Principles of Public Speaking

I. Public Speaking in the World of Electronic Culture

 

1 Speech, Speaking, and Training in Higher Education 

Studying Public Speaking 

Orality in Social-Political Life  

Basic Elements in the Speech-Making Process  

Speaking of . . . Apprehension: First-Time Fears  

Ethical Responsibilities for Speakers  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Ethics and Public Speaking 

Your First Speech

Speaking of . . . Apprehension: Breath Control

 

2 Getting Started  

Selecting and Narrowing Your Subject  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Brainstorming to Generate Topics  

Determining Your Purposes and Central Idea  

Analyzing the Audience and Occasion   

Gathering Your Speech Material  

Making an Outline  

Practicing Aloud 

Developing Confident Delivery  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Practicing Your Speech  

Speaking of . . . Apprehension: State and Trait Apprehension  

 

3 Critical Listening 

Hearing and Listening  

Barriers to Good Listening  

Practical Listening Techniques  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Good Note Taking and Active Listening  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Deliberately Misguiding Listeners  

Developing Skills for Critical Listening  

Listening Workshop  

 

4 Public Speaking and Cultural Challenges 

The Nature of Cultural Processes  

Understanding Our Multicultural Society

Strategies for Negotiating Cultural Differences  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Adapting to Moral Codes  

 

II. Planning and Preparing Your Speech

 

5 Understanding Your Audience 

Analyzing Your Audience Demographically  

Analyzing Your Audience Psychologically  

Discovering Demographic and Psychological Factors  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Handling Hostile Audiences  

Using Audience Analysis in Speech Preparation  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Using Audience Analysis Ethically  

A Sample Audience Analysis  

 

6 Finding and Using Supporting Materials 

Determining the Kinds of Supporting Materials You’ll Need 

Speaking of . . . Skills: How Much Is Enough?  

Finding Supporting Materials  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: What Is the Ethical Response?  

Sources of Supporting Materials  

Forms of Supporting Materials  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Choosing Supporting Materials  

Functions of Supporting Materials 

A Word About Plagiarism  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Citing Sources  

Sample Outline for a Problem-Solution Speech: The Heartbreak of Childhood Obesity  

Web Workshop  

 

7 Organizing and Outlining Your Speech 

Developing Your Speech Plan  

Speech-Centered Patterns of Organization  

Audience-Centered Patterns of Organization  

Techniques for Creating Associative Coherence in Your Speech  

Outlining Your Speech  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Memory and Organization  

 

8 Beginning and Ending Your Speech 

Capturing and Holding Attention  

Beginning Your Speech  

Speaking of . . . Skills: How Long Should It Be?  

Ending Your Speech  

Sample Outline for an Introduction and Conclusion: When Just Saying “No!” Doesn’t Work 

 

III. Presenting Your Speech

 

9 Wording Your Speech  

Using Oral Style  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Oral Versus Written Style  

Using Language Strategically  

Creating an Atmosphere  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Doublespeak  

Sample Speech: “On Accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature,” by William Faulkner  

 

10 Delivering Your Speech  

Selecting the Method of Delivery 

Speaking of . . . Apprehension: Impromptu Speaking  

Using Your Voice to Communicate  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Vocal Exercises  

Using Your Body to Communicate  

Speaking of . . . Online Communication  

 

11 Using Visual Media 

The Functions of Visual Media  

Types of Visual Media  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Using Visual Media in Business  

Strategies for Selecting and Using Visual Media  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Can Pictures Lie?  

Using Microsoft PowerPoint with Your Presentations  

 

IV. Types of Public Speaking

 

12 Speeches to Inform 

Facts, Knowledge, and the Information Age  

Types of Informative Speeches  

Essential Qualities of Informative Speeches  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Choosing a Topic  

Speaking of . . . Apprehension: Information Overload  

Sample Outline for a Demonstration Speech: Power Tennis Comes with the Western Stroke  

Tips for Developing Informative Speeches  

Sample Outline: What’s So Special About 1968?  

Sample Speech: “The Geisha,” by Joyce Chapman  

Information vs. Persuasion  

 

13 Speeches to Persuade 

Selecting Motivational Appeals  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Basic Human Needs  

Speaking of . . . Ethics: Using Fear Appeals 

Enhancing Your Credibility  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Inoculating Audiences Against Counterpersuasion  

Organizing Persuasive Speeches: The Motivated Sequence  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Persuading the Diverse Audience  

Sample Outline of a Persuasive Speech:  Why Iowa Should Build Another Nuclear Reactor  

Sample Outline of an Actuative Speech:  You’re Never Too Old to Learn—Virtually!  

 

14 Argumentation and Critical Thinking 

Rational Thinking and Talking: Argumentation

Evaluating Arguments  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Evaluating Arguments  

Sample Outline for an Argumentative Speech: The Dangers of Chewing Tobacco  

Detecting Fallacies in Reasoning  

Tips for Developing Argumentative Speeches  

Speaking of . . . Skills: Responding to Counterarguments 

 

15 Speaking in Community Settings 

Speeches of Introduction  

Sample Introduction: “Introducing a Classmate,” by Randolf Brown  

Speeches of Courtesy: Welcomes, Responses, Acceptances, and Toasts  

Sample Speech of Courtesy: A Toast to Leo Brecker  

Speeches to Entertain