The Effective Speaker

Freshman Speech classes -- a full-year long -- were required in the core curriculum at PCC.  I lucked out, I think.  The professor -- Monk -- was quite a tough grader; and the TA for small groups -- Pinter -- was effective.  In hindsight, for what I have long done in my career, I believe this was a pretty important class for the introvert that I was (and am!). 

One of the really horribly boring things that we had to do, though, was to memorize 10 Principles of the Effective Speaker.  These were terrible to memorize, but I do think I actually internalized them.  They're so good that I may have recorded them somewhere before, but I want to do it again in case I didn't.  (And I might end up throwing this old sheet of paper away once I do this now.)  Without further adieux, here they are -- The 10 Principles of the Effective Speaker:

1.  The effective speaker is a person whose character, knowledge, and judgment command respect.

2.  The effective speaker has a message to deliver, has a definite purpose in giving that message and is consumed with the necessity of getting that message across and accomplishing that purpose.

3.  The effective speaker realizes that the primary purpose of speech is the communication of ideas and feelings in order to get a desired response.

4.  The effective speaker analyzes and adjusts to every speaking situation.

5.  The effective speaker chooses topics which are significant and appropriate.

6.  The effective speaker reads and listens with discrimination, neither blindly accepting the ideas of others nor stubbornly refusing to consider opinions opposed to his own.

7.  The effective speaker secures facts and opinions through sound research and careful thought so that his speech, both on and off the platform, may be worthy of the listener's time.

8.  The effective speaker selects and organizes materials so that they form a unified and coherent whole.

9.  The effective speaker uses language that is clear, direct, appropriate, and vivid. 

10.  The effective speaker makes his delivery vital and keeps it free from distracting elements.