PUBLIC SEAKING AND GROUP

DISCUSSION
ATHIRA RAVEENDRAN
 It is a process , act and an art of making a speech before an audience.

The first rule of public speaking by ARISTOTLE

Three important factors of public speaking

ETHOS – CREDIBILITY OR THE SPEAKER

LOGOS – LOGICAL ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS OR SENTENCES

PATHOS – ABILITY TO CREATE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPEAKERS AND THE

AUDIENCE.

PUBLIC SPEAKING
 MODERN ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

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 Choosing an appropriate pattern
As a speaker, the first thing that one has to do is to structure one’s speech. Before speeches are delivered
formally, the speaker has to decide the pattern in which the idea will be put across to the audience.
• CHRONOLOGICAL PATTERN
The chronological pattern is the one of the most commonly employed pattern for organizing a speech. In
this pattern, we arrange ideas, keeping in mind the chronology of events. For example, if we required to
give a speech on ‘THE HISTORY OF INDIAN CRICKET’, ‘HISTORY OF MUGHAL EMPERORS’ etc. are likely to
choose a series of events and speak about their development over a period of time.
• CASUAL PATTERN
In this pattern, ideas are divide into two major components- cause and their effects. This pattern is chosen
highlight the relationship between a problem and the reasons behind it. Some of the topics for which you
may require to structure a speech in this format are ‘Corruption in INDIAN Bureaucracy’.
• SPATIAL PATTERN
It is best suited to speeches which have a geographical or structural orientation. Topics such as ‘ AMBER
FORT: its structure and splendor’, ‘THE BIRLA TEMPLE JAIPUR’ etc. fall under this category.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL PATTERN
The speaker arranges ideas in a manner most likely to create an immediate impact on listeners. Essentially
persuasive in appeal, speeches structured in the psychological pattern are emotive in style and sense.
SELECTING APPROPRIATE METHOD

• SPEAKING FROM MEMORY

Some speaker rely on their memory for delivering speech. Speaking from
memory suggests that the speaker has to memorize all the text of his/her
speech and deliver it verbatim.
ADVANTAGES
• Memorizing an entire speech helps the speaker put across his/her
ideas with requisite flair, tone and tenor.
• The speaker has the advantage of casting and re casting the entire
text of the speech, and making it as impressive and emphatic as
possible.
DISADVANTAGE
• It has been observed that the speaking from memory makes a
speaker rely too much on it.
• As the entire text is already memorized by the speaker, it does not
give him/her much scope of improvisation.
 SPEAKING FROM MANUSCRIPT
In sharp contrast to speaking from memory of speaking from the
manuscript. In speaking from the manuscript, the speaker walks in with the
entire manuscript of the speech written.
ADVANTAGES
 Since the entire speech is written out, it adds to the confidence f an

inexperienced speaker.
 As the entire text already written, the margin of error is minimal.

DISADVANTAGE
 As the speaker read from the manuscript, the entire speech making

process looks too formal and monotonous at times.

 Since the speech is already written, the speaker does not have the chance
to make spontaneous changes.
• SPEAKING IMPROMPTU
Unlike speaking from a manuscript and speaking from memory,
extempore or impromptu speeches are those that are delivered on
the spur of the moment.
ADVANTAGES
• Since in impromptu speeches you are called to speak a few words,
nothing much is expected; your listener know that you were not
given a chance to prepare, so they do not judge you strictly.
• Since the speaker delivers his/her thoughts without much
preparation, he/she enjoys tacit public consideration and
sympathy.
DISADVANTAGE
• When someone is asked all of a sudden to walk upon the dais and
say a few words, he/she is bound to feel a bit nervous. Sometimes
the speaker is not able with conviction or clarity.
• Impromptu speeches often lack organization of ideas, simply
because the speaker has no chance to arrange his/her thoughts in
proper order.
 PREPARATION

• 1. Think about the purpose of the speech

Is the purpose of your talk to inform, to entertain, to persuade, or to call your audience
to action? Every speech must have its own topic and reasons for being.

