Cover: A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, 6th Edition by Dan O'Hair; Hannah Rubenstein; Rob Stewart

A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking

Sixth Edition  ©2019 Dan O'Hair; Hannah Rubenstein; Rob Stewart Formats: E-book

Authors

  • Headshot of Dan O'Hair

    Dan O'Hair

    Dan O’Hair is professor of communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. He is past presidential professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Oklahoma and past president of the National Communication Association. He is coauthor or co-editor of 24 communication texts and scholarly volumes and has published more than ninety research articles and chapters in dozens of communication, psychology, and health journals and books. He is a frequent presenter at national and international communication conferences and is on the editorial boards of various journals.


  • Headshot of Hannah Rubenstein

    Hannah Rubenstein

    Hannah Rubenstein is a writer, editor, and part-time college instructor who has used her academic training in communication (MA, Fairfield University) to guide her collaborations on A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, A Speakers Guidebook, Public Speaking: Challenges and Choices, and other successful college texts. She heads her own communication firm, Hedgehog Productions, and teaches the basic public speaking course at University of Bridgeport and other Connecticut colleges.


  • Headshot of Rob Stewart

    Rob Stewart

    Rob Stewart is the Senior Vice Provost and professor of communication studies at Texas Tech University. He is coauthor of A Speakers Guidebook, and five editions of A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, and has published more than 30 articles and book chapters.

Table of Contents

PART 1: Getting Started

Chapter 1: Becoming a Public Speaker

Gain a Vital Life Skill

Advance Your Professional Goals

Enhance Your Career as a Student

Find New Opportunities for Civic Engagement

The Classical Roots of Public Speaking

Learning to Speak in Public

Draw on Conversational Skills

Draw on Skills in Composition

Develop an Effective Oral Style

Demonstrate Respect for Difference

Public Speaking as a Form of Communication

Public Speaking as an Interactive Communication Process

Chapter 2: From A to Z: Overview of a Speech

Analyze the Audience

Select a Topic

Determine the Speech Purpose

Compose a Thesis Statement

Develop the Main Points

Gather Supporting Materials

Arrange the Speech into Its Major Parts

Outline the Speech

Consider Presentation Aids

Practice Delivering the Speech

Chapter 3: Managing Speech Anxiety

Identify What Makes You Anxious

Lack of Positive Experience

Feeling Different

Being the Center of Attention

Pinpoint the Onset of Anxiety

Pre-Preparation Anxiety

Preparation Anxiety

Pre-Performance Anxiety

Performance Anxiety

Use Proven Strategies to Build Your Confidence

Prepare and Practice

Modify Thoughts and Attitudes

Visualize Success

Activate the Relaxation Response

Briefly Meditate

Use Stress-Control Breathing

Stage One

Stage Two

Use Movement to Minimize Anxiety

Learn from Feedback

Chapter 4: Ethical Public Speaking

Demonstrate Competence and Character

Respect Your Listeners’ Values

Contribute to Positive Public Discourse

Use Your Rights of Free Speech Responsibly

Observe Ethical Ground Rules

Be Trustworthy

Demonstrate Respect

Make Responsible Speech Choices

Demonstrate Fairness

Be Civic-Minded

Avoid Plagiarism

Orally Acknowledge Your Sources

Citing Quotations, Paraphrases, and Summaries

Fair Use, Copyright, and Ethical Speaking

Chapter 5: Listeners and Speakers

Recognize the Centrality of Listening

Recognize That We Listen Selectively

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening

Minimize External and Internal Distractions

Refrain from Multitasking

Guard against Scriptwriting and Defensive Listening

Beware of Laziness and Overconfidence

Work to Overcome Cultural Barriers

Practice Active Listening

Set Listening Goals

Listen for Main Ideas

Strive for the Open and Respectful Exchange of Ideas

Evaluate Evidence and Reasoning

Offer Constructive and Compassionate Feedback

PART 2: Development

Chapter 6: Analyzing the Audience

Adapt to Audience Psychology: Who Are Your Listeners?

