Public Speaking and Democratic Participation

Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm

Jennifer Y. Abbott, Todd F. McDorman, David M. Timmerman, and L. Jill Lamberton

Public Speaking and Democratic Participation

Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm

Jennifer Y. Abbott, Todd F. McDorman, David M. Timmerman, and L. Jill Lamberton

Description

A truly unique introductory textbook, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation: Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm provides a comprehensive introduction to the basic skills involved in public speaking--including reasoning, organization, outlining, anxiety management, style, delivery, and more--through the lens of democratic participation. It helps students develop the skills to distinguish between productive and unproductive public discourse; participate in and lead constructive discussions of community issues; and analyze public messages as an act of civic participation.

By integrating the theme of civic engagement throughout, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation offers a direct and inspiring response to the alarming decline in civic participation in the U.S. and the climate of vindictiveness in our current political culture. It equips students with the tools to reverse these tendencies and move toward a greater commitment to our shared public life.

Public Speaking and Democratic Participation

Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm

Jennifer Y. Abbott, Todd F. McDorman, David M. Timmerman, and L. Jill Lamberton

Preface
CHAPTER 1. Public Speaking as the Intersection of Rhetoric and Democracy
RHETORIC AS A CIVIC ART
THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RHETORIC AND DEMOCRACY
Democratic Participation in the Assembly
Public Critique in a Democracy
RHETORIC AND DEMOCRACY ARE MUTUALLY REINFORCING
Rhetoric Encourages Democracy
Democracy Encourages Rhetoric
Civic Rhetoric at the Local Level
--Spotlight on Social Media: Twitter and Public Activism
Civic Rhetoric at the Global Level
CHAPTER 2. The Landscape of Public Discourse and the Politics of Polarization
THE PROBLEMS WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
The Public, the Public Sphere, and Public Discourse
Growing Concerns about the State of Our Public Communication
The Qualities of Unproductive Discourse
OBSTACLES TO PRODUCTIVE COMMUNICATION
The News Media
Incivility as Strategy
Marketing Ideas Rather Than Working toward Compromise
Reluctant Participation in Democratic Processes
CHANGING OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: TOWARD PRODUCTIVE DISCOURSE
Rethinking Public Discourse
--Spotlight on Social Media: Keep it to Yourself? Politics on Facebook
Qualities of Productive Discourse
UNPRODUCTIVE DISCOURSE AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL PROTEST
Social Hierarchy and Policing Discourse
Social Protest as Political Strategy
CHAPTER 3. The Ethics of Public Speaking
ETHICS AND RHETORICAL ETHICS
Ethical Codes
Rhetorical Ethics
THE ETHICS OF SPEECH PREPARATION
The Deceptively Hard Work of Speech Preparation
Speech Preparation as an Ethical Demand
THE ETHICS OF SPEECH PERFORMANCE
The Ethics of Public Influence
Ethos and Five Ethical Practices of Public Communication
Avoiding Plagiarism
Ethical Research
Practicing Ethical and Sound Reasoning
Ethical Language Use
Being Responsible for the Consequences of your Public Rhetoric
THE ETHICS OF LISTENING
Active Listening
Listening to Improve as a Speaker
Qualities of Ethical Listening
Ethical Listening Attitude
Listening to Comprehend and Retain Information
Listening for Message Evaluation
--Spotlight on Social Media: Ethical Listening in the Electronic Age
CHAPTER 4. Conducting Credible and Effective Research
RESEARCH AS INQUIRY VERSUS STRATEGY
TYPES OF SOURCES
Yourself as a Resource
Generalized Knowledge
News
--Spotlight on Social Media: Social Media Deliver and Shape the News
Scholarship and Trade Journals
Books
Government Documents
Legal Documents
Corporate Materials
People's Opinions and Experiences
INTERVIEWS
Making a Contact
Preparing for the Interview
Conducting the Interview
ACCESS SOURCES ONLINE
Research Databases
Specialized Search Engines
Domain Name Labels
Site-Specific Searches
Simple and Advanced Field Searches
Boolean Searches
Searches Using Punctuation Marks
Saving Sources from the Internet
FOUR CRITERIA TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING SOURCES
Relevance
Recency
Credibility
Bias
DOCUMENTING YOUR SOURCES
Oral Citations
Bibliographies
CHAPTER 5. Knowing and Adapting to Your Audience
THE IMPORTANCE OF AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE ANALYSIS
Audience Analysis and Advertising
Audience Analysis and the Ancients
Contemporary Audience Analysis
Demographic Factors
Limitations to Using Demographic Factors
Psychological Factors
Environmental Factors
AUDIENCE ADAPTATION
It's Still Your Message
Finding Common Ground
