed. This assists the support of the respiratory system and the speaking apparatus.

2. Body Language: Our gestures and facial expressions account for a large percentage of the impact of your speech. A solid stance helps overcome a number of body language problems. Plant your feet shoulder width apart. Avoid repetitive and meaningless hand gestures. Do not rehearse gestures because they'll look fake and insincere.

3. Eye Contact: Great speeches are like one-on-one conversations with each audience member. When you make eye contact, you are connecting to your audience. It helps to establish rapport, makes them feel special and shows that they are important.

The best way to improve our non-verbals is to observe and imitate great speakers/influencers until you feel and look natural.

The author of the book “Presence,” Amy Cuddy, says, “Fake it until you become it.” Here she means practicing positive and powerful body language until you have mastered it.

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Try this. Write a short speech, just a few lines, about why you love your favorite book or movie. Then stand in front of your mirror and give your speech. Notice how your face and body move. Now give the speech again, but hold your hands flat to your sides. Try not to smile. Keep your tone flat. Do you feel the difference?
When you are done, write a short reflection about what you noticed given the two different versions of the speech.

Text Lesson:

Why is it important to to be good at written communication?

• The earliest forms of writing were invented more than 5000 years ago. Since then, humans have used writing to keep records, share ideas, and spread knowledge. Even this course started out as written words in a document. It’s a powerful way to organize ideas and share them with others.

• Have you ever written a note to a friend? What about a text message or an email? Imagine if the only way you could communicate with someone was to stand in front of them and say the words out loud. That might be inconvenient. Writing doesn’t just help us communicate with people who aren’t in the same room. It also helps us plan what we want to say. It gives us a way to record and practice our ideas, so we choose the right word and put them in the right order.

• Writing develops your artistic vision and self-expression. If artists don’t write their songs, how will anyone compose them? Writing is also necessary when we must keep a track of what we need in the near future. We cannot always express all our ideas verbally. People often forget what they say and we definitely don’t want to forget important points. Imagine there were no books written! Imagine there are no notes to go back and look at! Imagine a world without written agreements, treaties or rules! And guess what your future employers are looking for? 73.4% want a candidate with strong communication skills.
  
  

The written word has been vital for the development of our species. It is one of the most valuable skills we have developed.

Written communication involves written words. We use written communication in -

- Email
- Internet websites
- Essays
- Speech and Debates
- Social Media
- College Applications
- Resumes

Communication cannot possibly exist without the written word. If we didn’t have the written word, we wouldn’t have the knowledge we have today about our world, space, history, science etc. The written word is still used as a powerful tool to influence people.

Another way to look at this is that if you write well, it makes your speech delivery even more impactful. The way we structure our thoughts, the flow of the content and tone of the essay makes it easier when you actually deliver it.

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Write a short email to a friend sharing what you’ve learned about the importance of written communication. You don’t have to hit send… just save it in drafts.

Text Lesson:

How can our words deliver an intended and impactful message?

• During World War II, French General Charles de Gaulle gave a famous speech. In it, he said: “But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No.” That speech inspired the French not to give up hope. Do you think it would have worked just as well with different words? Imagine if he had said: “There is still more that we could say on this topic. We will continue to hope for a more favorable conclusion to this war. We were beaten by our enemies, but we can still win if we try.” That doesn’t feel quite as powerful, does it? Gen. de Gaulle chose his words carefully. He knew that the right words would help him deliver an impactful message.

• Have you ever misunderstood what someone was trying to tell you? Have you ever been misunderstood? Whether you’re the speaker or the listener, misunderstandings are frustrating. Choosing the right words can help you avoid frustration and add power to your communication.

• The average person speaks at least 7,000 words a day. That’s a lot of words. Choosing the right ones can help you avoid confusion and earn respect as a clear and compelling speaker. So when you do speak, people will be more likely to listen and understand. After you have determined what is important to you, and you have written it down, the third step is to communicate it powerfully- and this is where public speaking skills can help you.
  
  

  Verbal communication means the use of words to deliver an intended message. It includes spoken and written words.
  
  Some of the examples of Verbal Communication include speeches, presentations, and announcements.
  
  Proper grammar, meaningful vocabulary, clear structure, and natural flow are essential in verbal communication.

Importance of Verbal Communication

Excellent verbal communication is key to maintaining successful personal as well as professional relationships. We must improve and practice these skills consistently. Some of the ways to improve these skills are:

*  Reading - This improves your vocabulary and enables you to express yourself clearly.

*  Resources - Taking an online course such as this one! Watch Ted Talks and hear great speakers speak.

*  Clubs - Sign up for Speech and Debate in school, or join the Theater club.

*  Writing - This is a vital skill to improve upon. Practice short pieces of writing every week.

*  Choosing a mentor - Contact info@leadyouth.org and one of our coaches will help you!

*  Participation - Take initiative to participate in speaking and writing engagements. The more you do, the more you become confident!

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Go back to the one of the speeches you’ve already written for this course. Consider each word carefully. Is it the right word for this speech? See if you can find some better words. Use the following word list to help you.

WORDLIST
Below is a small list of powerful words you can use. You may choose any form of these words.

Challenges
Collaborate
Commit
Common Good
Enable
Future
Goals
Ideas
Lead
Model
Opportunity
Passion
Success
Support
Transform
Vision

Congratulations! You've reached the end of second chapter.

By now, you should:

*  understand the history of communication and its impact

*  know the three parts of communication

*  recognize how our non-verbals affect our audience

*  understand why it's important to be good at written communication

*  know how our words can deliver messages

Lesson Text:

How can you influence others through your speech?

• Did you know that you can influence others even when you don’t utter a word? The way you sit, shake hands or look at people also communicates messages. You are more likely to make friends with people who appear happy and energetic. Similarly, you are more likely to get school leadership positions and better jobs if you carry yourself with a smile and confidence. Successful people and leaders know how to influence others to achieve big goals. They know that they cannot get any work done without the help and support of others. So, they convince, persuade and inspire others to work with them.

• We like it when our friends are kind, caring and supportive. We feel loved when people show affection and empathy. How we behave and how we speak has a big influence on others. For example, if you always complete all your assignments on time, your younger sibling will try to do the same. You have a good influence on your sibling. And the best way to influence anyone is by being empathetic in our gestures and our words.

• Did You Know? According to a survey by Inc. magazine in 2017, 91% of 1000 employees say their bosses lack good communication. Another recent article by smarp in 2021 says that 3 in 4 employees think effective communication is the number one leadership trait and, nearly 81% of employees said miscommunication happened in their organization very frequently, frequently, or occasionally. Whether you are an employee or a leader, you can influence anyone with the power of your communication.

If you can do something everyday to make this world a better place, you have the power of influence.

If you cannot convey your message with confidence and clarity, you cannot influence or persuade others. Whether you have to persuade your team members to follow your ideas, win your friends’ trust, inspire your sibling to try again after a failure, or collaborate with others to launch a new game, how you present your message is critical to your success.

Whether we realize or not, we always carry one trait with us – Influence. How we use it greatly determines the outcome. For example, our influence on others can be positive and life-changing, negative, or neutral.

Let us look at some examples:

A. Verbal Communication

Example # 1:
Consider these two statements –

a) “Hey, can you tell me how to solve this Math problem?”

b) “I know you’re really good at math. Can you please help me figure out how to solve this Math problem?”

Think about how you would feel if someone asked you the second (b) way. You will feel good and you will want to help.

If a message is communicated in different ways, it will also be received in different ways.

Example # 2:
You need your team to listen and agree with you on a project you all are working on together.

- Which of these statements will most likely influence them to listen and agree with you?

a) “This is clearly the best option. Just agree with me so we can move on.”

b) “We have a lot of great ideas here. How about we try this one for now and see how it goes?”

- How do you think your teammates will respond to the first statement? What about the second statement?

- You have to improve your gestures, responses and speech to become a powerful influencer.

B. Nonverbal Communication

Similarly, even when we don’t speak, our body language is always communicating. Our body language can also influence people in a positive or negative way.