"If the Value Fits, Use It"

Gauge Listeners’ Feelings toward the Topic

Gauge Listeners’ Feelings toward You as the Speaker

Gauge Listeners’ Feelings toward the Occasion

Adapt Your Message to Audience Demographics

Age

Ethnic or Cultural Background

Socioeconomic Status

Income

Occupation

Education

Religion

Political Affiliation

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Group Affiliations

Adapt to Diverse Audiences

Adapt to Cross-Cultural Values

Focus on Universal Values

Tools for Learning About Your Audience

Conduct Interviews

Survey the Audience

Consult Published Sources

Analyze the Speech Setting and Context

Chapter 7: Selecting a Topic and Purpose

Explore Topics for Your Speech

Identify Personal Interests

Consider Current Events and Controversial Issues

Survey Grassroots Issues: Engage the Community

Steer Clear of Overused and Trivial Topics

Try Brainstorming to Generate Ideas

Use Internet Tools

Identify the General Purpose of Your Speech

Refine the Topic and Purpose

Narrow Your Topic

Form a Specific Speech Purpose

Compose a Thesis Statement

Example 1

Example 2

From Source to Speech: Narrowing Your Topic to Fit Your Audience

Chapter 8: Developing Supporting Material

Offer Examples

Share Stories

Draw on Testimony

Provide Facts and Statistics

Use Statistics Accurately

Use Frequencies to Indicate Counts

Use Percentages to Express Proportion

Use Types of Averages Accurately

Use Statistics Selectively—and Memorably

Present Statistics Ethically

Chapter 9: Finding Credible Sources in Print and Online

Assess Your Research Needs

Use Library Databases to Access Credible Sources

Recognize Propaganda, Misinformation, and Disinformation

Investigate a Mix of Primary and Secondary Sources

Explore Primary Sources

Consider Personal Knowledge and Experience

Access Government Information

Explore Digital Collections

Access Blogs

Conduct Interviews

Distribute Surveys

Explore Secondary Sources

Wikipedia—Dos and Don’ts

From Source to Speech: Evaluating Web Sources

Chapter 10: Citing Sources in Your Speech

Alert Listeners to Key Source Information

Establish the Source’s Trustworthiness

Qualify the Source

Avoid a Mechanical Delivery

Vary the Wording

Vary the Order

Types of Sources and Sample Oral Citations

Book

Reference Work

Article in a Journal, Newspaper, or Magazine

Website

Blog

Television or Radio Program

Online Video

Testimony (Lay or Expert)

