Basic Communication and Presentation Skills Syllabus Keystone - - PDF document

Basic Communication and Presentation Skills Syllabus Keystone Center for Training and Renewal Instructor: Merry Kendall, gFree Church, 344 Blue Spruce Rd., Philipsburg, PA 16866

• merry@gfree.org
• Cell: 407-310-0532
• Office: 814-342-4520

Course objectives: Upon completion of this course, each student will be able to:

• Organize research in an understandable pattern or chronology for the purpose of

informing an audience.

• Apply and practice the principle of persuasion with an emphasis on defending biblical

Christianity without alienating secular members of an audience.

• Develop an effective, natural, and dynamic style of presentation.

Required materials:

• Text: “The Complete Speaker, An Introduction to Public Speaking” by Brent D.

Peterson, Eric G. Stephan, and Noel D. White. Third edition. While this text is no longer in print, it is still holds a wealth of wisdom about the basics of public speaking. Used copies can be purchased on Amazon.com and many other used bookstores online. Please allow up to 10 business days for used books to arrive.

• Text: “The Public Speaking Project, The Ultimate Guide to Effective Public Speaking”

by Kyle Faber.

• “How to Write and Deliver a Devotional Message” notes by Merry Kendall.

Other recommended materials, but not required:

• Smartphone or camera that can be used to video and view presentations.
• Hebrew-English lexicon
• Greek-English lexicon
• Concordance of the Bible
• Bible dictionary
• Bible commentaries

Assignments:

• Students will arrive the first weekend having:
• Read Chapters 1-2 in “The Complete Speaker” and all of “The Public Speaking

Project.”

• Read “How to Write and Deliver a Devotional Message” by Merry Kendall.
• Written a 2-page reflection paper (double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12

point) titled: “What I Learned About Public Speaking” based on the reading in both texts.

• Researched, outlined, rehearsed, and prepared to orally present a 10-minute

devotional message to the class about a current event of national, state, or local

• importance. The presentation must include the implications for that event on us

as Christians first, then as citizens of the nation, state, or local community.

• Students will arrive the second weekend having:
• Read Chapters 7-9, 13 in “The Complete Speaker.”
• Written a 2-page reflection paper (double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12

point) on “Comparing and Contrasting Informative and Persuasive Speaking” based on the reading of Chapters 7 and 8 in “The Complete Speaker.”

• Completed the Survey on Page 48-49 of “The Complete Speaker.” Instead of

asking 10 students, though, please ask 3 friends in ministry each of the questions listed and write down their answers for use in class discussion.

• Researched, outlined, rehearsed, and prepared to orally present a 10-minute

persuasive devotional message to the class addressing a specific issue about one

• f the following:
• Human rights
• Environmental sustainability
• Community involvement
• Animal protection
• Social justice

The topic for this persuasive devotional message must be submitted to the instructor and approved before the close of the first weekend. Using basic logical, psychological, and Biblical appeals from a Christian perspective, the persuasive sermon should convince, stimulate thought, or motivate the audience to take the action the speaker suggests.

• Final project: Write a 5-page paper about a preacher whose style you admire. Be

sure to include how this preacher compares and/or contrasts to topics covered in the reading, assignments, and classroom discussions. This paper should be double- spaced using Times New Roman 12-point font and submitted to the instructor within 30 days following the final day of classroom instruction.

How to Write and Deliver a Devotional Message By Merry Kendall The most important thing to understand is the purpose of a devotional message: to structure a single idea toward a particular audience in order to elicit a specific response. An overview of the purpose To structure a single idea…

• What is an idea?
• An idea is a way of thinking that allows one to understand what was previously

unclear.

• To think in ideas takes practice.
• When you deliver a devotional message, you want to communicate one Biblical concept.
• Your message should be drawn from Scripture and only one passage of Scripture.
• Other passages may support your idea; but, they should not be necessary to communicate

your idea.

• If other passages are necessary, you are not focused on one Biblical concept.

Toward a particular audience…

• KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!
• Your message needs to speak to the people in your audience.
• Making references to popular authors will mean nothing to an illiterate audience.
• Relating your college experiences to a group of high school drop-outs may offend

your audience.

• Using the Bible lesson of Jesus turning water into wine may not be a good choice

if you are speaking to an audience of active or sober alcoholics.

• Ethical and philosophical issues can be different in rural villages, middle-class

communities, or in ghettos. In order to elicit a specific response…

• When you finish your message, the people in your audience should be able to answer 2

questions:

• 1. What were you talking about? (i.e. divorce)
• 2. What were you saying about what you were talking about? (all efforts should be made

to reconcile) There are stages in developing a message.

