Public Speaking

Chapter 1: Finding Your Voice



What Public Speaking Has to Offer

Practical Benefits

Personal Growth Benefits

Introduction to Communication

What This Course Asks of You

Respect for the Integrity of Ideas and Information

A Concern for Consequences

Final Reflections: The Fate of Public Discourse



Chapter 2: Managing Your Fear of Speaking

Understanding Communication Anxiety

Managing Communication Anxiety

Reality Testing

Selective Relaxation

Attitude Adjustments

Cognitive Restructuring

Visualization

Putting it all Together

Final Reflections: Victory Over Fear



Chapter 3: Your First Speech: An Overview of Speech Preparation

Managing the Impressions You Make

Competence

Integrity

Goodwill

Dynamism

Planning Your First Speech

Step 1: Find the Right Topic

Step 2: Focus Your Topic

Step 3: Find Material for Your Speech

Step 4: Design Your Speech

Step 5: Outline Your Speech

Step 6: Practice Your Presentation

Step 7: Make Your Presentation

Introducing Yourself or a Classmate: An Application

Final Reflections: Exploration Through Preparation



Chapter 4: Becoming a Better Listener

The Benefits of Effective Listening

Listening in the Workplace

Listening in the Classroom

The Process of Listening

Threshold Listening

Critical Listening

Empathic Listening

Constructive Listening

Effective Listening Behaviors

Overcoming External Barriers

Overcoming Internal Barriers

Becoming a Critical Listener

Do Speakers Support Their Claims?

Do Speakers Rely on Credible Sources?

Do Speakers Use Words to Reveal or Befuddle?

What Strategies Do Speakers Use?

Evaluating Classroom Speeches

You as a Constructive Listener

You as a Critical Listener

Ethical Responsibilities of a Listener

Final Reflections: The Golden Rule of Listening



Part Two: Preparation for Public Speaking



Chapter 5: Adapting to Your Audience and Situation

Why Audience Analysis is Important

Understanding Audience Demographics

Age

Gender

Educational Level

Group Affiliations

Understanding Audience Dynamics

Attitudes, Beliefs and Values

Gathering Information about Attitudes

Motivation

Meeting the Challenges of Audiences Diversity

Apply Universal Values

Use Speaking Resources Skillfully

Avoid Language Pitfalls

Avoid Rhetorical Land Mines

Adjusting to the Communication Situation

Time

Place

Occasion

Size of Audience

Context

Final Reflections: Keeping Your Audience in Mind





Chapter 6: Developing Your Topic

What is a Good Topic?