Interview and Other Personal Communication

PART 3: Organization

Chapter 11: Organizing the Body of the Speech

Use Main Points to Make Your Major Claims

Restrict the Number of Main Points

Restrict Each Main Point to a Single Idea

Use the Purpose and Thesis Statements as Guides

Use Supporting Points to Substantiate Your Claims

Pay Close Attention to Coordination and Subordination

Principles of Coordination and Subordination

Strive for a Unified, Coherent, and Balanced Organization

Use Transitions to Give Direction to the Speech

Use Transitions between Speech Points

Use Internal Previews and Summaries as Transitions

From Point to Point: Using Transitions to Guide Your Listeners

Chapter 12: Selecting an Organizational Pattern

Arranging Speech Points Chronologically

Arranging Speech Points Using a Spatial Pattern

Arranging Speech Points Using a Causal (Cause-Effect) Pattern

Arranging Speech Points Using a Problem-Solution Pattern

Arranging Speech Points Topically

Arranging Speech Points Using a Narrative Pattern

Chapter 13: Preparing Outlines for the Speech

Plan on Creating Two Outlines

Use Sentences, Phrases, or Key Words

Use a Key-Word Outline for Optimal Eye Contact

Create a Working Outline First

Sample Working Outline

Prepare a Speaking Outline for Delivery

Sample Speaking Outline

PART 4: Starting, Finishing, and Styling

Chapter 14: Developing the Introduction and Conclusion

Preparing the Introduction

Gain Audience Attention

Use a Quotation

Tell a Story

Establish Common Ground

Offer Unusual Information

Pose Questions

Use Humor—Perhaps

Preview the Topic, Purpose, and Main Points

Establish Credibility as a Speaker

Motivate the Audience to Accept Your Goals

Preparing the Conclusion

Signal the End of the Speech and Provide Closure

Summarize the Key Points

Reiterate the Topic and Speech Purpose

Challenge the Audience to Respond

Make the Conclusion Memorable

Chapter 15: Using Language

Use an Oral Style

Strive for Simplicity

Make Frequent Use of Repetition

Use Personal Pronouns

Choose Concrete Language and Vivid Imagery

Offer Vivid Imagery

Use Figures of Speech

Avoid Clichés, Mixed Metaphors, and Faulty Analogies

Choose Words That Build Credibility

Use Words Appropriately

Use Words Accurately

Use the Active Voice

Use Inclusive, Unbiased Language

Choose Words That Create a Lasting Impression

Use Repetition to Create Rhythm

Use Alliteration for a Poetic Quality

Experiment with Parallelism

PART 5: Delivery

Chapter 16: Methods of Delivery

Keys to Effective Delivery

Select a Method of Delivery

Speaking from Manuscript

Speaking from Memory

Speaking Impromptu

Speaking Extemporaneously

Chapter 17: Your Voice in Delivery

Adjust Your Speaking Volume

Vary Your Intonation

Adjust Your Speaking Rate

Use Strategic Pauses

Strive for Vocal Variety

Carefully Pronounce and Articulate Words

Use Dialect (Language Variation) with Care

Chapter 18: Your Body in Delivery

Pay Attention to Body Language

Animate Your Facial Expressions

Maintain Eye Contact

Use Gestures That Feel Natural

Create a Feeling of Immediacy

Maintain Good Posture

Practice the Delivery

Focus on the Message

Plan Ahead and Practice Often

From Weak to Confident Delivery: Enhancing Your Delivery with Body Language

PART 6: Presentation Aids

Chapter 19: Speaking with Presentation Aids

Select an Appropriate Aid

Props and Models

Pictures

Graphs, Charts, and Tables

Audio, Video, and Multimedia

Options for Showing Presentation Aids

Flip Charts

Chalkboards and Whiteboards

Chapter 20: Designing Presentation Aids

Keep the Design Simple

Use Design Elements Consistently

Select Appropriate Type Styles and Fonts

Use Color Carefully

Consider Subjective Interpretations of Color

Chapter 21: Using Presentation Software

Give a Speech, Not a Slide Show

Develop a Plan

Avoid Technical Glitches

Find Media for Presentations

Avoid Copyright Infringement

From Slide Show to Presentation: Getting Ready to Deliver a PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi Presentation

PART 7: Types of Speeches

Chapter 22: Informative Speaking

Use Audience Analysis

Present New and Interesting Information

Look for Ways to Increase Understanding

Subject Matter of Informative Speeches

Decide How to Communicate Your Information

Definition

Description

Demonstration

Explanation

Take Steps to Reduce Confusion

Use Analogies to Build on Prior Knowledge

Appeal to Different Learning Styles

Arrange Points in a Pattern

Sample Informative Speech: Going Carbon Neutral on Campus

Chapter 23: Principles of Persuasive Speaking

Persuasive Speeches Appeal to Human Psychology

Classical Persuasive Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Appeal to Reason

Appeal to Emotion

Appeal to Credibility

Contemporary Persuasive Appeals: Needs and Motivations

Appeal to What Motivates Audience Members

Appeal to Audience Members’ Needs

Encourage Mental Engagement

Demonstrate Speaker Credibility

Stages in Speaker Credibility

Consider Cultural Orientation

Chapter 24: Constructing the Persuasive Speech

Identify the Nature of Your Claims

Use Convincing Evidence

Offer Secondary Sources ("External Evidence")

Offer Speaker Expertise as Evidence

Offer Evidence That Appeals to Audience Needs and Motivations

Select Warrants

Counterarguments: Addressing the Other Side

Avoid Fallacies in Reasoning

Strengthen Your Case with Organization

What Do Your Claims and Evidence Suggest?

What Response Do You Seek?

What is the Audience’s Disposition?

