Public+Speaking

How to prepare a presentation

 * Begin your preparation by developing an outline of the points you want to communicate. Apply pyramid structure principles.
 * Compare how long it takes you to develop/explain those points with the time you have available to you, and adjust the number of points you plan to cover appropriately.
 * Think about and prepare how you will convey those points verbally to your audience, with as much “B-n-ACE” effectiveness as possible.
 * This is an excellent overview on how to think through how to really reach your audience, and how best to persuade them to take your points to heart.
 * Especially consider how you will use metaphor and analogy to clarify and communicate main points.
 * Then decide what visual aids would help you to enhance that effectiveness.
 * Only then turn to making the Powerpoint slides in support of your plan.
 * Only then turn to making the Powerpoint slides in support of your plan.

How to prepare a debate

 * Basically, each delegate must come prepared to speak in favor of her assigned position, and to subvert (in a clear but courteous way) the claims of his/her opponent(s). In your preparation, you should:
 * Formulate the best case you can make for your own position
 * Anticipate the claims that your adversaries will make for theirs, and consider how you will counter these.
 * For information on the topic of the debate, debaters should plan to draw on:
 * The homework readings assigned through the date of the debate, and especially on any homework readings assigned to the entire class for the day of the debate.
 * Additional material listed in Section 3 of the Lesson for the day of the debate.
 * Brainstorm a list of all points that could be made in favor or against the proposition
 * Reorder all points on your side under three arguments that would be most striking and memorable
 * Reorder all points on the opposite side under three arguments that would be most striking and memorable
 * Choose and modify the supporting arguments on your side to give the most effective support to your main points. Prepare 1-minute versions and put them into suitable documents, one per supporting argument, for use by the speakers to whom you assign each supporting role.
 * Note the main supporting points you expect from the opposing side, under the three main arguments
 * Under each main argument you anticipate from the opposing side, write "counterargument". Prepare and write down an effective counterargument.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Time your planned opening statement. Adjust your planned points to better fit the time. Do likewise for your closing statement.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Developing the required communication skills

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember to “B’n’ACE”: Bridge the gaps between you and your listeners, and communicate authority, enthusiasm/energy as well as practice contact with the audience.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nothing beats practicing. Pretend you’re before your audience and practice each skill separately before putting them all together.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If possible, film yourself speaking. Usually there is no more effective spur to improvement than to see one’s bad habits on the screen!

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dress

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To convey an image of authority, it usually helps to dress seriously and impressively. You may want to have jacket and tie (or equivalents) on the day of your event.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Supporting materials

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you must rely on written notes, use notecards or similar sized pieces of paper.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consider using visual aids to keep your audience stimulated and mindful of the structure of your argument.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don’t use Powerpoint in debates. These move too quickly and require an appearance of spontaneity.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Probably do use Powerpoint in presentations. However:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don’t duplicate your spoken comments and don’t seem to read from your slides.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be minimalist about verbiage on a slide. Pare down thoughts to their shortest possible "telegraphic" expression.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Try to complement slide text with visual aids or symbols.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Required debate notes

 * There are ten points on the 100-point rubric that pertain to notes you need to distribute to the rest of the class on the day of your debate.
 * Five of the ten points are based on your outline. The other five are based on your bibliography.
 * The key points about your outline should be:
 * It should be in outline form, not in text/paragraph form.
 * It should state the thesis/proposition you are defending.
 * It should provide three main supports to that proposition, and three supports to each main support.
 * It may provide visuals/charts, etc in support of your argument
 * The key points about your bibliography should be:
 * In general, it should use credible, reliable sources, and NOT use other kinds of sources. (In other words, I'll evaluate the quality of your sources!
 * It should include some recommended texts I have listed in the "Additional Materials" section of the lesson web page (not necessarily all of them, as sometimes there are several). I usually include these there for good reasons. I don't expect debaters to do original research for a debate assignment; I want your emphasis should be on "B n' ACE", so in principle, I expect that these supplementary texts I provide should be adequate to your need.
 * It should follow correct Chicago format. Not just in the individual citations, but in the overall organization.
 * Together, the outline notes and bibliography should take no more than two sides of a page.

**Debate format and structure**

 * Each debater will be given up to 10 minutes in total to speak. (In some debates, the limit is 8 minutes. Check the assignment.) It's up to each debater to allocate this time among the various phases of the debate, and his/her turns to speak. You should check periodically with your official timer during the debate to see how much time you have left!
 * Phases
 * Pre-debate
 * Audience receives evaluations forms to fill out during the debate about each debater
 * Debaters hand out to the audience a 1-page outline with just the major points (and a bibliography, in correct Chicago style), by each of the debaters
 * Intro of the debate proposition (by a classmate), and starting of the video recording and the timing of the debate.
 * Debate
 * Opening arguments (in order: First, the "Pro- the proposition", then the "Anti-"). Debaters will continue to follow this sequence in the rest of the debate.
 * Supporting arguments, rebuttals and refutations, and a closing argument, up to the "tent-minute mark".
 * Post-debate
 * Written evaluations by the audience members
 * Vote of the audience and selection of winner of the debate
 * Feedback to debaters about what each did well, could do better

Rubrics and related feedback sheets

 * The [|Classic Debate Rubric]
 * The [|Public Speaking Comments] Form