• But, people go about this task in different ways.
• Do not get so hung up on the process that it gets in the way of developing your idea.
• Thinking is dynamic; it does not come solely by following directions.
• You must develop your own way of working out the process.

Stage 1: Choose a Biblical passage.

• STARTING WITH A PASSAGE: I keep a pad of paper next to my prayer chair labeled

“Possible Messages”. When I come across a passage of Scripture that puzzles me or to which I have found understanding, I make note of it.

• STARTING WITH A TOPIC: people usually like to talk about personal concerns or life-

situations (examples: guilt, grief, forgiveness, loneliness, jealousy, marriage, divorce).

• How do you find a Biblical passage to relate to the topic?

▪ A concordance.

• It simply is an alphabetical listing of the main words in Bible with

a listing of passages that include that word.

• Many Bibles include a concordance of that version of the Bible in

the back of the Bible after the Holy Scriptures.

• There are also exhaustive concordances that list just about every

word in the Bible. ▪ Also helpful are books written from a Christian perspective, as they may refer to Biblical passages.

• So, begin with a topic or a problem, and find a passage that relates to it.

Stage 2: Study the passage and make notes.

• These notes will become the body of your message.
• Some people prefer to put paper to pen; others like to make notes in a Word document on

their computer. Step 1: Read and Reflect on the Passage

• Look at the passage in its context.
• At the very least, read the whole chapter to figure out how the selected passage fits

into the chapter.

• You may need to go beyond that chapter – read the previous, the selected, and the

following chapters in order. Just read through them first, and then reflect on how the selected passage fits into the whole of the reading.

• Read the selected passage in different translations/The Message.
• A great resource is www.biblegateway.com or the Bible Gateway app.
• Remember – you are looking for the Biblical author’s idea – not yours!

Step 2: Make Notes

• State in rough fashion – What is the Biblical author trying to say in the passage?
• The Biblical authors are great storytellers, but they are also theologians – trying to tell

us about God – What was the Biblical author trying to tell his audience about God? Step 3: Develop the Idea* Explain it: What does this passage mean? ▪ Anticipate what the hearer does not know and help him or her understand. ▪ There are problems to be avoided in explaining your selected passage.

• Do NOT misuse the Scripture!
• Be sure that you are NOT saying something that the Bible is NOT

saying – do NOT put words into God’s mouth! (Read James 3:1)

Prove it: Is it true? ▪ Do not assume that the hearer will accept an idea from the Bible as truth. ▪ Realize that an idea is not true because it is in the Bible; an idea is in the Bible because it is true. ▪ In your notes, write down possible arguments to the Biblical idea and how to direct them to the truth of the Biblical argument (example: God is giving us freedom by commanding us to abstain from sex outside of marriage – freedom from worrying about pregnancy, disease, infidelity). Apply it: What difference does it make? ▪ The Bible is a practical book, meant to be understood and obeyed. ▪ Doctrines may tell us what to believe, but they do not tell us how to behave. ▪ Although it is important to explain the truth of the passage, you must relate that truth to the audience’s life experience. ▪ Answer one or more of these questions:

• What traits do modern men and women share in common with the
• riginal audience?
• How can we identify with the Biblical men and women as they

responded or failed to respond to this message?

• Do I myself live in obedience to this truth?
• What obstacles keep me/my audience from responding as we

should?

• What suggestions might help us respond as God wants us to

respond? Step 4: Use Tools to Develop Your Message (if needed).

• Make additional notes - there are some tools to help you further develop your

message.

• Lexicon: dictionary of the original languages

▪ Gives definitions, root meanings, grammatical forms, lists of passages using that word.

• Concordance: see the same word used in other passages.
• Bible dictionary: give brief discussions of people, events, and backgrounds of

the Biblical material (where & when a book was written, the audience, the author).

• Commentary: scholars give us a wealth of information about the meaning of

the words used, the backgrounds of the passages, and the position of the commentator.

• Read through different commentaries and weigh what they say

against each other.

• Commentaries should not be used early in your study, as you will

be tempted to rely on them and not do your own study of the passage.

Stage 3: Prepare the message. The Introduction should command attention.

• If you do not capture the audience’s attention in the first 2 sentences, you may not gain it

at all.

• During the introduction, your audience will decide whether or not they want to listen to

you.