Problem-Solution Pattern of Arrangement

Comparative Advantage Pattern of Arrangement

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Step 1: Attention

Step 2: Need

Step 3: Satisfaction

Step 4: Visualization

Step 5: Action

Refutation Pattern of Arrangement

Sample Persuasive Speech: Becoming a Socially Conscious Consumer

Chapter 25: Speaking on Special Occasions

Functions of Special Occasion Speeches

Types of Special Occasion Speeches

Speeches of Introduction

Speeches of Acceptance

Speeches of Presentation

Roasts and Toasts

Eulogies and Other Tributes

After-Dinner Speeches

Speeches of Inspiration

Sample Special Occasion Speech: 2017

University of Southern California Commencement Address by Will Ferrell

PART 8: Online, Group, and Business Contexts

Chapter 26: Preparing Online Presentations

Apply Your Knowledge of Face-to-Face Speaking

Plan for the Unique Demands of Online Delivery

Know the Equipment

Focus on Vocal Variety

Provide Superior Visual Aids

Plan the Delivery Mode

Real-Time Presentations

Recorded Presentations

Choose an Online Presentation Format

Video

Podcasts and Vodcasts

Webinars

Chapter 27: Communicating in Groups

Focus on Goals

Plan on Assuming Dual Roles

Center Disagreements around Issues

Resist Groupthink

Adopt an Effective Leadership Style

Set Goals

Encourage Active Participation

Use Reflective Thinking

Chapter 28: Delivering Group Presentations

Use Group Communication Guidelines

Analyze the Audience and Set Goals

Establish Information Needs

Assign Roles and Tasks

Establish Transitions between Speakers

Consider the Presenters’ Strengths

Coordinate the Presentation Aids

Rehearse the Presentation Several Times

Presenting in Panels, Symposia, and Forums

Panel Discussions

Symposia

Public Forums

Chapter 29: Business and Professional Presentations

Become Familiar with Reports and Proposals

The Sales Proposal

Audience

Organization

The Staff Report

Audience

Organization

The Progress Report

Audience

Organization

PART 9: Speaking in Other College Courses

Chapter 30: Presentations Assigned across the Curriculum

Journal Article Review

The Service Learning Presentation

The Poster Presentation

The Debate

Debate Sides, Resolutions, and Formats

Advance Strong Arguments

The Case Study

Prepare for Different Types of Audiences

Chapter 31: Science and Mathematics Courses

Preparing Effective Presentations in Science and Mathematics

Research Presentation

Process Analysis Presentation

Field Study Presentation

Chapter 32: Technical Courses

Preparing Effective Technical Presentations

Engineering Design Review

Architecture Design Review

Request for Funding

Chapter 33: Social Science Courses

Preparing Effective Presentations in the Social Sciences

Review of the Literature Presentation

Program Evaluation Presentation

Policy Proposal Presentation

Chapter 34: Arts and Humanities Courses

Preparing Effective Arts and Humanities Presentations

Presentations of Interpretation and Analysis

Presentations That Compare and Contrast

Debates

Chapter 35: Education Courses

Preparing Effective Education Presentations

Delivering a Lecture

Facilitating a Group Activity

Facilitating a Classroom Discussion

Chapter 36: Nursing and Allied Health Courses

Preparing Effective Presentations in Nursing and Allied Health Courses

Evidence-Based Practice Presentation

Clinical Case Study Presentation

Quality Improvement Proposal

Treatment Plan Report

Appendices

Appendix A: Citation Guidelines

Chicago Documentation

APA Documentation

MLA Documentation

CSE Documentation

IEEE Documentation

Appendix B: Question-and-Answer Sessions

Protocol during the Session

Handling Hostile and Otherwise Troubling Questions

Ending the Session

Appendix C: Preparing for TV and Radio Communication

Speaking on Television

Eye Contact, Body Movements, and Voice

Dress and Makeup

Speaking on Radio: The Media Interview

Appendix D: Tips for Non-Native Speakers of English

Think Positively

Consider Your Context and Audience

Capitalize on Your Language Uniqueness

Practice, Practice, Practice

Focus on Your Pronunciation

Final Suggestions

Glossary

Index

Product Updates

LaunchPad for the Sixth Edition now delivers a comprehensive, easy, assignable media and assessment package. New and updated features:

