Widely praised for its conversational tone and clear advice, Practically Speaking is the public speaking textbook your students will actually read. Filled with engaging stories and examples, sound scholarship and recent research, and useful tips and tricks, Practically Speaking shows students how to get started, practice thinking critically, and ultimately develop their own voice.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface Chapter 01: Communication Competence and Public Speaking Defining Communication Communication as a Transactional Process: Working with an Audience Communication as Sharing Meaning: Making Sense Defining Communication Competence in Public Speaking Effectiveness: Achieving Goals Degrees of Effectiveness: From Deficient to Proficiency Audience Orientation: You Are Not Talking to Yourself Appropriateness: Speaking by the Rules Achieving Competent Public Speaking Knowledge: Learning the Rules Skills: Showing Not Just Knowing Sensitivity: Developing Receptive Accuracy Commitment: Acquiring a Passion for Excellence Ethics: Determining the Right and Wrong of Speaking Ethical Standards: Judging Moral Correctness of Speech Plagiarism: Never Inconsequential Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 02: Speech Anxiety Speech Anxiety as a Challenge Pervasiveness of Speech Anxiety: A Common Experience Symptoms: Flight-or-Flight Response Basic Symptoms: Your Body's Response to Threat Appropriateness of Symptoms: Relevance to Public Speaking Causes of Dysfunctional Anxiety and Basic Strategies Self-Defeating Thoughts: Sabotaging Your Speech Catastrophic Thinking: Fear of Failure Perfectionist Thinking: No Mistakes Permitted Desire for Complete Approval: Trying Not to Offend The Illusion of Transparency: Being Nervous about Looking Nervous Anxiety-Provoking Situations: Considering Context Novelty of the Speaking Situation: Uncertainty Conspicuousness: In the Spotlight Types of Speeches: Varying Responses Strategies for Managing Speech Anxiety Prepare and Practice: Transforming Novelty into Familiarity Gain Realistic Perspective: Rational Not Irrational Thinking Adopt a Noncompetitive Communication Orientation: Reframing Use Coping Statements: Rational Reappraisal Use Positive Imaging: Visualizing Success Use Relaxation Techniques: Reducing Fight-or-Flight Response Try Systematic Desensitization: Incremental Relaxation Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 3. Audience Analysis Types of Audiences Captive Audience: Disengaged Listeners Committed Audience: Agreeable Listeners Contrary Audience: Hostile Listeners Concerned Audience: Eager Listeners Casual Audience: Unexpected Listeners Audience Composition Age: Possible Generation Gaps Gender: Go Beyond Simplistic Stereotypes Ethnicity and Culture: Sensitivity to Diversity Group Affiliations: A Window into Listeners' Views Adapting to Diverse Audiences Establish Identification: Connecting with Your Audience Likeability: I Can Relate to You Stylistic Similarity: Looking and Acting the Part Substantive Similarity: Establishing Common Ground Build Credibility: Establishing Believability Adapt to the Situation: Influence of Circumstances Adapt While Speaking: Exhibit Sensitivity Topic Choice and Audience Adaptation Exploring Potential Topics: Important Choice Do a Personal Inventory: You as Topic Source Brainstorm: New Possibilities Crowdsourcing for Topics: Group Wisdom Scanning for Topics: Quick Ideas Appropriateness of Topic: Blending Topic and Audience Speaker Appropriateness: Suitability for You Audience Appropriateness: Suitability for Your Listeners Occasion Appropriateness: Suitability for the Event Narrowing the Topic: Making Subjects Manageable Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 4. Gathering Material The Internet: Online Research Search Engines Directories Metasearch Engines Virtual Libraries Government Sites Survey Sites Internet Search Tips Wikipedia: Credible Scholarship or Mob Rule? Blogging Sites: Be Very Choosy Famous Quotation Sties: The Wisdom of Others Evaluating Internet Information: Basic Steps Libraries: Bricks-and-Mortar Research Facilities Librarian: Expert Navigator Library Catalogues: Computer Versions Periodicals: Popular Information Sources Newspapers: An Old Standby Reference Works: Beyond Wikipedia Databases: Computerized Collections of Credible Information Interviewing: Questioning Experts Interview Plan: Be Prepared Interview Conduct: Act Appropriately Interviewing by Email: Surprise Yourself Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 5. Using Supporting Materials Effectively Using Examples Competently Types of Examples: Specific Illustrations Hypothetical Examples: It Could Happen Real Examples: It Did Happen Brief Examples: Short and to the Point Extended Examples: Telling a Story Using Examples Effectively: Choose Carefully Use Relevant Examples: Stay on Point Choose Vivid Examples: Create Images Use Representative Examples: Reflect What Is Accurate Stack