Example #1:

You take a school bus every morning. When you get on, do you look at your schoolmates with a smile or wave at them enthusiastically?

How might your ride to school be different if you refused to look at anyone and sat with your arms crossed?

Example #2:

Imagine you are contesting for a student government leadership position. If frown at everyone, ignored their well-being, and never offered to help, do you think they will vote for you?

They won’t. They find you unfriendly, ill-humored or even hostile. They need a leader who is open with words and body language.

In fact, when you don’t look into people’s eye, smile and talk to them, they perceive you as lacking confidence and see you as unapproachable.

We will look at more about body language expressions later in this course.

C. Responding to Others

Finally, our responses to a conversation or a situation have the power to influence our audience as well.

Example #1:

Assume you a playing a sports game. The opposing team gets aggressive and yells racial slurs at you. How would you respond?

Get up, yell and try to get physical?

Get up, use an assertive (confident, clear and controlled) tone to say that is unacceptable.

If you choose (a) you are merely reacting by communicating in the same way, which makes things worse.

If you choose (b) you are responding thoughtfully yet powerfully giving them a clear message but not getting into a brawl. This is more effective way to respond to manage the difficult situation (and is less likely to lead to a penalty!) Imagine the impact you will have on your team and opposing team? They will see you as strong, wise and kind.

Example #2:

You are a vegetarian and your best friend isn’t. If h/she offers you and coaxes you to taste the meat, how would you react?

a) Get offended, show an angry face and leave?

b) Calmly explain your beliefs and choices to your friend.

You will choose b to save your friendship. You should clarify your values and voice your opinions in a respectful way with not just your friends but also with others. This helps build understanding, trust and respect in your relationships.

We will come across several situations almost every day in our life be at home, school, malls, airports etc.

We must always approach a situation or a person with positive words, body language and responses!

Because the way we communicate will greatly influence the outcome!

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Set up the video on your phone and record yourself giving the short speech about your favorite movie that you practiced earlier in this course. Record yourself practicing this speech every day for the next five days.

After each recording open your notes section on your phone. Write down what you were doing in the speech that was either helpful or not helpful.

For instance, do you touch your hair, face or neck a lot? Do you shake your legs? Do you sway when presenting?
After five days of review, on the sixth day record your video and upload it into the assignment you’ll see after this video.

Write down what you noticed about yourself each time you gave your speech to the camera.

Lesson text:

How can you develop the key personality traits of a powerful speaker?

• Powerful speakers create powerful results. They connect and engage with their audience. They can persuade others to adopt a new position or belief, or idea, change their minds, or be motivated to take action. If Winston Churchill didn’t speak so powerfully to his soldiers in WWII, England could have lost to Germany.
  

• What if you have a great idea that you want to implement? But when you try to explain, no one shows any interest? You will be disappointed. If you grow up to be an entrepreneur, you have to be able to communicate your idea clearly and effectively so you can convince people to work with you. If you need others to invest in your business, you have to be able to convince them that your idea will work.
  

• Powerful leaders are powerful speakers. They get things done! They know how to connect with their audience using their speech. They use different modes of persuasion, specific gestures, and speaking styles to get their message across. These techniques have worked for thousands of years.
  

Remember the speech that made Obama the president? Imagine you know all the techniques. You may be able to convince your parents to buy that video game you want! Observe and develop the traits of great leaders and speakers so you can become a powerful speaker.

Powerful speakers are authentic, engaging, passionate, confident and convincing. They align the right words with the right gestures. They also plan, prepare and practice. The #1 most in-demand soft skill is communication. Observing and learning the key traits of powerful speakers will make you a great speaker.

We all are different with different personalities. However, communication is a powerful medium that connects humans with different backgrounds and different personalities. In order to connect better and become a powerful communicator, there are several personality traits you need to develop. In other words, you need to develop a speaker's personality!

Some of the important traits include confidence, authenticity, empathy, listening skills, and mindset.

In the next few lessons, we'll go over each of these traits in more detail.

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Choose your favorite speaker. Tyler Oakley, Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift…? What do they do or say that conveys their confidence? Make a list of these gestures and statements.

How does what they are doing convey confidence compare to what you are seeing in the videos that you recorded for your last lesson’s assignment?

Lesson Text:

Why do we need confidence?

• Confident people are seen as trustworthy, dependable and courageous. They try, practice, and believe in their strengths to overcome their fears and create success. Successful people like Ariana Grande and Jeff Bezos believe in their abilities. They work hard, grab opportunities along the way and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.

• Imagine losing out on a dream job or an opportunity because you didn’t think you could do it. You thought you were not smart enough and were afraid of failure. If you want to achieve your dreams, be happy and successful, you will need to believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to, put effort into learning and developing new skills and face your fears of failure, judgment, or unworthiness.

  
  

• Confidence leads to success. Because being confident means believing in your own skills, goals, and ability to succeed. Lack of confidence results in inaction and not standing up for yourself. It results in missed chances and setting the bar too low. Only if you believe in yourself can you rise up and reach your potential.

What is confidence?

Confidence is a measure of your faith in your own abilities. Confidence is when you feel optimistic because you are sure about your abilities. Confidence is when you act courageously to face the challenges head on.

Our confidence depends on four things:

• How we are born i.e., balance of neuro chemicals in our brain

• How we are treated in our environment

• How you think and respond to challenges and setbacks

• How you manage stress

Four tips to build your confidence are:

1. Apply success strategies

Visualize success when you are faced with a difficult task.
Listen to uplifting music to get into a good mood
Try power poses (remember wonder woman? Do the “Wonder Woman” pose – strong stance with your feet apart, your chest and head lifted, and (of course) your hands on your hips. Then there is a victory pose - Raising hands above head in celebration

2. Believe in yourself

You have to believe that you can improve. If you want long term change and success, you need to understand that your abilities and beliefs can improve just like your muscles can grow if you workout everyday. You must also remember that challenges give you the opportunity to grow.

3. Practice Failures

When you try new things, you will fail a few times. When you keep failing regularly but don’t give up trying, you are better equipped to respond to challenges with a growth or constructive mindset. During your continuous trials, you will learn different strategies and techniques to solve the problems or improve a skill.

4. Manage Anxiety

Even if you have a lot of knowledge and expertise in a certain, you can still feel anxious when you are about to make a speech. You need to consciously breathe using your diaphragm. You also need to think positive and encouraging thoughts so your speech and expression reflects excitement and confidence.

When you apply these four tips, you will realize that whatever the result may be, with every trial, you will gain greater knowledge and confidence.

Pep Talk: Be kind to yourself!

How can you develop confidence in speaking?

*  Breathe with your diaphragm

*  Practice. Practice. Practice.

*  Get feedback

*  Repeat

Is Public Speaking really that scary and challenging? It doesn't have to be. You see, all the great speakers were bad speakers at first! All you have to do is know who you are, who your audience is and just breathe. The rest is all practice!

The way to become self-confident is to do the thing you fear and get some successful experiences doing that thing.

Lesson text:

Why being authentic is so important?

• Being authentic in your communication is important to build relationships, trust, and credibility. Being genuine also shows that you are confident in who you are. Authentic communicators connect emotionally with their audience and are able to influence them.

• How would you feel if you found out that your best friend shared all your secrets with others? Would you ever be able to trust them again? Would you follow a leader if you don’t think they are genuine? Authentic communication is the only way to build solid and successful relationships.

• If you don’t speak the truth, you cannot expect people to believe you, follow you, or listen to you. You must communicate authentically to connect with others and inspire action.
  
  

Authenticity is...

You must speak the truth and present information that is credible, reliable, or accurate. Authenticity means truthfulness.

The formula to get your audience to trust you is:

*  First, start with something common or something your audience is familiar with. Some examples are: Talking about relatives, children, popular sport, pets, weather, etc.

*  Second, tell them authentic stories to help break down the wall between you and your audience, especially the people you want to persuade. Personal stories are the best way to build an emotional connection.

