Public Speaking Handbook

1. Introduction to Public Speaking

            Why Study Public Speaking?

            Public Speaking and Conversation

            The Communication Process

            The Rich Heritage of Public Speaking

            Public Speaking and Diversity

 

2. Speaking with Confidence

            Understand Your Nervousness

            Build Your Confidence

 

3. Previewing the Audience-Centered Speechmaking Process

            An Audience-Centered Speechmaking Model

            Consider Your Audience

            Select and Narrow Your Topic

            Determine Your Purpose

            Develop Your Central Idea

            Generate the Main Ideas

            Gather Supporting Material

            Organize Your Speech

            Rehearse Your Speech

            Deliver Your Speech

 

4. Speaking Freely and Ethically

            Ethics

            Free Speech

            Speaking Freely

            Speaking Ethically

            Listening Ethically

 

5. Listening to Speeches

            Barriers to Effective Listening

            How to Become a Better Listener

            Improving Your Note-Taking Skills

            Listening and Critical Thinking

            Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches

 

6. Analyzing Your Audience

            Becoming an Audience-Centered Speaker

            Gathering Information About Your Audience

            Analyze Information About Your Audience

            Analyzing Your Audience Before You Speak

            Adapting to Your Audience as You Speak

            Analyzing Your Audience After You Speak

 

7. Developing Your Speech

            Select and Narrow Your Topic

            Determine Your Purpose

            Develop Your Central Idea

            Generate and Preview Your Main Ideas

            Meanwhile, Back at the Computer . . .

 

8. Gathering Supporting Material

            Personal Knowledge and Experience

            The Internet

            Library Resources

            Interviews

            Resources from Special-Interest Groups and Organizations

            Research Strategies

 

9. Using Supporting Material

            Illustrations

            Descriptions and Explanations

            Definitions

            Analogies

            Statistics

            Opinions

            Selecting the Best Supporting Material

 

10. Organizing Your Speech

            Organizing Your Main Ideas

            Subdividing Your Main Ideas

            Integrating Your Supporting Material

            Organizing Your Supporting Material

            Developing Signposts

            Supplementing Signposts with Presentation Aids

 

11. Introducing Your Speech

            Purposes of Introductions

            Effective Introductions

 

12. Concluding Your Speech

            Purposes of Conclusions

            Effective Conclusions

 

13. Outlining and Editing Your Speech

            Developing a Preparation Outline

            Editing Your Speech

            Developing Your Delivery Outline and Speaking Notes

 

14. Using Words Well: Speaker Language and Style

            Oral Versus Written Language Style

            Using Words Effectively

            Adapting Your Language Style to Diverse Listeners

            Crafting Memorable Word Structures

            Tips for Using Language Effectively

 

15. Delivering Your Speech

            The Power of Speech Delivery

            Methods of Delivery

            Characteristics of Effective Delivery

            Audience Diversity and Delivery

            Rehearsing Your Speech: Some Final Tips

            Delivering Your Speech

            Adapting Your Speech Delivery for Television

            Responding to Questions

 

16. Designing and Using Presentation Aids

            The Value of Presentation Aids

            Types of Presentation Aids

            Guidelines for Developing Presentation Aids

            Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids

 

17. Speaking to Inform

            Goals of Informative Speaking

            Types of Informative Speeches

            Strategies to Enhance Audience Understanding

            Strategies to Maintain Audience Interest

            Strategies to Enhance Audience Recall

 

18. Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking

            Persuasion Defined

            How Persuasion Works

            How to Motivate Listeners

            How to Develop Your Persuasive Speech

            Putting Persuasive Principles into Practice

 

19. Using Persuasive Strategies

            Establishing Credibility

            Enhancing Your Credibility

            Using Logic and Evidence to Persuade

            Using Emotion to Persuade

            Strategies for Adapting Ideas to People and People to Ideas

            Strategies for Organizing Persuasive Messages

 

20. Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes

            Public Speaking in the Workplace

            Discuss the Need or Problem

            Anticipate Criticism

            Ceremonial Speaking

            Introductions

            After-Dinner Speaking: Using Humor Effectively

 

Appendices

            A.   Speaking in Small Groups

            B.   The Classical Tradition of Rhetoric

            C.   Suggested Speech Topics

            D.   Speeches for Analysis and Discussion