Public Speaking

Description

Many public speaking texts take students through a number of chapters of theory and advice before getting to the different types of speeches (e.g., informative, persuasive, special occasion, and small group presentations) that they will give. This innovative new book provides students with the tools they need to speak confidently earlier in the course.
Based on her many years of teaching experience, Sherry Devereaux Ferguson outlines an additive approach to public speaking, providing a foundational overview at the beginning of the book. Each subsequent chapter presents the information and skills necessary to fulfill that chapter's assignment. This organization allows students to master skills incrementally and--in the process--to begin speaking earlier. With a goal of building competency in stages, Ferguson's sure-footed method leads to more confident and effective speakers. Paying special attention to audience analysis and rhetorical criticism, this distinctive text also offers a strong ethical foundation for the act of public speaking.

Features
* Assignment-based: Organizes content around speech assignments rather than topics, allowing professors to introduce practical work early in the course
* Additive in approach: Allows the student to apply principles learned earlier in the course and also to acquire additional knowledge and skills with each new assignment
* Innovative: Incorporates a number of unique features such as the critical communication model, which offers an ethical component; chapters on professional speechwriting and rhetorical analysis; a discussion of PowerPoint presentations; and novel assignments such as a speech of welcome, a coffee shop discussion on ethics, and a team presentation based on theories of multiple intelligence
Providing an abundance of examples, tips from professionals, sample student speeches, and visuals, Public Speaking: Building Competency in Stages helps students to overcome their fears by equipping them with the tools they need to speak confidently in any context.

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with a Conclusion and Questions for
Discussion.
1. Public Speaking in the Age of Accountability: A Critical Model
I. The Roots of Critical Society
II. Trends in the Environment
A. Increasing Activism in the Political Sphere
B. Increasing Activism in the Economic Sphere
C. Increasing Activism in the Legal Sphere
D. Increasing Diversity in the Cultural Environment
E. Changes in Technological Environments
F. Changes in Social Environments
G. Changes in Rhetorical Conventions
III. A Critical Model for Public Speaking
A. Speaker
B. Message
C. Channel
D. Environment
E. Receiver
F. Noise
G. Feedback
H. Impact and Criteria for Judging Speech
2. Communication Apprehensiveness: Learning to Cope with Anxiety
I. Causes of Communication Apprehension
II. Situational Anxiety and Public Speaking
III. Coping Strategies
A. Before the Speech
B. During the Speech
C. After the Speech
3. Listening with a Purpose: Exercises in Perception and Listening
I. Purposeful Listening
II. How Listeners Process Information
A. Nature of Perception
B. Influence of Listening Frames on Message Reception
C. How Listeners Respond
D. Influence of Setting on Message Reception
III. Reciprocal Responsibilities of Listeners and Speakers
A. Giving Nonverbal Feedback
B. Giving Verbal Feedback
4. Acquiring the Basic Skills: The Speech of Introduction
I. Step 1: Getting Started
A. Choosing a Theme
B. Deciding upon a Purpose
C. Framing a Thesis Statement
II. Step 2: Getting Organized
A. Identifying and Ordering Major Points
B. Developing an Outline
C. Writing a Preview Statement
III. Step 3: Writing the Introduction
A. Immediacy Techniques
B. References to the Novel
C. Suspense and Shock Techniques
D. Linguistic Strategies