*  Third, show them real facts and figures. When you can, always back up your story or speech with facts from credible sources.

Authentic Storytelling is the most powerful way to convince people who disagree with you. Your story breaks down the resistance!

Let's look at some examples

Scenario 1:
You are designing a presentation for your classmates to enlist their support for adding a bottle recycling bin to your classroom.

*  First, you might remind them of another project your class did together.

*  Second, you could tell them a story about going to the beach and seeing bottles floating in the water. Tell them how sad it made you see the beautiful beach looking so dirty.

*  Finally, you might share some statistics about how many bottles your class uses each year or all of the different things a recycled bottle could turn into. Make sure you tell them where that information came from.

Scenario 2:
You’re preparing for your college admissions interviews. You know the interviewer will ask why you chose that particular college.

*  First, you might mention your visit to the campus. Tell them about what you saw there and what you liked about it.

*  Second, you could tell a story from your childhood. Tell them about the first time you realized what you wanted to be when you grew up and how this college could help you reach that goal.

*  Finally, share statistics about what graduates from that college go on to do. Not only will this help explain why you want to attend, but it will also show the interviewer that you’ve done your research.

What do these two scenarios have in common? Your communication is authentic. It’s based on your real-life experience, your actual feelings and beliefs, and verifiable research.

How do you practice authenticity?

You practice authenticity by aligning your body language and voice with your feelings and words. Your words should be true.

Create a speech to deliver and record on video in which you are going to create an authentic connection. If you prefer, you can use the example from earlier in this video in which you are designing a presentation for your classmates to enlist their support for adding a bottle recycling bin to your classroom. You may also select a different topic if you would prefer.

Following the formula presented in this lesson, give your speech to the camera.

When you are done, watch your video and rate yourself on a scale from 1-10 based on how authentic you felt you were.

Lesson Text:

Why is listening an important part of communication?

• When Wendy’s fast-food company (an American restaurant chain) noticed that sales of their fries were decreasing, they decided to listen to customers and find out why. By paying attention to how customers talked about their product on social media, they learned that some customers were worried about eating too much salt. They also learned that many people thought of sea salt as more healthy than regular salt. Instead of changing their recipe, they changed how they talked about their product. They started telling customers about how they were using sea salt on french fries. This helped them improve sales.

• How do you feel when someone ignores you? What about when you give your opinion, and the other person doesn’t seem to care? If you don’t listen before, during, and after communicating, you can make your listener feel frustrated and annoyed. If you’re not listening to them, they’re less likely to listen to you.

• Listening has been identified as one of the top skills employers seek in entry-level employees as well as those being promoted. But listening is important at all levels of an organization. Top executives listen twice as much as the average employee.
  
  Listening:
  
  When you are having a conversation, you talk and listen. When you present a speech, make it sound like a conversation to engage your audience.

Let's try a short exercise:
Imagine you are making a speech on “Freedom of Speech” at your school function.

Which of these options will be more effective?

(1) Freedom of Speech is a basic human right. But these days we cannot articulate our opinions and ideas freely without the fear of retaliation, censorship, and legal action.

(2) Can you really exercise your basic right of freedom of speech these days without fearing retaliation, censorship, and legal action?

The second option is a question. While your audience will not answer verbally, they will answer the question in their minds and, most likely, will nod to respond to your question. This form is more effective and closer to having a conversation. It makes your speech feel more like a conversation.

Of course, we are not always presenting. Sometimes we are legislating, debating, brainstorming, or persuading. In those situations when people can talk back, we need to listen and respond appropriately.

Listening and Hearing are different! Simply put, Hearing means the process of perceiving or receiving sounds, whereas listening means receiving and interpreting sounds. When we listen we engaging with the intent of learning and understanding.

Let's look at an example to understand the difference:

⦁ You hear the birds chirping in your garden.
⦁ You listen to your favorite musician.

Hearing Vs. Listening

Hearing is : accidental, involuntary, effortless

Listening is : focused, voluntary, intentional

Source (https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_stand-up-speak-out-the-practice-and-ethics-of-public-speaking/s07-01-listening-vs-hearing.html)

There are several benefits of listening, such as:

⦁ You become a good student.
⦁ You become a better friend.
⦁ People perceive you as intelligent, caring, and sensitive.
⦁ You become a great speaker by listening to great speakers!

Listening is an integral part of the conversation.

Deliver your speech to your audience as if you are having a conversation with a close friend. This will ensure that your audience is listening. This means your audience is engaged.

Like other traits, you must practice listening as well.

...

How can you practice listening?

Sit down with your parents and ask, “what is one area that you would love to see me improve in?” Let them know that you are practicing listening AND you would like to be a better person. Sit there and listen to their guidance. When they have finished saying what they need to say, repeat back to them by starting your recap with, “so if I am understanding you correctly, you would like to see me ____. Is that correct? Wait for their response.

Ask questions to dive deeper by saying statements and questions such as:

• "Tell me more about that."

• "Could you expand on that?"

• "What is the outcome that you would love to see happen?'

Spend at least 10 minutes in this activity. When you are done, write a 5 minute reflection on how the process of listening felt to you. Most people don’t usually practice listening, so this may feel a little different at first, but it will take you extremely far in life should you master it.

Lesson Text:

Why do we need to show empathy?

• After the September 11 terrorist attacks of 2001, then-President George H.W. Bush gave a speech. He began by acknowledging what had happened. “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts.” Then he went on to acknowledge how those acts made people feel “disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger.” By naming these feelings, he reassured the American people that he understood their feelings. This made them more likely to listen to what he had to say.

• We all like to feel understood. When someone tries to convince us of something without acknowledging our feelings, their communication usually doesn’t work. Recall a time when you were sad. Would you feel better if someone ignored your sadness? What if they told you, “oh, it’s not so bad.” When this happens, we’re more likely to ignore the other person than to listen to what they have to say.

• Studies have found that when doctors communicate with empathy, their patients are more likely to follow their treatment plan. In business, empathy is the top competency for good leadership.

  
  

Empathy:

Empathy is the ability to connect with our audience’s feelings. When we really show empathy towards others, they begin to trust us. When we approach people with sweet talk along with a personal agenda, it is not real empathy. Your audience should feel you are genuine, and you care for them.

Let's look at an example:

Scenario # 1

A mother tells her daughter “I understand what you are going through at school. You have a big presentation that’s 50% of your final grade. You are feeling nervous. But I want you to stop feeling nervous and start practicing. Practice makes you perfect”

Scenario # 2

A mother tells her daughter :” I understand what you are going through at school. You have a big presentation that’s 50% of your final grade. It is okay to feel nervous. I don’t think this presentation determines how intelligent and hard-working you are. Why don’t you take a break and play a fun game with me? Later, I'll help you practice your presentation, if you want.

If that was your mother, which conversation would you prefer to have happened?

In the first scenario, the mother tried to tell her daughter how to feel. Instead of responding to the daughter’s emotions, she told her child not to feel them. In the second example, the mother recognized the emotions and presented an idea for how to deal with them.

You will agree that instead of overriding the daughter’s feeling of nervousness by asking her to practice more, the mother should have acknowledged and accepted her daughter’s feelings and offered help. This is empathy.

Remember, when you are trying to connect with your audience, you must show true empathy towards them to build credibility and trust. Eventually, you can persuade your audience without much effort.

...

How do you practice empathy?

- One easy way to develop empathy is by reading fiction or true stories about people who are different from you. Stories help you see things from another person’s perspective. That’s great practice for using empathy in real life.

- Pick a character from one of your favorite stories that you think felt misunderstood. Write a letter to them explaining how you knew they didn’t feel seen, but you empathize with them. Explain how you are truly in support of them. Take 15 minutes to do this activity now!

Lesson Text:

How can we develop an effective communicator’s mindset?

