Speech Buddy videos

This weeks videos were helpful in many ways for improving performance of speech delivery. In particular what I learned that could be helpful in my speech was the different types of supporting materials to use. By using a variety of supporting materials it will keep the speech interesting and lend further credibility to the topic, and to me as the speaker. If I only have one source or only use one method of supportive materials, I may not appear to have fully researched the topic and might leave my audience wondering if there is more to the subject then what I have presented. In order to have a successful speech where the audience can feel fully informed at the end, I must be able to incorporate a variety of support materials. It is also important not to overload the audience with only facts, or statistics, or examples; the blend of these types of supporting materials will keep the speech flowing better and not overwhelm or turn off the audience.

Developing your main points

The topic I chose to discuss this week is the importance of developing the main points of your speech. When fine tuning this very important part of your speech, it is important to identify clarity and relevance in the materials you are preparing to present. You can ask your self, "does this bring clarity to my topic?" or "does this confuse the issue?" Chances are you will be able to weed out a lot of unnecessary information during this process. Looking at relevance of information goes hand in hand with the prior step. If you can eliminate non relevant information then the overall speech will be less confusing to your audience and you will be more likely to stay on point in your delivery. As a speaker, you will appreciate taking the extra time to perform these steps when the delivery of your speech goes smoothly and your audience leaves with a clear sense of your topic as well as the information you have presented.

Effectiveness of facts and statistics

Giving facts and statistics are most effective when giving educational or informative speeches. It helps to have the numbers and data to back up your stance on the topic. Because your audience is there to learn from you in one way or another, they will be appreciative of your knowledge of current facts and statistics on the subject matter at hand. Knowing the information will also lend to your credibility as a speaker and as a trainer. Giving facts and statistics may be less effective when giving a opinionated speech or talking about a subject that doesn't have a lot of research. If you are giving a speech on an idea or concept, then chances are there might not be many facts or statistics to use, or they might not support your views on the topic. If you find yourself on the opposite side of a topic that has research against your viewpoint then it would be in your best interest to not use that data.

Speech Buddy: Drinking and Light Pollution

In the Speech Buddy "Drinking" video, the speaker did well in the area of research. He seemed to have a lot of knowledge on the subject even though he didn't exude confidence in his delivery. I think if he were to ditch the note cards and perhaps practice his delivery more, he would have a more engaging overall speech. Another technique that might help him with his delivery of the information is to use bullet points instead of sentences so he has to speak more freely on the subject instead of reading or trying to decipher through a bunch of notes. In the Speech Buddy  "Light Pollution" video, the speaker did well in the area of confident delivery. I felt like she knew her topic well and didn't have much difficulty speaking about the topic. She appeared to be much more comfortable speaking than the speaker in the "Drinking" video. The difference in delivery could possibly be related to practice, or note organization, or both. From these videos I can learn the importance of being well prepared in all aspects of the speech before delivering the speech. I can take away valuable lessons from watching both. I will try to be organized in my thoughts and delivery, and not rely so much on notes.

Importance of audience analysis and adaptation

Audience analysis is a crucial element to the success of your speech. By being able to analyze the audience you can gage how you r speech is going and will be better able to adapt to your audience. By analyzing your audience prior to your speech you can anticipate their interests and adapt your speech accordingly. During the speech you can look for audience non-verbal feedback such as smiling, frowning, or nodding in agreement. By recognizing these signs from members of your audience you can respond by continuing on the same path or adjusting your speech in response to the needs of your audience. Non-verbal feedback can be even more helpful than verbal in many cases as long as you pay attention to the signs. For a speech to be successful you have to be able to effectively connect with your audience. In order to do this you have to hold their interest or intrigue them in some way. I plan on using audience analysis during my speech to determine if the audience is engaged in my speech or bored. By doing this I can make adjustments to try to capture their interest.

Techniques for speaking to a diverse audience

This week the topic I chose to discuss is techniques for speaking to a diverse audience. I think the biggest key to relating to a diverse audience is finding a commonality. It is especially helpful if you can find commonality amongst the audience pertaining to the topic of the speech. If the audience can relate back to the topic and all have a common interest the speech will likely be more successful. If I am speaking to a group at work for example, even though it is a diverse group, they have a commonality of working for the same company and industry. Regardless of the topic, I can use the commonality to tie into my speech to hold the interest of the audience. Additionally, having extensive knowledge of a topic will make you more credible when your audience is diverse. Some of them will have a lot of knowledge on the subject matter and others might have little. By doing your research and making sure you have the most up to date facts your audience will be more receptive of your speech.

