HOW DID YOU DO?
Using a Microphone
When speaking to a very large audience, you
may need to use a microphone to reach more
people and to speak in a conversational, person-
to-person style.
Before the speech, check the microphone by
talking into it to see if the height and
volume are correct.
Speak directly into the “mike” (about four to
eight inches away is usually best), but do
not lean into or away from it.
Use a lapel mike if possible. This allows
you to move around more than with a
stationary microphone, but avoid turning
your head away from it.
Don’t rustle papers. Sounds will be
magnified.
Don’t be afraid of using a microphone. Try
to produce a natural sound by listening to
your voice to see if the “s, z, sh, and th”
sounds are whistling or hissing too much.
Acknowledge Your Sources
When using materials written or spoken by
someone else, be sure you acknowledge the
source. For instance, a poem, quote, or passage
from a book can be used as long as you identify
who the author was. Using someone else’s exact
words under the pretense that they are your own
is called plagiarism.
You should also be able to back up what you
say. If you want to state that there are 15,000
meadowlarks in Nebraska, you should also tell
the source of information. You want to appear as
a credible source to your audience, that is, a
person to be trusted for accurate and truthful
information. One of the most common faults of a
speaker is the failure to give credit to sources or
to make a statement of fact without proper
documentation or evidence of research.
After giving a speech, people often do not go any
further to become a good public speaker. There
is more to it than just the speaking. A good
speaker knows the value of their speech. Some
speeches can be very good in content, but not be
delivered well. Others may not expand enough
on their subject. Every speech should be
reviewed to determine the strengths of the speech
and how it can be improved. Use the scorecard to
evaluate your speech to make you a better public
speaker.
Through the years, as you gain experience and
confidence, you might want to try different
speaking techniques, but starting with good basic
skills will make you a much better speaker. The
old saying of “practice makes perfect” is a good
guideline to follow. The more speaking
experiences you have the better you will become.
Public speaking benefits are almost too
numerous to count, but perhaps the most
important one is the confidence that you develop
in yourself.
IN THE FUTURE
Everyone can benefit from public speaking
experience. Your life will be richer if you
develop skillful communication with other
people. Almost every profession that comes in
contact with the public needs people like you
with speaking skills. There are unlimited
opportunities in fields such as television and
radio, teaching, law, medicine, sales,
entertainment, public relations, farming, and
many, many more.
The 4-H Public Speaking Contest is just the
beginning. Take the opportunities that arise to
speak at your 4-H club meetings, school groups,
organizations, or community clubs. High school
speech contests are good experiences because
you have the chance to participate in activities
such as dramatic interpretation of poetry and