Chapter 10

Effective Writing and Speaking

Many people can write, but few can write well.  The same is true of speaking.  Some people speak with authority while others seem embarrassingly inept – whether they are nor not.  The ability to write well and speak well makes a tremendous difference in how the rest of the world perceives you and how well you will communicate throughout your life.

As far as speaking in public, most people of any age consider this their number one fear.  If you’re nervous about turning in a paper or giving a presentation, you are far from being alone. 

In almost every occupation we can think of, you will be expected to think, create, communicate, manage, and lead.  That means you will have to write and speak well.

PROPER COMMUNICTION IN WRITING AND SPEECH

Writing and speaking are direct representations of who we are.  Experts suggest there’s no single, universally accepted standard for how to speak or write American English.  Even so, school systems, professional communicators, and businesses all have standards and, not surprisingly, the rules do not vary dramatically from place to place.

FREEWRITING

Free writing simply means writing that is temporarily unencumbered with mechanical processes, such as punctuation, grammar, spelling, content and so forth.  In other words, it’s a way of writing without trying to write and edit at the same time.  

A good exercise to experience what freewriting feel like  would be to write for at least ten minutes, nonstop, about whatever y0u want without giving any attention organization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.  Remember, no one is going to read this.

EXPLORATORY/EXPLANATORY PROCESS

Exploratory writing helps you first discover what you want to say.

Explanatory writing then allows you to transmit those ideas to others.

PREWRITING, WRITING, AND REWRITING PROCESS

Most writing teachers agree that the writing process consists of these three steps:

·        Prewriting or rehearsing.   This step include preparing to write by filling your mind with information from other sources.  It is generally considered the first stage of exploratory writing.

·        Writing or drafting.  This is when exploratory writing becomes a rough explanatory draft.

·        Rewriting or revision.  This I when you polish your work until you consider it ready for your public.

Reason many students turn in poorly written papers is that they skip the first and last steps and “make do” with the middle one.  Perhaps its lack of time or putting off things until the night before the paper is due. 

Your Text discusses each of the above stages in more detail and it would be to your advantage to study each as you prepare to write your paper.

ALLOCATING TIME FOR EACH WRITING STAGE

Donald Murray has outlined how much time a writer should spend on each of the three above listed writing steps:

·        Prewriting:  85 percent (including research)

·        Writing:      1 percent

·        Rewriting:   14 percent (revising till it’s right)

SOME FINAL OBSERVATIONS ON BECOMING A BETTER WRITER AND THINKER

First and most important, start writing the day you get the assignment, even if it’s only for ten or fifteen minutes.  That way, you won’t be confronting a blank paper later in the week.  Dig for ideas.  Reject nothing at first, then organize and narrow your thoughts later. 

SIX STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL SPEAKING

Much of what we have stated about writing also applies to speaking in public.  Successful speaking involves six fundamental steps:

·        Clarify your objective

·        Analyze your audience

·        Collect and organize your information

·        Choose your visual aids

·        Prepare your notes

·        Practice your delivery

USING YOUR VOICE AND BODY LANGUAGE

Let your hands hang comfortably at your sides, reserving them for natural, spontaneous gestures.  Leave your lectern and move around the room.  Don’t lean over or hide behind the lectern.  Face your audience, and move toward them periodically while you are speaking.  Other helpful suggestions are:

·        Make eye contact

·        Smiling helps to warm up your listeners

·        Pay attention to the pitch  of your voice, rate of speech and volume

·        Pronunciation and word choice is important (fillers such as “um”, “ah”, “like”, and “you know” should be avoided

·        Consider your appearance

THE GUIDE CHECKLIST

G    Get your audience’s attention

U    “You” – don’t forget yourself

I      Ideas, ideas, ideas

D    Develop an organizational Structure

E    Exit gracefully and memorably

WHAT IF ALL ELSE FAILS?

What if you plan, organize, prepare, and rehearse, but calamity strikes anyway?  What if your mind goes completely blank, you drop your notes cards, or you say something totally embarrassing? 

Remember that people in your audience have been in your position and empathize with you.  Accentuate the positive, rely on your wit, and move back into your speech.  Your recovery is what they are mostly likely to recognize; your success is what they are most likely to remember.