INTRODUCTION

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is the act of delivering a speech to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner. The message conveyed in the speech should add knowledge and wisdom to the listeners or the message should be able to influence their attitudes and behaviour.

A public speech is delivered within a limited time constraint; therefore, feedback and comments are either non-existent or are left until after the speech.

What makes a public speech effective?

You need to observe certain principles to ensure that a speech is delivered effectively. To do this, you need first of all to have the knowledge of the topic of the speech. You can do this by making early preparations of the main points to put forward, supporting them with relevant details and adding attention-catching statements so that you can speak with force and clarity. Next, you have to make sure that the points of your speech are organised logically and atically. In addition, you also need to select vocabulary which is appropriate to your listeners. The rate of delivery and your volume are equally important to maintain attention and interest. The use of non-verbal communication is also as important as the verbal message itself.