Presenting Your
Speech Online
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, students should be able to:
1. Discuss the special nature of the online environment.
2. Distinguish between recorded online speeches and real–time online speeches.
3. Explain the five guidelines for online speaking presented in this chapter.
4. Discuss the five major elements of the visual environment of online speeches.
5. Explain the technology of real–time online speeches.
6. Explain the importance of having a backup plan for online speeches.
19
CHAPTER 19—PRESENTING YOUR SPEECH ONLINE 275
276 CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
CHAPTER 19—PRESENTING YOUR SPEECH ONLINE 277
2. Plan to use visual aids in a real–time online speech. Follow the guidelines for preparing visual
aids discussed in Chapter 14. Rehearse the speech with your visual aids using your online
presentation software program. After the speech, analyze how effectively you employed the
aids and what changes you would make if you were to deliver the speech again.
Discussion: One of the best ways to enhance the real–time online environment is with
278 CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
3. Analyze the sample speech with commentary at the end of Chapter 19 of the textbook (“charity:
water,” pages 367–369). View the speech on Video 19.1 so you can see the speaker’s delivery
and use of visual aids. Evaluate the speech in light of the guidelines for online speaking dis-
cussed in this chapter.
Discussion: “charity: water” takes its title from the name of the charitable organization
CHAPTER 19—PRESENTING YOUR SPEECH ONLINE 279
280 CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Adaptation of Nonverbal Communication: The second guideline for online speaking dis-
cussed in the chapter is to adapt nonverbal communication to the online environ-
ment. In “charity: water,” the speaker’s nonverbal communication is poised and
professional. Her voice comes across well, with appropriate vocal variety, and her
facial expressions are natural and pleasing. Because she is sitting close to the
A better option for beginning speakers is to write or print notes just as one
would for an in–person speech. The notes can be placed on a stand or a stack of
books just in front of the computer, but low enough that they will not be visible to
the audience. The speaker can glance at the notes as needed. It will be clear that
Keeping the Audience in Mind: The fourth guideline for online speaking is to remember
the audience, even though they are not present in the same room as the speaker.
Without doubt, the speaker is successful in this regard. She begins by making sure
the audience can see her and hear her, and she ends with a strong personal ap-
CHAPTER 19—PRESENTING YOUR SPEECH ONLINE 281
Additional Exercises and Activities
1. Show students the needs improvement version of “charity: water,” which appears online and
on the DVD of student speeches that accompanies this edition of The Art of Public Speaking.
Have students analyze the speech by focusing on how well the speaker follows the guidelines
for online speaking discussed in Chapter 19 of the textbook.
charity: water
Needs Improvement Version
1 Hold on just a second. Almost there. And, great.
2 Water is a huge issue around the world, and it’s something we often take for granted. Just
think about how many bottles of water we go through every year. Millions of people don’t have
that luxury. That’s why I’d like to encourage you to donate to a charity that helps poor people
access clean water—charity: water.
3 I realize that you probably don’t have a lot of extra money lying around, but this is a wor-
5 Okay. So, the water crisis. Some organizations estimate that over a billion people drink
from a contaminated water source. Then there are millions who don’t have a good way to treat
their water. Some even have to collect water from dirty lakes, rivers, and ponds.
6 Because of all this dirty water, people can get seriously sick and die. In fact, almost half a
9 I should also mention that charity: water is a respected organization. There are Web sites
that rate charities based on how responsible they are with your donations, and charity: water gets
282 CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
CHAPTER 19—PRESENTING YOUR SPEECH ONLINE 283
284 CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
2. Have students complete the Online Speech Preparation Worksheet, which appears on pages
285–286 of this manual, or assign the worksheet from the assignments available in Connect.
Discussion: The Online Speech Preparation Worksheet can be used to help students de-
3. Have students complete the Real–Time Online Speech Self–Assessment, which appears on
page 287 of this manual.
Discussion: There is a great deal of research confirming the pedagogical value of self–
285
Online Speech Preparation Worksheet
Name Section
1. What is the topic of your speech?
2. Are you delivering a recorded or real–time online speech?
3. What is your specific purpose statement?
4. What is your central idea?
5. What method of organization will you use in the speech?
6. State in full sentences the main points to be developed in the body of your speech.
7. What steps will you take to control the visual environment of your speech? Explain with
regard to each of the following. Be specific.
a. Setting:
b. Lighting:
c. Framing:
d. Eye contact:
e. Personal appearance:
286
8. What steps will you take to adapt your nonverbal communication to the online environment?
Be specific.
9. Will you use visual aids in your speech? If the answer is yes, explain the content of each aid
and how you will work the aids into your speech.
10. Who is the audience for your speech? What steps will you take to adapt your remarks to their
background, knowledge, attitudes, and interests?
11. How will you practice your speech for online presentation? How will your practice differ
from rehearsing for an in–person speech?
12. What software will you use for your online speech? Even if you have used the software
before for other purposes (Skype, for instance), what steps do you need to take to make sure
you can use it expertly for your online speech?
13. Can you answer yes to all the questions on the checklist for Presenting an Online Speech on
page 365 of your textbook?
287
Real–Time Online Speech Self–Assessment
Your task is to review your online speech and to reach a full, objective assessment of its major
strengths and weaknesses. Write a thoughtful evaluation of the speech in full–sentence and
paragraph form with an introduction and a conclusion.
Be specific and concrete in your comments. Note in particular the areas in which you believe
you did especially well and those areas in which you would want to make special improvements
were you to present the speech again. Explain why you had difficulty with certain aspects of the
speech and indicate the specific steps necessary to improve future online presentations.
Use the following questions to guide your self–assessment, though you do not need to answer
each question individually in your paper. Be specific and concrete in your comments.
Visual Environment
• Did you speak in a professional–looking setting?
• Was the lighting pleasing and effective?
• Was the framing attractive and appropriate for a real–time online speech?
• Did you speak into the webcam, rather than into the computer screen?
• Did your personal appearance enhance the visual environment?
Nonverbal Communication
• Did you adapt your gestures and facial expressions to the online environment?
• Was your posture confident and straight, but not rigid?
• Did you maintain eye contact with your audience?
• Were your eye movements controlled and deliberate?
Pacing
• Did your speech move briskly yet develop your ideas adequately?
• Did the pacing help the audience focus on you and your message?
• Did you use visual aids to reinforce your ideas and vary the pace of your speech?
• If you used visual aids, did you design them carefully and display them effectively?
Engaging the Audience
• Did you keep the audience in mind throughout speech preparation and presentation?
• What steps did you take to adapt to the audience?
• Did you engage in a mental dialogue with the audience? If so, how?
Preparation, Practice, and Technology
• Did you give yourself enough time to practice in the online environment?
• How did you practice the speech? Did you practice with your software and visual aids? Did
you record the speech and play it back? Did you speak over the Internet to family or friends?
• Did you update your software and operating system prior to the speech? Did you turn off
notifications and close unneeded programs before your speech began?
• Did you take the time to learn your software well in advance of the speech?
• Were you able to use the software expertly during the speech?
Overall Assessment
• What were you most pleased with in the speech? What were you least pleased with?
• If you had an opportunity to deliver this speech again, what changes would you make?