Public Speaking: Strategies for Success proposes that at all stages of the public speaking process, students
learn how to develop and apply strategies to speaking situations they encounter throughout their lives.
David Zarefsky, one of today's leading scholars in speech communication, encourages students to think through and
about the public speaking process. Zarefsky urges students to consider the diversity of audiences, occasions, and
speakers and to choose a specific purpose, a relevant topic, and the appropriate material to make their speeches
successful.
Features
Strong emphasis on developing strategies and making choices for the range of speaking situations we encounter
throughout our lives.
An excellent balance of theory and skills illustrates Zarefsky's belief that both are necessary elements of
successful and effective public speaking.
"Applying Strategies" boxes feature five real students and follow their development throughout their public
speaking course. Readers see excerpts from these students' assignments, speeches, and journals, as well as comments
and critiques from their instructor.
"Choose a Strategy" boxes build upon concepts and skills introduced. Each box presents a speaking situation
and asks students to determine which strategies are most appropriate. Students are then asked to decide what impact
a change in topic, audience, purpose, etc., might have on the choice of strategy."Strategies for Speaking to Diverse
Audiences" boxes provide tips on how chapter material can be applied in an increasingly diverse speaking environment.
Complete coverage of the first speech in Chapter 2 provides students early on with an overview of the public
speaking process and simple guidelines for putting together their first speech. Full chapter on reasoning helps
students understand how reasoning is used and why its necessary when preparing all types of speeches-not only those
that are persuasive in nature.
"Checklists" throughout the text summarize key ideas and function as excellent internal review material,
while Chapter summaries offer a quick review of the material to help reinforce concepts and theories presented
in the chapter.
Table of Contents
PART I: Foundations of Public Speaking
1. Welcome to Public Speaking
Why Study Public Speaking?
Public Speaking and Communication
The Public Forum
The Rhetorical Situation
Determinants of the Rhetorical Situation
The Quest for Quality
Ethics: Respect for Audience, Topic and Occasion
2. Your First Speech
Goals and Strategies for Your First Speech
Strategies for Organizing Your Speech
Beginning Assignments
Practicing the Speech
Presenting the Speech
Summary
3. Listening Critically
Are You Really Listening?
Strategies for Careful Listening
Listening Critically
Evaluating Speeches Critically
4. Analyzing Your Audience
Checking Audience Demographics
Respecting Audience Cultures
Understanding Audience Psychology
Strategies for Analyzing the Audience
Analyzing Your Own Ethos
PART II: Invention and Development of the Speech
5. Choosing Your Topic
What Makes a Good Topic?
How to Choose a Good Topic
Developing a Strategic Plan
Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement
Analyzing the Thesis Statement
6. Researching Your Topic
Strategic Perspectives on Research
Types of Supporting Material
Finding Supporting Material from People
Finding Supporting Material in Print
Finding Supporting Material Electronically
7. Reasoning with Your Audience
Proof, Support and Reasoning
Strategies for Reasoning through Example
Strategies for Reasoning through Analogy
Strategies for Reasoning through Signs
Strategies for Reasoning through Cause
Strategies for Reasoning through Testimony
Strategies for Reasoning through Narrative
Avoiding Errors in Reasoning
Reasoning in Public Speaking
PART III: Arrangement of the Speech
8. Organizing the Speech: The Body
Why is Organization Important?
Selecting the Main Ideas
Arranging the Main Ideas
Selecting and Arranging Supporting Materials
9. Organizing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions
Introductions: Beginning the Speech
Conclusions: Ending the Speech
Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech
10. Outlining the Speech
From Ideas to Outline
The Preparation Outline
Sample Preparation Outlines
The Presentation Outline
Sample Presentation Outline
PART IV: Style and Delivery of the Speech
11. Achieving Style through Language
What is Style?
Defining Terms Appropriately
Achieving Clarity, Rhythm and Vividness
Style and the Entire Speech
Achieving Good Style
12. Presenting the Speech
Characteristics of Effective Presentation
The Voice in Presentation
The Body in Presentation
Modes of Presentation
Practicing for Speech Presentation
13. Using Visual Aids
Benefits of Using Visual Aids
Types of Visual Aids
Traditional Visual Aid Materials
Preparing Visual Aids
Computer-Generated Visual Aids
Using Visual Aids in the Speech
PART V: Uses of Public Speaking
14. Informing
Planning Your Strategy
Informative Strategies
Encouraging Retention
15. Persuading
Purposes Achieved Through Persuasive Strategies
Plan Your Strategy
The Elaboration Likelihood Model
Constraints on Effective Persuasive Speaking
Strategic Resources for Specific Purposes
Generally Available Strategic Resources
Organizing Persuasive Speeches
16. Celebrating: Occasions for Public Speaking
Fitting Your Speech to the Occasion
Deliberative Speaking
Ceremonial Speaking
Speech Combining Deliberative and Ceremonial Goals
Appendix: Speeches for Analysis and Discussion
Student Speeches
Public Speeches