Chapter 1: Introduction to Public Speaking

While public speaking is not a favorite activity for many, it is one of the most important skills we can develop. It helps us to articulate our thoughts clearly to inform and persuade others about important issues in our lives. This first chapter will begin by examining elements that influence our public speaking success: the transactional model of communication and speech anxiety to give us a solid foundation with which to understand how to be successful. First, the transactional communication model provides insight into the context of the speaking situation we must consider to be a successful speaker. These elements are critical to consider as we move through the speechmaking process. Second, we must examine our speech anxiety to be able to employ strategies that will help us overcome it. Once we understand the context and our anxiety, we will be able to move forward overcoming the many obstacles that stand in our way of speech success!