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THE ESSENTIALS OF EXTEMPORE

SPEAKING

The Essentials of Extempore Speaking

CHAPTER I

OVERCOMING THE DREAD OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC

A. THE DREAD OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC

There may be plenty of "big" speakers but the average man, young or old, educated or uneducated, experiences an unpleasant sensation when asked to talk in public. Often he flatly refuses such an invitation, and if pressed, perjures himself in offering excuses which may effect his escape. Sometimes for business or social reasons he cannot evade the necessity of addressing an audience. Then comes a period of worry, premonition of failure, and dread. His brain is agitated with the recollection of anecdotes and the construction of apologies for the poor speech which he expects to make. Finally, the average man gets through with the thing somehow and again resumes his peace of mind. Surely at a time when public utterance

affords so many opportunities for helping one's self and others, this situation is to be deplored.

B. OVERCOMING THE CAUSES OF DREAD

If we are to overcome this dread we must attack its causes. These fall mainly under three heads: the anticipation of "stage-fright," a mistaken idea of what is expected of a speaker, and poor prep

aration.

I. "Stage-fright"

The embarrassment felt upon facing an audience is not to be laughed away, for it is something very real as anyone whose knees have smote beneath him will testify. Indeed, however simple the occasion or small the audience, it is undoubtedly a test for the beginner to stand before the focused eyes and attentive ears of people who are checking up the words and thoughts as they fall from his lips. Even if the speech be only a toast at a convivial dinner, the position carries a measure of responsibility. The audience is silent; the speaker has the floor; he is expected to say something which has information or wit or, at least, good sense in it. And for the unpracticed person to satisfy that expectation is confessedly no trivial

matter.

However, the difficulty is greatly exaggerated by the speaker's imagination. He assumes that

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