E. Activity, Drama, and Conflict
F. Humor
G. Gimmicks
IV. Step 4: Developing the Body of the Speech
V. Step 5: Connecting Your Thoughts
A. Transitions
B. Signposts
C. Internal Summaries
VI. Step 6: Closing with a Memorable Thought
VII. Step 7: Practicing and Delivering the Speech
A. Using Note Cards
B. Practicing and Timing the Speech
C. Using Visual Aids
5. Researching, Analyzing, and Adapting to Your Audience: The Speech of Welcome
I. Researching and Analyzing Your Audience
A. Creating a Demographic Profile
B. Creating a Psychographic Profile
C. Creating a Personality Profile
II. Researching and Analyzing Your Speaking Environment
III. Adapting to Your Audience
A. Choosing a Topic and Approach
B. Framing a Realistic Purpose
C. Recognizing Your Audience
D. Adapting to the Situation
VI. Words of Caution
6. Putting Principles of Delivery into Practice: The One-Point Speech
I. Preparing One-Point Speeches
II. Choosing Mode of Delivery
A. Extemporaneous Speaking
B. Impromptu Speaking
C. Memorizing the Speech
D. Manuscript Speaking
E. Speaking from a Teleprompter
III. Building Credibility Through Delivery
A. Composure
B. Dynamism
C. Trustworthiness
D. Sociability
E. Status
F. Competence
G. Objectivity
IV. Meeting Technical Challenges
V. Setting Realistic Goals
7. Visual Aids and Other Software Presentations: The Computer-Assisted Presentation
I. Purposes of Visual Supports
II. Overview of General Principles
III. Different Kinds of Visual Supports
A. Three-Dimensional Objects and Models
B. Chalkboards, Whiteboards, and Flannel Boards
C. Flip Charts
D. Handouts
E. Posters
F. Overhead, Slide, and Data Projectors
G. Audio and Video Tapes
IV. Visual Presentation of Statistics
V. PowerPoint and Other Computer-Generated Presentations
A. Mixed Media Presentations
B. Aesthetic Considerations
C. Considerations Related to Continuity
D. Use of Contrast and Colors
E. Typeface and Font Size
F. Grammar and Structure
G. Formatting
H. Presentation Techniques
8. Researching and Supporting Your Ideas: The Informative Speech
I. Different Types of Informative Speaking
II. Steps in Preparing an Informative Speech
A. Step 1: Choosing Your Topic
B. Step 2: Framing a Purpose Statement
C. Step 3: Writing a Thesis Statement
D. Step 4: Researching Your Speech
E. Step 5: Identifying Points of Possible Confusion
F. Step 6: Choosing an Organizational Pattern
G. Step 7: Developing an Outline
H. Step 8: Writing a Preview Statement
I. Step 9: Writing Your Introduction
J. Step 10: Developing Your Speech
K. Step 11: Linking the Parts of the Speech
L. Step 12: Adding Interest with Visual Aids
M. Step 13: Concluding the Speech
9. The Building Blocks of Persuasive Discourse: A Debate Involving Minority Voices
I. Ethos as a Persuasive Strategy
A. Constituents of Credibility
B. Shifts in Credibility During a Speech
II. Pathos as a Persuasive Strategy
III. Logos as a Persuasive Strategy
A. Reasoning from Example
B. Reasoning from Generalization
C. Causal Reasoning
D. Reasoning from Sign
E. Analogical Reasoning
10. Arguing Eloquently and Convincingly: Speech to Convince, Stimulate, or Actuate
I. Step 1: Selecting Your Topic
A. Think about Causes That Matter to You
B. Think about Policies or Laws That May Be at Risk
C. Think about Policies or Laws You Would Like to Change
D. Think about Controversial Claims You Would Defend or Dispute
E. Take Ethical Considerations into Account
II. Step 2: Framing a Tentative Position Statement
III. Step 3: Translating Your Position Statement into a Thesis Statement
IV. Step 4: Researching Your Audience
V. Step 5: Defining Your General Purpose
VI. Step 6: Framing a Desired Outcome
VII. Step 7: Matching Purposes and Audiences with Organizational Patterns
A. Choices of Organizational Pattern
B. Considerations in Developing and Ordering Arguments
