This edition introduces a fresh new voice. Dr. Dick L. Stine, Professor of Speech Communication at Johnson County Community College, has brought not only creative new ideas, but also a broad experience in teaching, to this edition. His influence and enthusiasm are evident on every page.

The seventh edition of Public Speaking for Personal Success is written for students enrolled in a first public speaking course. The authors present a blend of theory and practice drawn from classrooms and their consulting experience. The chapter sequence and materials have been carefully designed to fit public speaking classes as they are generally taught today.

The seventh edition has been greatly revised and updated to reflect the rapid changes in communications technology. For example, passages about conducting research on the internet and in the library have been completely updated to keep the book fresh and timely.

The chapter sequence has been revised, as well, to reflect subtle changes in the way the public speaking course is generally taught in colleges and universities across the land. For example, some material about the process of proving has been moved into a new Chapter 15 to create a more intensive examination of persuasive speaking.

The pedagogical materials within each chapter, and all the illustrations and examples have been carefully evaluated for currency and accuracy, and most of them have been revised and updated.