The Authentic Speaker: An Intercultural Guide to Public Speaking
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 96
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This book is a guide for anyone who wants to deliver effective oral presentations—teachers, students, industry professionals, and social media content creators alike. The Authentic Speaker: An Intercultural Guide to Public Speaking addresses not only the diversity of audiences but also the diversity of speakers. It is grounded in the belief that authenticity is persuasive. I define authenticity as breaking away from the norms of public speaking that are not aligned with one’s personal and cultural identities, especially in the moment of delivery. In the era of generative AI, the rhetorical canons of delivery and style have become more important than ever. While tools like ChatGPT can generate written content, they cannot embody the breath and presence of a human speaker. Oratory remains a deeply human art—an embodied experience that asks the speaker to engage with their audience artfully.
Author’s Note
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Public Speaking
Definition of Public Speaking
Characteristics of Public Speaking
Speech Anxiety
General Anxiety
Situational Anxiety
Reasons for Speech Anxiety
Dealing With Speech Anxiety
Strategies for Managing Anxiety Peaks
Why Is Public Speaking an Important Skill?
Empowerment
A Return to Orality
Career Advancement
CHAPTER 2 Understanding an Audience
Why Consider the Audience?
Characteristics of an Audience
Gathering Information About an Audience
Topic Selection
Techniques for Topic Selection
CHAPTER 3 Organizing and Outlining a Speech
Logical Organization
Organizational Patterns
Outlining
Complete Outline
Outline Template
Components of an Introduction
Components of a Conclusion
Transitions
Delivery Outline
CHAPTER 4 Delivering a Speech
Delivery Styles
Verbal Delivery
Project Your Voice
Speak in Your Natural Voice
Enunciate
Reduce Filler Words
Regulate the Rate of Speech
Manage Your Tone
Use Silence
Nonverbal Delivery
Hand and Arm Movements
Queer Gestures
Distracting Gestures
Disabilities
Eye Contact
Appearance
Facial Expressions
Presentation Aids
Types of Presentation Aids
Objects and Models
PowerPoints
Person
CHAPTER 5 Developing a Digital Strategy
Video and Audio Aspects to Consider
Lighting
Background
Camera Height
Shot
Volume
Speaker Position on the Camera
Standing Versus Sitting
Personal Appearance
CHAPTER 6 Ethics of Public Speaking
Ethics of Speaking
How to Be an Ethical Speaker
Add Value
Articulate Your Interest
Do Research
Provide Citations
Use Artificial Intelligence Ethically
Declare Personal Gain
Avoid Fallacies
Ethics of Listening
Why Listen?
What Is Listening?
How to Listen?
CHAPTER 7 Informative Speeches
Types of Informative Speeches
Introductory Speech
Demonstration Speech
Culture Speech
Pros and Cons Speech
Sample Informative Speeches
CHAPTER 8 Persuasive Speeches
Part 1: Argumentation
Definition and Structure of an Argument
Developing an Argument
Types of Evidence
Enthymematic Arguments
Part 2: Types of Persuasive Speeches
Position Speech
Policy Speech
Refutational Speech
Sample Persuasive Speeches
CHAPTER 9 Special Occasion Speeches
Toasts
Awards
Introducing an Award Recipient
Award Acceptance Speech
Eulogies
Sample Special Occasion Speeches
CHAPTER 10 Impromptu Speeches
Organization
Examples of Impromptu Speeches
Example 1
Example 2
Dr. Sakina Jangbar received her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in Communication Studies. She is an Associate Professor at St. John’s University in New York where she teaches courses in public speaking and rhetoric.