Strategic Public Speaking

Chapter 1 Welcome to Public Speaking

1.1 Why Study Public Speaking?

            Develop Specific Communication Skills

            Focus on Critical Thinking and Strategic Planning

1.2 Public Speaking and Communication

1.3 The Rhetorical Situation

            What is the Rhetorical Situation?

            Determinants of the Rhetorical Situation

1.4 Goals and Strategies for Your First Speech

            A Clear Message

            Establishing Positive Ethos

1.5 Strategies for Organizing Your Speech

            The Introduction

            The Body

            The Conclusion

1.6 The One-Point Speech

            The Speech of Introduction

1.7 Practicing the Speech

            Outlining Your Speech

            Practicing Your Delivery

1.8 Strategies for Overcoming Speech Anxiety

1.9 The Quest for Quality

            Purpose and Quality

            Feedback and Quality

1.10 Ethics: Respect for Audience, Topic, and Occasion

            Respect for Your Listeners

            Respect for Your Topic

            Responsibility for Your Statements

            Concern for the Consequences of Your Speech

 

Chapter 2 Listening Critically

2.1 Why Listening Is Important

            Checking for Accuracy

            Giving (and Getting) Feedback

            Evaluating Messages

2.2 Why Listening Is Difficult

            Listener Distractions

            Limited Attention Span

            Jumping to Conclusions

            Situational Distractions

2.3 Strategies for Careful Listening

            Mapping

            Note Taking

2.4 Listening Critically

            Critical Thinking

            Applying Critical Thinking to the Speech Situation

2.5 Evaluating Speeches Critically

            Evaluation Standards

            Evaluating Classroom Speeches

            Evaluating Speeches in the Field

            Rhetorical Criticism

 

Chapter 3 Analyzing Your Audience

3.1 Checking Audience Demographics

            Size

            Heterogeneity

            Voluntary versus Captive Audience

            Composition

3.2 Respecting Audience Cultures

            Self-Interest

            Personal Interests

            Beliefs and Values

            Prior Understanding

            Common Knowledge and Experience

            Roles and Reference Groups

            Cultural Diversity

3.3 Understanding Audience Psychology

            Selective Exposure and Selective Attention

            Perception

3.4 Strategies for Analyzing the Audience

            Formal Methods

            Informal Methods

            Simplifying Devices

            Critical Appraisal

3.5 Analyzing Your Own Ethos

 

Chapter 4 Choosing a Topic and Developing a Strategy

4.1 Understanding the Rhetorical Situation

            The Audience

            The Occasion

            The Speaker

            The Speech

4.2 What Makes a Good Topic?

4.3 How to Choose a Good Topic

            Conduct a Personal Inventory

            Use Finding Aids

            Narrow the Topic

4.4 Developing a Strategic Plan

            Identifying the Purpose

            Identifying the Constraints

            Identifying the Opportunities

            Selecting the Means

4.5 Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

            The Purpose Statement

            The Thesis Statement

4.6 Analyzing the Thesis Statement

            Identifying the Issues

            Why Identify the Issues?

 

Chapter 5  Researching the Topic

5.1 Strategic Perspectives on Research

5.2 Types of Supporting Material

            Personal Experience

            Common Knowledge

            Direct Observation

            Examples

            Documents

            Statistics

            Testimony

5.3 Finding Supporting Material from People

            Memory

            Interviews

5.4 Finding Supporting Material in Print

            Books

            Reference Works

            Periodicals

            Newspapers

            Government Publications

5.5 Finding Supporting Material Electronically

            Types of Information on the Web

            Searching for Information on the Web

            Avoiding Information Overload

            Finding Useful Information

            Evaluating Internet Evidence

            A Strategy for Research

5.6 Note Taking and Filing

 

Chapter 6 Reasoning

6.1 Proof, Support, and Reasoning

            Rhetorical Proof

            Proof and the Audience

            Components of Proof

            Using Rhetorical Proof in Your Speech

6.2 Strategies for Reasoning through Example

            Types of Inference from Example

            Tests for Inference from Example

            Guidelines for Reasoning through Example

6.3 Strategies for Reasoning through Analogy

            Types of Inference from Analogy

            Tests for Inference from Analogy

            Guidelines for Reasoning through Analogy

6.4 Strategies for Reasoning through Signs

            Types of Inference from Signs

            Tests for Inference from Signs

            Guidelines for Reasoning through Signs

6.5 Strategies for Reasoning through Cause

            Types of Inference from Cause

            Tests for Inference from Cause

            Guidelines for Reasoning through Cause

6.6 Strategies for Reasoning through Testimony

            Types of Inference from Testimony

            Tests for Inference from Testimony

            Guidelines for Reasoning through Testimony

6.7 Strategies for Reasoning through Narrative

            Tests for Inference from Narrative

6.8 Avoiding Errors in Reasoning

            Six General Tests of Inferences

6.9 Reasoning in Public Speaking

 

Chapter 7 Organizing the Speech: The Body

7.1 Why Is Organization Important?

7.2 Selecting the Main Ideas

            Identifying Your Main Ideas

            Choosing Among Main Ideas

            Criteria for Selecting the Main Ideas

            Characteristics of the Main Ideas

7.3 Arranging the Main Ideas

            Are the Main Ideas Dependent?

