BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

COMMUNICATIONS
MERIT BADGE

February 2009

Troop 171
Mooresville, NC
Piedmont Council
Boy Scouts of America

Itinerary/Today

8:00am until 9:30am

9:30am until 10:00am
10:00am till 10:10am
10:10am till 10:30
10:30am till 11:30am
11:30am till Noon
Noon-Group #1
Group #2

1:00pm-Group #2
Group #1

Presentation
Interview/Group
Break
Post Interview
Campfire Plan
Lunch
5 Minute Speech
Work Barbecue

5 Minute Speech
Work barbecue

Communications/Technology

VIDEO

Websters DEFINITION
a verbal or written message
a process by which information is exchanged
between individuals through a common system of
symbols, signs, or behavior
exchange of information
a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in
speech)
the technology of the transmission of information
(as by print or telecommunication)

Requirement #1
List as many ways as you can think of how
you can communicate with others.

What are they?????

SOME EXAMPLES

Signs, Notes, Fax, Telephone, Letters, Talk

E-mail, IM, Speech, Teach, Radio, TV,
Morse Code, CB, Two Way Radios, Books,
Magazines, Expressions, Body Language,
Conversations in a group, Sign Language
Chat Rooms, Music, Poetry, Smoke Signals,

LISTENING

Listening Is Important
Over our lives we will listen to many, many
discussion, speeches, rules, preaching etc.
Many Fortune 500 companies provide employees
with listening training

Listening and hearing are two different things

Listening and Critical Thinking

There are four types of listening:
Appreciative
Listening for pleasure or enjoyment
Music, movies, comedy, plays

Empathetic
Listening to provide emotional support for speaker
A shrink listens to a patient; you listen to a friends rant

Comprehensive
Listening to understand the speakers message
Direction to a friends house; in a class or seminar

Critical
Listening to evaluate a message
A campaign speech; a peers research paper

Causes of Poor Listening

Not Concentrating
Daydreaming, mind wandering, dozing

Listening Too Hard

Trying to remember every fact, no matter how minute

Jumping To Conclusions
Putting words into the speakers mouth; interrupting
speaker, anticipating what speaker will say/do next

Focusing On Delivery Instead Of Message

Speakers accent, clothes, stuttering, presentation tools

Take Listening Seriously

Like any skill it takes practice and self-descipline

Resist Distractions
When you catch your mind wandering make a conscious effort to pull it back
on track; try to anticipate what the speaker will say/do next

Dont be Diverted by Appearance or Delivery

Suspend Judgment
a closed mind is an empty mind

Focus Your Listening

Listen for main points
A good speech only has a few
Listen for evidence
Is it accurate
Are the sources objective
Is it relevant

How to Deliver a Speech

ELEMENTS OF GOOD
SPEECH
ATTITUDE
REHEARSAL
VERBAL EXPRESSION
NONVERBAL EXPRESSION

ATTITUDE
Attitude matters a great deal with delivery.
A confident presence is an aspect of your
credibility and persuasiveness.

DONT
* Dont hide behind the lectern, wear hats, or
chew gum.
* Dont look over the audience heads or
envision them naked (silly myths).
* Dont watch your own feet when you
dance. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!

REHEARSAL
Practice, practice, practice.
Say your speeches out loud as youre
writing them.
Use the mirror for an audience!

ELEMENTS OF GOOD
SPEAKING
VOCAL EXPRESSION:
* You must speak loudly enough to be heard,
clearly enough to be understood, and slowly
enough for your audience to keep up.
NONVERBAL EXPRESSION
* Body language matters because it influences
your credibility and helps the audience focus on
your speech.

Vocal Expression
There are five dimensions of voice that can be
manipulated for greater effect.
Volume - Speak louder or softer for emphasis.
Pitch - Stay at an appropriate mid-range level.
Rate - Accelerate for a few sentences to excite,
Slow down and pause to emphasize some words.
Articulation - Speak clearly with full voice.
Quality - The personality of your voice, resonant,
throaty, nasal, etc.

Nonverbal Expression
Gesture naturally, as you would when you talk
with friends.
Free your hands as much as possible to allow
that to occur.
1) Make the manuscript your friend with large
font, double spacing, and only complete sentences
on one page.
2) Use the lectern for your notes.
3) Keep your hands out of your pockets.