• Stephen Hawking was a British scientist known for expanding our understanding of time and the universe. He was a professor at the University of Cambridge, author of a bestselling book, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was also almost entirely paralyzed. He moved with the aid of a wheelchair and needed a special computer to translate the movements of his cheek muscle into speech. Despite his illness, Hawking continued to achieve great things in science. He believed in his ability to do great things in spite of terrible challenges. With a mindset like that, you too could change the world.

• Think of your least favorite subject in school. It might be math, science, English, or gym class. Do you ever say, “I’m just not good at that subject.” Maybe you think you’re not good with numbers or you think of yourself as not very athletic. This mindset can prevent you from achieving your full potential. By convincing yourself you can’t improve, you close your mind to the chance that you could improve.

• Research has shown that students with a growth mindset perform better in school and in life. If you believe that your intelligence is a fixed trait, something that can’t be changed, you have a fixed mindset. If you believe you are capable of learning and developing your skills, you have a growth mindset. With a growth mindset, you keep trying even if you don’t understand or get something right the first time. You believe that with effort and perseverance, you can succeed.
  

  
  

What is Mindset?

In simple words, mindset is a set of thoughts, assumptions or attitudes.

According to Carol Dweck, an American Psychologist and Professor, there are two types of mindset: Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset.

- People with a fixed mindset think that intelligence, talents, and skill are fixed traits and cannot be changed. They avoid challenges, get defensive or give up quickly when faced with obstacles, see effort as fruitless, ignore useful feedback, feel threatened by success of others, and may achieve less than their full potential.

- People with a growth mindset know that they can learn and improve. If they’re not good at something the first time they try, they believe they can practice and get better. They have a desire to learn, embrace challenges, persist in the face of misery, see effort as a path to mastery, learn from criticism, feel inspired from others' successes and achieve big goals.

How does mindset impact your communication?

- If you believe your listener is against you, you might focus more on their negative reactions and be less likely to listen to them.

- If you have a fixed mindset, you might choose not to practice your speech.

- If you believe you’re a bad communicator, you might not even try to make your point.

- On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset is more likely to be empathetic and listen for opportunities to connect. They will practice their speech because they know they’re capable of improving. They will prepare a speech that communicates their ideas and beliefs because trying is important to them.


Let's look at some examples:

a) Have you come across someone who doesn’t like to be challenged and tends to deny, blame others and come up with excuses to defend themselves?

b) Have you come across someone who gets offended easily with the slightest criticism or feedback and react strongly and emotionally?

Most likely these are people with fixed mindset.

Can you have a successful conversation with fixed mindset people? You cannot.

However, if you have met someone who accepts challenges, uses feedback as an opportunity to learn, and respond mindfully, they must practice growth mindset. They are easy and fun to talk to!

You need to be the one with the Growth Mindset!

When you make your speeches or have conversations, be mindful, nonjudgmental, and respectful of others’ backgrounds, beliefs and values.

A growth mindset will have a positive impact on your communication and help you become more successful whereas a fixed mindset will have a negative impact on your communication and will hinder your growth.

...

Write a simple and short speech on your favorite subject. Practice and record your speech every week. Ignore any negative thoughts and past failed experiences. Visualize a successful outcome every day. After a few weeks, you are bound to see a difference. Plan. Prepare. Practice. That’s what effective communicators do.

After a few weeks of recording and practicing, write a short reflection (5 minutes or less) describing how you think your mindset impacted this activity.

Lesson Text:

Why should be pay attention to our body language?

• Our body speaks louder than our words. Our physical response, mannerisms and expressions allow us to make people feel comfortable, build trust, and form connections or make people uncomfortable, raise fear/doubt, and create distance. When our body language shows confidence, positivity and trustworthiness, our audience likes, listens and trusts.

• Would you like to make friends with someone who always seems angry, upset or worried? Would you trust someone who seem unconfident and nervous? Effective communicators’ body language reflects confidence, positivity and openness that’s why they can connect with anyone and get work done.

• Do you know the 7-38-55 rule?
  7% of all communication is done through verbal communication, 38 percent through tone of voice, and 55 percent through body language. It’s pretty clear where we focus!

In order to speak powerfully, you need to pay attention to your physical presentation, which refers to the way you stand, breathe, and hold your body while speaking.

There are four factors to keep in mind while speaking:

1. Posture: Correct speaking posture is easily achieved by positioning the soles of the feet directly under the shoulders. Relax and flex the knees. Your torso is directly supported by the pelvis, i.e. no slouching. This means that the weight of the upper body is evenly distributed. Standing this way helps you breathe deeply and speak clearly.

2. Body Language: Our gestures and facial expressions account for a large percentage of the impact of your speech. A solid stance helps overcome a number of body language problems. Plant your feet shoulder width apart. Avoid repetitive and meaningless hand gestures. Do not rehearse gestures as it looks contrived and therefore insincere.

3. Eye Contact: Great speeches are like one-on-one conversations with each audience member. When you make eye contact, you are connecting to your audience. It helps to establish rapport, makes them feel special and that they are important.

4. Tone of Voice: The four resonators are the nasal cavity, the mouth, the throat and the chest. If any of these are constricted it can affect the tone of your voice. You might sound whiny (high-pitched and nasal) or you might mumble (garble your words so they are difficult to hear.)

How do you practice good body posture?

Stand in front of your mirror and practice the first few lines of a speech. Make sure you’re applying the four tips above. Check your posture. Are you standing straight? Are your gestures meaningful? Make eye contact with yourself in the mirror. Listen to the tone of your voice. Can you make it sound clearer?

Text Lesson

How will your values, passions, goals, and dreams present your authentic self to your audience?

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most famous in history. In it he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” By telling people about that dream, he not only helped make a change in the United States but also connected with his audience members. People who were parents shared that dream for their children. People of color had that dream for themselves. By sharing what he was passionate about, Dr. King compelled his audience to think deeply about the dangers of racism and what it means to be equal.

• How do you feel when someone shares a secret with you? Do you feel happy that they trusted you or special because they chose you to tell it to? Think about a time when you had a goal, and you shared it with your parents, friends, or teachers. Did you feel closer to them after sharing that goal? When we share something important about ourselves, we build strong relationships with our audience.

• When you share your values, passions, goals, or dreams with your audience, you trust them with something valuable. They feel as if they know you and can connect with you on a more personal level.

What are Values?

Values are deeply held beliefs about what we view as important in the world.
They also mean moral judgements, responses to others, and commitments to personal
and organizational goals that:

* Help us determine what to do and what not to do.
* Influence every aspect of our lives.
* Set the parameters for our decisions we make every day.

Examples of values: Kindness, Loyalty, Compassion, Ambitious, Leadership etc.

What is a passion?

Passion is a feeling of intense enthusiasm or great interest towards or compelling desire for someone or something. If you feel excited and enjoy an activity, you may have a passion for it. Having passion to achieve something brings you immense joy and success.

Example: I am passionate about teaching art.

What is a goal?

A goal is something you desire or aim to achieve.

Example: I want to become a confident speaker so I can participate in my school's speech and debate club.

What is a dream?

In this course, we use dreams in the context of your aspirations, desires or vision.

Example: My dream is to become a preferred physician to my patients, serving them with the best healthcare in order for them to lead a healthy and stress-free life.

How do we get to know someone?

The best way to know someone is to know their values, passions and goals. You are better able to understand them and it gives you an opportunity to build relationships with them.

Who do you make friends with? You know what your friends are like. You know what they value and love. You do things together. You discuss common interests. All these are possible when you know who you are and who the other person is.

If your friend says they are honest, but you catch them lying, can you trust them? Your friend is not being authentic. In communication, authenticity builds trust, trust builds credibility and credibility creates impact.

Another reason to share your values, passions or goals is to find people who might be interested in similar goals and passions. You are more likely to be successful as a team in a project when you know others’ values and boundaries.

Next time you see your friends, try to share your values with each other, Then make sure your words, body language and actions are always aligned with your values.

...

The following questions might help you write your speech. What difference would you like to make in the world? What makes you feel good about yourself? What makes you feel bad? What do you get excited about?

Congratulations! You've reached the end of third chapter.