Using Appropriate Language
Adjusting Depth and Complexity of Content
Appealing to Deeply Held Values
Using Compelling Supporting Appeals
Selecting Credible and Familiar Sources
Adaptation, Not Manipulation
--Spotlight on Social Media: Mitt Romney and the Challenges of the Unintended Audience
IMAGINING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
CHAPTER 6. Organizing Your Public Presentation in a Clear and Compelling Manner
THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION
Four Benefits of a Well-Organized Speech
The Recursive Nature of Organization
THESIS STATEMENTS: FRAMING A CLEAR PURPOSE
A Thesis to Inform an Audience as They Prepare for Deliberation
Damien's Draft Thesis
Damien's Revised Thesis
A Thesis for Persuasion: Advocating Community Involvement in Animal Welfare
Ryan's Draft Thesis
Ryan's Revised Thesis
MAIN POINTS: THE BODY OF YOUR SPEECH
Gorgias' Main Ideas
Ryan's Main Ideas
Your Main Ideas
--Spotlight on Social Media: Twitter at Conference Presentations
PATTERNS OF ARRANGEMENT
Categorical Arrangement
Chronological Arrangement
Spatial Arrangement
Cause-Effect Arrangement
Three Problem-Based Arrangements
Problem - Solution Arrangement
Problem - Alternatives - Solution Arrangement
Problem - Cause - Solution - Solvency Arrangement
Refutative Arrangement
Monroe's Motivated Sequence
FRAMING WITH EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Functions of Introductions
Get Attention
Raise a Need
Establish Credibility and Good Will
State Your Thesis or Focal Point
Preview the Body of the Speech
The Functions of Conclusions
Summarize Your Main Points
Restate Your Thesis or Focal Point
Articulate Implications or Give Call to Action
End Decisively
CONNECTING SPEECH ELEMENTS
Ideas for Writing Transitions and Signposts
CHAPTER 7. Writing Effective Preparation and Presentation Outlines
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTLINING
THE PRINCIPLES OF OUTLINING
Consistent Indentation and Symbolization
Subordination
Coordination
Parallelism
Balance
THE PREPARATION OUTLINE
Begin with the Speech Title
State Your Specific Purpose
Label and State Your Thesis
Label and Offer a Preview for the Speech
Label Your Introduction and Conclusion
Write Main Points and Sub-points in Complete Sentences
Label Transitions and Internal Summaries or Internal Previews as Signposts
Include a Bibliography
--Sample Preparation Outline--Putting Our Heads in the Game: Deliberating Concussions and High School Football
THE PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Strive for Brevity
Maintain Indentation and Other Visual Guides
Include Delivery Notes
Format Presentation Outline for the Rhetorical Situation
--Sample Presentation (Key Word) Outline-Putting Our Heads in the Game: Deliberating Concussions and High School Football
--Another Preparation Outline: Showing Compassion to Our Animal Friends (Persuasive Speech)
CHAPTER 8. Using Style to Harness the Power of Language
THE USES OF STYLE IN PRESENTATIONS
Clarity
Attention
Emotion
Perspective Creation
STYLISTIC DEVICES
Rhythm
Parallelism
Repetition
Antithesis
Alliteration
Visualization
Concrete Language
Visual Imagery
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Strengthening Argument
Irony
Satire
Reference to the Unusual
Community
Inclusive Pronouns
Gender Neutral Language
Maxim
Ideograph
--Spotlight on Social Media: DePaul University Social Media Guidelines
FRAMING
CHAPTER 9. Engaging Your Audience through Delivery and Memory
DELIVERY
Speech Anxiety is Normal
Strategies to use Prior to Speaking
Strategies to Use During a Speech
Strategies to Use After a Speech
Find a Manner of Delivery that Works for You
Delivery is Situational
Your Delivery Will Develop Over Time
ELEMENTS OF DELIVERY
Vocal Delivery
Volume
Tone
Rate
Pauses
Articulation
Pronunciation
Vocal Fillers
Nonverbal Delivery
Eye contact
Facial Expressions
Gestures and Movement
Appearance
Conclusions about Vocal and Nonverbal Delivery
MEMORY AND MODES OF DELIVERY
Extemporaneous Delivery
Impromptu Delivery
Memorized Delivery
Manuscript Delivery
--Spotlight on Social Media: Phil Davison Wants Your Support
CHAPTER 10. Speaking Informatively through Deliberative Presentations
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
The Need for Informative Speaking in Civic Affairs
--Spotlight on Social Media: Mediated Learning Communities Expand Our Understanding of Informative Speaking
Types of Informative Speeches in a Civic Engagement Context
Instructional Speeches
Problem-Focused Speeches
Deliberative Presentations
PREPARING A DELIBERATIVE PRESENTATION
Selecting a Public Controversy
Discovering a Range of Perspectives
Framing for Deliberation
Defining the Problem Fairly
Identifying Trade-offs
Weighing Competing Values
Organizing and Delivering the Deliberative Presentation
LIMITATIONS AND BENEFITS OF INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
CHAPTER 11. Helping Communities Make Difficult Decisions through Deliberative Discussions
