Communication Strategies

Purpose of speech
Generally, the purpose of speech is to describe a persons thoughts, perceptions and feelings. However, different speeches may serve differing purposes it is the potential audience that assists a public speaker in determining the purpose for which the speech is aimed at (Davidson 19). There is one principal purpose of a speech the speakers ability to engage the audience with the main proposition or idea. A speech must aim at actively capturing the attention of the audience and maintaining their undivided attention throughout the period that the speech will last. Prior to delivering any kind of speech, it is very crucial for a public speaker to determine the reason as to why he or she wants to give the speech (Davidson 19). Most public speakers tend to view speeches as solely intellectual activities whereby ideas or thoughts presented to the audience are meant to assess their truth and integrity. Much as this perception is valid, it is also incomplete. The purpose of a speech must be wholesome and planned prior to delivering it there is a wide range of ways of communicating ones ideas in making a speech (Ferraro  palmer, par. 2).

An ideal speech usually carries three objectives. However, the speaker attaches special emphasis upon these objectives in relation to the context in which his or her speech will be delivered (Ferraro  Palmer, par. 3). To begin with, the speech must aim at conveying an insight of some given information. This is the most common objective of majority of public speeches. It is mostly achieved through oral presentation, especially in circumstances where the audience does not have to ask any follow-up questions. It requires the speaker to put extra care in reviewing the audience because replication of familiar ideas or knowledge is not only a waste of time but also a negative signal to the audience (Ferraro  Palmer, par. 3).

Persuasion
Effective speeches go beyond the level of mere information and reporting but attempt to persuade the audience that the interpretation, assessment and conclusion based on the speech delivered is true. Persuasion takes place when the audience is convinced that the speakers conclusions relate to the information or knowledge that they sought to understand (Ferraro, palmer, par. 4). To achieve this purpose, the speaker needs to be well informed, truthful and sincere as well as possess the ability to articulate his conclusion. These conclusions should possess sentiments, understanding and be resolute. A persuasive public speaker is not only able to convince the audience about the ideas and thoughts he or she is presenting but also gains a reputation from the audience as an orator and intellect (Ferraro, palmer, par. 4).

Motivation
 Speeches ought to stimulate an audience towards taking an action.  The objective of motivating the audiences requires the speaker to understand the passions of their audience. This implies that the speaker must be well familiar with the informational needs of his audience and the knowledge or ideas they need to be stimulated in taking an action (Ferraro  palmer, par. 5). Martin Luther Kings speech I have a dream is a good example of a speechs purpose in motivating the audience. In this speech, he did not only assert that equality in race was justified, but also argued that it was necessary if America was to realize dignified aspirations of the declaration of independence and the constitution. In framing his speech in such a manner, Dr. King achieved in pleading to the passions of the whites who were in his audience since they were the ones who, according to the circumstances, required some motivation in order to take action (Ferraro  palmer, par. 5)

Audience analysis
Audience analysis refers to the act of determining the significant features of an audience so as to come up with the most excellent format, style, arguments and information when speaking. It also involves understanding the uniqueness, characteristics and personality presented by the particular type of an audience (Laskowski, par. 2). The knowledge of the audience enables the speaker to understand the social situation in which he or she speaks. It enables the speaker to establish a strategy of generating arguments which suit the audience best. The preparation of a speech ought to also include the gathering of information regarding the type of audience the speaker will handle as well as their specific needs, otherwise, a very carefully prepared speech delivered to the wrong audience will have similar effects with a poorly and carelessly prepared speech, delivered to the right audience (Laskowski, par. 2). The importance of audience analysis can be summarized in the words of Lenny Laskowski, which he refers to as the 9PS to effective audience analysis Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance of the Person Putting on the Presentation (Laskowski, par. 2).

For a speakers presentation to be successful, it must aim at the opinions, knowledge and wants of a potential audience. Therefore in analyzing the audience, the speaker needs to answer questions on how he or she would determine the knowledge of his audience, their opinions, wants and needs (Laskowski, par. 3-4). The more a speaker is familiar with the kind of an audience that he or she will be handling, the more likely he or she is to deliver the speech in a relaxed manner since he or she is assured that the message is landing into the right ears. For many effective public speakers, sending out questionnaires to their potential audience is a rewarding effort towards gathering adequate information concerning their needs (Laskowski, par. 3-4). The most likely questions that the questionnaire seeks to obtain include the type of audience, what level of understanding they have on the subject, their age, sex, educational backgrounds, why they are attending, what are their needs, and what specific needs they would like the speaker to address (Laskowski, par. 3-4).

