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VCE Stuff => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English Studies => Topic started by: vox nihili on January 04, 2014, 12:15:24 am

Title: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: vox nihili on January 04, 2014, 12:15:24 am
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to leave them! Would gladly have a chat about either :)

Below I have listed some fairly basic tips for Public Speaking. Some may seem a little unconventional, though it has been by sticking to these principles that I have enjoyed success in this area.

These tips are intended mainly for students undertaking VCE English, however it is my belief that they will be more broadly relevant. After all, I have not studied VCE English. I have, however, always had a keen interest in public speaking, culminating in victory at the Victorian finals (2012) of the Plain English Speaking Award.

I am very frequently asked to give my advice on Public Speaking and hopefully you will believe that I am in such a position to do so. These are not exact instructions of how to speak. More than anything, you need to develop and pursue your own style of speaking and find what works for you; however, if you do follow these tips, I am hopeful that you will be able to deliver a great speech!

The Basics

These tips address the very basic principles of Public Speaking. They include broad and general advice that every speaker should bare in mind when preparing and delivering a speech.


Structure
A speech without good structure is like a house...without good structure. It's just shit. The structure of a speech should be as follows:

   
Choosing Your Topic

Choosing a topic is one of the most frustrating aspects of delivering a speech. It's also something that people very often get wrong. Using a few tests and following a simple process can help you choose the right topic.

   
Introduction
The introduction is the most important part of your speech. They say first impressions matter, and in the case of Public Speaking, this is very true.

   
The Middle
The middle is the chunky bit in the middle of your speech. It's the boring part to write and the boring part to listen to. It is your proving ground and allows you to flesh out your ideas and then prove them.

   
The Conclusion
Conclusions and introductions are very similar. In fact, they are almost identical. The conclusion is the second most important part of your speech.

   
Review
Now that we've looked at the speech, we need to look at how to review it! To me, this is one of the most important skills and can make the difference between a good and bad speech.

 
Tricks
Here I'll list a few of the things I like to do in my speeches, some of the techniques that work pretty well. This list is not exhaustive by any stretch. The internet and your English classes will provide plenty themselves. Just remember one thing: rhetorical techniques normally come naturally, you don't need to know the name of everyone you use!


 
This post is a modified version of the post "How To: Public Speaking (Quick Tips), originally posted at: http://aboyfromdunt.blogspot.com.au/ The author does not recommend adapting posts to the pregnant or those suffering from heart conditions
Title: Re: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: CH3ezEC4KE on January 04, 2014, 12:25:35 am
Going to use this for uni! Even though I have no probs striking up a conversation with someone, and I workin retail too, I can't stand oral presentations. Freaks me out especially uni ones
Title: Re: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: vox nihili on January 04, 2014, 12:50:32 am
Going to use this for uni! Even though I have no probs striking up a conversation with someone, and I workin retail too, I can't stand oral presentations. Freaks me out especially uni ones
Really glad to hear that! That's so often the case really! People are really confident one on one, and yet public speaking is harder. I guess because it's not as close knit an interaction. Try and connect with your audience, get them laughing or tell a bit of an inside joke that they'll relate to well. That makes it a bit more conversational for you at least, and may just be what you need! :) Good luck!!
Title: Re: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: alondouek on January 04, 2014, 12:55:51 am
Superb advice, especially the part about eye contact. People, please look directly at the person it people you are talking too! You'll never engage an audience if you don't repeatedly make, break and re-establish eye contact. I'd argue that it's the most critical tool a speaker can use to drive home a point.

CH3ezEC4KE, oral presentations are nothing to fear! Just remember that most people in your audience are in the same boat, so the easiest way to get through a presentation is to attempt to connect with them on a level beyond whatever it is you're talking about. This is a major factor in the delivery of persuasive language :)
Title: Re: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: vox nihili on January 04, 2014, 01:09:28 am
Superb advice, especially the part about eye contact. People, please look directly at the person it people you are talking too! You'll never engage an audience if you don't repeatedly make, break and re-establish eye contact. I'd argue that it's the most critical tool a speaker can use to drive home a point.

Thank you! :)
The brilliant thing about eye-contact is that you really don't have to look at anyone, just pretend to look. Have your head held up somewhere for most of the time, and people will think you're looking. My eyes are terrible, so I just take my glasses off most of the time—can't see anyone, but still eye contact (Y) hahah :)
Title: Re: Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)
Post by: charmanderp on January 04, 2014, 04:26:32 pm
Linking this in the English Guides, Sample Pieces, Tips and Resources thread. Fantastic work.