A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking

This best-selling brief introduction to public speaking offers practical coverage of topics 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. To support student speakers, we offer an effective suite of digital tools in Achieve, which combines an interactive e-textbook, speech videos, analytics, and LearningCurve adaptive quizzing in one convenient learning program.

With the feedback we received from an expert in communication and disability, we made many revisions throughout the book to eliminate assumptions about ability and to better support all learners in the public speaking course. For instance, In Chapter 6, Analyzing an Audience, we expand our definition of people with disabilities to include individuals with learning and cognitive disabilities. In Part 5, which focuses on Delivery, we have qualified the widely used directive to “act natural” by providing specific strategies for how one might appear natural or relaxed. When maintaining eye contact is mentioned, “scanning,” is offered as one possible strategy for creating an appearance of eye contact.

The Seventh Edition of A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking aims to raise the speaker’s awareness of the potential needs of all audience members, including people with disabilities.  Subsequently we revised Part 6, Presentation Aids, to introduce the concept of “universal design,” offering guidance on key design elements such as font and color choice to ensure that presentation aids can be accessed by all members of an audience.  (To learn more about Macmillan Learning’s own commitment to creating products that are usable by all learners and meet universally applied accessibility standards click here.

In consultation with experts on linguistic diversity, exclusive constructions such as “he or she” have been eliminated throughout the text and the validity of accents and dialects acknowledged. Chapter 15, Using Language, now offers strategies for when and how to use vernacular language in speech, and offers guidance on using inclusive, unbiased language, including gender-neutral pronouns.

Students learn best when they are intrinsically motivated to acquire skills and knowledge to accomplish meaningful goals in their lives and communities. The Seventh edition of A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking includes annotated examples pf speeches from people who have used their voice to speak for social change, including John Lewis and Greta Thunberg. This aligns to the NCA Learning Outcome #9: Influence Public Discourse.