Nonverbal Expression
Eye Contact- look directly at person
Facial Expression- conveys mood/feelings
Gestures/Body Movement- nodding/forward
Use of Space- Standing/Sitting/Close /Far
Appearance- clean/neat/appropriate

VIDEO
Non verbal elements between
Obama and McCain

Body Language Quiz

Careers Communications

Careers in Fields Related to

Communication
Business
Education
Government/Politics
Health Careers
International Relations and Negotiations
Law
Social and Human Services

 BUSINESS It is well recognized that communication

plays a vital role in the functioning of any
government, business, or industrial organization. A
national study indicates that the essential skills needed
by a competent employee to get a job and to succeed
and be promoted are primarily communication skills.
Careers in business and communication include:
sales representative, executive manager, personnel
manager, public information officer, industrial and
labor relations representative, negotiator, director of
corporate communication, customer service
representative, newsletter editor, communication
trainer, human resources manager, mediator, and
buyer. (Also see Law, Media, and Public Relations
and Advertising.)

 HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES The link

between computerization and communication has
become the subject of extensive research by
communication specialists. Many departments of
communication offer a specialization in information
sciences, human information theory and processes, or
communication technologies, often dealing with
communication by computer, compressed video, and
teleconferencing.
Careers in technology and communication include:
trainer for communication technologies, closed circuit
television producer/director, systems analyst,
technical copywriter, language specialist, speech
synthesizer, cognition researcher, audio and visual
computer display specialist, and performance assessor.

 EDUCATION A teacher of any subject has to effectively

organize and deliver material to students. Communication
skills are necessary to facilitate comprehension and
understanding no matter whether the subject is math,
science, reading, or English. Great teachers are great
communicators. Besides teaching, there are other
education-related careers.
Careers in education include: teacher (elementary and
secondary), school counselor, educational researcher,
audiovisual specialist, educational administrator,
school/university information specialist, director of college
news, director of a collegiate information center,
educational tester, development officer, educational fundraiser, alumni officer, college placement officer, college
admissions director, and college recruiter

The Interview

VIDEO

A FEW GOOD MEN

Interview Tips
What is the purpose of the interview?
Find out more about the person
Find out what their opinions are on things you care
about?
Interviewing person for a job?
Possibly to manage a project for you?
What their skills are to help you with an Eagle Project?

Their can be multiple reasons.just make sure you

have a PURPOSE!

Sample Questions?

What is your full name and professional title?

What are your duties?
Do you have a family?
What are your hobbies? Why?
Did you go to college?
Where?
Why?
What has been your most difficult challenge in life?
If you could plan a week to go anywhere, where would it be?
Why is it so important to you?
Where have you lived? Visited?
ALWAYS TAKE NOTES TO REFER BACK TO LATER

INTERVIEW

9:30 AM- 10:00AM

Mr. Scruggs

BREAK

10 MINUTE BREAK
10:10AMINTERVIEW DISCUSSION

Campfire Planning
10:30am until 11:30pm

THE CAMPFIRE PROGRAM PLANNER

Be sure that every feature of this campfire program
upholds Scoutings highest traditions.
1. In a campfire planning meeting, fill in the top of the
Campfire Program sheet (over).
2. On the Campfire Program Planner (below), list all
units and individuals who will participate in the
program.
3. Write down the name, description, and type of
song, stunt, or story they have planned.
4. The MC organizes songs, stunts, and stories in a
good sequence considering timing, variety,
smoothness, and
showmanship.
5. The master-of-the-campfire makes out the Campfire
Program sheet (over).

CAMPFIRE PROGRAM
Place __________________________
Date ___________________________
Time ___________________________
Camp directors approval: _________
________________________________
Campers notified _______________
Campfire planning meeting ______
M. C. _________________________
Song leader ___________________
Cheermaster___________________
Area set up by _________________
______________________________
Campfire built by _______________
Fire put out by _________________
Cleanup by ____________________
Spot Title of Stunt, Song, or Story By _____________________ Time
1 Openingand firelighting
2 Greetingintroduction M.C.

20
21
22 Closing

LUNCH
11:30AM UNTIL NOON

5 MINUTE SPEECH
GROUP #1

NOON

GROUP #2

1:00PM