Public speaking
is considered a performing art like theater or dance. The art of public speaking is the action or practice of verbally relaying information to an audience in an effective manner.
History
Pharaoh Ptahhotep wrote the first description of "fair speaking" in 2400 B.C. The art of public speaking then extended into ancient Greece, where public speaking was required of young men. It was then developed into the speech formats we use today.
Features
A public speech should be well-planned and expressed with confidence in order to convey the correct message. A speech should start with a strong opening in order to catch the audience's attention. It should build from the original opening using interesting facts on the subject.
Speech Types
The most common speech types are informative, persuasive and ceremonial. An informative speech provides information and facts. A persuasive speech attempts to make the audience do something, and a ceremonial speech commemorates an occasion.
Famous Speeches
A speech can help change a nation's perspective. Successful public speeches--such as the "Gettysburg Address" from President Lincoln and "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.--have impacted U.S. history greatly. They are still held in high esteem today.
Subjects
A speech can be based on anything from politics to a joke. For instance, President Barrack Obama and comedian Dane Cook have to be masters at the art of public speaking because they both want to convey an idea, even if the message varies.