• Expose a need: An effective introduction causes people to listen because they NEED to

listen.

• The introduction should cause your audience to answer this question: Why do I need to

listen?

• Direct your message at your audience’s needs.
• Help the audience to realize that you are talking to them about themselves.
• Introduce the subject – no one should need to guess what you will be talking about.
• Talk to the people about themselves – not about the Bible.
• Do not apologize in the introduction
• “I’ve had a sore throat all week, so I hope you will be able to hear me.”
• “I had a busy week, so I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare this message.”
• People will not place confidence in someone for whom they feel sorry.
• Keep the introduction short – about 10% of your message time.
• Look at the people more than your notes.
• Reading the Bible passage right after the introduction helps people to look for your

subject in the text. The Conclusion should answer the question: What difference does this make?

• Purpose: to conclude – not stop.
• Do NOT introduce new ideas in the conclusion.
• In a well-planned message, the conclusion does not need to be announced.
• Ways to conclude:
• Restate the major points in your message; tie up loose ends.
• An illustration that hits a bulls-eye can allow the listeners to grasp the meaning of

your message. At the end of the illustration, stop.

• A well-chosen quote may end your message more vividly than using any words of

your own.

• One question or a series of questions can be an effective conclusion to a message.
• A prayer can be a fitting conclusion.

Arrange all your notes into an outline.

• Move things around until they flow well and you are comfortable with the message.
• Most messages have several drafts.
• Write it as though you were talking to someone and need to make immediate impact.
• Remember – writers can take time to develop ideas – speakers have to make themselves

understood instantly.

3 steps to helping your audience understand your message:

• Tell them what you are going to tell them (introduction).
• Tell them what you want to tell them (message).
• Tell them what you just told them (conclusion).
• Repeating a phrase or a particular word throughout the message will help your audience

to take the message with them. Helpful Hints…

• To proclaim God’s truth, you must be clear.
• Clarity reveals the offense of the gospel, but it also provides hope and life.
• Keep your sentences short and simple.
• Complicated sentences will slow you down.
• Simple words provide clarity.
• Stay away from jargon or theological words.
• A big, impressive word means nothing if the hearer does not understand it.
• Your message should not be read to your audience – it will not appear to be your own if

you need to read it.

• The more you write down, the more you will read.
• Some people use white 3 x 5 cards.
• Others use small sheets of paper.
• Other use full size sheets.
• Rehearse it several times aloud (for timing and ease of delivery).
• Be sure you stay within the time allotted for the devotional.

▪ Any cutting from the message needs to be done during your study time, not during the delivery time. ▪ Be sure that you can cover the subject and application in the time allotted. ▪ One sure way to eliminate being asked to return and give another message is to violate the time you were allotted; therefore, always clarify the amount of time you have to speak when you are asked to speak – not just before you deliver the message!

• A great tool in developing your message is using an example from your own life or the

life of someone else you know. BUT, you should always ask for permission to share someone else’s experience with an audience. DO NOT make the assumption that if they are not in the audience, it will not matter. It will matter even more if they are in the audience and have not given you permission. You are exhibiting, and pretty much announcing, that you do not hold people’s confidences. It is simply wrong and disrespectful to share another’s experience without getting permission in advance, and it may harm your ministry going forward.

Avoiding Plagiarism…from www.nutsandboltsguide.com The Random House dictionary defines plagiarism as "the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work." Imitation or borrowing by themselves are not plagiarism. Drawing on other people's ideas is perfectly reasonable and in fact unavoidable when you write academic essays—but you must acknowledge the borrowing. You are obligated, as an ethical obligation to other writers and as a defense for yourself, to acknowledge all borrowings you take from other sources, even if you don't copy the exact words used in the original—even if you never actually quote the original. Plagiarism includes:

• 1. Quoting material without attribution. The most obvious kind of plagiarism.
• 2. Passing off another's idea as your own, even if it's been reworded. Changing an original's

wording doesn't avoid plagiarism. The underlying idea of plagiarism is unacknowledged borrowing of ideas, not specific words.

• 3. Imitating a passage's structure or argument without attribution. Suppose a source

presents an assertion and three supporting points. If you adopt that particular structure, including the particular examples or supporting points, you need to provide a citation to the original. This holds even if you substantially revise the wording.

• 4. Concealing the extent to which you've borrowed from a text or other source. Citing a

specific passage in a work doesn't give you license to draw on the rest of the work without

• citation. This can be the nastiest kind of plagiarism because it's so sneaky.