How's This For A "First" Speech Topic?

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Good luck!

[Hexa]

Well just take my word for it that ALL people are afraid to a certain extent to speak in public.

Even those people that do it on a daily basis...
Use the stressfactor as a positive influence!@

[skywalker]

Originally posted by Sazerac: You know, I read somewhere that most people are more afraid of public speaking than they're afraid of death. They rank Public Speaking higher on the stress level than they do thoughts of dying. [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] Personally, I think it's a noble topic, and one worth considering. Best of luck to you! -Sazerac

I think public speaking holds more fear for some people because after you give a nervous speech, you may get heckled. On the other hand, when you die, they may heckle you afterwards, but you're not around to hear it!

Mark

[ 09-17-2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: skywalker ]

[Davros]

It might sound an easy or glib statement, but look to be passionate about your topic. The more connected you are with your topic the better you are going to deliver your message. Cut out bits that you think come over as phony or are just fillers or transition. Look at the task in the manner that "you have information that they need to know". Convince yourself that the topic is going to be somthing that people are going to want to listen to, as opposed to something they have to listen to.

The more you see your speech as being the important communication device, and that people are going to want to listen to you then the calmer you will be. Look for the reasons why yourtopic is important.

[Azred]

Having once been quite nervous about speaking in front of people, I found only one method for improving my speaking performance and calming my nervousness--get up and speak in front of people. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] The best way to get over that fear is to just do it.

Well, it worked for me, at least. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

[Scholarcs]

Good luck Moni!

[Ladyzekke]

Good Luck Moni, I'm sure you will do just fine. I haven't publicly spoke since high school, and it didn't really bother me at all because I just made sure that I a)Was confident in what I was going to say and the subject matter at hand, and b) Practiced, practiced, practiced to where I could talk it in my sleep, smiles, emphasises (or emphases? plural? blah don't you be gettin out that dictonary LOL), gestures and all. I think the eye contact thing you mentioned is a good idea, I think it will help you feel more comfortable, and also make your speech better and more personable as well :

(Smoke break!)

Thank you all for wishing me luck and for offering your advice.
Skywalker, your comment on dropping dead had me busting a gut!
[img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]
So true!

Cloudy, I used to read to a church congression during Christmas pageants without a problem...I was proud of how I could read scripture and bring people to tears. I never had to look them in the eye though and address them as a group or as individuals...I could just read with feeling.
I admire people who are comfortable with it. It really shows a lot of confidence in yourself! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Horatio, LMAO, no, that idea never crossed my mind...I intend to look at them as friends. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hexa,
Stress factor implemented into humor...as informative as I have to be, i still plan on allowing myself room for comedy. I think it will serve to help all of us who have a real problem with it.

Davros,
Thank you for your wonderful advice! This is indeed a subject which hits home for me AND for some of my classmates! I've practiced it with Rex and he says it all sounds natural and that I have the right gestures down I tried to word it in my own natural way of addressing the class as my friends and I think if I can memorize my cues I'll have it down pat without having to refer to my notes to "remember what I was saying" if you know what I mean [img]smile.gif[/img] Your advice will definitely stay with me for future speeches (5 or 6 in all) and I am grateful that you took the time to relate to me *hugs*

Azred,
That is exactly the approach I m taking with it. [img]smile.gif[/img] I know that once I get through this first one, the rest will become easier. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ladyzekke,
The dictionary is safely tucked away in my book bag.
Unfortunately the eye contact is required, otherwise I don't think I would be so afraid.

I'll be wearing a little make-up tomorrow...maybe some slacks and a blouse (with knee hi's and low pumps) to take my appearance up a notch or two as well (the norm is jeans, a variety of T's or blouses and sandals or closed suede shoes)...I want to look like I am trying too. [img]smile.gif[/img]
I got the impression that the instructor prefers suck-ups over people with confidence since she shot me down with a thesis statement that was worded not very differently (other than subject matter) than another woman's (who sucks up) that she gave absolute praise to. I am socially comfortable and confident in myself whereas she is an actress and I believe her form of instruction is all hidden behind that mask...another girl in class that she chose to degrade by scribbling her original thesis all out feels the same way and that girl has extreme self confidence without being stuck up if you know what I mean...a senator in the Student Government even, someone who has been doing this kind of stuff for years now! It'd sucked if she was that petty for reals but she did put the both of us in middle to last speaking positions in the semester schedule before she told us all that those were the positions that (throughout the semester) would be graded the harshest....what hurts about that the most is that she put the really really shy guy who sits at my table last on all counts like being so shy puts him at dirt level. Humility is not a good teacher when it is being dished out by someone other than yourself.
I can't stand her already LOL.
Anyway, I think I am all set. I just need to highlight my cues and "memorize" what I had written after them.

Here is my speech...timed at near 5 minutes it should make the grade if I can deliver it properly and if she is not offended that I am taking her piddly lecture on the subject far enough to actually make a difference to people!

