Speech Anxiety
Speech anxiety _____ when we care too much about how we’re perceived (self-presentation = managing our image).
increases
1. Why is Speech delivery important? Delivery is essential for _________
2. Which one is more important and why: Content vs. Delivery
3. What is the Elaboration Likelihood Model?
--> What are two main routes to persuasion it suggests
-->_____ route involves careful, logical thinking about the message
-->_____ route relies on superficial cues like speaker attractiveness or emotion.
4. T or F? Credible movement is dynamic and purposeful
1. Bad delivery kills good content. Delivery is essential for credibility
2. ✅ Delivery > Content, especially for low elaboration audiences (Elaboration Likelihood Model).
3. explains how people are persuaded by considering a persuasive message
-->central and peripheral
-->central
-->peripheral
4. T
1. Two Criteria for Good Topics:
1. Need-to-know, Neat-to-know
Speech Organization Benefits:
a. _____ memory, clarity, and credibility.
b. Memory ______:
Organized content moves into ______ memory.
Helps, Consolidation, long-term
Two parts of Conclusions:
Summary
Clincher
Explain the difference between- Performance vs. Communication Orientation:
Performance: Feels like acting → more anxiety. Communication: Feels like everyday conversation → less anxiety.
1. Two Guiding Principles of Speech Delivery:
2. Explain Proxemics (The study of _____________)
3. Three Key Aspects of Delivery:
--> who did the study to show this
1. Conversationality – Natural, not stiff.
Immediacy- Emotional closeness; audience feels you're “with” them.
2. Study of space between speaker & audience.
3. 1. Eye contact 2. Movement 3. Fluency (no fillers)
-->(Levasseur & Munz)
In general we sgould _____ lists
2. What are the Three Battles of PS- which one is hardest to win
avoid
2. Attention ✅ (Most important), Comprehension, Retention
c. More Attitude Change:
_____ effect: Better organization = ____ credible.
_______ effect: Key ideas repeated are _____ persuasive.
Credibility, more
Repetition, more
______: Ties to attention step.
Rounding Technique: Ends with something ___ yet _______.
Clincher, new, familiar
1. Four Theories of Speech Anxiety
2. Which 2 are proven to be correct?
1. Heredity Theory – It’s in your genes. (Not supported.)
2. Social Learning Theory – We learn fear from reinforced behaviors. (Also not supported.)
3. ✅ Skills Deficit Theory – We fear it because we lack training.
4. ✅ Expectancy Theory – We expect to fail, so we do. Rooted in symbolic interactionism.
1. What are Hall’s Distances and which distance should we be at as speakers
2. Get as ______ as possible to your audience without making them ___________
3. Vocal Fillers (um, like): ____ credibility & fluency.
4. Stop writing _____ hours before speech.
5. 3 Gestures/Stance Rules:
Use ______ arms.
_____ pre-plan gestures.
______ “flipper” or crossed-arm gestures.
3. Hall’s Distances:
1.Intimate: (0–18")
2.Personal: (18"–4')
3.Social: (4'–10')
4.Public: (10’+)
Personal or Social
2. close, uncomfortable
3. hurt
4. 24+
5. whole, Don’t, Avoid
1. Retention Rate:
Audience retains only ___ of a speech.
2. Lists: Should be ____, _____, _____ to help memory.
1. ~10%
2. clear, simple, and well-organized
4 Main Parts of a Speech:
_______ = Central idea.
= Forecast of main points.
Thesis
Preview
Transitions
Summary
Thesis, Preview
Why are Conclusions Important:
Recency effect
1. When is anxiety highest?
2. Explain the difference between: Arousal vs. Performance
3. How does Audience-Centeredness affect your Anxiety and speech quality?
4. How does Cognitive Load affect your Anxiety? →What recommendation number supports this?
1. Just before the speech starts – the intro is hardest.
2. Some arousal (adrenaline) is good – it boosts energy. Too much → performance drops
3. Focusing on the audience reduces anxiety and improves speech quality.
4. High mental load increases anxiety. Reduce it by keeping speech simple → Recommendation #9.
1. In Speech Rehearsal, Practice _____ anxiety
2. What are the two Phases of Speech Rehearsal and how do you do each one?
3. What are the 3 stages of Fitts’ Model of Skill Acquisition and what happens in each one?
4. Explain the difference between- Linear vs. Transactional? Which one should we use?
5. Rules of movement: 1. Be _____ most of the time. 2. When you move, _____: 3. ___ steps, motivated, during transitions.
1. lowers
2. -Oral phase – talk through ideas, not exact words. -Simulation phase – replicate actual speech experience.
