Lesson 4: Delivery Techniques
Prefer to listen to this lesson? Click below:
Scenario
Imagine that your school has decided to cut funding for arts programs, including music, theater, and visual arts.
You decide to write a speech that will change their minds.
At the end of this workshop, you will create a persuasive speech that effectively communicates your thoughts and ideas on the importance of arts programs in schools, using various public speaking skills.
In the last lesson: you learned techniques to manage your nerves and anxiety, including practicing your speech and reframing anxiety.
In this lesson: you will learn about public speaking delivery techniques, including vocal variety, body language, and how to use visual aids.
As you read: think about how you will use these techniques to create a powerful and engaging presentation. You will be graded on your use of these techniques during the Superstar Challenge.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, participants will be able to
Discuss how using vocal variety can enhance a speech and keep the audience engaged.
Explain how different elements of body language, such as posture, gestures, and eye contact, can convey confidence, credibility, and authority to the audience.
Identify the benefits and potential drawbacks of using props and visual aids in a speech.
Important Questions to Answer While Reading
In order to be successful in this lesson, you must be able to answer these important questions.
Evaluate the importance of body language in public speaking. How can you use confident posture, eye contact, and other nonverbal cues to convey credibility and authority to the audience?
What are some practical ways to use props and visual aids during a presentation? How can speakers ensure that their props and visual aids enhance their presentation rather than distract from it?
Compare and contrast the benefits of practicing vocal variety and body language for public speaking. How can you effectively practice these skills to improve your overall presentation?
Marjorie North says that “Nonverbal communication carries most of the message.” Erika Couto from Erika Couto Inc says that “Use open body language and practice allowing your tone to help dictate the audience’s emotional response to your talk.”
This lesson will discuss using nonverbals such as vocal variety and body language to convey your message clearly. We will also discuss filler words and visual aids.
Vocal Variety
Vocal variety refers to the range of pitch, tone, volume, and pace used when speaking. It is an important aspect of public speaking because it can add interest and energy to a speech and help the speaker convey their message more effectively.
Using vocal variety can help a speaker emphasize certain words or phrases, convey emotions, and keep the audience engaged. For example, if a speaker wants to emphasize a particularly important point, they can slow down their pace and speak more loudly. Alternatively, if they want to convey a sense of urgency, they might speed up their pace and speak more quickly.
Vocal variety can also help a speaker convey different emotions, such as excitement, enthusiasm, or seriousness, depending on the topic of the speech. Using a range of tones and pitches can help the speaker create a more dynamic and interesting presentation.
It is important for speakers to practice using vocal variety so that they can use it effectively during their presentations. They can practice by reading aloud or practicing their speech in front of a mirror, paying attention to their tone, pitch, volume, and pace. It can also be helpful to record themselves and listen back to identify areas where they can improve their vocal variety.
Here is some more information on volume, tone, and pace.
Volume or dynamic range refers to how loud or soft a speaker's voice is. The best way to get someone’s attention is to break a pattern. Look for places in your speech where you could vary your volume. Varying the volume can help emphasize key points and create a more dynamic speech. For example, a speaker might increase their volume when making an important point or decrease it when discussing minor details.
Emotional Tone: Emotional tone refers to a speaker's voice quality. Varying the tone can help emphasize important points and keep the audience engaged. For example, a speaker might use a more serious tone to discuss a topic of grave importance while using a lighter tone for more lighthearted topics. A good way to use tone is to match your real emotion to your words.
Pace: The pace of a speaker's voice refers to how quickly or slowly they speak. Varying the pace can help keep the audience engaged and highlight key points. For example, a speaker might slow down when discussing a particularly important point or speed up when discussing more mundane details.
Filler Words
Examples of filler words include so, like, um, okay, well, er, uh. Filler words become annoying and distracting when overused. To find out if you overuse filler words, record yourself talking and listen for filler words. If you catch yourself about to say a filler word, pause and correct yourself.
Body Language
Body language is essential to delivering a speech because it can help you convey confidence, credibility, and authority to your audience. Connect with the words you say emotionally, and strong body language will follow naturally. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Confident Posture: When you go in front of your audience, use a relaxed and confident posture.
Do the body language basics: stand up straight, pause, and make eye contact. Smile when appropriate.
Avoid doing distracting things: When you’re new to public speaking, fidgeting is often an issue. Fidgeting can take your audience’s attention away from your message.
Record and watch your rehearsals or performance. Find things you did well. Look for one area to improve.
Write content you believe. When you use great content, authentic body language flows.
Props and Visual Aids
Marjorie North says to be careful when using audiovisual aids because “too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention”.
The number one reason to use props is for demonstration purposes. Showing the prop is better than talking about it. If you don’t have the prop, use a stand-in such as a model, photo, or video.
You also might want to use a prop to provide a concrete metaphor for an abstract or numerical concept. To demonstrate market share, use a pie chart.
The last reason you might want to use a prop is for dramatic effect. For example, Bill Gates released a few mosquitos into the room to provide a dramatic effect.
Here are some ways to use props effectively:
Practice with your aids: Practice your presentation with audiovisual aids to ensure you are comfortable using them and that they add value to your presentation.
Remember that every slide in your presentation is a prop. You might need to eliminate it if it isn’t demonstrating something, serving as a metaphor, or adding a dramatic effect.
How you present props can enhance their effectiveness.
Closing Assessment:
Evaluate the importance of body language in public speaking. How can you use confident posture, eye contact, and other nonverbal cues to convey credibility and authority to the audience?
What are some practical ways to use props and visual aids during a presentation? How can speakers ensure that their props and visual aids enhance their presentation rather than distract from it?
Compare and contrast the benefits of practicing vocal variety and body language for public speaking. How can you effectively practice these skills to improve your overall presentation?
Discussion Question
Directions: Please answer the following question in the comment section below and interact with learners from around the world.
How can you use body language, vocal variety, and props/visual aids to create a powerful and engaging presentation? Provide specific examples of how you could use these techniques.
Please read and reply to other learners’ answers in the forum by stating if you agree or disagree with their answers and why. Your replies should offer new substantiated ideas or thoughtful questions.
Workshop created by Darcy Rice
or try a prompt below!
