Speaking and Presenting: Poise

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/speaking-and-presenting-poise

Introduction

**Course Review: Speaking and Presenting: Poise** In today's fast-paced world, effective communication is not just an asset—it's a necessity. With countless individuals looking to improve their public speaking and presentation skills, Coursera has partnered with reputable experts to deliver transformative courses. One standout program is "Speaking and Presenting: Poise." This course dives deep into the essential components of poise in communication, breaking it down into manageable parts. **Overview** Speaking and Presenting: Poise aims to demystify the concept of poise, presenting it not as an unattainable trait but as a series of choices available to everyone. Whether you're preparing for a big presentation at work, delivering a speech at a wedding, or navigating a challenging conversation, the insights offered in this course can enhance your effectiveness in connecting with any audience. **Course Structure** * **Week 1: Poise: Vocabulary** The course begins by introducing the foundational vocabulary surrounding the concept of poise. The emphasis is on understanding the choices that can enhance your clarity of message and delivery. It's a great start, setting the stage for the deeper exploration to follow. This module helps learners to appreciate that poise is a skill that can be developed rather than a mysterious quality possessed by only a few. * **Week 2: Poise: Speaking Studies and Speaking Exercises** Building on the vocabulary from Week 1, this module introduces relevant research through “Speaking Studies.” With practical speaking exercises, learners gain firsthand experience, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. This week is particularly engaging, as it emphasizes active participation rather than passive learning. * **Week 3: Rhythm: Vocabulary** Rhythm plays a crucial role in effective communication. This module introduces rhetorical techniques, such as anaphora, epistrophe, and the Rule of Three—tools famously utilized by influential figures like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Understanding these concepts can significantly enhance the impact of your speeches and presentations, adding a layer of sophistication and resonance to your message. * **Week 4: Rhythm: Speaking Studies and Speaking Exercises** In the final week, students have the opportunity to synthesize what they've learned about poise and rhythm through hands-on speaking exercises. This culminating experience allows you to practice and integrate all concepts, reinforcing your understanding of how rhythm contributes to poise, and vice versa. The references to significant historical figures provide both context and inspiration, ensuring that learners leave with practical skills that resonate beyond the course. **Conclusion and Recommendation** Overall, "Speaking and Presenting: Poise" is an invaluable course for anyone looking to elevate their speaking and presenting skills. The structured approach, from understanding the foundational vocabulary to applying complex rhetorical techniques, ensures that learners steadily build their capabilities. The focus on practice and real-world application sets this course apart from traditional theoretical lessons. I highly recommend this course to professionals, students, and anyone interested in enhancing their public speaking skills. Whether you are starting your journey in public speaking or seeking to refine your existing skills, "Speaking and Presenting: Poise" is a beneficial resource. Completing this course can empower you to approach your next presentation with confidence, clarity, and undeniable poise.

Syllabus

Week 1 | Poise: Vocabulary

Poise is not some elusive or innate characteristic. It’s a series of choices, all of which can help you better connect with your intended audience. This course will help you identify those choices and teach you how to consistently make them.

We’ll follow up the “Speaking Stories” we learned about last week with a new, research-filled section called “Speaking Studies.”

People who have taken our companion course Good with Words: Writing and Editing may remember some of the rhetorical moves we’ll be learning about this week, including anaphora, epistrophe, and the Rule of Three. But even if these techniques are new to you, I hope you’ll soon try to incorporate them into your various speaking opportunities. There are good reasons why everyone from John F. Kennedy, to Margaret Thatcher, to Martin Luther King relied on them to get important points across.

Congratulations on making it to the final week of the first course in the series “Good With Words: Speaking and Presenting.” We’ll finish up with some additional material on rhythm and then get a chance to combine rhythm and poise together in a speaking exercise that involves a popular U.S. president, an acclaimed war correspondent, and the 1993 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.