I was forced to take a public speaking class as part of my degree requirement. I hate public speaking with the intensity of a million suns; however, after taking that class, it no longer scares me. Most people are NOT natural public speakers ... my professor said that only about 28% of people are naturals at it; everyone else LEARNS how to do it.
I secretly think my professor in that class was an ISTJ. :tongue: :crazy:
He had a set formula and specific rules for the class. Some of them were extremely strict, and they were all enforced.
- No gum (docked points if you didn't spit it out before your speech)
- No hats (take it off before your speech or you'd get docked)
- No tardies beyond 5 minutes (you'd get docked, and if you were ½ hour late or more, you'd get a 0 for the night)
- If absent, you HAD to provide documentation (tow truck receipt for car trouble, etc.)
- If you missed class more than three times, it was an automatic fail and you had to retake the class.
- If you missed class on speech night, even if you made up your speech, you automatically got docked two letter grades on your speech.
- If you didn't make up your speech, it was an automatic fail in the class and you had to retake the class.
- Speech folders: outline on the right hand side, source material on the left hand side. They had to be turned in immediately prior to giving speech.
- NO cell phones. If caught texting/talking, first warning was a general class warning. Second warning the prof. would specifically call you out. Third warning you were released from class and got a 0 for the night.
- Index cards were not required, but you weren't docked for using them, either. I always used them. In fact, I color-coded them with highlighters and magic markers to keep myself on track (because we had to cite sources during our speeches). I also numbered them just in case.
- We were allowed to use the podium, but I decided that BEFORE my first speech that I would not. I saw it as an impediment to doing well in the class and so I always moved it out of the way and just went for broke, basically.
- We had someone timing us (every minute they would hold up cards to let us know how long we'd been up there). Again, I thought it would be an impediment, so I requested they NOT be used when I gave my speeches (we had the right to decline).
Anyway, for someone who was terrified of public speaking ... I ended up walking out of that class with an "A". I still don't like it, but I had a great professor who basically instilled that preparation is key, and that if we're prepared, we can give a very effective speech. My best speech personally was my demonstration speech*, but I did equally well on my informative and persuasive speeches.
*It was that speech that I decided I wasn't going to let a class of 28 intimidate me. I showed the class how to pack a small carry-on suitcase that would meet TSA guidelines and keep you for a week, without having to check luggage (I never check luggage - if I can't carry it on, I don't take it). Anyway, my "attention getter" was to wait until everyone was waiting for me to start; I slammed the luggage down on the table as hard as I could and said, "Now that I have your attention! How many of you are ready for a vacation from school? Because I know that *I* am!!!"
Needless to say, although it went completely against type for me, I was able to carry it off. The only thing I got docked for? I went over time by 12 seconds and got dinged 2 points.
Oh, I also meant to say, that L-R-C was important in his class (eye contact, left-right-center) as well as gesturing with the hands (which is another reason to NOT use the podium btw).
HTH