Just the Basics: An Introduction to Public Speaking

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A Note to Students:

For many, the thought of speaking in front of others prompts a whirlwind of questions and concerns: What if I make a mistake? What if I forget? What if I bore my audience? What do I do with my hands? I'm not an expert on anything, so what should I talk about? How do I keep my audience's attention? What do I do if I feel nervous?  All of these questions, and many others that often come to mind, are addressed in Just the Basics: An Introduction to Public Speaking, which provides students with everything needed to design and deliver an effective oral presentation in a confident manner in spite of any nervous feelings.

By using the approach outlined in Just the Basics, students build confidence and competence when giving presentations, improve the organization of their thoughts and ideas, and increase their flexibility in adapting a message to a specific audience or situation.

A Note to Instructors:

Just the Basics: An Introduction to Public Speaking can be used on its own or as a supplement to other Public Speaking and Introduction to Communication textbooks. This workbook provides students access to the tools they need to have success with every presentation they give, without the need to read numerous chapters on each of these skills. Just the Basics provides a streamlined approach not only for the design and delivery of a presentation, but also for the listening and feedback process as well. The workbook includes Speech Evaluation Competencies as developed by the National Communication Association as well as a variety of feedback forms that can be adapted to suit your teaching approach.  Whether you are an experienced instructor or are new to teaching presentation skills, Just the Basics is a useful resource. 

With an extemporaneous approach, Just the Basics provides students with the balance of preparation and structure with the immediacy of interacting with the audience. Over the author’s 30+ years of experience, she has seen that by having students outline presentations as explained in the workbook, they are able to better recall the important structural components of their message while speaking "in the moment". Extemporaneous speaking skills are far more adaptable to other public communication contexts than using a manuscript or a memorized presentation. When students learn to speak extemporaneously, they experience a new-found confidence and have skills to build on after each presentation given.