In Exploring Public Speaking, especially in its second through fourth editions, we have attempted to create a usable, zero-cost textbook for basic public speaking courses or courses that include basic public speaking skills as one of their primary learning outcomes. The free, open nature of the text means that instructors are able to use all or part of it, and add their own materials.

We believe this text addresses all the subjects that traditional publishers’ books would address in an appropriate writing style and with appropriate college-level learning theory in mind. The appendices address some additional topics that might be excluded from most texts, but that we believe add to the experience: learning theory, plagiarism, speaking online, speaking to diverse audiences, and humor in public speaking. In the third and fourth editions we have added “case study” examples and some different outline samples.

We think this book is especially useful in coverage of PowerPoint, audience analysis and responsiveness, ethics in public speaking, persuasion, special occasion speeches, and structure of speeches. Because it was written by communication professors with decades of experience in the classroom, we are aware of the needs of basic public speaking students. Three ancillaries are currently available: electronic “flash cards” for study, PowerPoint slide decks on the 15 main chapters, and test banks for the 15 main chapters. As the website is developed, it will include videos of student speeches.

This course systematically examines the elements of an effective speech and goes through an element-by-element examination of the essentials of public speaking, while also identifying traits of the individual speaker and how they affect preparation and presentation. This course also demonstrates specific, performance-oriented aspects of public speaking. The themes of information and ethics tie these elements together and are emphasized in every part of the course because they are vitally important to all communicators.

Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies overviews the time-tested conceptual foundations of the field, while incorporating the latest research and cutting-edge applications of these basics. Each chapter will include timely, concrete, and real-life examples of communication concepts in action.

A key feature of this book is the integration of content regarding diversity and organizational communication in each chapter through examples and/or discrete sub-sections. Discussions of diversity are not relegated to feature boxes. Also integrated into the content are examples that are inclusive in terms of race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, marital status, religion, and other diverse identity characteristics.

In Exploring Public Speaking, especially in its second through fourth editions, we have attempted to create a usable, zero-cost textbook for basic public speaking courses or courses that include basic public speaking skills as one of their primary learning outcomes. The free, open nature of the text means that instructors are able to use all or part of it, and add their own materials.

We believe this text addresses all the subjects that traditional publishers’ books would address in an appropriate writing style and with appropriate college-level learning theory in mind. The appendices address some additional topics that might be excluded from most texts, but that we believe add to the experience: learning theory, plagiarism, speaking online, speaking to diverse audiences, and humor in public speaking. In the third and fourth editions we have added “case study” examples and some different outline samples.

We think this book is especially useful in coverage of PowerPoint, audience analysis and responsiveness, ethics in public speaking, persuasion, special occasion speeches, and structure of speeches. Because it was written by communication professors with decades of experience in the classroom, we are aware of the needs of basic public speaking students. Three ancillaries are currently available: electronic “flash cards” for study, PowerPoint slide decks on the 15 main chapters, and test banks for the 15 main chapters. As the website is developed, it will include videos of student speeches.

Exploring Public Speaking: The Free College Public Speaking Textbook began as the brainchild of Dr. Kris Barton, Chair of the Department of Communication at Dalton State College. It also was made possible through a generous Textbook Transformation Grant in 2015 from Affordable Learning Georgia, a highly successful program of the University System of Georgia. Dr. Barton asked me to help him author/compile the text.

The goal was to provide a high-quality, usable, accessible, and low-cost textbook for the hundreds of students who take COMM 1110 at Dalton State College every year. This course is required of all degree-seeking students. We have been able to save students hundreds of thousands of dollars already with this text. Unexpectedly and happily, the text has also been downloaded close to 14,000 times (as of August 2018) all over the world and has been adopted at many other institutions.

Overview: Examines the principles and practices of public speaking, communication theory, and techniques for public speaking. Includes speech organization, development, research, audience analysis, reasoning, and presentation skills for the development of informative and persuasive speeches.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Public Speaking
Chapter 2: Ethics
Chapter 3: Speaking With Confidence
Chapter 4: Listening Effectively
Chapter 5: Audience Analysis
Chapter 6: Organizing and Outlining
Chapter 7: Introductions and Conclusions
Chapter 8: Delivering Your Speech
Chapter 9: Visual Aids
Chapter 10: Supporting Your Ideas
Chapter 11: Using Language Well
Chapter 12: Informative Speaking
Chapter 13: Critical Thinking & Reasoning
Chapter 14: Persuasive Speaking
Occasion Speaking

This Grants Collection uses the grant-supported open textbook Exploring Public Speaking from Dalton State College:

http://oer.galileo.usg.edu/communication-textbooks/1/

This Grants Collection for Fundamentals of Speech was created under a Round Three ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process.

