The Elements of Speechwriting and Public Speaking

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

I.PREPARATION.

1.Know Your Audience.
A Speech Gone Bad.
Listener Biology and the Speech Environment.
Listener Psychology.
Listener Sociology.
Typical Speech Settings.

2.Decide What You Want to Achieve.
Why Give a Speech?
Five Kinds of Speeches to Reach Five Communication Goals.

3.Selecting Your Topic.

4.Speech Construction.
The Opening.
The Body of the Speech.
The Closing.

5.Personal, Clear, and Interesting.
Personal, Not Remote.
Clear, Not Confusing.
Interesting, Not Dull.

II.DELIVERY.

6.The Hardware of Public Speaking.
Your Script.
Visual Aids, Props, and Handouts.

7.Attitudes, Nerves, and Rehearsal.
Attitudes and Expectations.
Nerves.
Elements of Effective Rehearsal.

8.Elements of Effective Presentation.
Nonverbal Communication in General.
Eyes.
Face.
Body.
Clothing.
Voice.

9.Building Oratorical Power.
How to Affect Tone.
Nine Rhetorical Techniques for Memorability and Persuasiveness.

III.TOPICS OF SPECIAL INTEREST.

10.The Elements of Persuasion.
Philosophers on Persuasion.
Politicians on Persuasion.
Psychologists on Persuasion.
The Pragmatics of Persuasion.
Effective Argumentation.
Persuasive Body Language.

11.Humor.
First Considerations.
Kinds of Humor that Work Well in Speeches.
Six Rules of Lip.
Tricks and Techniques.

Onward.

Notes.

Index.