Examples: When One Is Not Enough Using Statistics Competently Measures of Central Tendency: Determining What Is Typical Mean: Your Average Statistic Median: An in-the-Center Statistic Mode: Most Frequent Statistic How to Use Statistics Effectively: Beyond Numbing Numbers Use Accurate Statistics Accurately: No Distorting Make Statistics Concrete: Meaningful Numbers Make Statistical Comparisons: Gaining Perspective Stack Statistics: Creating Impact Use Credible Sources: Build Believability Using Testimony Competently Types of Testimony: Relying on Others Testimony of Experts: Relying on Those in the Know Eyewitness Testimony: You Had to Be There Testimony of Non-Experts: Ordinary Folks Adding Color to Events How to Use Testimony Quote or Paraphrase Accurately: Consider Context Use Qualified Sources: Credibility Matters General Considerations across Types Choose Interesting Supporting Materials: Counteracting Boredom Cite Sources Completely: No Vague References Abbreviate Source Citations: Brief Reference Reminders Combine Examples, Stats, and Quotes: The Power of Three Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 6. Attention: Getting People to Listen Nature or Attention Selective Attention of Listeners: Filtering Stimuli Mindful Listening: Focused Attention [Box Feature] Developing Competence in Public Speaking: How to Be a Mindful Speaker Attention Strategies: Triggering Listening Novelty: The Allure of the New Unusual Topics: Choosing Outside the Box Unusual Examples: The Anti-Sedative Unusual Stories: Nothing Like a Good Tale Unusual Phrasing: It Is in the Wording Startling Appeal: Shake up Your Listeners Startling Statements, Facts, or Statistics: The "Oh WOW" Effect Inappropriate Use: Beware Bizarre Behavior The Vital Appeal: Meaningfulness Humorous Appeal: Keep Listeners Laughing Do Not Force Humor: Not Everyone Is Funny Use Only Relevant Humor: Stay Focused Be Sensitive to Audience and Occasion: Humor Can Backfire Consider Using Self-Deprecating Humor: "I'm Not Worthy" Movement and Change: Our Evolutionary Protection Intensity: Extreme Degree of a Stimulus Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 7. Introductions and Conclusions Objectives for Competent Introductions Gain Attention: Focusing Your Listeners Begin with a Clever Quotation: Let Others Grab Attention Use Questions: Engage Your Listeners Tell a Relevant Story: Use Narrative Power Begin with a Simple Visual Aid: Show and Tell Refer to Remarks of Introduction: Acknowledging Praise Make A Clear Purpose Statement: Providing Intent Establish Topic Significance: Making Your Listeners Care Establish Your Credibility: Why Listeners Should Believe You Preview The Main Points: The Coming Attractions Objectives for Competent Conclusions Summarize The Main Points: Connecting The Dots Refer to the Introduction: Bookending Your Speech Make a Memorable Finish: Sizzle Do Not Fizzle Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 8. Outlining and Organizing Speeches Effective Outlining Standard Formatting: Using Correct Symbols Division: Dividing the Pie Coherence: Logical Consistency and Clarity Completeness: Using Full Sentences Balance: No Lopsided Time Allotment [Box Feature] A Student Outline: Rough Draft and Revision Effective Organization: Creating Patterns Topical Pattern: By the Subjects Chronological Pattern: According to Time Spatial Pattern: Visualization Causal Pattern: Who or What Is Responsible Problem-Solution Pattern: Meeting Needs Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern: Knowing Why and How Comparative Advantages Pattern: Who or What Is Better Monroe's Motivated Sequence: Five-Step Pattern Narrative Pattern: Telling a Story Connecting the Dots: Additional Tips Provide Definitions Use Signposts Make Transitions Use Internal Previews Give Internal Summaries Preparation Versus Presentation Outlines Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 9. Speaking Style: Using Language Oral Versus Written Style Style in the Electronic Age Standards of Competent Oral Style Clarity: Saying What You Mean Precision: Picking the Apt Words Vividness: Painting a Picture Metaphor and Simile: Figures of Speech Alliteration: Several of the Same Sounds Repetition: Rhythmic Cadence Antithesis: Using Opposites Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 10. Delivering Your Speech Methods of Competent Delivery Manuscript Speaking: Looking for Precision Memorized Speaking: Memory Do Not Fail Me Now Impromptu Speaking: Off-the-Cuff Presentations Extemporaneous Speaking: The Virtues of an Outline Developing Competent Delivery Eye Contact: Connecting with Your Audience Voice: Developing Vocal Variety Fluency: Avoiding Excessive Vocal Fillers Speaking Rate: Finding the Right Pace Articulation and Pronunciation: Striving for Clarity of Speech Body Movements: Finding the Right Balance Podium Usage: Avoiding the Lectern Lean Microphone Usage: Amplifying Your Delivery Distracting Behaviors: Avoiding Interference