EFFECTIVE ORAL

COMMUNICATION

PUBLIC SPEAKING
 PUBLIC SPEAKING
What is Public Speaking?
Public speaking is:
(1) delivering a speech (2) to a
group of people (3) in a structured,
deliberate manner. It is a (4) form
of communication that (5) adds to
the knowledge and wisdom of the
listeners, or that (6) influences their
attitudes or behaviour
PUBLIC SPEAKING SHOULD
NOT BE

Public Speaking should

not be these!!!
PUBLIC SPEAKING SHOULD BE……
 ELEMENTS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
1. Sender – encoder (Speaker)
2. Message
3. Channel and Medium
4. Receiver – decoder (Listener)
5. Feedback

These 5 elements can easily be expressed by:

"who is saying what to whom utilizing what medium

with what effects?"
 PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE
PUBLIC SPEAKING
1. Knowledge Understand your topic thoroughly to establish credibility.
2. Organisation Structure your speech logically to ensure clarity and
impact.
3. Advanced Preparation Practice and rehearse to boost confidence and
effectiveness.
4. Honesty Be authentic and truthful to build trust with your audience.
5. Vocabulary Use appropriate words to engage and communicate
clearly.
6. Rate of Delivery and Volume Maintain a balanced pace and volume
for clarity and emphasis
7. Gestures Use body language to support and improve your message.
 REHEARSALS IN PUBLIC
SPEAKING
1. Rehearsing for presentation
1. To present effective presentation
2. To deliver the speech within the time allocation
2. Guide to speech rehearsal
1. To have friends as listeners who can comment and
suggest improvement to the speech and who can ask
relevant questions based on the speech
2. To tape your own voice- you can time your speech, listen
to your speech again and correct your mistakes.
3. Purpose of rehearsal
1. To familiarise yourself with the material and its
organization
2. To check and assess the timing of the delivery
3. To improve delivery style and language use
4. To spot mistakes and correct them
 OUTLINING YOUR
SPEECH
An outline acts as your GUIDE DURING YOUR
SPEECH. Components of your speech outline:
I. INTRODUCTION
Greetings
Personal Introduction
Topic of paper or
speech Outline of talk/
speech
II. BODY OF THE SPEECH- Discussion of the topic of
III. the speech
CONCLUSIONS- Recommendations, suggestions
on actions to be taken, statement of progress
IV. GENERAL COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION TO
YOUR SPEECH
•The MOST IMPORTANT part

•It is when you let the audience know who you are,
what you are going to be presenting about, why,
and what you hope to achieve by the end of the
presentation.

•You have a few seconds in which to make a positive

impact and a good opening impression, so make sure
you have a good, strong, solid introduction. Smiling
helps.
INTRODUCTION TO YOUR
SPEECH
You can start by:
referring to the
date
asking (rhetorical) questions
using imagery
using quotations
telling stories or role-playing
stating statistics
VARIETIES OF PUBLIC SPEECH

• Informative
Speech
• Persuasive Speech
 VARIETIES OF PUBLIC
SPEECH
I. INFORMATIVE SPEECHES- speech delivered to inform
the audience about something. They include:

i. Speeches about objects

ii. Speeches about processes
iii. Speeches about events
iv. Speeches about concepts

II. PERSUASIVE SPEECHES- speech given to persuade the

audience to agree/ accept the information being delivered.
They include:

i. Speeches on questions of fact

ii. Speeches on questions of value
iii. Speeches on questions of policy
 Informative Speeches
Speeches About Objects
A Speech About Objects talks about things that are physical and
can be seen or touched, like a historical monument, a famous
painting, or a new gadget.
When giving this speech, you should focus on the key details
and the purpose of your talk. You can organize it in three ways:

 Chronological- (by time, e.g., the history of the

Eiffel Tower).
 Spatial- (by location or structure, e.g., describing parts
of a car).
 Topic- (by different aspects, e.g., features of a new
smartphone).
 Informative
Speeches
Speeches About Processes
• A process is a systematic series of actions that
lead to a specific result/ product. It explains how
something is made, done or how it works.

• When informing about a process, you will

usually arrange your speech in chronological
order, explaining the process step-by-step.

• You can also focus on the major principles or

techniques involved in performing the
process.
 Informative
Speeches
Speeches About Events
• Events are anything that happens or is regarded as happening
• Example of the opening and the ending of a speech about Event

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Before I start off my speech

today, allow me to ask you a question. Have you ever encountered
something in your life that changed you as an individual? In my
speech today, I would like to share with you an event that took place
several years ago which has changed my attitude towards life. From
being such a carefree person without much care about the world, this
event that I will relate to you today changed my life to become
someone who is
sensitive to the surrounding………………
………..With that I end my speech with one word of advice; the next
time
you want to do anything, look before you leap. Thank you.
 Informative Speeches
Speeches About Concepts
• Concepts are more abstract than objects, processes, or events. They include beliefs, theories,
ideas, principles, and the like. It explains abstract ideas, theories, or beliefs that are
not physical objects. These speeches help the audience understand complex
• topics.
Examples:
1. Democracy – Explaining how democracy works, using examples like elections and citizen
rights.
1. Example: “In a democracy, people vote for their leaders. For instance, in the U.S.,
citizens elect a president every four years.”
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Describing how AI mimics human thinking and decision-
making.
1. Example: “AI powers voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, which understand and
respond to your questions.”
– Avoiding technical language
When explaining concepts, a speaker needs to consider several points. They include:
– Defining terms clearly and precisely
– Using examples and comparisons to illustrate the concepts.
 Persuasive Speeches
What is Persuasive Speech?
Purpose:
• To persuade the audience to agree/ accept the
information delivered.
Types:
• Speech of Question of Fact
• Speech of Question of Value
• Speech of Question of Policy
I. Speech on Question of Fact
– refers to a question about the truth or falsity of an
assertion
– The speaker acts as an advocate where he/ she presents a view
and persuades the audience to agree to his/ her contention.
– Arguments and evidence are used to support the speaker’s
 Persuasive Speeches
II. Speech on Question of Value
– A Speech on a Question of Value is about judging
whether something is good or bad, right or wrong,
moral or immoral. It focuses on personal or societal
beliefs and values. The speaker must justify their
opinion with reasoning and evidence

