Communication

Embracing Difference

Daniel M Dunn, Lisa J Goodnight

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781351054683
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Communication Studies
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Communication: Embracing Difference, 5e, provides the fundamentals of communication theory in accessible terms and emphasizes the practical application of communication skills in interpersonal, small group, and public settings, which helps students become more confident and successful communicators. Designed for the hybrid class, this new edition offers an enhanced dual intercultural and career-based approach; new examples and breakout boxes throughout draw connections to communicating in the workplace, experiential learning, and communicating in a global society. Offering a foundation that readers can take beyond the classroom, this volume is designed to resonate with the diverse student populations that make up so many campuses today.

CHAPTER 11
Selecting a Speech Topic and Adapting to the Audience

AFTER STUDYING THIS CHAPTER, YOU SHOULD

understand

• ■ the four ways to use yourself as a source for topics.
• ■ the three aspects of the situation you need to analyze before choosing a topic.
• ■ the three demographic factors of an audience.
• ■ the six other audience characteristics.

be able to

• ■ develop three types of surveys to gather information from an audience,
• ■ brainstorm a topic individually or in a group.
• ■ adapt a topic to fit audience needs.
• ■ develop a specific-purpose statement.
• ■ develop a thesis statement.

Rolanda is trying to choose a topic for her first speech. The goal of the speech is to inform her audience about a topic that is important and interesting, and her presentation must be three to five minutes in length. Rolanda has always been active in her community. She has volunteered at the local homeless shelter, served as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and tutored at-risk students at her neighborhood elementary school. As a student, Rolanda is majoring in sociology and hopes to be a social worker. Her instructor emphasized that students should choose a topic they are passionate about and with which they have some past experience.

As a way to find out what her classmates (audience members) know about the local agencies and programs that help people in need and to find out what they are interested in learning about, Rolanda distributes a survey. Although the results are varied, everyone in the class seems interested in volunteering. Several students indicated that they would like to become volunteers in their community. Rolanda decides that volunteering is too broad a topic to cover in the limited time she has, so she decides to focus on Habitat for Humanity and her experiences as a volunteer. To further narrow her topic, however, she will have to do some research.

■■■■■

In this chapter, we will look at the process we go through to choose a topic when we engage in public communication. Specifically, we will discuss the need to analyze yourself, the situation, and the audience. Understanding the unique interests, knowledge, and enthusiasm you possess, and understanding the diversity of your audience, can help you to develop an interesting and thorough public presentation.

SELECTING A TOPIC

Throughout our lives we are asked to deliver speeches, whether it is a presentation at work, a toast at our friend’s wedding, a campaign speech, a victory or concession speech following an election, an after-dinner speech, a eulogy for a departed friend, or an assignment for a communication class. Like Rolanda, a question speakers often ask is, “What can I talk about that will interest my audience?” Frequently, the very nature of the occasion dictates the topic we select. For example, your supervisor may ask you to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the new software program your department just adopted. Some speaking situations (for instance, the communication classroom) require more imagination on our part. For such occasions, we can look to ourselves, the situation, and our audience, or try brainstorming to develop an interesting topic.

YOURSELF

Sometimes the best place to look for a speech topic is yourself. It is logical to assume that you will deliver a more interesting and effective speech if you are comfortable with the topic. Through self-reflection, you can draw from your own concerns, experiences, knowledge, and curiosity to select a topic. You are a unique person with much to share with your audience.

■ Concerns

One of the most important factors that can assist you in selecting a topic is to choose something that is important to you. By doing so, you communicate sincerity to your audience, which, in turn, enhances the quality of your delivery by communicating your enthusiasm. In addition, when you pick a topic that you care about, it is easier for you to concentrate on it during the delivery. You both look and feel more confident before your audience. This positive feeling may inspire you to want to share your concerns with the audience. Consider the following:

Jovan has always helped to take care of his brother, Milo. Milo has a spinal cord injury, and Jovan’s family must help him with his daily needs. For Jovan’s informative speech, he wants to discuss stem cell research and the promises it holds for people like his brother.

■ Experience

Your experiences as a volunteer can help you find an interesting speech topic.