By now, you should:

* understand the importance of non-verbals in communication

* know how to influence others using communication

* identify and develop the key personality traits of a powerful speaker

* know how to develop confidence, sound authentic, listen well, empathize with your audience and practice a growth mindset

* realize that our body language has a big impact on how others see us

* discover who you are in terms of your values, beliefs and dreams

Lesson Text:

How can speech be used for communication?

- Great communicators know the importance of crafting and presenting a speech. They know if their speech is well crafted they can pretty much achieve anything: getting votes, funding, agreements or partnerships. They know that their speeches have the potential to get them closer to achieving their dreams.

“Speech is power. Speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher

- Speeches are the best ways to communicate an intended message to persuade, educate, or entertain your audience. Imagine a graduation, a wedding ceremony, victory celebration or a funeral without any speeches!


- If you want to participate in public forums, legislative sessions, and court trials, you need to be able to debate, which is just another form of speech. Similarly, you cannot build or enjoy relationships if you cannot express your beliefs, values, or feelings. If you cannot share your vision, strategies, and plan, you cannot succeed at work. All these require some type of speeches!

"Speech is the best show a man puts on." -Benjamin Lee Whorf, American Linguist

What is a Speech?

It’s a planned conversation. Speeches are characterized by passionate conversations focusing on your primary interest or intended message to impact the audience in a certain way.

Why is Speech important?

Speech is important to communicate a valuable message to an audience. It is used to inspire, persuade, motivate, and enthuse. It is also used to share knowledge and information.

Who is the Audience?

You must find out your audience before you make a speech. This is a major consideration. Make your speech relevant to your audience.

How is a Speech Like an Essay?

You must have written essays in your school. Similar to an essay, start with a simple structure (Introduction-Main Body-Conclusion), thesis (central theme) and a story you want to share.

There are four kinds of speeches:

Depending upon the audience, occasion and goal, speeches can fall into one of the four categories below.

Extemporaneous - Planned but not memorized. You have a well-developed outline and rely on notes to deliver your speech, but you can adjust as needed. A book report based on a slideshow you made for your class might be an extemporaneous speech.

Impromptu - Delivered without notes or a plan. These are usually on a topic you already know a lot about and feel strongly about. On the first day of school, your teacher might ask you to tell the class about yourself. Although you haven't planned to give this speech, you know enough about the subject to communicate effectively.

Manuscript - A speech that is read word-for-word from a written document or a teleprompter. Newscasters and other television presenters often deliver manuscript speeches. Be careful using this technique yourself because you might spend all of your attention reading and have none left for the audience.

Memorized - The speech is planned and committed to memory. An actor in a play might memorize a speech as part of their performance. They recite the speech word-for-word as it was written.

Pick one type of speech. Deliver a 2 minute version of that type to the camera.

Email your video to info@leadyouth.org

When you are done write a short paragraph about what you liked about delivering that type of speech and what you wish had been different.

Text Lesson:

Speech is a preferred method of communication! Why?

• The ancient Greeks used speeches to argue for their ideas in government and policy. Today, Presidents and Prime Ministers make speeches to the people they govern. CEOs and other executives deliver speeches to their employees and sometimes to their customers. Speech has existed for thousands of years because it's an effective way to deliver a message to multiple people simultaneously.

• Imagine a world without speeches. Politicians would have to go door-to-door speaking to every individual voter. Executives would have one-on-one conversations with every employee. Your teacher would have to teach the lesson to each student individually. Movies, tv shows, and theater would have to stop as well. All of those include speeches. Communicating would be a lot more time consuming and probably less effective under those conditions.

• A speech can sway voters. It can inspire people to act. It can entertain and amuse. It can even change the course of history. When you choose to deliver your message as a speech, you structure your message in a logical way and deliver it authentically. Few methods of communication can reach people as efficiently and with such power.
  

A speech can be considered as a sub category of Public Speaking.

Public Speaking is the process of making a speech to the audience. A speech is a structured and logical organization of thoughts. The ultimate purpose is to inform, persuade, inspire or enthuse the audience.

For effective Public Speaking, it is important to prepare a good speech, practice that speech and present the speech to the audience.

Prepare, Practice and Present are called the 3 P's of Public Speaking.

Let us look at what the three Ps really mean.

Prepare - To organize ideas, thoughts or content in a logical fashion. Great speeches require a lot of preparation! In order to persuade your audience, the content should reflect Credibility or the writer/speaker's mastery over the subject, Logic to persuade and Emotion to connect with the audience. As you learned in lesson 2.1, these are also known as Ethos, Logos and Pathos.

Practice - This step requires speaker to practice presenting the speech. The speaker must perfect their non-verbal or physiological aspects such as posture, body language, tone of voice and eye contact. Great speakers have a great delivery because they practice a lot and use authentic voice.

For example: Steve Jobs (Founder of Apple) used to rehearse the Apple product launch presentations for several weeks in advance.

Present - This is the final step where the speaker presents the speech to the audience. The speaker must keep the audience in mind while presenting the speech. It doesn't matter how good of a speaker you are. If your audience cannot understand your message and connect with you, the speech is useless!

The 3 Ps make you a powerful speaker!

Follow the three P’s to develop and deliver a two to five minute speech about why you want to be a better public speaker.

Lesson Text:

Why do we need to know different types of speeches?

• When Peace activist Malala spoke to the United Nations, she said, “I speak – not for myself, but for all girls and boys. I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights: Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.” Her goal was to inspire her listeners. And the words and structure of her speech were chosen to do that. You can also use different types of speeches to achieve different goals.

• Imagine your teacher asks you to give a presentation about your favorite animal. She wants you to inform the class about the animal you’ve chosen and tell them all the facts you know about it. Would you use that same speech to convince your parents that you’re responsible enough to get a pet? Probably not. Why? Because your goal for presenting to your class is different from your goal for talking to your parents.

  
  

• You speak differently to your friends than you do to your parents. You might even use a completely different language! If you’re trying to educate someone on the principles of physics you’ll probably use very different words than if you’re trying to warn them that an apple is about to fall on their head. Just as we use different ways of speaking to achieve different goals in conversation, we also use different types of speeches.
  
  

There are many types of speeches.

Four Common Types of Speeches

Informative: This type of speech intends to educate the audience on a particular topic.

Persuasive: The aim of this speech is to inform, educate and convince, or motivate an audience to do something.

Special Occasion: The goal of this speech is to set a mood or change everyone’s energy.

Keynote: It is a presentation of issues of primary interest to an audience and often arouses unity and enthusiasm.

And many more!

For the purpose of this course, we will focus on a persuasive speech presented by a leader. It is a speech to persuade your schoolmates to trust in your leadership, abilities, and platforms. It exposes you to democracy, leadership, and decision-making in the affairs of a school and college.

* Download and go through the speech online below ?. This will be useful for your final speech preparation.

Persuasive Speech Outline.pdf

. . .

Write a short speech using the structure for a persuasive speech designed to inform your classmates about helmet laws for bicycle riding in your area. Then, adjust that speech to convince your classmates to wear their helmets when riding their bicycles. How does the speech change?

Or

Write a short speech using the structure for a persuasive speech requesting support from your schoolmates to convince the school dean to make school lunch breaks longer. Upload your written speech using the assignment function following this video.

Text Lesson:

How can we create a speech or write content for a speech?

• Great speakers carefully craft their speeches using a structure that works well. The structure makes it easy for us to start organizing our thoughts effectively.

• If you don't organize your thoughts, arguments and key points clearly, not only do you lose audience attention, you also fail in achieving the goal of your speech. If you are not prepared, you don't have good content to share or can't back up your arguments with credible information, your speech will not be impactful. Your speech should be understood by the audience and make them feel that listening to you was worth their time and that they got some value out of it.

• Think why only some are great speakers and other are not? Great speakers spend a lot of time in preparing their material so their speeches can have the right impact on their audience.
  

In order to write a powerful speech, most great speakers use a technique called...

