Purpose * The purpose of effective public communication differs based on the intenti on of the message.

For example, a public relations representative might use mass media to repair a company s public image after an alleged scandal breaks out. In this situation, effective public communication is intended to inform th e public. On the other hand, a billboard's intention is to entice an audience to buy a product or service. Effective public communication is used to inform, edu cate, persuade and inspire the audience. Central to the art of public speaking is the method used to prepare and deliver speeches. If we are sure we know how to go about preparing and delivering a spee ch, our fear subsides and we can lose ourselves in the preparation of our remark s. Good preparation will allow us to deliver the speech with confidence and ofte n with pleasure The purpose of this article is to outline and explain the steps of a tried and tested method. 1. Determine the purpose of your speech. Good public speaking is purposeful. The re should be a good reason for the time and energy spent in preparing, deliverin g and of course listening to the speech. The best measure of a speech is what it does for the audience. Therefore the speech purpose should be defined in terms of the audience reaction. To determine the purpose of the speech ask the questio n, "What do you want the audience to do as a result of hearing your speech? 2. Select the Central Idea of the Speech The careful selection of the central id ea is one of the most important steps because a major goal of good public speaki ng is the communication of ideas. The central idea is the unifying factor of you r speech. This is achieved by breaking the idea down into subdivisions which can be used as headings for your speech. 3. Selecting the Means of Presenting the Central Idea. Once the central idea has been decided on the speaker is ready to select the means most appropriate to hi s task. Depending on the task the speaker will select one of, or, a combination of the following means;- Humour - should they joke with the audience Narration tell a story Exposition 'present data Justify- argument Motivation - appeal to the audience's emotions 4. Researching Information to Support Your Ideas. There are 4 general sources th at the speaker may go for help and generally in the following order (i) From him self - the knowledge and experience they have already gained (ii)Reading/Watchin g - from various sources e.g. internet, books, films (iii) Talking with others interviewing by phone or face to face (iv)Writing or emailing for data 5. Selecting and Arranging Your Research (Outlining.) It will be usual if your r esearch has been thorough that you will have more data than you can use for your speech. You will then have two problems. The first is what you should keep. The second is what order will you present the material. You will principally refer to the central idea to select the material to include in the speech, based on th e relevancy of the material. The secondary points to consider in selecting the i tems to present are: (i) What is the most interesting? (ii) What is the emotiona l impact? (iii) Which is briefest? (iv) Which is most illustrative? (v) Which ha s the most authority? The arrangement of the materials follows a 3 part process to prepare a working o utline; (i) Into 3 parts 'introduction, body and conclusion (ii) Headings arrang ed into a logical order (iii)The material put in order to support the heading 6. Practicing the speech. Like a play you should deliver your speech several tim es in front of friends and if possible in the room where it is to be delivered.

The closer the practice conditions and surroundings are to the actual conditions you will face the better prepared you will be for the actual delivery of your s peech. You should practice your speech until you become familiar with it but not so often that it is committed to memory. You should not commit to memory becaus e you will probably lose the conversational quality of the speech and the speech becomes inflexible. 7. Delivery Of The Speech. A speech should be seen as a sincere effort to commun icate and this is done best in a direct, conversational, and lively delivery. It is a sincere effort to communicate not an act or a performance. Approach the po sition you will speak from enthusiastically. Take a firm but comfortable stance. Your hands should be at your side except when you are gesturing. It is good to move to enhance an idea or relieve any tension you may be feeling. Parts of Speech Table