DISTINCTIVE QUALITIES OF DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSIONS
DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSIONS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
--Spotlight on Social Media: The Advantages and Challenges of Online Deliberative Discussions
DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSION STRUCTURE
THE HEART OF A DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSION: WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUE
DISCUSSION LEADING
Creating a Comfortable Environment
Specific Leadership Tasks
Developing Discussion Questions
PARTICIPATING IN A DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSION
BENEFITS OF DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSIONS
CHAPTER 12. Persuading an Audience to Modify Their Beliefs, Values, or Actions
INVENTION: THE SUBSTANCE OF PERSUASION
Heuristics
Modes of Proof
THE PERSUASIVE PROCESS
Audience Analysis and Adaptation
Persuasive Goal
Framing Persuasive Efforts
Identify an Issue Worthy of Attention
Offer a Superior Response
Empower Your Audience--Provide a Means to Act
--Spotlight on Social Media: Persuasive Advocacy Using Facebook and Twitter
CHAPTER 13. Practicing Good Reasoning through Quality Arguments
ARGUMENT AND THE TOULMIN MODEL
Classical Reasoning
Using the Toulmin Model
Arguments and Their Limits
EVIDENCE AND ITS EVALUATION
Examples
Statistics
Testimony
PATTERNS OF REASONING AND REASONING FALLACIES
Reasoning from Example
Reasoning from Analogy
Reasoning from Cause
Reasoning from Sign
Reasoning from Authority
Additional Common Fallacies
--Spotlight on Social Media: Taking Academic Debate Online
CHAPTER 14. Designing Visual Aids to Reach an Audience
VISUAL AIDS CAN BENEFIT SPEAKERS
Visual Aids Can Increase Clarity
Visual Aids Can Summarize Ideas Quickly
Visual Aids Can Increase Audience's Attention and Recall
Visual Aids Have the Power to Affect Your Credibility as a Speaker
VISUAL RHETORIC AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Images Function as Visual Rhetoric
Visual Aids and Civil Discourse
The Pitfalls of Oversimplification, Unnecessary Complexity, and Unproductive Discourse
The Rhetoric of Visual Aids as Productive Discourse
TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS
Presentation Software
PowerPoint
Keynote
Prezi
Google Presentation
Final Thoughts on Presentation Software
Other Types of Visual Aids, Their Affordances, and Considerations for their Use
--Spotlight on Social Media: TedTalks: Aimee Mullins "My 12 Pairs of Legs"
VISUAL AIDS AND THE ART OF DESIGN
Additional Considerations in Artistic Design
White Space
Font
Color
Ease of Processing
Image Quality
Slide Readability for All Audience Members
Content Overload
Transition and Animation Overload
The "Ooops" Factor
INTEGRATING THE VISUAL WITH THE ORAL PRESENTATION
Research Venue Constraints
Practice with Your Aids
Don't Read from Your Slides
Don't be Afraid of a Blank Screen
CHAPTER 15. Rhetorical Criticism as Civic Engagement
RHETORIC AND RHETORICAL CRITICISM
Rhetoric as Symbolic Action
Rhetorical Criticism
Description and Interpretation
Evaluation
RHETORICAL CRITICISM AS AN INTELLECTUAL DISCIPLINE
FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS IN RHETORICAL CRITICISM
Selecting Rhetorical Artifacts
Situating Rhetorical Acts in Context
Reading Rhetorical Artifacts
--Spotlight on Social Media: Analyzing Visual Images as Rhetorical Artifacts
Considering Audience
EVALUATING DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Rhetorical Criticism as Democratic Participation
CHAPTER 16. Public Communication Analysis
LOCATING A RHETORICAL ARTIFACT
DETERMINING THE CONTEXT
DESCRIBING AND INTERPRETING THE RHETORICAL FEATURES
Argumentation
Appeals to Emotions and Loyalties
Rhetor's Credibility
Construction of the Desired Audience
Construction of the Undesired Audience
Organization
Style and Framing
Delivery
--Spotlight on Social Media: A Blog Devoted to Rhetorical Criticism of Public Communication
EVALUATING THE RHETORICAL ARTIFACT
Did the Artifact Achieve the Rhetor's Goals? Why or Why not?
Did the Artifact Strengthen or Weaken Democratic Principles? How?
How Did the Artifact Directly Support or Hurt Democratic Principles?
How Did the Artifact Indirectly Support or Hurt Democratic Principles?
CHAPTER 17. Ideological Analysis
IDEOLOGICAL CRITICISM AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION
LOCATING A RHETORICAL ARTIFACT
DETERMINING THE CONTEXT OF THE RHETORICAL ARTIFACT
DESCRIBE AND INTERPRET THE ARTIFACT'S IDEOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Ideological Assumptions and Agency
Ideological Assumptions and Hegemony
Ideological Assumptions and Resistance
--Spotlight on Social Media: A Mighty Girl Blog and Facebook Posts
EVALUATE HOW THE ARTIFACT'S IDEOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS ELEVATE OR CHALLENGE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES
Glossary
Notes
Index