The Five Canons of Rhetoric

1. Invention

Invention is the process of coming up with material for a text. In writing, this is the brainstorming or prewriting stage.

Here you think of the main idea or thesis and the various resources you can use to develop your thesis.

2. Arrangement

Arrangement is the process of deciding how to order the material in a text. In writing, this is still part of the prewriting stage.

This is where you categorize which text goes to introduction, main body and conclusion.

3. Style

Style is the process of coming up with the actual words that will be used in a text. In writing, this canon is first approached in the drafting stage and continues in the rewriting stage.

Here we choose tropes (metaphors, similes etc.) and other rhetorical devices (tricolor, anaphora) to craft our essay.

4. Memory

Memory is the process of committing a text to memory. Although this canon is not as applicable to writing as it is to oratory, there are still occasions when writers must memorize their texts in order to make the delivery (the fifth canon) more effective.

You should memorize the introduction and conclusion for effective and impactful delivery.

5. Delivery

Delivery is the process of presenting a text to an audience. Like memory, delivery is less prominent in writing than in oratory; however, there are many occasions when writers must think of how to best deliver their texts.

You can also see the following website for examples: https://walton.uark.edu/business-communication-lab/Resources/downloads/The_Five_Canons_of_Rhetoric.pdf

Structure/Speech Outline

Introduction – Tell them what you’re going to tell them.

Main Body - Explain three key points

Conclusion: The final paragraph of our speech; tell or summarize your story without repeating it, leave the reader with a lasting piece of information.

* You can also download and refer to the persuasive speech outline document in the "Resources" section.

Persuasive Speech Outline.pdf

...

Try to create a sample speech about any topic which requires you to convince someone to take an action. Use the above outline.

Text Lesson:

How can you make your speech sound powerful?

• One speech could be all it takes. The speech that made Obama the president was carefully crafted and thoroughly practiced. That speech had all the elements that made him sound powerful, convincing and trustworthy. We need to incorporate similar elements to make our speeches powerful.

• How can you motivate your friend to work harder after they failed a test? You have to use the right words, tone and gestures. Similarly, if you are asked to write an essay that requires you to persuade your audience, you must use a good structure, vocab, metaphors, examples or statistics etc.

• Listen to a few TED Talks. You will see how each speech has some common elements such as storytelling, sharing a new or surprising fact, creating a mental picture through the use of certain words, voice and gestures. You have to use similar techniques.
  

Use these five techniques to make your speech powerful. This is your cheat sheet!

1. Make sure that your speech is structured well.

1a. Use the speech outline

2b. Create a speech using the five canon method. (You may refer to the lesson- "How can you create a good speech?"

3c. Know your audience and tailor your speech for the audience.

2. Use Rhetoric or persuasion techniques

2a. Include Ethos, Logos, pathos (this is covered in the next lesson: How can you use three modes of persuasion?)

Ethos - Credibility of the speaker (authority, credibility and trust)

Pathos - Appeal to emotion (pathetic appeal, feeling, suffering etc.)

Logos - Appeal to reason (facts, figures, and testimonials)

2b: Diction - choosing the right words and vocabulary.

2c: Use Stylistic devices (metaphors, similes etc. (this is covered after the three modes of persuasion in lecture 30)

3. Perfect your Nonverbal communication and Delivery

3a. Posture

Correct speaking posture is easily achieved by positioning the soles of the feet directly under the shoulders. Relax and flex the knees. The speaker’s torso is directly supported by the pelvis, i.e. no slouching. This means that the weight of the upper body is evenly distributed.

This assists the support of the respiratory system and the speaking apparatus.

3b: Body language

Our gestures and facial expressions account for a large percentage of the impact of your speech. A solid stance helps overcome a number of body language problems.

Plant your feet shoulder width apart. Avoid repetitive and meaningless hand gestures. Do not rehearse gestures as it looks contrived and therefore insincere.

3c: Tone of voice

The four resonators are the nasal cavity, the mouth, the throat and the chest. If any of these are constricted it has a profound impact on the quality of the voice. The enemy of good quality voice production is tension.

3d: Eye contact

Great speeches are like one-on-one conversations with each audience member. When you make eye contact, you are connecting to your audience. It helps to establish rapport, makes them feel special and that they are important.

4. Showcase your true personality

4a. build confidence, be authentic, develop a growth mindset, and be attentive.

4b. show empathy, respect and enthusiasm towards your audience at all times.

5. Visualize

5a. Imagine yourself as a great speaker

5b. Believe in your abilities

5c. See yourself persuading your audience successfully

Watch the two assigned short Ted talks. When you are done, compare and contrast what you saw in terms of techniques related to giving a powerful speech. Use the rubric below as a guide.

Ted Talk # 1 - "How to speak so that people want to listen" by Julian Treasure

https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen?language=en

Ted Talk # 2 - "Your body language may shape who you are" by Amy Cuddy

https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?referrer=playlist-the_most_popular_talks_of_all

Rubric:

• engaging storytelling

• teach/reveal something new

• connection through a personal story

• have a conversation

• lighten up/humor

• paint a mental picture

• useful takeaways

  
  

Lesson Text:

Why do you need to be really good at the three modes of persuasion?

• You want to know the three modes (ethos, logos, pathos) of communication to be a credible, trustworthy, and effective speaker. The three modes help in convincing different types of audiences. If there is a group of engineers in your audience, using a lot of emotions in your speech won’t work. Engineers like stats or numbers. You would want to use all modes, but depending on the type of your audience, you can emphasize one or two modes more than the other.

• If you want things your way, you have to learn how to talk and convince people. If you want your friends to follow your idea or lead, you have to know how to persuade them.

• Studies show that when we use the three modes of persuasion, we are more likely to sound credible, appear trustworthy and connect well with others. In the 2012 presidential election. While Mitt Romney focused on economic issues (facts and statistics), Barack Obama talked about enjoying playing hoops with his staff at halftime during the NCAA national championship basketball game. Romney was all logos, while Obama, who came off as a regular, likable person, emphasized ethos and pathos. Obama won.
  
  
  

A speech should contain the three modes of persuasion especially if you are trying to persuade your audience.

The art of persuasion is called rhetoric. Aristotle, the famous greek philosopher calls Rhetoric as an art of discourse used to inform, persuade and motivate the audience

There are three modes of persuasion:  Remember lecture on the history of communication?

Ethos - Credibility of the speaker (authority, credibility and trust)

Ethos helps the audience understand if the speaker or the content they are presenting is credible, trustworthy or proven. You can establish credibility in many ways, such as experience or education. If an established and trained dentist wrote a paper on the habits that can affect the health of our teeth and gums, the credibility comes from experience and knowledge in the field. However, if that same dentist wrote an article about cooking, you might not believe them as quickly.

You may also build your ethos by referencing and citing credible sources or stating someone's qualifications or experiences in your arguments.

Pathos - Appeal to emotion (empathetic appeal, feeling, suffering etc.)

Pathos is a mode of persuasion that appeals to our emotions. Human beings feel complex emotions, and these emotions can often beat common sense and logic. Pathos is a powerful technique that allows us to connect with others and experience emotions. Our feelings can also motivate us to act differently or believe something to be true. But we need to be objective, so we should avoid overusing pathos.

People feel different emotions based on their experiences in life, so appealing to those emotions may not always be the best strategy for different types of audiences

Logos - Appeal to reason (facts, figures, and testimonials)

Logos appeals to logic. It is an effort to convince your audience using logic or reason. When using logos, you need to research and ensure that you have found facts, stats, stories, recorded evidence, or credible testimonials and present them in a way that makes sense to your audience.

Example: Doctors recommend that exercising everyday is the key to a healthy body and a healthy body is the key to your happiness.

Doctor’s recommendation - Ethos
Exercise keeps your body healthy - Logos
With good health, can you be happy? - Pathos

...

Watch any advertisement and identify the three modes. If you were to remove any one, would you still buy the product?


We must use the three modes we just learned to create an effective persuasive speech.

Lesson Text:

Why do we need to use stylistic devices in our speeches?

