Lesson 3: Getting Acquainted With Your Voice and Learning EthicsEthicsWhile you are preparing for your formal and informal speaking styles, please keep in mind the importance of ethics and public speaking. Presenting a public speech carries with it a heavy ethical responsibility; you have to make sure your goals are ethically sound, that you are fully prepared for each speech, you are honest in what you say, you avoid name-calling and other forms of abusive language and, lastly, that you put ethical principles into practice. Steven Lucas has created a checklist for ethical public speaking. Please use this list while preparing for your speeches. 4 Checklist for Ethical Public Speaking
ImportantWhen you paraphrase someone else’s remarks, ideas, or written work, give credit where the credit is due. Always acknowledge other people’s ideas, opinions, evidence, research, direct quotes, and statistics. Communication is a strong tool for influencing people. Sending the wrong message has the potential to change people’s lives, so always be honest and straightforward. Reveal your true purpose to your audience, and don’t use misleading, deceptive, or false information. Remember to respect your audience and treat people right. Public speakers have an ethical obligation to prepare fully for each speech, and listeners have a responsibility to be courteous and attentive during the speech. It is important that you avoid judging a speaker by his or her name, race, appearance, or reputation. The goal is not to listen simply when it’s convenient. |