Audience-Centered Delivery: Matching the Context Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 11. Visual Aids Benefits of Visual Aids: Reasons to Use Them Types of Visual Aids: Making Appropriate Choices Objects: Show and Tell Models: Practical Representations Graphs: Making Statistics Clear and Interesting Maps: Making a Point Geographically Tables: Factual and Statistical Comparisons Photographs: Very Visual Aids Drawings: Photo Substitutes Visual Aids Media: Simple to Technologically Advanced Chalkboard and Whiteboard: All Dinosaurs Are Not Extinct Poster Board: Simplicity Itself Handouts: An Old Standby Video Excerpts: DVDs, YouTube, and Visual Power Projection Equipment: Blowing It Up Computer-Assisted Presentations: PowerPoint [Box Feature] PowerPoint: Lots of Power, Little Point? Guidelines for Competent Use: Aids Not Distractions Keep Aids Simple Make Aids Visible Make Aids Neat, Attractive, and Accurate Do Not Block the Audience's View Keep Aids Close to You Put the Aid Out of Sight When Not in Use Practice with Aids Do Not Circulate Your Aids Do Not Talk in the Dark Anticipate Problems Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 12. Skepticism: Becoming Critical Thinking Speakers and Listeners Skepticism, True Belief, and Cynicism Dangers of True Belief The Process of True Believing Confirmation Bias: Searching for Support Rationalization of Disconfirmation: Clinging to Falsehoods Shifting the Burden of Proof: Whose Obligation Is It? The Process of Skepticism: Inquiring Minds Want to Know Probability Model: Likely but Not Certain Possibility: Could Happen, but Do Not Bet on It Plausibility: Making a Logical Case Probability: What Are the Odds? Certainty: Without Exception Skepticism and Open-Mindedness: Inquiring Minds, Not Empty Minds Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 13. Argument, Reasoning, and Evidence An Argument: Staking Your Claim Syllogism: Formal Logic Toulmin Structure of Argument: Informal Logic Criteria for Reasoning and Evidence: Is It Fact or Fallacy? Credibility: Should We Believe You? Manufactured or Questionable Statistics: Does It Make Sense? Biased Source: Grinding an Ax Expert Quoted Out of Field: No Generic Experts Allowed Relevance: Does It Follow? Ad Hominem Fallacy: Diversionary Tactic Ad Populum Fallacy: Arguing from Public Opinion Sufficiency: Got Enough? Self-Selected Sample: Partisan Power Inadequate Sample: Large Margin of Error Hasty Generalization: Arguing from Example Correlation Mistaken for Causation: X Does Not Necessarily Cause Y False Analogy: Mixing Apples and Oranges Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 14. Informative Speaking Distinguishing Informative from Persuasive Speaking Noncontroversial Information: Staying Neutral Precursor to Persuasion: No Call to Action Types of Informative Speeches Reports: Facts in Brief Explanations: Deeper Understanding Demonstrations: Acting Out Narratives: Storytelling Speeches that Compare: Balancing the Pros and Cons Guidelines for Competent Informative Speaking Be Informative: Tell Us What We Do Not Know Adapt to Your Audience: Topic Choice and Knowledge Base Avoid Information Overload: Beware the Data Dump Tell Your Story Well: Narrative Tips Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 15. Foundations of Persuasive Speaking Defining Persuasion Goals of Persuasion Conversion: Radical Persuasion Modification: Do Not Ask for the Moon Maintenance: Keep 'Em Coming Back Attitude-Behavior Consistency Direct Experience: No Second-Hand Attitudes Social Pressure: Getting Heat from Others Effort Required: Degree of Difficulty Elaboration Likelihood Model Propositions: Fact, Value, and Policy Claims Culture and Persuasion Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 16. Persuasive Speaking Strategies Enhance the Speaker: Identification and Credibility Use Logic and Evidence: A Persuasive Focus Persuasive Arguments: Quality and Quantity Persuasive Evidence: Statistics versus Narratives Try Emotional Appeals: Beyond Logic General Emotional Appeals: Motivating Change Fear Appeals: Are You Scared Yet? Anger Appeals: Moderately Upset Ethics and Emotional Appeals: Is It Wrong To Be Peripheral? Frame Your Case: Shaping Attitude and Behavior with Language Induce Cognitive Dissonance: Creating Tension Use the Contrast Effect: Minimize the Magnitude Use a Two-Sided Organizational Pattern: Refutation Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Chapter 17. Speeches for Special Occasions Tribute Addresses Toasts: Raising a Glass in Tribute Roasts: Poking Fun with Admiration Tribute to Colleagues: Honoring the Departing Eulogies: Praising the Departed Introductions of Featured Speakers Speeches of Presentation Speeches of Acceptance Commencement Addresses After-Dinner Speeches Summary Ted Talks and YouTube Videos Checklist Appendix A Text of an Informative Speech: "The Annual Plague" Appendix B Text of a Persuasive Speech: "Get Big Money Out of College Sports"