            Patterns for Arranging Main Ideas

            Choosing the Organizational Pattern

7.4 Selecting and Arranging Supporting Materials

            Selecting Supporting Materials

            Arranging Supporting Materials

 

Chapter 8  Organizing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusion, and Transitions

8.1 Introductions: Beginning the Speech

            The Purposes of an Introduction

            An Example of an Introduction

            Types of Introductions

            Strategies for Preparing an Introduction

8.2 Conclusions: Ending the Speech

            The Purposes of a Conclusion

            An Example of a Conclusion

            Types of Conclusions

            Strategies for Preparing a Conclusion

8.3 Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech

            The Purposes of Transitions

            Elements of Effective Transitions

            Strategies for Preparing Transitions

 

Chapter 9  Outlining the Speech

9.1 The Preparation Outline

            What Does a Good Outline Look Like?

            Constructing the Preparation Outline

            Outlining Introductions and Conclusions

            Outlining Transitions

            Citing Supporting Materials in the Outline

9.2 The Presentation Outline

            Guidelines for the Presentation Outline

            Use Note Cards

            Refer to Supporting Materials

            Use Stage Directions

            Use an Outline in Rehearsal

9.3 Sample Outlines

 

Chapter 10 Achieving Style Through Language

10.1 What Is Style?

            Style in a Speech

            Style and Language

            Oral Style Versus Written Style

            Performative Versus Conversational Style

            Basic Requirements for Effective Style

10.2 Defining Terms Appropriately

            Neutral Definitions

            Denotation and Connotation in Definitions

            Persuasive Definitions

10.3 Achieving Clarity, Rhythm, and Vividness

            Clarity

            How Clear Should You Be?

            Rhythm

            Vividness

10.4 Style and the Entire Speech

            Choosing the Right Level of Style

            Finding the Right Pace and Proportion

            Memorable Phrases

            Congruence of Language and Delivery

10.5 Achieving Good Style

            Erroneous Assumptions About Speeches

            Suggestions for Developing and Improving Style

 

Chapter 11 Presenting the Speech

11.1 Characteristics of Effective Presentation

11.2 The Voice in Presentation

            Volume

            Pitch

            Rate

            Pauses

            Articulation and Enunciation

            Pronunciation

11.3 The Body in Presentation

            Physical Appearance

            Movement

            Gesture

            Facial Expression

11.4 Modes of Presentation

            Impromptu Presentation

            Memorized Presentation

            Manuscript Presentation

            Extemporaneous Presentation

11.5 Practicing for Speech Presentation

            The Presentation Outline

            Mental Rehearsal

            Oral Practice

            Simulation

 

Chapter 12 Using Visual Aids

12.1 Benefits of Using Visual Aids

12.2 Types of Visual Aids

12.3 Choosing Materials for Visual Aids

12.4 Preparing Visual Aids

12.5 Computer-Generated Visual Aids

12.6 Using Visual Aids in the Speech

 

Chapter 13 Informing

13.1 Planning Your Strategy

            Defining Your Specific Purpose

            Informing Your Audience

            Clarifying Your Informative Goal

13.2 Informative Strategies

            Defining

            Reporting

            Describing

            Explaining

            Demonstrating

            Comparing

13.3 Encouraging Retention

 

Chapter 14 Persuading

14.1 Purposes Achieved Through Persuasive Strategies

         Weakening Commitment

            Conversion

            Inducing a Specific Action

            Inducing a Specific Action

14.2 Plan Your Strategy

14.3 The Elaboration Likelihood Model

14.4 Constraints on Effective Persuasive Speaking

            Selective Listening

            Selective Perception

            Selective Influence

14.5 Strategic Resources for Specific Purposes

14.6 Generally Available Strategic Resources

            Select Appropriate Supporting Materials

            Use Sound Reasoning

            Follow Appropriate Organizational Patterns

            Establish Positive Ethos

            Encourage Retention Through Reinforcement

            Achieve Identification

14.7 Organizing Persuasive Speeches

            The Problem–Solution Speech

            The Motivated Sequence

 

Chapter 15 Occasions for Public Speaking

15.1 Fitting Your Speech to the Occasion

            Influence of the Occasion

            The Concept of Decorum

            Identifying Your Purpose

15.2 Deliberative Speaking

            The Nature of Deliberative Speaking

            Oral Reports and Presentations

            Group Presentations

            Responding to Questions

15.3 Ceremonial Speaking

            Reexperiencing a Common Past

            Guidelines for Ceremonial Speaking

15.4 Ceremonial Speaking Occasions

            Speeches of Greeting

            Speeches of Tribute

            Speeches Marking Awards

15.5 Speeches Combining Deliberative and Ceremonial Goals

            Speeches Posing Challenges

            Commencement Speeches