Public Speaking
One thing you are bound to notice is the different
speaking styles used by speakers. Speaking style is perhaps one of the most
difficult aspects of debating to attempt to "teach". You will have
to develop your own style and preferably one that comes naturally to you.
However there are a couple of things to be kept in mind.
- 1. You must speak clearly and loudly enough so that
your voice can be heard by everyone. Remember the adjudicators will sit
towards the rear of the hall so at the very least they must be able to hear
what you are saying if you are to have any chance of winning. However you
shouldn't shout as the halls have generally been designed so that your voice
will carry towards the back.
- 2. Try to avoid monotone. If you are making an
important point use your voice to stress it and make it stand out. Try to
slowly increase the stress and force behind your voice as you go through
your speech. Build up to a high point and make this the crucial point of
your speech. However don't bring the audience on a rollercoaster ride. Don't
start high, fall down, build-up and fall down again, it looks as though you
are only convinced about the truth of half your speech
- 3. Keep eye-contact with the audience and don't
stare at the podium. It gets easier to do this after some experience and
once you use fewer notes. Some people like to pick out individuals in the
audience and look at them. Others just speak to the audience as a whole.
However you do it make sure to scan the audience and move your gaze to
different parts of the hall regularly.
- 4. Use your body language to back up your speech. If
you stand rigidly and don't move then you will find it very difficult to
have any real conviction in your voice. Use your arms and facial expressions
to convey your emotions and back up your speech. However don't go overboard,
you want the audience's attention to be focused on your speech not your
arms. Try not to have anything in your hands. Some people like to carry a
pen and end up waving it about like a baton which can distract the
adjudicators. If you really need something use index cards.
- 5. You don't have to stand strictly behind the
podium. Move around a bit and face different sections of the audience at
different times. Apparently studies have shown that people tend to prefer to
be able to see the whole person as this is supposed to indicate that you
aren't hiding anything. However, once again, don't go overboard. It annoys
people (and more importantly adjudicators) if you walk too far from the
podium. Try not to go more than 1-2 meters away from the podium. One way to
ensure this is to leave your notes on the podium, you'll find yourself
reluctant to move too far from them.
- 6. Don't be too complicated. If your argument is too
elaborate people may have difficulty following it. Don't use 15 syllable
Latin words when a 2 syllable English word will do. Remember you are trying
to convince the audience that your argument is the best and not that you
consider your talent wasted on them (even if it is).
- 7. Use humour to help win over the audience and make
your speech stand out. If you have a natural talent for comedy or
impersonations etc. then use it. If you don't then don't worry about it,
even the most serious of us can be funny at times (often even without
meaning it). You can work out a few put downs and one-liners in advance but
be careful. If a joke sounds too prepared than it may bomb. Try to make it
sound spontaneous and it's more likely to be successful.
- 8. The best thing to do is watch other speakers and
see how they combine the various elements. Experiment with different styles
and try to find one that you are comfortable with. However the only real way
to develop a good style is to try to speak on a regular basis and listen to
the advice of adjudicators and the more experienced debaters.
World Public Speaking Championships Rules