Introduction to Public Speaking

Public speaking (also called oratory or oration) is the process or act of performing a speech to a live audience. This type of speech is deliberately structured with three general purposes: to inform, to persuade and to entertain. Public speaking is commonly understood as formal, face-to-face speaking of a single person to a group of listeners. It is closely related to "presenting", but presenting is more often associated with commercial activity.

There are five basic elements of public spea...