©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 17

Speaking Across the Life Span

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Speaking As Storytelling

• The significance of storytelling• Reframing “speeches” as stories• Narrative probability• Narrative fidelity

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Having Something to Say

• Read a daily newspaper• Read a weekly news magazine• Alternate between reading works

of fiction and non-fiction• Observe other people speaking• Bookmark on-line sources of

memorable quotations, anecdotes and aphorisms

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mastering Impromptu Speaking

• Memorize quotations, stories, interesting facts, and statistics for opening and closing

• Have at least 3 things to say• Hitchhike off ideas of previous

speakers• 3 Tell ‘ems:

tell ‘em what you plan to tell ‘em, tell ‘em tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Speaking on Special Occasions

• Speeches of acceptance--the art of being gracious

• Speeches of introduction--turning attention to another

• Speeches of recognition--acknowledging someone’s accomplishments

• Speeches of commemoration--eulogies, noteworthy events (e.g., 4th of July)

• Speeches to entertain--the most difficult of all

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Always Remember . . .

• Your purpose• The occasion• Your audience• Time constraints• Room constraints• Do your homework

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Leading and Participating in Groups

• Types of groups• Group functions• Leading groups• Leadership functions• Panel discussions

©2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Speaking on TV

• Anticipate questions• Memorize key points• Dress conservatively• Keep answers short (45 secs. or

less)• Focus eye contact on interviewer,

not camera