This website offers an assortment of virtual tools to help users improve their public speaking skills. A variety of speech professionals who are dedicated to providing free and low cost instructional materials contributed their original work. The project is growing and we will be adding and updating the content regularly. Please note this site is under construction - but we are working hard to add content as quickly as possible. If you find our website useful, please share it with others.

This course instructs students in the basic communication skills required to compose and deliver effective public speeches and professional presentations. Students study, create, deliver, and evaluate various types of speeches, including impromptu, informative, persuasive, storytelling, and special occasion speeches as well as an “elevator pitch” designed to prepare them for future employment opportunities.

This course is SPCH 1315: Public Speaking created in Canvas. The export file and link to Canvas Commons can be found below.

Speak Out, Call In: Public Speaking as Advocacy is a contemporary, interdisciplinary public speaking textbook that fuses rhetoric, critical/cultural studies, and performance to offer an up-to-date resource for students. With a focus on advocacy, this textbook invites students to consider public speaking as a political, purposeful form of information-sharing.

Stand up, Speak out: The Practice and Ethics of Public Speaking features two key themes. First it focuses on helping students become more seasoned and polished public speakers, and second is its emphasis on ethics in communication. It is this practical approach and integrated ethical coverage that setsStand up, Speak out: The Practice and Ethics of Public Speakingapart from the other texts in this market.

In this unit, we will explore persuasive speaking. We will begin to understand the basics of persuasive speaking and put those learning objectives into action as you begin developing your first of two persuasive speeches for this course. Unit Learning OutcomesAt the conclusion of the unit, the learner will be able to:Construct a persuasive presentation based on a persuasive organizational pattern. Explain the structure of a sample persuasive outline. Model strategies to persuade audiences. 

Public speaking is an essential skill for both one's professional and personal life. The communication foundations for public speaking can also enhance interactions with others on an interpersonal level. In short, if you can communicate well then every moment you spend with others can be that much more valuable and if you're in business it can be profitable. This course seeks to help you improve your public speaking skill set. Unit 1 provides an overview and the foundations of communication and introduces 11 tenets of public speaking. In this unit you will:Read Chapter 1: Introduction to Public SpeakingComplete the Chapter 1 Assessment Watch the Ted Talk and Respond to the QuestionsReflect on the Public Speaking Discussion Post  

Public speaking requires an audience to hear. Otherwise, it’s private speaking, and anyone overhearing you might wonder if you’ve lost your wits. What makes public speaking truly effective is when the audience hears and listens. You might think the two are synonymous. But they aren't, as you will soon understand. In a classic listening text, Adler notes, “How utterly amazing is the general assumption that the ability to listen well is a natural gift for which no training is required.” Since listening requires great effort, this chapter offers the skills needed to listen effectively.Developing your listening skills can have applications throughout your educational, personal, and professional lives.In this unit you will:1. Read about your role as a listener2. Reflect on sound expert Julian Treasure's explanations on listening. 3. Complete a personal listening inventory and discuss your findings.

As you begin to develop your informative speech outline, you will want to gather supporting material. Supporting material is the different types of information you use to develop and support your main points. You discover these materials as you research your speech; they then become the building blocks you use to construct a successful presentation.In this unit, you will learn more about the different types of supporting material and guidelines for using it during a speech presentation. Your coursework consists of the following:Read chapter on Supporting MaterialOpen and read the attached Supporting Material PowerPointTake part in an activity that will help you gather and organize supporting material for your speech. 

In this unit, you will examine the process of developing a speech outline.  The speech outline is an essential component of your speech.  When the time comes to present, you will use the outline to guide your speech as you speak.  Even if you get nervous and anticipate your speech delivery will falter, rest assured, your outline can help keep you on track and pace you as you deliver your speech. It is, therefore, vital that you learn the necessary steps for developing your speech outline and seeing how that outline is used within a speech presentation.In this unit you will:1. Read about informative speaking.2. Watch the instructor lecture on developing the speech outline. Remember to take notes as you will need to reference this material when you develop your presentation and for the assessments that are contained in this folder.3. View an example of a completed speech outline4. Watch a student give an informative speech using the discussed outline5. Identify a topic that will be suitable for your informative speech.6. Complete the Kahoot review to assess your understanding. 

When delivering a speech using presentation aids can enhance your message.  However, they can also hinder a message if not employed appropriately.  Our discussion this week examines the use of such aids for speech purposes.  Remember, in your upcoming speeches you will be required to use presentation aids. It is therefore important to follow the guidelines outlined in the text. They will not only help you in your class presentations but also enhance your messages in your future professional endeavors. The coursework for the week is as follows:Read Chapter 13Watch the Ted Talk ReflectionParticipate in the Kahoot Review