1. None

2. Attendance, Q&A

3. Speaker Credibility

Your first job as a speaker is to analyze and relate to the audience. In most cases, you will do this by creating Identification--an affiliation or connection between you and your audience. Consider the following ways, borrowed from Practically Speaking, that you can use to build identification as a speaker:

Likability

Can the audience relate to you? Can they like you? Try praising or complimenting your audience. Show compassion and empathy for problems faced by the audience. Tell a story that promotes social cohesion between you and the audience.

Stylistic Similarity

Most of us tend to identify more easily with people who look similar to us. Take advantage of this by matching your audience in dress and formality of language.

Common Ground

Highlight similar attitudes, values and beliefs, even if they are broadly accepted values like Justice.

Beyond this initial identification, you will also want to build your credibility as speaker and this is most easily accomplished with a well-planned and well executed speech introduction.

Credibility: Your believability as a speaker. You are credible when the audience thinks you know what you're talking about.

External credibility: Type of credibility you as a speaker gain by association; use of sources that the audience finds credible.
Internal credibility: Type of credibility you as a speaker gain through specific actions such as dressing appropriately, making eye contact, speaking fluently and confidently.

There are four dimensions of credibility identified by J. Dan Rothwell in Practically Speaking, an excellent recent book published to help speakers address audiences in a more practical fashion:

Competence: The audience's perception of the speaker's knowledge and experience on the topic. "Does this speaker know what he or she is talking about?" Build this area by discussing your relevant background, experience and training. Cite credible sources, speak fluently and don't use filler words.

Trustworthiness: The audience's perception of how truthful or honest the speaker is. "Can I believe what the speaker says?"

Dynamism: The audience's perception of the speaker's enthusiasm and energy. Work to find the perfect level--too much or too little can undermine your speech.

Composure: The audience's perception of how emotionally stable and confident the speaker is. Remember, this dimension is highly dependent on the situation.

Julian Treasure gives an amazing Ted Talk on how to speak so that people want to listen. In this speech, he discusses a trick for being more credible as a speaker: HAIL is the acronym (Starts at 2:55).

HOMEWORK:

Read Chapters 9, 10 and 14.
Complete the rough draft of your preparation outline before our first class Tuesday, Feb. 7. Bring a PRINTED Copy with you.
Work to include a story in your speech introduction and conclusion...ideally transitions.
Brainstorm ideas for graphics to visualize data you use as supporting evidence in your speech.

7. Wrap Up