Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach [Rental Edition]

This print textbook is available for students to rent for their classes. The Pearson print rental program provides students with affordable access to learning materials, so they come to class ready to succeed.  

For courses in public speaking.

A guide to preparing and presenting speeches with the listener in mind

Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach  is a practical and user-friendly guide to help speakers connect with their listeners. Authors Steven and Susan Beebe emphasize the importance of analyzing and considering the audience at every point in the speech-making process. By focusing student attention on the dynamics of diverse audiences, ethics, and communication apprehension, the text prepares students for giving speeches while keeping their listeners foremost in mind. The 11th Edition includes new speech examples that model effective public speaking, as well as updated content that helps students better understand contemporary communication opportunities and challenges. In addition, each chapter has been revised with new examples, illustrations, and references to the latest research conclusions.

Steven A. Beebe is Regents’ and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Texas State University. He served as Chair of his department at Texas State for twenty-eight years and concurrently as Associate Dean for twenty-five years. Steve is the author or co-author of twelve widely used communication books, most of which have been through multiple editions (including Russian and Chinese editions), as well as numerous articles, book chapters, and conference presentations. He has been a Visiting Scholar at both Oxford University and Cambridge University in England. He made international headlines when conducting research at Oxford; he discovered a manuscript that was the partial opening chapter of a book that was to be co-authored with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis called Language and Human Nature. His book C. S. and the Craft of Communication, based on his Lewis discovery, has recently been published. Steve has traveled widely in Europe and Asia, and has played a leadership role in establishing new communication curricula in Russian universities. He has received his university’s highest awards for research and twice for service, been recognized as Honors Professor of the year, received the Evertte Swinney Excellence in Teaching Award twice, been designated a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, and was named Outstanding Communication Professor by the National Speaker’s Association. In 2013 he served as President of the National Communication Association, the largest professional communication association in the world. His passions include his family and a lifelong love of music; he is a pianist and organist and a struggling cellist.

Susan J. Beebe’s professional interests and expertise encompass both oral and written communication. Sue has co-authored three books and has published a number of articles and teaching materials in both English and communication studies. She has received the Texas State University Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching and in Service and the College of Liberal Arts Awards for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, in Teaching, and in Service. After serving as Director of Lower-Division Studies in English for eleven years, Sue retired in 2014 from the Department of English at Texas State. An active volunteer in the community of San Marcos, Texas, Sue was the founding coordinator of the San Marcos Volunteers in Public Schools Program and has served on the San Marcos School Board, the Education Foundation Board, and the San Marcos Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee. In 1993 she was named the statewide Friend of Education by the Texas Classroom Teachers’ Association; in 2000 the San Marcos school district presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Sue enjoys reading, traveling, and caring for the Beebe family cat, Luke. Sue and Steve have two sons: Mark, a marketing manager for a Dallas security technology company; and Matt, a middle school teacher in Austin.

3. Speaking Freely and Ethically

3.1 Speaking Freely

3.2 Speaking Ethically

3.3 Speaking Credibly

4. Listening to Speeches

4.1 Overcoming Barriers to Effective Listening

4.2 How to Become a Better Listener

4.3 Improving Critical Listening and Thinking Skills

4.4 Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches

5. Analyzing Your Audience

5.1 Gathering Information about Your Audience

5.2 Analyzing Information about Your Audience

5.3 Adapting to Your Audience

5.4 Analyzing Your Audience before You Speak

5.5 Adapting to Your Audience as You Speak

5.6 Analyzing Your Audience after You Speak

6. Developing Your Speech
6.1 Select and Narrow Your Topic
6.2 Determine Your Purpose
6.3 Develop Your Central Idea
6.4 Generate and Preview Your Main Ideas

7. Gathering and Using Supporting Material
7.1 Sources of Supporting Material

7.2 Research Strategies
7.3 Types of Supporting Material
7.4 The Best Supporting Material

8. Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
8.1 Organizing Your Main Ideas
8.2 Organizing Your Supporting Material 
8.3 Organizing Your Presentation for the Ears of Others: Signposting 
8.4 Outlining Your Speech

9. Introducing and Concluding Your Speech
9.1 Purposes of Introductions
9.2 Effective Introductions
9.3 Purposes of Conclusions
9.4 Effective Conclusions

10. Using Words Well: Speaker Language and Style
10.1 Differentiating Oral and Written Language Styles
10.2 Using Words Effectively
10.3 Adapting Your Language Style to Diverse Listeners
10.4 Crafting Memorable Word Structures

11. Delivering Your Speech
11.1 The Power of Speech Delivery
11.2 Methods of Delivery
11.3 Characteristics of Effective Delivery
11.4 Rehearsing Your Speech: Some Final Tips
11.5 Delivering Your Speech
11.6 Responding to Questions

12. Using Presentation Aids
12.1 Types of Presentation Aids
12.2 Using Computer-Generated Presentation Aids
12.3 Guidelines for Developing Presentation Aids
12.4 Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids

13. Speaking to Inform
13.1 Informative Speech Topics
13.2 Strategies to Enhance Audience Understanding
13.3 Strategies to Maintain Audience Interest
13.4 Strategies to Enhance Audience Recall
13.5 Developing an Audience-Centered Informative Speech

14. Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking
14.1 The Goals of Persuasion
14.2 How Persuasion Works
14.3 How to Motivate Listeners
14.4 How to Develop Your Audience-Centered Persuasive Speech

15. Using Persuasive Strategies
15.1 Enhancing Your Credibility
15.2 Using Reasoning and Evidence
15.3 Using Emotional Appeals
15.4 Strategies for Adapting Ideas to People and People to Ideas
15.5 Strategies for Organizing Persuasive Messages

16. Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes
16.1 Public Speaking in the Workplace
16.2 Ceremonial Speaking
16.3 After-Dinner Speaking: Using Humor Effectively

APPENDICES

A. Speaking in Small Groups

1. Solving Problems in Groups and Teams
   
2. Leading Small Groups
   

B. Mediated Public Speaking

1. Mediated Communication: An Introduction
2. Types of Online Presentations
3. Audience
4. Preparing for Your Online Presentation
5. Rehearsing Your Online Presentation
6. Delivering or Recording Your Online Presentation
7. Online Etiquette: Digital Citizenship

C. Speeches for Analysis and Discussion

1. I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Inaugural Address: John F. Kennedy
3. Address to the Nation: George W. Bush
4. Audio and Video Manipulation: Suchinder Kalyan

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