• 2. Analyze the audience

A gossip is one who talk to you about others; a bore is one who walks to you about
himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talk about yourself. Speak to your
audience; know its members and understand their interests, attitude, goals, and fears.
Speak to what they know and care about, and you are on your way to memorable
speech.

• 3. Gather enough material

What do you already know and believe about this topic as it relates to this audience?
What additional research can/ should you do? This has become so much easier with
all that data within instant access on the internet. After you have exhausted your
thinking on your topic, go to the library, ask colleagues and research.
 4. Compose one concise sentence that clearly states your purpose
This will become your focus or even your tittle and as you put the rest of your speech
together, you will constantly refer back to this one line that will keep you on target
 5. Construct an outline
Would you build a building without a foundation? You couldn’t, and you also can’t build
your speech until you lay its foundation, which is the outline. In the outline you will
reduce your ideas to three or four main sentences or key phrases and arrange them in the
most convincing order.

 6. Add support

Now you will fill out the outline by adding explanations, support, facts, anecdotes, and
stories to give depth and meaning to your main points. As a rule of thumb you can spend
5 percent of your time defining the purpose and mood of your speech, 10 percent of your
time outlining, another 10 percent on visual, and 50 percent of your time to spend on
working on the support that colors your speech and brings it to life. Your mood could be
serious, jovial or closely tied with concerns facing the audience. Whatever the mood, the
support you have chosen and ensure that your speech is never boring.
 7. Prepare all visual aids
If your speech needs visual aids, fine: if you don’t need them, or your material does not
lend itself to them, then don’t try to fit them in.
8. Device an opening with impact
If may be humorous, surprising, informative, challenging an opening can be anything original
that works for your particular speech. In business presentations, it’s important to tell your
audience what’s coming up. But you have to do this without loosing its attention. Refrain from
sentences that start out ”Iam DHRUVH, VP of marketing. Today I will be covering ………’’its
dull.to get your audience’s attention first and then explain your purpose.

Its much better to get your audience attention first and then explain your purpose. DHRUVH
could start her talk on the benefits of exercise by saying, “good morning, iam DHRUVH and
will be talking to you today about why exercise is important for executives, no matter how busy
you are. “or he could grab his audience, “ did you know that 20 minutes of exercise three
times a week can add 10 years to your life? Good morning, iam DHRUVH, and after my talk
you will be able to walk out of here ready to begin a sound exercise program.

Refrain from saving major surprise for the end, and grab people with facts and your focus
early on.
9. Craft your conclusion
Build up to it, even if you are ending by summarizing your main points. Then end the
speech with a strong, dynamic challenge that tells the members of the audience what
you expect them to do with the information you have given them. Conclusion, like
openings, must be memorable.

10. Get your timing down

Part of practicing your delivery is timing your speech. we speak approximately 150
words a minute. When it comes time to deliver the speech keep a digital clock or a
watch on the lectern where you can see it easily, or have somebody in the audience
signal you when have five minutes left. As you approach these final five minutes, you
will know you have just enough time left to finish an important point before going
into your closing statements or before asking foe questions.
11. Make a last- minute checklist

A key aspect of preparation is controlling and preparing your speaking environment. Avoid last -

minute problems by making sure you take care of all the little details. Other details to attend to

before you speak can include:

a)Deciding what you are going to wear

b) making two copies of your text or notes

c) Knowing you have podium

d) Preparing visual-aid equipment and lighting

 FEEDBACK
Feedback is the response from the listeners
Feedback is the response that listeners provides to the sender of the message.
Feedback is the cue of the speaker to modify or regulate what is being said. Feedback
can take the form of verbal or non-verbal responses to an in-person speech, or
verbal response which are electronically captured for large or remote audience.

In- person verbal an non-verbal feedback

• Verbal feedback
During the speech you may solicit feedback from the audience by asking a
simple question. Audience members may respond verbally or they may nod or
raise their hands. Additionally, audience members may ask a question or let
you know if they do not understand.
• Non-verbal feedback
When you are in front of the audience, non-verbal behavior can be an
important cue to what the audience understands, the level of attentiveness,
excitement or agreement, or confusion or disagreement. The non-verbal
feedback may be intentional vocalizations, such as groans or
encouragement(such as clapping).
Some examples of body language that you may notice displayed consciously or
subconsciously by members of the audience:
1. Boredom: it is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes looking
straight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused.

