Every person has a distinct voice that deserves to be heard. Incorporating the principles of public speaking will help students to develop that voice into a potent instrument of influence, productivity, and interpersonal significance. Public Speaking: Preparation and Presentation in a Digital World focuses on how to present yourself and your messages in a way that increases the odds of being heard and getting what you want in an efficient and ethical manner. While the primary focus is on the more formal presentations life brings to us in the workplace, at school, and in the community, this textbook also contains effective strategies for less formal venues of public speaking, such as conference calls, emails, social media, status updates, text messages, and face-to-face conversations.

Public Speaking: Preparation and Presentation in a Digital World is available in print or as an eTextbook. It was created to work in tandem with the 14-lesson online course produced by Coast Learning Systems. Whether it is used in an on ground classroom, a hybrid, or fully online, the textbook will link students to the many “public faces” they need to recognize and communicate effectively with.

Course is currently in production. ISBN information and update will be posted in July 2012.

PRODUCTION/PUBLISHING PARTNER: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company

FROM THE PRODUCTION TEAM & NATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Textbook Objectives
Public Speaking: Preparation and Presentation in a Digital World has been designed as a college introductory (100) course on public speaking. It will satisfy the general education requirements for a two-year or four-year degree in higher educational institutions.
This textbook was written to accomplish five overall objectives with the general purpose of developing public speakers who can think clearly and reason soundly. Two additional concepts are threaded throughout the text and help to build the students’ awareness of and responsibility toward cultural diversity and what it means in public speaking and how technology today impacts the developing public speaker. After reading this textbook and completing the activities assigned by their instructor, students will be able to:

• Apply the principles, skills, and processes of public speaking in preparation of a speech by performing audience analysis, developing appropriate purpose and thesis statements, conducting topic research using appropriate resources, applying relevant critical thinking and effective reasoning skills, creating an outline for the speech, developing the speech in an appropriate format, using effective language, and incorporating content that supports the purpose/thesis, and creating appropriate presentational aids.

• Apply the principles, skills, and processes of public speaking in the delivery of a speech by effectively integrating verbal and nonverbal skills, using presentational aids when appropriate, using an appropriate delivery style (e.g., extemporaneous, impromptu, speaking from manuscript), and adapting a previously prepared speech to suit unexpected changes in audience, venue, and so forth.

• Analyze and critique written and oral speeches.

• Use technology effectively in the preparation and delivery of a presentation.

• Prepare and deliver oral presentations that appropriately reflect ethical considerations and appreciation of culturally and ethnically diverse audiences.

By equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills, this textbook will prepare students to make intelligent choices tailored to meet the needs of the varied public speaking situations they will encounter throughout their lives.

Textbook Organization
Public Speaking: Preparation and Presentation in a Digital World contains 14 chapters that are presented in three distinct units within the textbook, allowing instructors to customize the course to suit their individual teaching preferences.
Unit 1—Communicating: Strategies for Dynamic Delivery
Chapters 1 through 4 provide an overview of the basic principles of public speaking, including coverage of such topics as overcoming public speaking apprehension, strategies for audience analysis, ethical considerations, and communicating with diverse audiences.
Unit 2—Creating: Speechwriting Tactics for Powerful Presentations
Chapters 5 through 9 explore the many facets of preparing a speech and explain how research, supporting evidence, organizational patterns, and memorable language help you structure relevant material to suit your chosen topic and engage the attention of your audience.
Unit 3—Connecting: Adapting Your Speech for Diverse Audiences and Situations
Chapters 10 through 14 focus on speaker-audience connections involved in informative and persuasive speaking, describe speaking on special occasions, and explore the particular applications of public speaking as part of group presentations.

Textbook Features
Each chapter begins with clearly defined learning objectives so that students are aware of what they are expected to learn over the succeeding pages. The objectives are phrased in terms of not just what students will understand, but how they will be able to demonstrate their understanding after completing each chapter.

Key terms are highlighted, with formal definitions appearing in the margins for easy reference.

Online course references appear throughout each chapter to refer students and to describe what examples, activities, and concepts are contained in the accompanying online course.

The principles of public speaking are shown in action by incorporating narrative examples and extracts from speeches that relate directly to students’ actual life experiences.

High-quality photographs and illustrations bring to life key concepts in ways that help students link concepts to effective delivery.

Finally, at the end of each chapter, a succinct summary capsulizes the material presented followed by a list of review questions to test student understanding of the material and flag any areas in which further study might be needed.