• Stylistic devices, also known as rhetorical devices and figures of speech, are another way to make a speech more powerful. They provide an additional and supplemental meaning to an idea or a feeling. The goal is almost always to inspire an action or persuade people to follow the speaker’s ideas. Charismatic leaders such as Reagan, Obama, Modi, etc., have shown that rhetoric or stylistic devices are the key aspects of their leadership approach and success as leaders.

• The most powerful emotions humans experience are passion, anger or empathy. When our speech arouses any of these, we are able to deeply connect with the audience and persuade them to believe or act on pretty much anything. If you are a pet lover, you are more likely to understand the pain and empathize with someone who lost one.

• The logic is simple. You have a higher chance of creating an impact with your communication if you use stylistic devices. Politicians, entertainers, and business leaders have proved this time and again.

What are stylistic devices?

Stylistic devices, also known as rhetorical devices and figures of speech, are another way to make a speech more powerful. They provide additional or supplemental meaning to an idea, meaning or feeling.

Read through the list of devices and select three that you will use in preparing your speech.

Tri-colon

lists of three

– I want you to speak with confidence (1), coherence (2) and clarity (3).

(This tri-colon also uses alliteration).

- What Iraq needs now is peace, justice and security - George Bush

- Friends, Romans, Countrymen - Marc Antony in Julius Caesar

- Romeo, Romeo, …. Romeo - Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

Asyndeton

Removal of conjunctions.

- as an engineer, a planner, a businessman (it drops the and)

- Be one of the few, the proud, the marines. - US marine corps advertisement

- I came, I saw, I conquered. - Julius Caesar

Polysyndeton

- using conjunctions repeatedly

We must change the deleterious environment of the 80s, that environment which was characterized by greed and hatred and selfishness and mega-mergers and debt... - Barbara Jordon (repeats the conjunction "and")

Anaphora

- repetition of the first word or set of words in a sentence or phrase.

"We shall fight on beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and the

streets, we shall fight them in the hills, we shall never surrender." -Churchill

(we shall...we shall...we shall...)

Epistrophe

- repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive phrases.

"And that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863

(...the people...the people...the people)

Symploce

- repetition of the first and last word in a clause over successive clauses.

"My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it." - Edward Kennedy - Eulogy for Robert Kennedy, 1968

(saw...it, saw...it, saw...it)

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis - is the repetition of the last word of a preceding clause

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” -Yoda, Star Wars

Antithesis

- pairing of contrasting words or ideas

"Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Antimetabole

- A B, B A

"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you can do for your country." - John F Kennedy, Inaugural Address, 1961

(Your country, you - you, your country).

Metaphors and Similes

These are used to build meaningful bridges in speeches (connection between new and old)

Metaphors simply state a comparison, while similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare things

Example of Metaphors:

▪ Chances are your audiences would see more value in making an appointment to see a smile stylist rather than a dentist.

▪ Chances are your audiences would be more interested in learning how to purchase jewelry for their windows rather than window accessories such as curtain rods, rings, tie-backs and swag.

▪ Chances are your audiences might enjoy exercise more if they thought of their treadmill as a flight simulator.

▪ Chances are your audiences would eat more fruit if they thought they were eating God’s Candy.

Example of Simile:

Source (https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-similes.html)

* You were as brave as a lion.

* They fought like cats and dogs.

* He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.

* This house is as clean as a whistle.

* He is as strong as an ox.

* Your explanation is as clear as mud.

* Watching the show was like watching grass grow.

Research and write some other examples of a tri-colon, simile and a metaphor

Lesson Text:

Why do we need a good introduction for a speech?

• “When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House—a subject, in which the interests, not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of posterity, are involved…” That’s how William Wilberforce began is famous speech on the abolition of slavery in Britain. Wilberforce understood how to introduce a speech. He quickly captured the minds and imaginations of his listeners by telling them how important this speech would be.

• How would you feel if someone just started trying to convince you of something without first introducing themselves. You don’t know who this person is, why you should listen to them, or even what they're talking about. They just start talking. You would probably feel confused and maybe annoyed. That’s how your audience feels if you don’t have a strong introduction.

• You have about 30 seconds to capture someone’s attention before they start thinking about something else. That means you must quickly interest your audience in whatever you have to say. Your introduction helps you do that.
  

  
  

  Welcome to your very first speech writing assignment!

         Download the file from the "resources" section and get started! ?

        How to write an introduction for a speech?.pdf

Congratulations! You've reached the end of fourth section.

By now, you should:

* understand what a speech is and it's different types

* know the importance of speech in communication (public speaking)

* have a good idea about how to create a speech

* know the five techniques to make a speech powerful

* understand the use of three modes of persuasion and stylistic devices

* be able to write an introduction of a speech

Lesson Text:

Why do we need the Universal Laws and Mantras for Public Speaking?

• All great speakers know the universal laws and mantras of Public Speaking. They know these are the fundamentals or basics of effective speaking. For example, one of the universal laws is that it’s not about what you say, it’s how you say it. Great speakers know this very well. They know that more than what they say, how they say is more impactful. The “how” here is nothing but the stylistic, rhetorical devices and modes of persuasion.

  
  

• Have you ever messed up something that should have been simple? Maybe you gave the wrong answer in class or turned left when you should have turned right. Mistakes like these happen when we lose focus. You might say “lefty loosey, righty-tighty” to remind you which direction to turn a screw. Or you might remind yourself which hand is your left hand by holding up your thumb and first finger and noticing which one makes the L. Mantras and universal laws help us refocus and avoid mistakes.

  
  

• To speak Spanish well, you must know the basics of the language. To play an instrument well, you must know the basics of music theory. And to deliver great speeches, you must recall the universal laws of public speaking.
  
  

The three universal laws of public speaking are:

1. It’s not what you say, it’s the way you say it.

Remember the example from our lesson on Empathy?

Scenario # 1
A mother tells her daughter “I understand what you are going through at school. You have a big presentation that’s 50% of your final grade. You are feeling nervous. But I want you to stop feeling nervous and start practicing. Practice makes you perfect”

Scenario # 2
A mother tells her daughter : “I understand what you are going through at school. You have a big presentation that’s 50% of your final grade. It is okay to feel nervous. I don’t think this presentation determines how intelligent and hard-working you are. Why don’t you take a break and play a fun game with me? Later, why don’t I help you practice your presentation, if you wish?

If that was your mother, which conversation would you prefer to have happened?


2. Know your audience.

It doesn’t matter how well versed we are with a subject, if our message doesn’t resonate with the audience, they will dismiss it. Imagine you approach a group of K-Pop fans and talk about classical music. Would they be interested?

3. Plan, Prepare & Practice.

We have discussed this several times that the best speakers research and plan their content ahead, prepare their speeches and practice several times before the final delivery. The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, is considered a great speaker. Did you know he practiced his speech for several weeks before announcing the launch of the iPhone?

Speaker's Mantras

A mantra is something that we repeat to help us focus and remember.

• Pause - Breathe - Change eye contact. Keep doing it to build muscle memory.

• Replace ums/ahs with a pause. Usually, this happens in beginning & ending of the sentences.

...

Prepare a two minute speech to give to a local organization. You do not actually need to deliver the speech, simply use this exercise to practice tailoring a speech to a specific audience.

Do some research on your “audience” and determine what would best support them. Once you have done that, write your two minute speech.

Keep in mind:
- Make sure you have the modes of persuasion and stylistic elements in your speech.
- Practice presenting until you stop saying ums and ahs and maintain solid eye contact with your audience.
- Complete a video recording of your two minute speech and email it to info@leadyouth.org

Lesson Text:

How can we learn public speaking from great speakers?

• There are speeches that echo through human memory.
  “I have a dream…”
  “We choose to go to the moon…”
  “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets..”

  
  

• One of the best ways to learn public speaking is by reading or listening to these speeches and paying attention to what makes them great. What do you do when you want to learn something new? Maybe you want to play a new song on the guitar or learn a new dance. How do you start? If you’re like many people, you might search online for a video of someone playing that song or doing that dance. Watching how others do something can teach us how to do it as well.

