Introduction to Public Speaking

About this course: This course gives you a reliable model for preparing and delivering effective presentations. In business, in school, and in public life, we are often called upon to “make a few comments.” Often, people tasked with such speeches become flummoxed. They might not know what to talk about, or ramble without making a point, or simply be confusing to listen to. This course is designed to help you shine where others falter. We’ll learn how organize talks clearly, write them memorably, and deliver them confidently. By the end of the course, you should be able to significantly reduce your fear of public speaking, use rehearsal techniques to develop a strong, vibrant speaking voice, and perform speeches with dynamic movement and gestures. The speech model that we’ll practice is useful for briefings, elevator talks, interviews, and even as a structure for hour-long presentations. If you’re a beginner, this course will help you quickly master the fundamentals of speaking. If you’re a seasoned speaker, this course will help you better understand public speaking and push you to the next level.

Created by:  University of Washington

• Taught by:  Dr. Matt McGarrity, Principal Lecturer

  UW Department of Communication

Basic Info Course 1 of 4 in the Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization Level Beginner Commitment 5 weeks of study; 2 hours per week. Language English, Subtitles: Vietnamese How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


Week 1: Understanding speech



Thank you for joining Introduction to Public Speaking! I am thrilled at the prospect of a global discussion about good speech. Let's get started! In this module, we’ll focus on the basics of the course and how rhetorical canons will help us structure our time. Then we’ll turn to the important ways that speaking and writing differ. By the end of this week, you should have some tools for evaluating your speech writing. If you want some feedback, you’ll be able to upload an introductory speech for peer review.


13 videos, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Welcome!
2. Video: Course and assignment overview
3. Video: Week 1 overview
4. Video: What is rhetoric?
5. Video: Rhetorical situations
6. Video: The canons of rhetoric
7. Practice Quiz: Rhetoric
8. Video: Speech is a natural medium of sound
9. Video: Don't treat speaking as writing
10. Discussion Prompt: Speaking and writing in action
11. Video: How do we talk?
12. Video: Good delivery is easy to understand
13. Video: Week 1 review
14. Peer Review: Introductory Speech (Optional)
15. Video: Introductory speech sample
16. Video: Recording good speech videos

Graded: Week 1 quiz

WEEK 2


Week 2: Making ideas compelling and memorable



Now that we have the course foundation out of the way, we can work on our basic speech model: the key point speech. I love this format. It's the Swiss army knife of speeches. This basic model works in interviews, short presentations, elevator talks, and can even structure an hour long presentation. After overviewing the assignment, we’ll talk about how to plan out your speeches. By the end of the week, you should have some tools for quickly putting together short presentations. You can practice this by analyzing some speeches.


14 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: Week 2 overview
2. Video: Key point speech overview
3. Video: Key point speech rubric
4. Reading: Key point speech rubric
5. Video: The components of a memorable point
6. Video: Can you hear these components?
7. Video: Outlining and flowing
8. Video: Inventing key points: Topics
9. Video: Inventing key points: How many points?
10. Discussion Prompt: Practice inventing points
11. Video: Arranging key points: Subordination
12. Video: Arranging key points: Coordination and discreteness
13. Video: Stylizing key points: Phrasing
14. Discussion Prompt: Revising for arrangement and style
15. Video: Week 2 review
16. Reading: Speech analysis #1 overview
17. Video: Key point speech for analysis
18. Reading: Matt's feedback
19. Video: Improved key point speech
20. Discussion Prompt: Speech analysis #1 discussion

Graded: Week 2 quiz
Graded: Speech analysis #1

WEEK 3


Week 3: Illustrating and delivering your ideas



This week, we’ll talk about support and arrangement. The lessons here will immediately help all of your other presentations. Why? Because we need to think about how audiences hear our ideas in real time. There are things we should be doing to help listeners instantly organize and process the information we’re presenting to them. By the end of the week, you should be able to discuss evidence clearly and highlight your speech's organization. If you want some feedback, you’ll be able to upload a practice elevator speech for peer review.


14 videos expand

1. Video: Week 3 overview
2. Video: Finding the right support
3. Video: Discussing your examples concisely
4. Video: Performing your key point
5. Video: Sample performance of a key point
6. Video: Highlighting speech structure
7. Video: Introductions
8. Video: Transitions
9. Video: Conclusions
10. Discussion Prompt: The importance of arrangement
11. Video: Revising your speech
12. Video: Practicing and remembering your speech
13. Video: Week 3 review
14. Video: Optional: Key point speech with structure identified
15. Video: Sample elevator speech

Graded: Week 3 quiz
Graded: Elevator speech

WEEK 4


Week 4: Overcoming your fear of public speaking and developing great delivery



This week, we'll discuss speech apprehension and delivery. I know the fear of public speaking is a pressing topic for many. Why didn’t we start the course with this? Because I think many delivery concerns go away if the invention and arrangement are good. However, invention and arrangement are just part of the equation - now we can supercharge our delivery. By the end of this week, you’ll have some techniques for combating those butterflies and speaking confidently. If you want some feedback, you’ll be able to upload a practice key point speech for peer review.


16 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Week 4 overview
2. Video: What is public speaking apprehension?
3. Video: The causes of public speaking apprehension
4. Video: Reducing your public speaking apprehension
5. Video: Example of public speaking apprehension
6. Video: Analyzing the example
7. Discussion Prompt: Discussing the example
8. Video: Breath control
9. Video: Projection
10. Video: Pitch
11. Video: Rate and pauses
12. Video: Gestures
13. Video: Movement
14. Discussion Prompt: Models of movement and gesture
15. Video: Week 4 review
16. Peer Review: Practice Key Point Speech (Optional)
17. Video: Sample key point speech
18. Reading: Speech analysis #2 overview
19. Video: Sample speech
20. Reading: Matt's feedback on the sample speech
21. Video: Improved speech
22. Discussion Prompt: Speech analysis #2 discussion

Graded: Week 4 quiz
Graded: Speech analysis #2

WEEK 5


Week 5: Course conclusion and your final speech



Thank you for time in this course. I hope the material has proven helpful in some way. We concluded our discussion of the speech last week. I would like to spend a bit of time reflecting on the course and talking a bit about the other courses in this specialization. We will end this week with your final key point speech.


3 videos expand

1. Video: Course review
2. Video: Other recommended courses
3. Video: Sample key point speech

Graded: Key Point Speech