  • NEW Video Assessment program helps instructors provide immediate feedback while easily managing the video process in their courses. The assessment is simple to use with superior commenting, recording, and rubric functionalities. 
  • Powerful Feedback. Multiple comment delivery options for instructor and peers are available for rich feedback. Customizable visual markers quickly map the pluses and minuses of the speech. Descriptive and customizable rubrics (along with publisher-provided rubrics) provide an avenue for crystal-clear assessment. Feedback is in real-time.
  • Students receive immediate feedback on their videos from their instructor and peers, as feedback can be given during the live speech. When the speech is done, the instructor is done with their assessment. Because grading work is finished at the end of the class hour, instructors get their lives back.
  • Mobile Device-friendly. Video can be recorded or uploaded from a mobile device and loaded directly into an assignment via iOS/Android apps.
  • Live-Streaming. Online speech classes can live-stream their speeches while the instructor and class assesses it in the moment.
  • NEW “Video Scenario” lecture launchers
  • NEW chapter quizzes
  • NEW iClicker Questions

A wealth of new research, content, and tools to give students what  they need to succeed:

  • New visual guide on using effective body language provides speakers with best practices they can apply. The guide reinforces key skills discussed in Chapter 18, including eye contact with the audience and effective gestures. The feature helps students put speech concepts from the text into action.
  • More examples relevant to different speech situations (Chapter 6) helps students see how they can present to people with different disciplinary backgrounds, when interviewing for a job, or during other situations where they may not know about different demographics ahead of time.
  • New detailed table on organizational patterns maps out each pattern using the same topic. Students and instructors say that organizational patterns are among the most difficult concepts to master. This new visual chart brings clarity and helps students confidently choose the best organizational pattern for their speech purpose.

Current examples help students engage with course material. New examples include the student activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who use public speaking to influence civic discourse about gun violence, and an excerpt from Emma Watson’s powerful United Nations speech about the HeForShe campaign.

Loaded with new speech models on hot topics and new videos:

  • A new special occasion speech by actor and comedian Will Ferrell explains his experiences with speech anxiety in a moving and inspirational address to the 2017 graduating class at the University of Southern California. The speech also includes margin annotations explaining Ferrell’s effective use of rhetorical devices, such as anecdotes and emotional appeals.
  • Speeches on contemporary topics, paired with video in LaunchPad, engage students and serve as models. A new informative speech, accompanied by questions in LaunchPad, shows how student speakers can polish their organization and delivery. The speech, titled “Going Carbon Neutral on Campus,” appears in Chapter 22 with margin annotations explaining the speaker’s effective use of rhetorical techniques. The speech also appears as a new, professionally shot video in LaunchPad, available with transcripts and closed captioning. A “needs improvement” version of the speech allows students to see how the speaker progressed from a rough first attempt to a final speech with a strong delivery.
  • New video scenarios at the beginning of each Part preview upcoming steps in the speech-making process. The text directs students to LaunchPad to watch a video scenario related to a key concept, like delivery or preparation. After watching each video in LaunchPad, students answer a series of critical-thinking questions, increasing their understanding of foundational public speaking concepts. This new feature is great for discussion and helps students understand and tackle common challenges in the public speaking course.

All the public speaking advice you need—in your pocket

This best-selling brief introduction to public speaking offers practical coverage of every topic typically covered in a full-sized text, from invention, research and organization, practice and delivery, to the different speech types. Its concise, inexpensive format makes it perfect not only for the public speaking course, but also for any setting across the curriculum, on the job, or in the community. The Sixth Edition is filled with new examples, research, handy tools, and digital support to help students master the basics of public speaking in the classroom and beyond. New speeches and examples from people like Will Ferrell, Emma Watson, and students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School engage students in current issues, demonstrate the impact of speech, and provide successful models. Practical advice on topics like how to determine which organizational pattern to use when, how to adapt to an audience, and how to incorporate inclusive language provide easy-to-apply guidance. The book’s LaunchPad has been greatly expanded with an eBook; new, professionally shot videos; unit quizzes; and a new video assessment program that makes recording video and providing instructor and peer feedback a breeze.

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