The Methods of Collection and Organizing Material Effectively
 The first step in preparing for any public speech involves collecting and reading loads of information concerning the subject. This ensures that one is well and adequately informed on the subject of the speech. There are various methods that public speakers use in collecting and organizing materials effectively. As a requirement, all of them should have the goal of gathering facts and arranging ideas so as to come up with a presentable final product (Woolf, par. 3-5). Public speakers naturally generate material for their speeches from books, journals, magazines, the press, the internet, personal life experiences and examples, discussions with friends and colleagues, issuing out questionnaires and interviewing people on the subject matter. In organizing the materials for a speech, the speaker needs to arrange his or her ideas logically. Organizing the thoughts and ideas involves outlining the key areas chronologically and sticking to the outline all through the session of the speech (Woolf, par. 3-5).

Speech Structure
 In public speaking, a good speech structure involves the use of attention-getting opener, a well organized essay that follows naturally throughout the body of the speech, and a well thought out conclusion. Attention- getting openers are used to arouse immediate attention and curiosity from the audience. They give the speaker the advantage of immediate capturing of the thoughts of the audience (Davidson 59). Such opening statements could be the thoughts of a well known speech professional (for example Martin Luther) or an experience that brings out the subject into practical real life application. The opener should then naturally connect with the body of the speech which should be logically organized. This assists the speaker in explaining the subject well without confusing the audience with juggled up statements and thoughts (Davidson 59).  Finally, the conclusion is important as it states the outcome or the advantage of the subject being discussed. A good speech ought to adopt a diamond shape, starting off with an attention-getting opener, expanding to the main body and eventually condensing with the well thought conclusion (Davidson 59).
Clear Articulation, Good Projection, Variety and Animation in Presenting the Speech

The Importance of Clear Articulation
In public speaking, articulation is the art of being able to express oneself in a logical and lucid way. It is the pronunciation feature which puts together all the articulatory organs so as to form the sounds in a presentation (Peterson, par. 1-5). Proper and clear articulation in public speeches enables the speaker to communicate with confidence. Additionally, it ensures that the audience gets the proper meaning of the words used in the speech. Clear articulation is important to every public speaker because almost all public speeches involve oral presentations over and above the other methods of presenting the ideas (Peterson, par. 1-5). Clear articulation also helps the speaker to reduce tension and anxiety when delivering a speech because it allows the words to come out clearly and naturally. This is facilitated through the use of sound breaks when speaking it keeps the tongue in proper check so that words do not flip off the tongue in a manner that they were not intended to. A public speaker who is able to articulate effectively saves time. This is because it is less likely for the audience to ask for clarifications of words and sounds which they cannot properly hear. It also gives the speaker credit from the audience because it creates the impression of public speaking professionalism (Peterson, par. 1-5).

The importance of good voice projection
The vocal tone that the speaker uses during the speech determines the kind of response he will receive from the audience. The voice projection needs to be balanced, affirmative and influential. Whether the voice is commanding or soft depends on the kind of audience that the speaker is addressing. Good voice projection ensures that the speaker is loud enough while at the same time not too loud to sound noisy. It also creates a good rapport between the audience and the speaker (Greene  Felicia, 5- 7).

The Importance of Variety
Use of variety is essentially important when delivering long speeches or technical subjects. This is especially when demonstrations and practical examples are used so that the audience can understand. Particularly, presenting a new technology that will be useful to a certain group or a new method of solving a problem in a simplified manner may call for the use of a variety of methods of presentations in a speech (Greene  Felicia 7).Various methods and styles used by public speakers include oral and power point presentations, diagrams, charts video tapes, audio tapes and demonstrations. Variety prevents boredom and lack of concentration from the audience while at the same time demonstrates prowess and professionalism in the speaker which is very important. Variety is also important because it helps the audience to understand the concept better and quickly than the use of just one style because, what cannot be explained in words of mouth can be clearly put in a diagram or a video tape (Greene  Felicia 7).

Animation helps the speaker to gain and keep the audience in total attention. This is because the audience in our current generation is more occupied. People have so much on their minds and concentrating on something which is grossly captivating is quite difficult. Animation serves to ensure that what cannot be put in words of oral presentation can be easily understood by the audience (Boyce 8).