What is in parentheses is NOT on the outline I am turning in to her and the first three or four words will be highlighted for me to connect with in "reference" and keep the topic flowing...what IS in parentheses has the option to be worded at my leisure as long as I get the same point across...she will be following me at the other end of the room with the outline minus all the extra and she demanded that we turn that in with the Introduction and the Conclusion in full so there's no way out of ad-libbing those LOL!

Try to imagine seeing it in proper college outline format LOL and hear it coming from a friendly but frightened person who apparently knows when to make the right gestures LOL. I know exactly who to look at when stressing my points to overcome the fear of public speaking (and with honest, from the heart feeling in what I am saying).

Purpose: To inform the class of some of the realities of the fear of speaking in public.
Thesis: By examining the physical manifestations of the fear of public speaking and understanding some insight into why we have it and what we can do about it we can, with practice, rid ourselves of it.

I. Introduction
A. If there were an Association for those who fear public speaking, I would be the Secretary. (if I were the president, I wouldn’t be here, I’d be hiding in a bathroom stall staring at my watch so I would know when the opportunity to speak was gone and I could come out)
B. Fear of public speaking has been rated as one of the number one fears among Americans, vying for the top position only with the fear of death. It is associated with social phobias, social anxiety, and stage fright.
1. My experience with this fear is so extensive that I can honestly tell you that this is my first formal public speech.
2. I am presenting this subject to you in order to offer useful information that you can benefit from if you suffer from it too.
C. I am going to cover some of the known physical effects that being afraid to address an audience can have. I will also provide you with some helpful insight that you can apply to yourself if you feel like you need it

II. Body
A. The fear of public speaking can and does manifest itself physically in several ways;
a. Shortness of breath (check!)
b. The inability to speak (well I am obviously managing to speak so no check there!)
c. A shaky voice (check stance unknown lol)
d. Rapid breathing (No, I am too mellow to hyperventilate)
e. Rapid heartbeat (check!)
f. Sweating (palms~check!)
g. Nausea (check!)
h. The ability for one’s face to express twenty shades of red in four to 6 minutes. (Someone will have to inform me afterwards if I need a check here too)

B. There are ways of learning to overcome the fear of public speaking.
a. moved to h. which is really g lol
b. Understanding that the fear of public speaking is not naturally stressful. (We all develop it for our own personal reasons and they don’t have to include social phobias or social anxiety. As some of you know, I am a rather social person and would not have necessarily expected me to have this fear but the truth is I suffer from stagefright when I am not acting spontaneously)
c. Knowing that we need not be rocket scientists to succeed (is just a big bonus! As an elementary major I would surely fail.)
d. Humor can help alleviate the stress and connect us with our audience. (all of us can relate to humor provided it isn’t coming from far outer space. It helps create a more comfortable atmosphere between you and the audience)
e. Humility. (slight pause for effect ) Humility gives us the chance to realize our own strengths and increase our own personal pride (when we stand up in front of others and share our frailties, our weaknesses and our mistakes.)
f. Understanding we cannot control our audience can make the task of public speaking an easier one (when we accept that:
1. Some people naturally fidget. I am one of them. Given the opportunity, my own mother will, to this day, remind me of what bad marks I received in grade school for not being able to just sit still!
2. Others will daydream, so deeply that a chocolate cake held under their nose wouldn’t snap them out of it right away.
3. Some people will talk amongst themselves either about or in spite of their interest in our subject.)

g. Knowing that the speeches we give are intended to share knowledge and ideas with a goal of success for ourselves and for each other. (In this class we share the courage it takes to come up here and deliver speeches with restrictions on the time we are given to speak and with all attention focused on us. We know that this class is designed to give us a better understanding of public speaking and there really is no better audience for some of us to start with than each other. I am grateful to have all of you as my audience this semester because I trust that with your honest and objective opinions of how well I do up here I can leave it a success and I know that we can all make it successful for each other.)

h. Practice. (practice! practice!) (Not enough can be said about practice! Even if you have to practice alone, just hearing yourself say your speech out loud gets you more comfortable with what you want to say)

III. Conclusion
A. This speech has been intended to bring the physical manifestations of this fear out into the open so that we don’t have to feel bad about ourselves for having them and to offer some ways of understanding how we need not let them control us forever.
B. Thank you for allowing me to be human and thank you for scaring me half to death!

[ 09-20-2002, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Moni ]

[Redblueflare]

Good luck with your speech Moni. Or is it hope your speech went well? [img]tongue.gif[/img] If i'm not to late just remember not to start with Okay or Alright. Teachers/Proffessors *hate* that. 10 points off but an otherwise good speech. [img]smile.gif[/img] I took a speech and drama class once but *surprise* talking in front of people still makes me nervous.

[skywalker]

Good Luck Princess...You'll do just fine! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Mark