Public Speaking and Democratic Participation

Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm

Jennifer Y. Abbott, Todd F. McDorman, David M. Timmerman, and L. Jill Lamberton

Author Information

Jennifer Y. Abbott is Associate Professor and Chair of the Rhetoric Department at Wabash College.

Todd F. McDorman is Professor of Rhetoric and Senior Associate Dean of the College at Wabash College.

David M. Timmerman is Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Monmouth College.

Jill Lamberton is Assistant Professor of English at Wabash College.

Public Speaking and Democratic Participation

Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm

Jennifer Y. Abbott, Todd F. McDorman, David M. Timmerman, and L. Jill Lamberton

Reviews and Awards

"The authors suggest that the endeavor of good speaking has a lot to do with being a responsible citizen in society. Public Speaking and Democratic Participation returns to this idea throughout and appropriately ties concepts back to this notion of taking responsibility for our communication. Throughout, the text offers good examples; it's well written and has a contemporary sensibility."--Lyn J. Freymiller, Penn State University

"I am very intrigued and impressed by the approach that the authors take in this text and find most appealing their breadth of knowledge, substantive information and arguments, and the holistic way that they organically weave together public speaking, rhetorical discipline, and civic responsibility."--Scott Weiss, St. Francis College

"The contemporary examples provide ample evidence that classical rhetorical theory is as meaningful today as it was for Quintilian."--Benjamin J. Cline, Western New Mexico University