Principles of Public Speaking

Unit Eleven: Listen to This!

While the right to talk may be the beginning of freedom,
the necessity of listening is what makes the right important.

- Walter Lippmann

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This week your work will focus on critical listening skills. You will concentrate on using your listening to become a better consumer of persuasive messages.

Key topics for this week include:

· The importance of listening;
· Common problems in listening;
· Types of active listening;
· Ways to improve your listening skills; and
· Using feedback to improve your talks.

What to do:

· Watch Videotape #9: Listening Skills;
· Read Chapter 3 of your textbook;
· Submit your preparation outline for your persuasive speech;
· Develop your speaking outline; and
· Rehearse your talk and fine tune your delivery.

Persuasive Speech Preparation Outline (0-25 points)

A preparation outline of your talk is required and must be submitted one week before delivering your talk. Consult Chapter 10 of your text for more information. Be sure to include your speech title, purpose, thesis statement, and bibliography. (Use a standard academic format for citing your sources.)

This outline will assist you in fine tuning your talk since your instructor will provide you with feedback during the week.

 
You are on Unit Eleven of the Course Guide.
Click here for tips on listening well.
Click here for tips on outlining your talk.
Remember that you are asking your audience to make a voluntary change in belief, attitude, behavior or value.
Do consider using the Monroe Motivated Sequence for your organizational pattern. Click for Ron St. John's handout.
Click here to move to Unit Twelve of the Course Guide.
Copyright 2001-2003
Contact Nan Peck at npeck@nvcc.edu
Updated 4/22/03