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Monkayo College of Arts, Sciences and

Technology

MIDTERM
Answer Sheet 4
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Learning Objectives:

1. understand the history of public speaking and the nature of

communication;
2. dissect speech using the general principles of logos, pathos, and
ethos; and
3. perform public speaking.

Activity (A Fight for Democracy)

The real name of Ninoy Aquino Jr. was Benigno Simeon Aquino, Jr; but, he is widely known by
his nickname Ninoy. Ninoy came from a family with a history of political involvement and his death
helped to spur political change in the Philippines (source:
https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/biography-of-ninoy-aquino.html

TASK 1: Watch the video clip of one his memorable speeches as he fights for democracy. Write your
answer in a one (1) whole sheet of yellow paper. This will be a graded activity. (50 points)

1. What is the purpose of the speech?

2. What overall effect does the speech sample has on you?

3. How important is a speech in creating significant change in the society?

(Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3XgNKegke8)

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Abstraction

Public Speaking
“Public speaking is public utterance, public issuance, of the man himself; therefore, the first
thing both in time and importance is that the man should be and think and feel things that are worthy of
being given forth.”

The importance of public speaking cannot be denied. Great speeches have moved nations to
war and revolution; they inspire and move people to act. What people say, and how they say it, can get
them elected in public office or create a new movement in society.

Public speaking is an important life skill, yet few people master it. In fact, many people are afraid
of speaking in public. However, the significance has only gotten stronger in contemporary times. Public
speaking platforms, such as TED Talks and YouTube, have captured and disseminated public speech to
an unprecedented scale, and what one says at the spur of the moment can live forever on the internet.

Great speeches have created hope in perilous situations, and have made people change their
minds about the world and their places in it.

A Short History of Public Speaking

1. Greeks

 Greeks studied the art of rhetoric on the island of Sicily, and it began with a practical need.
(Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of
speech and other compositional techniques.)
 Their government had been overthrown, a new democracy was formed, and the Greek courts
were filled with clashing property claims.
 The Greek teacher of rhetoric, Corax, and his student, Tisias, proceeded to help citizens when it
came to speaking persuasively in courts of law, and this led to the expansion of the teaching of
rhetoric to mainland Greece.
 According to Corax, a basic speech has three parts
 the introduction
 evidence
 conclusion
 Protagoras, the father of debate, who made his students argue for and against issues of the day,
to sharpen their reasoning skills and appreciate different sides of an issue.
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 Aristotle, also known as the father of modern communication. He wrote a treatise entitled
‘Rhetoric,” where he discussed the use of:
 logos (logical argument)
 pathos (emotional argument)
 ethos (the speaker’s character and credibility)
 Demosthenes, the most famous orator in Ancient Greece. In the beginning, he had many flaws
when it came to public speaking, chief among them, were his stammer and weak voice.
According to Kleiser (2009), Demosthenes practiced earnestly by “declaiming on the seashore
with pebbles in his mouth, walking up and downhill while reciting,” and that his speeches were
known for their deliberation and forethought.

2. Romans
 Cicero, whose eloquence was described as a “resistless torrent” (Kleiser, 2009). He was a
statesman who argued that the teaching of rhetoric should be considered an art form, and that
this could be useful in “all practical and public affairs.” Cicero believed that in order to prepare a
speech, one should first think of one’s listeners and their interests, and to use certain strategies,
such as using humor, questions, etc., to engage the audience (Morreale, 2010).
 Quintilian, Roman lawyer and educator, also forwarded the idea that public speakers should be
ethical. The ideal speaker is ethical and of high character, and speaking well... a good speaker is
ethical and of high character, and speaking well-meant being well-informed and presenting the
speech effectively.
 It is interesting to note that during these times, women were not allowed to speak publicly in
these countries, and for that for a long time, this was true for women in other areas of the
world.

3. Philippines
 During the pre-colonial times, the Philippines was one of the few places that allowed women to
speak in public for the purpose of presiding over religious rituals. These women were known as
the babaylan, priestesses of the community, and along with the warriors of the community, the
mandirigma, they were the leaders of pre-colonial Philippines (Mallari, 2013).
 Philippines actually has its own tradition of public speaking. It is called different words in
different regions in the Philippines.
 Karagatan – is said to be a game wherein young man and women duel with each other
using words when it comes to talking about love.
 Huwego de Prenda – is a game used to entertain guests and the bereaved family during
wakes.
 Balagtasan – to honor Francisco Balagtas, a well-known Filipino poet. Balagtasan is “like
an ordinary debate, except that one has to reason and argue in verse. Two master
poetss are assigned to defend the pros and cons of an issue, and a board of judges sits
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to determine the winner. At first, this whole enterprise was scripted and staged, but
thereafter, they were made in a more impromptu manner.

4. American Influence
 American brought public education in the Philippines, they also brought their public speaking
traditions along with them. The Americans wanted to distinguish themselves from the Spanish
colonizers by emphasizing public education, and did so on a massive scale. They did this medium
of the English language, which has its own peculiarities and forms, foremost among them is the
dictum to be straightforward. It is anchored on the public speaking tradition founded on
Western Civilization, which is based on the Greek and Roman traditions.
 In this manner, the Filipino public speaking tradition brings with it the flamboyant, poetic
manner that flourished under Spanish colonization, and the simpler, methodical public speaking
traditions of the West.

Read the sample speeches in the book.

Reference: Uychoco, Marikit Tara A & Santos, Maria Lorena (2018). Purposive Communication. Manila.
Rex Bookstore Inc. (2018)

(Read Lesson 4: Public Speaking, pages 29 to 5 to the get the full lesson)

Application (Improving Public Speaking Skills)

TASK 2: Watch the following videos below. Afterwards, answer the following questions. Limit your
answer in 3-5 sentences only.

1. Have you tried talking or delivering a speech in front of many people? How was your experience? Was
it good or bad?

2. What do you think are your weaknesses and strengths when it comes to public speaking (reporting,
delivering a speech, etc.)?

3. After watching the videos, what important points have you gained in order to improve your public
speaking skills?
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Video 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8eLdbKXGzk

Video 2:
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Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tShavGuo0_E&t=7s