  
  

• You learned how to walk and talk and tie your shoes by watching someone else do it. The same principle that teaches us basic skills can also help us build expert-level competency. If you study what others do, you can learn to be as skilled as they are--maybe even better!

Let's observe these two speakers below.

a. Take notes on what stands out!

b. Spot anything common in their speeches?

"We Shall Fight On the Beaches"- Winston Churchill

https://youtu.be/s_LncVnecLA

The Speech that made Obama the President of United States - Barack Obama

https://youtu.be/OFPwDe22CoY

Text Lesson

How can manage your anxiety to sound confident?

• Overcoming your fear and anxiety during public speaking is liberating and empowering. The more you speak in public, the easier it gets. All great speakers are nervous before their speech, but because they plan, practice and manage their anxiety, they are able to walk up to any audience and present.

• You can’t convince anyone, gain trust or respect if you don’t sound confident. Can you achieve anything without confidence? How will you get through the interview for your dream job?

• Like any other skill you have learned in the past, you know the key to mastering a skill is practice. If you don’t practice often whether it is correct breathing or positive thinking, you will always be scared and experience anxiety before every important speech.

How do you know who is the most confident person in a room full of people?

???

The one with the most relaxed breathing!

Remember lesson "How can you develop confidence?" and the 4 keys to building confidence?  #4 was about correct breathing! You can think about your diaphragm as the reason for your confidence or anxiety. If you keep your diaphragm calm and relaxed, you will look and sound confident. In other words, if you breathe with your diaphragm effectively, you can't have anxiety.

We also talked about thinking positive thoughts and visualizing positive outcomes. Think about it this way - if you breathe a positive thought, your words and expressions will be positive as well! Anxiety also happens when we are worried about the outcome. You must overcome your fears of embarrassment and judgement.

Needless to say, to manage anxiety and speak confidently, it is important to practice speech delivery, think positive, breathe from your diaphragm, and visualize a successful outcome.

Be patient and do not give up on your practice.

Your diaphragm is located below your lungs. It is the major muscle of respiration. It is a large, dome-shaped muscle that contracts rhythmically and continually. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, chest enlarges and belly expands. When you exhale, the diaphragm and chest relax and belly contracts.

...

Let's breathe! Follow the instructions in the PDF file in the "Resources" section. Do you notice any change?

Lesson Text:

How do you write the main body for a speech?

• Choose any speech from history and you’ll find that a speech is more than a single statement. It’s a series of ideas that build upon each other to persuade, inform, or entertain your audience. When you write the main body for your speech, you must present your ideas in a logical sequence that holds the audience’s attention.

• Have you ever listened to someone who never seems to finish one thought before starting something new? This person will jump from topic to topic without any sort of logical sequence. It doesn’t take long for you to stop listening. When you write a speech, you organize your thoughts into a coherent argument so that your listeners understand what you’re telling them.

• As you’ve learned throughout this course, clear, purposeful communication can help convince, entertain, and educate your audience. When writing the main body for your speech, consider what the audience needs to know, and in what order they need to know it.

Ready? Go ahead and download the PDF from the "Resources" and get started.

Congratulations! You've reached the end of fifth section.

By now, you should:

✅ be well versed in the universal laws and mantras of Public Speaking

✅ know the techniques and strategies that great speakers use to make impactful speeches

✅ understand how to manage anxiety and increase confidence in delivery

✅ be able to write the main body of a speech

Why do we need a conclusion for every speech?

• When Hilary Rodham Clinton was the First Lady of the United States, she made a speech to the United Nations entitled Women’s Rights Are Human Rights. Before thanking her audience, she said “Let this conference be our — and the world's — call to action. And let us heed the call so that we can create a world in which every woman is treated with respect and dignity, every boy and girl is loved and cared for equally, and every family has the hope of a strong and stable future.” In the final lines of her speech, she invited her audience to take action to build a better future. That’s what the best conclusions do. They evoke emotion and inspire action.

  
  

• Think about the end of your favorite movie. What did you like about it? How did it make you feel? Did it stick with you after the credits started to play? The end of your speech is like the end of a movie, it’s your last chance to stir the emotions of your audience so they keep thinking about what you’ve said long after the speech is over.

  
  

• Did you know that the human brain is really good at remembering endings? It’s called peak-end theory, the idea that our brains tend to use the end of an experience as a way to evaluate the whole experience. So if you end your speech in an inspiring way, people are likely to remember your speech as inspiring. If you end it in a boring way, they’re likely to believe the whole speech was boring. In conclusion, the end of your speech should be powerful.

Welcome to your third speech writing assignment!

Download the file from "Resources" section and get started!

Prepare to record your speech!

This is your last and final recording assignment of the course. The good news is that you have already completed 80% of the work which includes writing your speech. Now you just have to practice presenting your speech incorporating all the concepts you have learned in this course. Please refer to the previous lesson for a checklist that covers everything you need in your final speech recording.

Other tips:

1. Find a well lit place

2. Use your laptop or desktop unless you have a tripod for your cell phone and your cell phone has a good camera.

3. Do breathing exercise for 3-5 mins.

4. Believe you will do well.

5. Record three videos, one for introduction, one for main body and one for conclusion

6. Once you are happy with your recordings, edit the videos to add the three recordings and email to us.

7. Strongly recommended: record the entire speech in one take!

Email your recording to info@leadyouth.org

THE COURSE IS MARKED AS INCOMPLETE IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR FINAL ASSIGNMENT (a recorded speech).

Congratulations! You've reached the end of sixth section.

By now, you should:

* feel confident about the concepts, techniques and best practices of public speaking

* be able to write the conclusion of a speech

* have submitted a final recording of your speech

Feedback is important!

• We have helped hundreds of kids like you learn public speaking skills and improve their mindset so they can be better communicators. Even though we’re experts, we believe there is always room to improve. When you share your feedback about this course, you help us make it even better for the next student.

• Think back to the very beginning of this course. How did you feel about public speaking back then? Did you feel anxious, confused, or unsure? Now think about how you’ve grown and changed during this course. Do you feel more confident, more calm and more prepared? Tell us about how this course helped you.

• Honest and thoughtful feedback helps improve your speeches and this course. Just as you received feedback on your speeches from your teachers, coaches, family, and friends, now it’s time for you to share your thoughts about this course so we can all keep improving.

• Complete the course feedback quiz to tell us what you learned and what we can do better next time.

Thank you!

Lesson Text:

Congratulations!

You have made it to the end of the course! Not only did you learn the fundamental forms of communication, but you endured a great deal while practicing, presenting, and writing a persuasive essay.

We are so proud of your accomplishments and tenacious attitude displayed during this course! You were extremely passionate and dedicated every single day, putting your best foot forward. The content that you created reflected your potential to persuade and influence. You were absolutely marvelous!

It is important to realize that your journey will not end here. This is another steppingstone to truly mastering your public speaking and writing skills! You must continue to practice in refining and developing your skills, ensuring that one day you will transform into exceptional speakers and writers!

As you take on new opportunities and challenges at school, work, or home, you will be tested on the skills that you have been exposed to in this course. What better way to be prepared than to start practicing at your age! Whether is at home in front of your mirror or at a convention in front of a small group of people, take advantage of every opportunity you have to improve and strengthen these skills as they will prove advantageous in your life.

Now, get ready and tansform the world! Thank You.

Five ways parents can help their children become better communicators.

Get rid of the four C’s.

Do not criticize, compare, complain, or compete.

React with curiosity.

Ask questions like. How would that work? Or where would you start?

Model good listening.

Try to spend at least a few minutes a day really listening to what your child has to say

without distractions. Remember to receive, appreciate, summarize and ask questions.

Encourage self-expression.

Ask your children for their opinion.

Sign them up for LeadYouth's Public Speaking Course.

We’ll help them learn coping skills to manage fear and anxiety and build a success

mindset so they can reach their highest potential.