Evaluating Your Research Materials

Evaluating your research materials prior to using them as actual sources of information is a wise decision. Whendoing this, you should use the following three evaluation criteria, reliability, validity, and currency. To determine whether a source is reliable, you should consider the consistency and credibility of the information researched. For example, if the information you find on your topic varies from source to source then it is not consistant. If you are getting your information from a source who has no data or sources to back up their claim, then it is not considered credible. To determine validity you would want to look at the over all logic of the information being provided. This can be accomplished by taking into consideration the authors conclusions and any evidence to support their claims. Currency refers to how recent the information is you are using. When doing research it is important to look at the most recent information available. Even if you are researching a topic that is old, such as dinosaurs or ancient Egypt, you would want to look at the most recent findings to ensure you have the most up to date information on the subject.

Acknowledging Your Sources

The chapter 6 topic I chose to discuss in further detail is acknowledging your sources. The book talks about it briefly and gives examples for APA and MLA formatted written citations. It is important to not only site your sources of information in your written bibliography, but also verbally during your speech. Credit should be given where credit is due. Additionally, verbally citing sources from your research during your speech makes you, as the speaker, sound more knowledgeable about the topic and gives your speech credibility. Anybody can talk about a subject but if they have credible sources to back up their information, the information they are providing can be taken more seriously. As a speaker it is imperative that your audience view you as being an expert on the topic, otherwise you are just a person talking with no real impact. Having done research on a topic and being able to quote the sources for that research makes the information you are providing have more of an impact. In other words, don't just take my word for it.

Research Interviews

My experience with conducting research interviews is limited to college English courses. Things that went well during my interviews was the comfort in the question and answer part of the interview. By meeting and getting familiar with the interviewee prior to getting down to business, it was not as awkward as it might have been. I enjoy talking with people and I was interested in the topics, which helps if you have to conduct a research interview. Something that needed improvement was the amount and types of questions I asked. When I went back after the interview to type it up and write the paper, I found my self wishing I would have asked more questions or asked for more elaboration on some of the answers given. My advice would be to think about what information you want to gain from the interviewee about the topic and how it will relate to the speech. That way you can formulate questions in advance to fill those requirements. Also, relax, don't be afraid to ask the questions you want to ask, and always smile!

Strategies for managing speech anxiety

Three strategies a person can use to manage speech anxiety prior to delivery are visualization, relabeling, and relaxation. These strategies can help build confidence and in turn have a more successful speech. When you visualize how the speech will go you can walk through the steps in your mind from start to finish. It is important to focus on the positive aspects of how the speech will go and not dwell on negativity. Relabeling involves using positive words instead of negativity when talking or thinking about the speech. The idea behind this method is mind over matter. You can convince yourself out of being nervous and be excited instead. Relaxation can be achieved by using breathing techniques to lower heart rate and relieve anxiety. It also helps to research your audience and practice your speech multiple times prior to giving it. On the day of your speech it is important to arrive early so you have time to get to know the environment and visualize giving the speech. Having all your materials organized will also help to make you feel more comfortable. During your speech it is important to have a confident attitude. This will help you control those feelings of anxiety. Focus on the audience and do not apologize or make excuses for mistakes, simply make the correction and move on. After the speech it is important to reinforce your confidence. When you think back about your speech, you should review the whole speech in your mind to identify things you did well and identify opportunities to improve for your next speech.

Concept

I chose to discuss the concept of dressing for the occasion. When a person is well dressed and put together, they will have more confidence. When it comes to public speaking, dressing for the occasion is much like the saying "dress for success." Part of having a successful speech is not just what is said, but also how it is delivered. Appearance is part of the delivery. If a person is poorly dressed or has a thrown together appearance, they might not be taken very seriously. In addition to the perception of the audience, dressing nice makes a person feel good about themselves and their appearance, which can reduce some of the anxiety. When speaking in public, a speaker should dress both professional and appropriate for the occasion. According to our text book, if you are unsure of what to wear, you should "think of how a speaker would dress to gain your respect." This is an important point. You want to dress appropriate for the topic and the setting. For example, if you are giving a business speech you would want to appear very professional, however if you are speaking at a surfing convention you still want to have that professional image but with a little looser attire.

What makes me apprehensive about public speaking

Public speaking can be intimidating. If I screw up, everyone will notice. My biggest apprehension about speaking in front of large groups of people is forgetting facts, such as names, or getting tongue tied. It takes me a while to learn names so I tend to be real nervous calling someone by their name or mentioning them by name and getting it wrong. This anxiety is amplified if I am in front of people because the pressure to get things right is even more important. I think this is associated with uncertainty reduction theory, as discussed in chapter two of the book. Basically, an individual's level of anxiety increases when they are faced with an unfamiliar or uncertain situation. I agree with one of the points the book makes about confidence. The more confidence I have about a topic, the less apprehension I feel about speaking in front of others. For me, if I know a topic well or have a lot of experience with something, I feel much more comfortable speaking about it in front of others.