2. Disbelief: this is often indicated by averted gaze or by touching the ear or

scratching the chin.

3. Attentive eye contact: consistent eye contact indicates that a person is interested
and thinking positively about the speaker’s subject.

4. Body position and posture: Audience members will generally face the speaker
while listening intently: if the audience members are not interested they may shift
the body position to the side rather than toward the speaker.
 INTRODUCTION

GROUP DISCUSSION
 GD’S are now being used as an
important step in the selection of candidates
both in private and government organizations.
Regarded as an effective tool in the recruitment
process besides job interviews, a GD play an
important role in selecting the best and the
most suitable candidates from many who apply
for the same post. It is also used as a tool to
study the behavioral and attitudinal responses
of the participants.
DEFENITION

 A GD is a formal discussion which involves 6 to

15 participants who sit in a group to discuss a
topic or a case given for this purpose. It is a
methodology used by an organization to gauge
whether a candidate possesses certain
personality traits and or skills that are desired
of him/her. In GDs, the group member have to
interpret, analyze, and argue, so as to discuss
the topic or case threadbare as a team.
 HOW TO PLAN
• TRAIN YOUR MIND
To participate and to present your ideas in a GD, you need to organize your thoughts in a
structured way. For this, train your mind to analyze thoughts and ideas logically.

• LISTENING
As in every forms of communication, listening is an important act in GDs too. You need to
develop the patience to listen what others say attentively.

• BE OPEN-MINDED
This means, you have to respect the opinions of others same as it is also important to agree
that people think differently. Acknowledge that, what others are presenting also valuable.

• BE YOURSELF
You won’t be able to become a different person for 10 minutes if you are not an actor, no, if
you are not a good actor. Best way to perform in a GD is to become the better self.be natural.
Your body language, you mannerisms…..everything is important.

• BE A LEADER
Initiation of the discussion, motivation group members to speak or encourage on their views,
converting the whole discussants into a team etc. will help you score marks in GD,s
 PREPARATION
There are no specific rules to prepare for a GD. However, below are few points that a
person can keep in mind while preparing for a GD.

• STOCK YOURSELF INFORMATION

No one knows what the topic of GD is going to be. Hence, it will be a good idea to keep
yourself a best with topics like:

• CURRENT AFFAIRS
It is something that you have to be thorough with. For this, read newspapers regularly
and watch news on the television. Understand the recent crises that the world is reeling
under, the latest developmental initiatives, the ties between various countries and the
like.

• HISTORICAL TOPICS
Have a fair knowledge about the countries history and also the history of other countries.
The topics may not be specifically from this areas, but having historical information will
help you cite examples and make reference whenever needed.
 SPORTS, ARTS AND LITERATURE
In these topics, try to have a decent idea about what is popular, who are the
leaders in each area, the latest that has happened in these areas. If the topic for
GD is from these areas, then you will be in control of the situations, or else you
can definitely use the information to draw references.

 DATA CRUNCHING
Do familiarize yourself with important data. Throwing in some data if required
in your GD will definitely create an impression among the assessors.
 EVALUATION
 PARAMETERS
First impression
Evaluate on the basis of :
 Good self introduction

 Good and relevant opening to the topic.

 WORD CHOICE
Evaluate on the basis of:
 Using polite and assertive words when arguing or disagreeing

 Avoiding aggressive/ridiculing words

 Using terms relevant to the topic

 BODY LANGUAGE
Evaluate on the basis of:
 Eye contact

 Posture

 Hand gestures and facial expressions

 VOLUME AND RATE OF SPEECH
Evaluation on the basis of:
 Appropriate modulation and speed of speech(not too fast or too slow

 Appropriate volume(not too loud or too soft)

 COMPREHENSIBILITY
Evaluation on the basis of:
 Clarity of thoughts(what she/he said)

 Clarity in speech(how she/he said it)

Thanks