Public Speaking

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Public Speaking

Douglas M. Fraleigh and Joseph S. Tuman wrote the book intending to give guidelines on public speaking. Public speaking is not an area that many people are comfortable. The book’s twenty topics give a very detailed explanation of what one should consider when public speaking and how to perfect the skills.

In chapter 1, the authors show that public speaking is a powerful tool that, if well used, can change the world. The concept has been well illustrated by Malala Yousfazai, who used public speaking to campaign for girls’ education. Public speaking is indispensable in every career; thus, why it is emphasized in schools. Various public speaking types such as mediated public speaking, informative speaking, and persuasive speaking are explained. Consequentially, everyone needs to start training on public speaking as early as possible as we use the skills daily.

Most people get anxious when they are to speak in public. In chapter two, the authors explain how one can cope with anxiety. One should ensure that they are well prepared beforehand to gain more confidence. While public speaking, it is also essential to have visual aids that will make the topic of discussion more understandable and attract the audience’s attention. The author also talks about adequate preparation before making your speech by doing a mock presentation and intensive research.

In case one has never written a speech before, the book gives clear guidelines on how to develop your first speech. It is vital to research the topic to come up with conclusive information. Before you do public speaking, ensure that you know the type of crowd audience you expect to address. Find out their age, time, and location to assist you in preparing something more relevant to them.

One factor that cannot be overlooked in public speaking is speech ethics, as explained in chapter three. A public speaker should always ensure that they use the right words. The words should also be ones that are culturally acceptable by the audience. You should avoid lying in your speech at all costs. Drawing the audience’s attention while giving a speech is also very important. Drawing the audience’s attention can be done in various methods such as tonal variations and illustrated by the authors.

Group communication is slightly different from other types of communication. The author illustrates how group members should carry on with their discussions to ensure they are effective. A group leader should be chosen to take charge and ensure that everything goes to plan.

What I like about this book is how pictures are used. They make the book understandable and more fun to read. The language used is simple and can be understood by everyone; however, the book is quite long and wordy such that one may get bored easily along the way. The book has clearly explained everything that one would need to become an excellent public speaker in almost all aspects. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to develop public speaking skills to get the best guidelines.

Reference

Fraleigh, D. M., & Tuman, J. S. (2011). Speak up: An illustrated guide to public speaking. Macmillan.