Public Speaking

Each chapter concludes with “Summary,” “Discussion Questions,” “Activities,” “Using the Internet” Activities, and “Notes.”

1. Welcome to Public Speaking.


Why Study Public Speaking?



Public Speaking and Communication.



The Rhetorical Situation.



Goals and Strategies for Your First Speech.



Strategies for Organizing Your Speech.



Beginning Assignments.



Practicing the Speech.



Strategies for Overcoming Speech Anxiety.



The Quest for Quality.



Ethics: Respect for Audience, Topic, and Occasion.



2. Listening Critically.


Are You Really Listening?



Strategies for Careful Listening.



Listening Critically.



Evaluating Speeches Critically.



3. Analyzing Your Audience.


Checking Audience Demographics.



Respecting Audience Culture.



Understanding Audience Psychology.



Strategies for Analyzing the Audience.



Analyzing Your Own Ethos.



4. Choosing a Topic and Developing a Strategy.


Understanding the Rhetorical Situation.



What Makes a Good Topic?



How to Choose a Good Topic.



Developing a Strategic Plan.



Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement.



Analyzing the Thesis Statement.



5. Researching the Topic.


Strategic Perspectives on Research



Types of Supporting Material.



Finding Supporting Material from People.



Finding Supporting Material in Print.



Finding Supporting Material Electronically.



A Strategy for Research.



Note Taking and Filing.



6. Reasoning.


Proof, Support, and Reasoning.



Strategies for Reasoning through Example.



Strategies for Reasoning through Analogy.



Strategies for Reasoning through Signs.



Strategies for Reasoning through Cause.



Strategies for Reasoning through Testimony.



Strategies for Reasoning through Narrative.



Avoiding Errors in Reasoning.



Reasoning in Public Speaking.



7. Organizing the Speech: The Body.


Why is Organization Important?



Selecting the Main Ideas.



Arranging the Main Ideas.



Selecting and Arranging Supporting Materials.



8. Organizing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions.


Introductions: Beginning the Speech.



Conclusions: Ending the Speech.



Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech.



9. Outlining the Speech.


The Preparation Outline.



The Presentation Outline.



Sample Outlines.



10. Achieving Style through Language.


What is Style?



Defining Terms Appropriately.



Achieving Clarity, Rhythm, and Vividness.



Style and the Entire Speech.



Achieving Good Style.



11. Presenting the Speech.


Characteristics of Effective Presentation.



The Voice in Presentation.



The Body in Presentation.



Modes of Presentation.



Practicing for Speech Presentation.



12. Using Visual Aids.


Benefits of Using Visual Aids.



Types of Visual Aids.



Choosing Materials for Visual Aids.



Preparing Visual Aids.



Computer-Generated Visual Aids.



Multimedia Presentations.



Using Visual Aids in the Speech.



13. Informing.


Matching Strategy to Purpose.



Informative Strategies.



Encouraging Retention.



14. Persuading.


Purposes Achieved Through Persuasive Strategies.



Plan Your Strategy.



Constraints on Effective Persuasive Speaking.



Strategic Resources for Specific Purposes.



Generally Available Strategic Resources.



The Problem-Solution Speech.



Organizing Persuasive Speeches.



15. Occasions for Public Speaking.


Fitting Your Speech to the Occasion.



Deliberative Speaking.



Ceremonial Speaking.



Ceremonial Speaking Occasions.



Speeches Combining Deliberative and Ceremonial Goals.



Appendix A: Beyond the Classroom: Speaking in the Public Forum.


Appendix B: Speeches for Analysis and Discussion.