A Good Topic Helps You Find Your Voice

A Good Topic Involves Your Listeners

A Good Topic Is One You Can Manage

Discovering Your Topic Area

Brainstorming

Interest Charts

Media Prompts

Exploring Your Topic Area

Mind Mapping

Topic Analysis

Selecting Your Topic

Refining Your Topic

General Purpose

Specific Purpose

Thesis Statement

An Overview of the Topic Selection Process

Final Reflections: The Great Chain of Communication



Chapter 7: Building Responsible Knowledge

Developing a Research Strategy

Prepare an Overview

Build a Bibliography

Acquire In-Depth Knowledge

Be Sure Your Information is Up-to-Date

Include Local Applications

Acquiring Responsible Knowledge

Drawing on Personal Knowledge and Experience

Doing Research in the Library

Doing Research on the Internet

Evaluating Research Materials

Evaluating Material from Library Resources

Evaluating Material from the Internet

Interviewing for Information

Establish Contact

Prepare for the Interview

Conduct the Interview

Record What You Learn

Taking Notes on Your Research

Preparing Source and Information Cards

Taking Notes on Your Computer

Know What Information to Record

Final Reflections: Your Substantive Voice



Chapter 8: Supporting Your Ideas

Facts and Statistics

Framing Facts

Developing Statistics

Constructing Facts and Figures

Testing Facts and Figures

Testimony

Framing Expert Testimony

Developing Lay Testimony

Constructing Prestige Testimony

Designing Testimony: Other Considerations

Examples

Types of Examples

Fashioning Powerful Examples

Testing Your Examples

Narratives

Types of Narratives

Building Narratives

Testing Your Story

Selecting and Combining Supporting Materials

Final Reflections: Developing a Strong Voice



Chapter 9: Structuring and Outlining Your Speech

Principles of a Well-Structured Speech

Simplicity

Order

Balance

Structuring the Body of Your Speech

Selecting Your Main Points

Arranging Your Main Points

Developing Your Main Points

Developing a Working Outline

Adding Transitions

Introducing and Concluding Your Speech

Introducing Your Speech

Concluding Your Speech

Selecting and Using Introductory and Concluding Techniques

Preparing Your Formal Outline

Final Reflections: Value of the Twin Disciplines



Part Three: Developing Presentation Skills



Chapter 10: Developing Presentation Aids

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentation Aids

Advantages of Presentation Aids

Disadvantages of Presentation Aids

Types of Presentation Aids

People

Objects and Models

Graphics

Pictures

Presentation Media

Traditional Media

New Media

Preparing Presentation Aids

Principles of Design

Principles of Color

Making Presentation Aids

Using Presentation Aids

Ethical Considerations for Using Presentation Aids

Final Reflections: Amplifying Your Voice



Chapter 11: Putting Words to Work

What Words Can Do

What Makes the Spoken Word Special

Shaping Perceptions

Arousing Feelings

Bringing Listeners Together

Prompting Listeners to Take Action

Celebrating Shared Values

The Six C's of Language Use

Clarity

Color

Concreteness

Correctness

Conciseness

Cultural Sensitivity

Magnifying the Power of Language

Using Figurative Language

Changing the Order of Words

Using the Sounds of Words to Reinforce Their Sense

Final Reflections: Give Me the Right Word



Chapter 12: Presenting Your Speech

The Power of Presentation

Developing Your Physical Voice

Pitch

Rate

Loudness

Variety

Vocal Problems

Developing Your Body Language

Facial Expression and Eye Contact

Movement and Gestures

Personal Appearance

Developing Versatility in Presentation

Impromptu Speaking

Memorized Text Presentation

Reading from a Manuscript

Extemporaneous Speaking

Developing Flexibility in Special Situations

Handling Questions and Answers

Making Video Presentations

Practicing for Presentation

Final Reflections: Taking the Stage







Part Four: Types of Public Speaking



Ch 13: Informative Speaking

Informative Speaking: An Orientation

Forms of Informative Speeches

Speeches of Description

Speeches of Demonstration

Speeches of Explanation

Helping Listeners Learn

Motivating Audiences to Listen

Maintaining Audience Attention

Promoting Audience Retention

Speech Designs

Categorical Design

Comparative Design

Spatial Design

Sequential Design

Chronological Design

Causation Design

Rising to the Challenge of the Informative Speech

Briefings: An Application

Final Reflections: The Informed Voice



Chapter 14: Persuasive Speaking

The Nature of Persuasive Speaking

The Types of Persuasive Speaking

Speeches That Focus on Facts

Speeches That Address Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values

Speeches That Advocate Action

The Persuasive Process

Awareness

Understanding

Agreement

Enactment

Integration

The Challenges of Persuasive Speaking

Enticing a Reluctant Audience to Listen

Removing Barriers to Commitment

Moving from Attitude to Action

The Challenge of Ethical Persuasion

Designs for Persuasive Speeches

Problem-Solution Design

Motivated Sequence Design

Refutative Design

Design Combinations

Final Reflections: The Case for Persuasion



Chapter 15: Building Sound Arguments

Reasoned Persuasion

Building Evidence

Developing Proofs

The Master Form of Proof

Definitions of Central Concepts

Reasoning from Principle

Reasoning from Reality

Reasoning from Parallel Cases

Avoiding Defective Persuasion

Defective Evidence

Defective Proof

Defective Patterns of Reasoning

Fallacies Related to Particular Design

Final Reflections: Persuasion That Has Legs

Appendix A: Speeches for Analysis

Endnotes

Index