Exploring Public Speaking
This text is a true entry level standard for public speaking. The authors do an excellent job of covering the main concepts and illustrating how they work for anyone interested in becoming a better public speaker. The text includes sources and some links to more in depth information if the reader wishes to pursue a more comprehensive study of any one topic.
Overall the information is very accurate with up to date examples that illustrate concepts well.
Page 47, (“Definition of neuroplasticity,” 2015) but never gives this definition.
The examples used in the fallacies of reasoning section of Chapter 14 are ok, certainly non-controversial, but I would use the syllogistic example of premises leading to faulty conclusions under non sequiter instead of hasty generalization. I also introduce the Toulmin model here, which is not included, to help students evaluate arguments.
This text follows the format of most basic public speaking classes that have existed for the last 40 or more years. There are very current examples and appropriate updates as far as technology and audience analysis which make it useful and should be appropriate for a long time.
Chapter Five's section on library research is very specific to Dalton State's library and their on-line search engine. We would need to supplement this with our own information on our library's website.
Appendix C on making the transition to college is very helpful especially for a freshmen level text. The parts that are specific to Dalton State would need to be supplemented but the overall information is very useful.
The writing style is very easy to read. Good use of examples and explanations that make concepts easy to understand. Good use of student specific situations.
Very good explanation and use of examples covering the different organizational patterns.
Terminology is used well throughout the text, reinforcing concepts that are introduced earlier in the text. The voice of the text remembers the student audience throughout.
While the order of the chapters makes sense and are connected well, the chapters can be easily rearranged if an instructor wishes to cover the material in a different order
The book is organized for a basic public speaking course where students have little to no experience in public speaking. This would be appropriate for freshmen level college students or others who lack experience. The challenge of public speaking is getting students started before they have read all they need to know. This book is no different. Chapter 11 discusses Informative Speaking which students will need to be delivering way before this. So, while I will cover this earlier it would be nice if the text directed them to a first presentation assignment before then.
I would have liked more detail on outlining since I find students do not know how to create an effective outline and many do not know the basics of outline structure.
Introducing Ethos, Pathos, Logos, in Chapter 13 is late. I introduce this in Chapter 1 with the history overview. Reinforcing these here when discussing persuasion is very important.
The provided links worked and were helpful in providing more detail about or illustrating a concept. I wish there had been more links to examples of different organizational patterns. The sidebar definitions are helpful for students.
While I did notice a couple typographical errors in the text, overall it was grammatically correct.
The authors do a good job of adapting to audience and being inclusive in their examples, as well as explaining how speakers need to make their own adaptations.
I enjoyed reviewing this text. The elements that are specific to Dalton State's campus can be easily adapted to any campus but you will need to clarify this with your students at the beginning and probably remind them of this throughout.