3. - Cognitive Stage – You’re learning what to do; performance is slow and requires conscious effort and attention.
-Associative Stage – You refine the skill with practice, making fewer errors and becoming more efficient.
-Autonomous Stage – The skill becomes automatic, requiring little conscious thought to perform.
4. Linear = sender → receiver
Transactional = interaction (adapt as you go)
Transactional
5. still, really move, 3+
-Explain Instrumental vs. Expressive School: Which one does PS favor
-Cognitive Load Theory:
Audience has _____ processing power – ____ content is better.
Instrumental: Play a role to be effective ✅
Expressive: Be your authentic self
→ Public speaking favors instrumental.
-limited, simple
i. Memory Limits (Miller):
Hold _____ ideas in short-term memory.
ii. Development Rule:
____ ideas developed fully are better than many underdeveloped.
**iii. Points:
Short speeches = ___ main points max
Long speeches = ___ max**
j. ____ = Connective sentences between points.
k. Good Transitions:
Use _____
Show logical ____
l. ______ = Review with thesis + main points.
m. Good Summary = Brings back ____________.
n. Common Mistakes:
Missing ______ transition
Not restating ____ in summary
o. Repetition:
_____ memory and persuasion.
1. 7 ± 2
2. Fewer
3. 3
4. 6
5. Transitions
6. keywords
7. flow
8. Summary
9. thesis and previews
10. first
11. thesis
12. Boosts
PowerPoint as a Speech Aid
a. Benefits:
_______ attention and clarity.
b. 7 Rules for Effective PowerPoint: Hints below
1. Keep _______
2. Match visuals to________
3. Use large________ (size ______)
4.Avoid ________ on ______ backgrounds
5. Use simple_______
6. Don’t _____ yourself _____ the slides
7. Speak to the ______, not the _____
c. Dual Coding Theory:
______ coding = images
______ coding = words
Explain Integrated vs Non-integrated : Image + words match ✅
d. Arousing Images:
_____ = emotional attention
________ → high cognitive load
Does it Help or hurt your attention?
Does it help or hurt comprehension and retention?
a. Enhances
1. Keep slides visible
2. Match visuals to message
3. Use large fonts (24–28)
4.Avoid yellow/light text on light backgrounds
5. Use simple animations
6. Don’t trap yourself behind the slides
7. Speak to the audience, not the slides
c. Visual, Verbal
integrated: Image + words match ✅
Non-integrated: Image doesn’t match ❌
d. Arousal, High arousal, Help, hurt
9 Ways to Reduce Speech Anxiety:
1. Treat it like communication, not a performance.
2. Don’t memorize exact wording.
3. Start with an easy intro.
4. Don’t reveal your anxiety.
5. View adrenaline as helpful energy.
6. Don’t aim for perfection.
7. Focus on the audience.
8. Practice!
9. Keep it cognitively light– reduce mental load to reduce anxiety.
1. 4 Reasons Eye Contact Is Important
2. What's the Big Rule when it comes to eye contact?
3. Hold Eye Contact for ___ seconds (___ thought).
4. It’s the _____ skill to master
5. Anxiety ____ eye contact.
6. Gen Z uses ____ eye contact than previous generations
7. Three Qualities of Vocal Delivery:(hint- CEA)
8. What are the Four Modes of Vocal Delivery and which one is correct? (hint- MMIE)
1. Builds relationships, Regulates flow, Key immediacy cue, Signals confidence & intelligence
2. Hold eye contact longer than you think
3. 3, 1
4. hardest
5. reduces
6. less
7. Conversationality, Enthusiasm, Articulateness
8. Manuscript ❌, Memorized ❌, Impromptu ❌ ✅ Extemporaneous (outline + practice)
Four Qualities of Rhetorical Sensitivity
______ conscious
_____ personal complexity
Adapt role to____
4. Appreciate _________
Interaction conscious
Accept personal complexity
Adapt role to audience
4. Appreciate communicability
________ = Forecast of main points
5 qualities of a Good Preview:
6 Qualities of a Good Thesis:
Speech Preview
1. Short
2. Clear
3. Catchy
4. Parallel structure
5. Max 3 ideas
1. Short
2. Clear
3. One idea
4. Encompasses speech
5. No persuasive language
6. Instantly Repeatable
-Primacy Effect:
-Recency Effect:
Three Intro Steps:
______: Story, humor, question, stat, quote. (It ____ be Clear and fast.)(_____ predictable stories.)
_______: Connect topic to audience.
______: Only if speaker has real expertise.
- First impressions last.
- Final words are remembered.
Attention, Should, Avoid, Relevancy, Credibility