Chapter 15: Delivering Your Speech

Question 1

Impromptu Speaking

Answer 1

Public remarks with little or no preparation

Question 2

Manuscript speaking

Answer 2

Delivering speech based on written text

Question 3

Extemporaneous speaking

Answer 3

Elements of both manuscript and impromptu speaking

Question 4

Immediacy

Answer 4

Sense of closeness audience feels toward speaker

Question 5

Confident presentational demeanor

Answer 5

Verbal and nonverbal behaviors showing competence and assuredness to listeners
Evokes respect

Question 6

Conveying Immediacy

Answer 6

Immediacy is created when adopting a conversational language style
Similar to how people talk

Question 7

Written language style

Answer 7

Formal, detailed

Question 8

Nonverbal impact tools

Answer 8

Maximize emotional connection with and impact upon audiences
Face, eyes, voice, gestures, posture, space

Question 9

Facial Expressions

Answer 9

Facial expressions have more communication impact than other aspects of behavior
Convey immediacy and create emotional connection
Facial expressions should naturally arise during speech

Question 10

Eye Contact

Answer 10

Establish mutual gaze with individual members of an audience
Look directly into their eyes for one to two seconds, then move on to another person

Question 11

Two common mistakes

Answer 11

Not making enough eye contact, too focused on reading notes
Making eye contact with only listeners who appear most interested and supportive
Listeners not receiving eye contact feel ignored

Question 12

Vocal pitch

Answer 12

Frequency range, high or low

Question 13

Vocal volume

Answer 13

Loudness of voice

Question 14

Vocal rate

Answer 14

Rapidity of speech

Question 15

Monotone voice (mono-pitch)

Answer 15

Speaking with constant, single pitch, rather than allowing voice to vary naturally

Question 16

High-to-low pitch patterning

Answer 16

Starting every sentence with high pitch and ending low
Sounds “sing-songy,” unnatural
Quickly creates impression of overscripted inauthenticity

Question 17

Gestures

Answer 17

Talk freely with hands and arms
Brings natural emphasis, physical and visual energy to speech

Question 18

Bring hands up and out

Answer 18

Gesture in visual space outside of shoulders and body frame

Question 19

Posture

Answer 19

Head up, shoulders back, spine neutral, stance solidly set

Question 20

Metronoming

Answer 20

Constantly and repetitively shifting weight from side to side
Suggests nervousness and uncertainty
Increases nervousness

Question 21

Space

Answer 21

Moving to different spaces conveys emotional connection, engages attention of audience

Question 22

Three common pitfalls should be avoided

Answer 22

Move only to emphasize key points or when transitioning to another point
Avoid distracting audience by pacing with body turned 90 degrees
Be aware of cultural norms related to personal space specific to your audience

Question 23

Hesitant language

Answer 23

Words that suggest you are uncertain
Common mistake speakers make

Question 24

Hedging

Answer 24

Using words that lessen impact

Question 25

Disclaimers

Answer 25

Phrases removing responsibility for a statement

Question 26

Intensifiers

Answer 26

Unnecessary words to overemphasize point

Question 27

Articulation

Answer 27

Speaking clearly and understandably

Question 28

Pronunciation

Answer 28

Way we say words

Question 29

Vocalized pauses and fillers

Answer 29

Um, uh, ah, you know, etc.

Question 30

Dress and Physical Appearance

Answer 30

Can build or undermine impression on audience
Appearance should not distract audience from listening
Appearance should convey confidence and competence
Match dress to what’s appropriate for occasion and audience
Speech topic can determine how to dress

Question 31

Speech anxiety

Answer 31

Being nervous about speaking in public
Can happen in any communication context
Caused by fear of losing face, embarrassment
Self-fulfilling prophecies can come true

Question 32

Manage nervousness so as not to interfere with appearing confident, competent

Answer 32

Expect/accept nervousness is part of any performance
Look for opportunities to speak up in large groups
Choose topics that matter to you
Conduct a situational analysis

Question 33

Tips to Manage Speech Anxiety

Answer 33

Expect the unexpected
Know your introduction
Use visualization techniques
Focus on your breathing
Use notes
Practice, practice, practice

Question 34

Presentational aid

Answer 34

Tool used to display visuals

Question 35

Types of Presentational Aids

Answer 35

Whiteboards and Flip Charts

Drawbacks
Writing must be neat and visible
Requires you to turn away from listeners to write
Breaks eye contact and reduces immediacy

Question 36

Handouts

Answer 36

Can help listeners follow steps in a process or remember important information
Can present major distraction during presentation
Give careful thought to how much information to put on them
Consider when would be least distracting time for distributing them

Question 37

Physical Objects

Answer 37

Props (three-dimensional physical objects) impact audiences more than two-dimensional images
Physical objects give audience something to focus on besides words alone
Consider presentation space if you decide to use physical objects

Question 38

Posters

Answer 38

Speaker isn’t dependent on electrical or technical support for presentation
Best for displaying charts, graphs, or other visual information
Make sure any information on poster is large enough for audience to see
Poster should look neat and professional

Question 39

Video

Answer 39

Will grab an audience’s attention
Be sure you can quickly access required video clip
If using a clip that is streaming online, have a backup plan in case you lose internet access
Make sure any clips you use are brief

Question 40

Presentation Software

Answer 40

Presentation software (PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi) makes it easy to
Import graphics
Achieve highly professional, polished look in a presentational slide deck
Avoid using slides so vivid they distract audience