Deliverables Step 1: Select A Public Speaking Event

Deliverablesstep 1select A Public Speaking Eventusing Your Course Mat

Deliverables Step 1: Select a public speaking event. Using your course materials and the Internet, research an event during which an intended message was delivered successfully. The event could be based on fact or fiction. For example, perhaps you watched one of the President's speeches on television, or maybe you watched a movie in which a character delivers an effective speech. Write a short summary of the event that includes the following information:

• Type of event
• The setting of the event (where, when, and so on)
• The audience for the communication
• Main goal of the message being delivered

The purpose of the summary is to aid you in completing the paper in Step 2.

Paper For Above instruction

For this assignment, I selected President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address delivered on January 20, 1961, as a quintessential example of effective public speaking. The event was a formal presidential inauguration held on the steps of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The setting was historic, public, and significant, drawing a live audience of thousands of Americans and a global television viewership that extended the reach of Kennedy's message to millions worldwide. The audience comprised government officials, citizens, media personnel, and international spectators, all poised to hear the president articulate his vision for America during a pivotal era. The main goal of Kennedy's speech was to inspire unity and resolve among Americans, emphasizing themes of patriotism, service, and collective responsibility, while also addressing Cold War tensions and the need for national resilience. This speech was structured to motivate the nation towards action and to affirm leadership during uncertain times.

Analyzing the communication elements in Kennedy’s inaugural address reveals the intricate and precise nature of effective public speaking. The speaker, President Kennedy, was the central figure, utilizing his oratorical skills—intonation, diction, and presence—to command attention. His clear and persuasive message focused on national unity and shared purpose, which resonated deeply with his audience. The listeners, comprising the domestic audience and global viewers, served as the receivers, with Kennedy’s speech addressing their hopes, fears, or aspirations. Feedback was evident through the immediate applause, standing ovations, and later, national and international responses, which indicated the speech’s impact and resonance. The channel of communication was primarily through live speech complemented by televised broadcast, which expanded its reach exponentially. The physical setting of the inauguration—an outdoor event on a cold winter day—created a solemn, historic environment that heightened the speech's significance. External noise factors, such as weather conditions or crowd distractions, had minimal influence, owing to Kennedy’s commanding delivery. The encoder, Kennedy himself, carefully selected symbols—rhetorical devices, pauses, and gestures—to effectively convey his message. Conversely, the decoder—the audience—interpreted these symbols through their cultural and emotional lenses, attaching meaning aligned with national pride and hope.

The success of Kennedy’s speech largely hinges on the mastery of certain critical communication elements. Among these, Kennedy’s authoritative tone, the clarity of his message, and his ability to connect emotionally with his audience stand out as pivotal. His use of evocative language and rhetorical devices such as parallelism and repetition ensured that his message was memorable and impactful. The environment further contributed to this success; the grandeur of the inaugural platform and the symbolic nature of the event framed the speech as a momentous national occasion, elevating its importance and fostering a sense of unity. Additionally, Kennedy’s adept handling of feedback—reading the mood of the crowd and responding with appropriate gestures—enhanced the connection and reinforced the message. In this way, specific elements—especially the speaker's delivery, the clarity of the message, and the environmental setting—collaborated to make this public address highly effective. These elements worked seamlessly because they appealed to both the rational and emotional faculties of the audience, ensuring the message was understood, felt, and remembered, ultimately contributing to a successful communication event with lasting historical significance.

References

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• Chatman, S. (1978). Story and discourse: Narrative structures in fiction and film. Cornell University Press.
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• Stella, A. (2014). The power of rhetorical delivery: Understanding persuasion in public speaking. Journal of Communication Studies, 42(2), 180-195.
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