Intro to Public SpeakingAnd our first speech – the Interview

Take out a sheet of paper or notebook to use as a journal Brainstorm a list of things that you fear.

Rate your fears from one (worst fear ever)

Rate the following general fears in your opinion Falling from a height

Death

Snakes (or spiders and creepy things)

Public speaking

Being alone (without friends or family)

Open or closed spaces

Darkness

Failure

Get out of your seat and line up…

According to how you rated your fear of public speaking If you enjoy it and are very comfortable stand near

the door

If you are really nervous about it or hate it stand by my desk

Make a spectrum in between

Statistics on fear of public speaking

Some surveys and research results show that most people rather die instead of talking in front of a live audience. This is a global fears top ten:

 1. Fear of public speaking (Glossophobia) 5% of world population 2. Fear of death (Necrophobia) 3. Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia) 4. Fear of darkness (Achluophobia, Scotophobia or Myctophobia) 5. Fear of heights (Acrophobia) 6. Fear of people or social situations (Sociophobia) 7. Fear of flying (Aerophobia) 8. Fear of open spaces (Agoraphobia) 9. Fear of thunder and lightning (Brontophobia)10. Fear of confined spaces (Claustrophobia)

Journal on the following questions

Why do people fear public speaking?

When do people use public speaking skills?

Why might this class be useful to you? What are your goals for the class?

Think they will embarrass themselves, say something stupid, make no sense, physically embarrassing, judgment, not interesting or smart

weddings, funerals, awards, ceremonies, clubs, toasts, fundraising, church, reports, performances, courts, interviews, parties, other classes, government

Prepared me for speaking and competing in college, teaching, confidence in group situations, organization of arguments, research, ability to persuade more effectively

First Speech – The Interview

Task: I will pair you up and you are to develop at least 25 questions each to interview your partner and then develop a two minute speech introducing them to the class with the information you gained. Get out a sheet of paper, put your name on it and

your partner’s name

On your own (can talk with partner and other peers) develop at least 25 questions to ask your partner – questions must be appropriate.

Ask on three levels: surface- age, family, bio, facts; personal – favorites, likes/hates; psychological – why do you like/hate those things, what would you do with a million dollars…

You will turn in your list of questions at the end of class - next class we will have time to interview and practice the speech.

First Speech Tips As you begin to interview your partner, you can

write down bullets to remember their answers. They don’t have to answer certain questions if they don’t feel comfortable. Make sure you have enough information for a two minute speech introducing them (which means you may need to ask more questions, tell longer stories about them, or ask them what else they want you to say about them.)

Start your speech by introducing them by name and explaining anything interesting about their name (meaning? Why they were named that? Nicknames?)

End your speech by saying “so, please help me welcome ___________ to our speech class.”

You may organize your speech any way you want with any format.

Speech Rubric For an “A” (4pts):

Two minutes in length (I’ll cut you off at two if you go over)

Creative way of presenting the person (rhyme, story, riddle, acronym, poem… anything that will keep it interesting)

25 interview questions and answers recorded (though you don’t have to use all of them if it goes over 2 min)

Following the rules for the task

For a “C” (2 pts) Under two minutes by a significant amount (30 sec)

Has info about classmate but doesn’t present it in an interesting way… a bit boring

25 questions and answers

For an “F” (1-0 pts) Not delivering the speech

Not making one minute

Not having 25 questions and answers

Audience Expectations

No speaking or using your phone or listening to head phones while others are speaking.

Applause after each speech.

Never be rude or cruel or make fun (even if they know you are kidding)

As you are speaking…No hats, gum, (remember to wear appropriate clothes next time if you forgot for this speech)

I will give you breaks after some of the speeches, but you will be asked to go to one of the speakers and tell them what you liked about their speech.

You will be asked to reflect on your own performance and another one you liked after we are done with all of them.