Public Speaking: Finding Your Voice

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