PublicSpeakingforProfessionals

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Researchers interviewed over 9,000 Americans in a nationwide survey and their subjects were asked to list their greatest fears. The top fears listed were public speaking; speaking up in a meeting or class; meeting new people; talking to people in authority; important examinations or interview; going to parties; and talking with strangers. Clearly, communicating publicly is anxiety-inducing for many. Yet in an increasingly competitive world, public speaking is becoming more and more vital to success. This course will tackle these fears head-on by instructing students how to organically build speeches, presentations, and public comments. The emphasis will be on maximizing students’ personal voice and pairing that with time-honored techniques used by the finest orators. Gaining confidence and skill as a public speaker comes only through meticulous preparation and rehearsal. There will be readings, lectures, and discussion; but the bulk of a student’s time will be spent preparing, delivering, and evaluating speeches and presentations. By the end of this course, students will be able to speak to a wide variety of audiences, from a small classroom to a large convention gathering. Along the way, they will bolster their writing skills, become more focused on editing their speeches for time and clarity, and learn how to make their presentation skills more engaging, even for “dense” topics.