Your own experiences also can help you select a speech topic. Since you are a unique person, you have something special to bring to your audience. Drawing from your own experiences can provide a rich source of topics for you. Furthermore, when speaking from your own experiences, it is easier to visualize what

EMBRACING DIFFERENCE

Adapting to the Audience

Robert, a moderate Democrat, is a local Congressman from a “blue state” that voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. He represents a swing district that is very unpredictable. Even though he was re-elected, his district supported Trump for president. Local businessman, Frank, wants to invite Robert to a house party where Robert will have an opportunity to discuss his views on a variety of political issues. Frank tells Robert that many of the residents in his blue-collar neighborhood are looking forward to the event.

Robert knew he had to maintain his positions on the issues, yet he wanted to connect with this group of voters. In his presentation, he spoke about how impressed he was by the way President Trump evoked passion in his voters. He also voiced his support for Trump’s proposed massive infrastructure program to repair our bridges, highways, and roads because of the jobs it would create. While Robert understood that there were differences between his positions and those of the group assembled in Frank’s home, he attempted to focus on areas of common ground between himself and his audience. After the presentation concluded, Frank praised Robert for his message.

1. How did Robert demonstrate an appreciation of difference?
2. How did Robert analyze his audience in order to tailor his message to the group without compromising his positions?
3. How can this scenario strengthen your confidence as a communicator?

you are talking about, which makes the entire public-speaking experience easier. The following example illustrates this:

Jeanine contracted cerebral palsy at the age of one. During her childhood she underwent several operations to alter the fixed stiffness in some of her limbs, and as a result, she is now leading a rather normal life. She wanted her audience to realize how important it is to not stereotype people with disabilities. When discussing cerebral palsy, Jeanine described her own experiences and emphasized how she was able to overcome many of the disease’s crippling effects. As she spoke, she could help the audience visualize the different stages of recovery she went through with the disease, and as a result, her speech was very convincing.

While Jeanine’s topic is a dramatic one, other personal experiences can be the basis for equally compelling speeches. Consider, for example, renting your first apartment, the thrill of hang gliding, or the birth of your first child or grandchild.

■ Knowledge

Your knowledge about a given topic serves as a reservoir of information you can share with your audience. You know intuitively which points are important to include in your speech and which to omit. This is a distinct advantage over having to research a totally unfamiliar topic and then having to sift through the information to decide what to include or leave out. Consider this example:

Jeff is employed by the A. E. Public Relations Corporation and has a bachelor’s degree in public relations. His company is committed to public service, so his supervisors graciously donated Jeff’s time to the local women’s shelter, the Haven House. The director of the Haven House asked Jeff to prepare a 40-minute presentation to the staff on techniques of fund raising, including creating a new brochure. Since Jeff’s specialty is graphic arts, he decides to prepare several different types and designs of brochures so that the staff can have a foundation to work from. His presentation, then, will focus on how the staff can use his designs to help attract more contributors and increase the awareness of the shelter’s mission in their new brochures.

Jeff’s knowledge of graphic arts allowed him to capably present a speech on the related topic of brochures. Picking a topic that you are familiar with also will help increase your confidence before a group, because you will be comfortable with the fact that you have a certain level of expertise concerning your topic.

■ Curiosity

The process of learning is lifelong. An idea, an event, or a well-known personality may have piqued your curiosity at some point, and now you want to learn more about it in order to share your knowledge with others. Your enthusiasm for the subject will likely contribute to a dynamic presentation. For example:

Mariaha has always been a history buff. Her grandparents have told her stories about the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. She knows that some people believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone and that many others may have been involved. In her research, she discovered information about the “dancing bullet” theory and wanted to share this with her class. Her curiosity proved to be the foundation of an exciting presentation.

THE SITUATION

The second step in choosing an appropriate topic is to analyze the situation in which you will be speaking. Specifically, you want to consider the size of your audience, the time limit, and the size and shape of the room.

The size of the audience or the number of people in the audience is very important. Some obvious adjustments need to be made in developing your presentation based on the audience’s size. For example, with a larger audience, you may find it necessary to be more formal in your presentation, right down to the way you deliver the speech. With a large audience you are less likely to interact directly with members of the audience. In addition, it is more difficult to respond to feedback because it is so difficult to establish...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• UNIT I THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION
• UNIT II INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
• UNIT III PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
• Glossary
• References
• Index
• Credits