The Importance of Nonverbal Variables
When a speaker is presenting a speech to an audience, he or she is more like an actor performing at the stage. Therefore, the speech should never be like a lecture to the audience because these might disorient the audience and prevent them from concentrating. Non verbal variables include the body language and eye contact amongst others (Davidson 49). Body language involves moving arms, using facial expressions or movement of the whole body, depending on the empathy or emotion of the subject being discussed.  The use of body language demonstrates passion and familiarity of the speaker with the subject of discussion. Eye contact on the other hand reflects confidence and also helps the speaker to see the reaction of the audience on what he or she is delivering (Davidson 49). The development of proper non -verbal variables is also a key component in generating humor during the presentation and which helps to draw back the attention of the audience and make them lively. Humor also assists the speaker to break tension and feel more affiliated with the audience. Standing, moving about or walking with the right facial expressions or hand gestures is more appropriate than just sitting and reading from the notes on the desk (Davidson 49).

The importance of using the visuals in public speaking
It is a common practice by the best public speakers to complement their presentations with visual aids such as objects (for example people, books, globes, models and animals), graphics, charts, and demonstrations when delivering their thoughts and ideas to an audience. The visual aids present an added advantage to a speaker especially in the current high tech generation. Rzadkiewicz (par. 2) puts it that a picture is worth a thousand words. This statement applies especially when the speaker needs to provide information that involves a process. Visual aids assist the public speaker in gaining and maintaining the attention of the audience. They are used as reinforcements of the message being communicated because people find the presentation more convincing as they can hear and see as well. When the audience views the presentations in demonstrations or in charts, they are not likely to misinterpret the message. In addition they gain a more defined understanding of the subject matter (Rzadkiewicz, par. 2).

To be able to use the visual presentations in a simple and less technical manner, the speaker needs to first understand the kind of audience that he or she will be handling. For instance, PowerPoint presentations which are widely preferred by public speakers are very useful and effective public speaking tools (Rzadkiewicz, par. 3-6). However, if they are not used in the right way, they end up making the presentation complicated to the audience. For simple and clear use of this aid, the speaker should first of all make sure that the whole audience can clearly see every slide without any difficulty. More importantly, he or she should make sure that all the information in the slides is error free. The speaker should also make each slide as short as possible so that the audience will not find it too long to read from the screen (Rzadkiewicz, par. 3-6). Visual presentations should be presented in a way that the speaker does not literally repeat the message on the screen. Rather, he should explain it because repeating creates an impression of lack of professionalism. Also it is very important to ensure that all the technologies needed to keep the visual presentation working are properly functioning, and some backup is available in case of technical interruptions (Rzadkiewicz, par. 3-6). For the visual presentations that do not require scenes, such as charts, graphics and flipcharts, the speaker should place them strategically so that every person can see and also use simple language in explaining the contents of the visual aid. Audio visual tapes should be made as short and captivating as possible. The picture and the sound system should be clear and the speaker should not interrupt when the video is still continuing- in case he wants to elaborate a certain part, he or she should first put a pause on the video before explaining (Rzadkiewicz, par. 3-6).

Analysis of Evaluation of the Student Speaking Experiences
Some students shared their experiences in public speaking and its outcome. For most students, public speaking is a real problem that can make them avoid some courses which involve a lot of oral presentations (Boyce 8). However, for the students who like speaking in public, it is the course they love most since it is interactive and helps them in developing public communication skills.  Most of the students experiences after giving a public speech only reflected anxiety and fear of the audience. Some students said that they get very upset thinking that the others are looking at them when (Boyce 8).

One student prepared an extensive and outstanding handout on a topic and then distributed copies to everybody in class. According to the student, no one looked at her when she started her oral presentation. Instead, they concentrated on reading the hand out. However, if a speaker wants the full attention of the audience, they should give out the handouts after the speech or else give the audience sometime to go through the speech before they continue (Boyce, 8). Another student demonstrated a brief video clip in the process of his presentation, because he was too tense to speak without first taking a break for a few minutes. Afterwards, he told the professor how several students liked the presentation as it featured some students (Boyce, 8).

Suggestions for Improvement
Most students find it useful to draft a sheet of paper containing the key phrases or words they intend to use in their presentations. They said that they find it better not to put everything in the sheet because they might tend to read from it during the presentation which lowers the standard of the whole presentation (Boyce 8). Other students prefer using large fonts in drafting the short notes so that they may be able to easily read from them. Prior practice of the presentations also worked well as it ensured a good speech delivery. In addition, others said that taking a video of their presentations during the practice sessions helped them in evaluating their tonal variations. Therefore, they were able to improve on the mistakes they made before the actual speech presentation day (Boyce 8).

For public speakers, speech is meant to serve various purposes so as to ensure that it is worth listening by the audience, informative or educative and also persuasive. Therefore, public speakers utilize a number of methods and tools that are geared towards ensuring that they have captured the total attention of the audience for as long as the speech lasts. This is what forms a complete speech and every public speaker must combine the elements discussed above to make their speech not only interesting but also effective in accomplishing its goals.