VIII. Step 8: Writing Your Introduction
A. Remembering Attention-Getting Strategies
B. Reviewing Other Elements in the Introduction
IX. Step 9: Developing the Body of Your Speech
X. Step 10: Considering Your Audience
A. Demographics
B. Psychographics
C. Needs
D. Personality
E. General Considerations
XI. Step 11: Choosing Evocative Language
A. Concrete and Vivid Language
B. Balanced and Parallel Sentence Structures
C. Antithesis
D. Repetition
E. Alliteration
F. First and Second Voice
G. Rule of Threes and Fours
H. Comparison and Contrast
I. Metaphor
J. Simile
K. Personification
L. Analogy
M. Rhetorical Questions
N. Religious References
XII. Step 12: Linking Your Ideas
XIII. Step 13: Writing Your Conclusion
XIV. Step 14: Delivering Your Speech
XV. Step 15: Responding to Questions
11. The Language of Propaganda: A Coffee-Shop Discussion on Ethics
I. Defining Propaganda
A. Defining Propaganda in the Context of World War II
B. Problems with Defining Propaganda in a Modern Context
II. The Toolbox of the Propagandist
A. Eliciting Signal Responses
B. Manipulating the Truth
C. Softening the Truth
D. Oversimplifying Complex Issues
E. Relying on Glittering Generalities and Patriotic Platitudes
F. Stating the Obvious
G. Speaking in the Third Person
H. Using Extreme Fear Appeals
I. Pretending to be Someone We are Not
J. Getting on the Bandwagon
K. Calling Names and Labeling by Association
L. Going Down the Slippery Slope
M. Pulling Out the Red Herring
N. Engaging in Circular Reasoning
O. Lying with Statistics
12. Speaking in Social Contexts: A Speech for Special Occasions
I. Types of Special Occasion Speeches
A. After-Dinner Speeches
B. Roasts
C. Wedding Toasts
D. Graduation Speeches
E. Award and Acceptance Speeches
F. Tributes
G. Eulogies
H. Introduction of Another Speaker
I. Sermons
J. Motivational Talks
II. The Use of Humor
A. Humorous Strategies
B. Cautions in Using Humor
C. Delivering Humorous Content
13. Speaking in Classroom Contexts: A Team Presentation
I. Choosing a Theme
II. Setting Teaching and Learning Objectives
III. Deciding upon an Agenda of Learning Activities
A. Taking Learning Theories into Account
B. Applying the Learning Theories
C. Taking Audience Adaptation Theories into Account
D. Choosing Your Learning Activities
IV. Managing Group Dynamics
V. Making the Presentation
A. Setting Up the Room
B. Making an Impression Through Dress
C. Sharing Responsibilities
D. Interacting During the Presentation
E. Communicating Outside the Kite
F. Managing the Feedback Process
G. Providing Handouts and Other Supplementary Materials
VI. Taking Ethics into Account
14. The Business of Speechwriting: A "Ghostwritten" Speech
I. History of Presidential Ghostwriting
II. Steps in Producing a Ghostwritten Speech
A. Gathering Background Materials
B. Structuring and Developing the Speech
C. Recycling Content
D. Making Choices on Language
III. Techniques for Preparing the Manuscript for Delivery
IV. Relinquishing Ownership
V. Evaluating Your Efforts
A. Feedback to the Speechwriter
B. Feedback to Speech Organizers
C. Feedback to the Speaker
D. Conclusion
VI. Getting Work as a Freelance Writer
A. Gaining Experience
B. Advertising Your Work
C. Negotiating a Contract and Professional Fees
D. Establishing a Schedule for Completing the Work
VII. Debate over the Ethics of Ghostwriting
15. The Nature and Function of Rhetorical Criticism: A Rhetorical Analysis
I. CCM Approach to Rhetorical Analysis
A. Speaker
B. Environment
C. Audience
D. Message
E. Impact
F. Criteria for Judgments
II. Positioning the Speaker Within a Larger Movement
Appendix: Memorable Speeches, Historical Moments
Barack Obama
George W. Bush
Earl Charles Spencer
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Mary Fisher
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
George H. W. Bush
Harry Emerson Fosdick