For example:
• Is social media good or bad for mental health?
• Is honesty always the best policy?
– In these speeches, the speaker expresses a viewpoint and
supports it with arguments, examples, or ethical principles.
 Persuasive Speeches
III. Speech on Question of Policy
A Speech on a Question of Policy argues whether a certain action
should or should not be taken. It focuses on solving a problem by
proposing a plan or policy.
This type of speech goes beyond just stating facts (Question of
Fact) or judging something as good or bad (Question of Value).
Instead, it calls for action.
For example:
• Should the government ban plastic bags?
• Should schools start later in the morning?
The speaker must explain the problem, why change is needed,
and how the proposed solution will help.
 Special Occasion Speeches
Characteristics:
• Delivered on special occasions. Can be prepared
or impromptu.
• The primary aim of this speech is to entertain.
• These speeches include speech of introduction, speech
of presentation, speech of acceptance, after-dinner
speeches, award presentations and official openings,
weddings, graduations, retirement dinners and so
forth.
• The aim is primarily to entertain
• The speech will last between 10-15 minutes only
 Special Occasion Speeches
I. Speech of Introduction
Purpose: To introduce a speaker to the audience
You need to accomplish 3 purposes in your
introduction.
• Build enthusiasm for the upcoming speaker
• Build enthusiasm for the speaker’s topic
• Establish a welcoming climate that will boost
the speaker’s credibility
Guidelines for Speech of
Introduction Focus
Accuracy: Keep your words
suitable for the event
Remarks to the Occasion
Remarks to the
 Special Occasion Speeches
II. Speech of Presentation
Purpose: The speech is given when someone
receives recognition or an award
Focus: To acknowledge the achievement of
the recipient.
III. Speech of Acceptance
Purpose: To express your gratitude for a gift, an
award or something that you received
Guidelines for Speech of
Acceptance Brevity: express ideas
concisely/ clear Humility: having
respectful attitude.
Graciousness: showing kindness and
respect to others.
 Special Occasion Speeches
IV. Commemorative Speech
Definition: A speech of praises or celebrations
Commemorative Speech is a speech given to honor,
celebrate, or pay tribute to a person, event, idea, or
institution. It focuses on expressing admiration, gratitude,
and inspiration, often highlighting the positive impact.
Purpose: To pay tribute to a person, a group of people, or
an institution
Characteristics:
Explain why the subject is special and deserves praise.
Give examples of their achievements. Use a respectful,
emotional, and uplifting tone.
Examples include retirement speeches, award
presentations, and tributes to historical events or
leaders. The tone is usually respectful, emotional, and
uplifting.
 Special Occasion Speeches
V. After-Dinner Speech
Characteristics:
An After-Dinner Speech is a lighthearted and entertaining speech
given after a meal. It focuses on one main topic, is divided into clear
sections, and aims to keep the audience engaged and amused. The
speech should be fun, engaging, and not too serious.
Example of an After-Dinner Speech:
"Good evening, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the meal because, let’s
be honest, we only attend these events for the food! But since they
handed me a microphone, I’ll take a few minutes to talk about something
important—teamwork. Teamwork is like a potluck dinner. Some people
bring the main course, some bring dessert, and others... well, they just
show up with an empty plate! But in the end, we all come together and
make it work. So let’s raise a toast—to great food, great company, and
hopefully, a short speech! Cheers!"
This speech is lighthearted, fun, and focused on one topic (teamwork),
while keeping the audience entertained.
Planning and
Preparing a Speech
• Choose a Topic
• Determine the Overall
Purpose of the Speech
• Analyze the audience and
situation
• Organise the Speech
• Opening
• Body
• Conclusion
• Practise before
Delivery
 step in planning and preparing a
speech
1. Choose a Topic – Pick an interesting, relevant, and suitable
subject for your audience.
Example: For a health seminar, a topic could be "The
Benefits of Daily Exercise.“ or At a wedding, the best man
could speak about "The Journey of Love and Friendship.

2. Determine the Overall Purpose of the Speech – Decide if

your speech is to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire.
Example: A business presentation aims to inform, while a
motivational speech aims to inspire.

3. Analyze the Audience and Situation – Understand who will

be listening and the setting of the speech.
Example: A speech for high school students should use
simple language and relatable examples.
 step in planning and preparing a
speech
4. Organize the Speech – Structure your speech for clarity and
impact.
• Opening – Grab attention with a strong start, such as a
question, quote, or story.
Example: "What if I told you that one small habit could
change your life forever?" (For a speech on personal
growth)
• Example: "Imagine waking up to find your business idea
has turned into a million-dollar company." (For an
entrepreneurship speech)
• Body – Present your main points with supporting details,
facts, or examples.
Example: In a speech on leadership, discuss qualities like
confidence, communication, and empathy.
 step in planning and preparing a
speech
Conclusion – Summarize key points and leave a strong final
impression.
Example: "As we move forward, remember: great leaders
don’t create followers, they create more leaders."

5. Practice Before Delivery – Rehearse your speech multiple

times to improve confidence and delivery.
Example: Practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself
can help identify areas for improvement.