Chapter 1 notes:

• Public speaking is part of just about every job you’ll encounter, as well as going through college
• It’s not just giving big speeches, but also how you present and discuss with people
• Canons of Rhetoric:
  • Invention is creating the argument or discussion
  • Arrangement is structuring the argument in the most effective and cohesive way
  • Style is the way in which the argument is presented
  • Memory is how well practiced the speech or argument is
  • Delivery is the non-verbal components, like body language and facial expression or hand gestures
• Public speaking, especially in conversation, can be checked and made more effective through clarification and asking questions of the listener, as well as understanding their non-verbal cues
• Audience/topic/occasion are important parts of public speaking to consider while you arrange your speech or even consider what you might talk about
• Language in writing and language in speech are different lexicons. Speech tends to be shorter and more interactive to retain the attention of the audience, while writing can be more long-winded and single-minded
• 4 types of communication: Dyadic (between 2 people), small group communication, mass communication (the audience is too large for true interaction, or are not present during the delivery), and public speaking (purposeful, to an audience that is present for delivery)
• Interactive process:
  • The source/speaker has the idea, and then encodes it. Encoding is the process of converting thought and idea to words. The message is then delivered to the receiver, who decodes it, or discovers meaning in the words
    • Sources encodes and delivers. Receiver decodes.
  • Feedback is the receiver’s response to the message, both through verbal feedback and body language
  • Channels are the medium in which the message is delivered (phone, social media, text, verbal)
• Context is a way in which the encoding and decoding can differ- context is any way in which the sender or receiver may be influenced, such as culture or emotions. The context in which a speech was conceived and written may be different from the context in which it is received, changing the meaning.
• The goal of the speech is the intended message or purpose of the speaker.

I think this chapter sets up the foundations of public speaking and the thought process that goes into it well. There are clearly defined terms that make the delivery process easier to understand, though I do think it is important to emphasize that the way in which the audience processes the speech may be different than what the delivery intended. Because of the different factors of context and being a human with different experiences than other humans, what may be intended as a reassuring message on the sender’s end may come across are condescending or patronizing to the receiver. Understanding the differences in communication styles and being able to read and interpret body language is incredibly important to the communication process. Ultimately, public speaking is a fairly intricate process that requires both forethought and improvisational skills in the moment, and is a skill that needs practice to be done well.