Do you want to ace your public speaking course? All you need to know, including all of the skills that will help you become a confident speaker and conquer speaking anxiety, are thoroughly covered in THE CHALLENGE OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING, 14e. A favorite with students, this best seller guides you through six key "Speech Planning Action Steps". The result? You'll learn how to prepare and deliver strong speeches that get you good grades in your public speaking course! You'll be guided through topic selection, audience analysis and adaptation, effective research (including appropriate use of Internet resources), organization (with an emphasis on outlining), and language and delivery. The new 14th edition of this nationwide best seller also including many online tools, including videos of actual student speeches accompanied by Interactive Video Activities that help you develop and strengthen your public speaking skills. Authors Rudy and Kathie Verderber, together with new coauthor Deanna D. Sellnow, have grounded this new edition with the latest research to give you an exceptional resource for creating and delivering your speeches.

This is the new edition of a textbook first published in 1996. Verderber (U. of Cincinnati) et al. enumerate six steps--topic selection, audience analysis and adaptation, effective research and organization and outlining, choosing presentation aids, and language and delivery--and include chapters on ceremonial speaking and delivering group presentations. Sample speeches and preparation activities are provided. This edition has a new coauthor (Sellnow) and has been updated in its examples and sample speeches to incorporate current trends and events, changes in theories and practice, and new technology. It also blends concepts from Sellnow's text Confident Public Speaking. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"The Challenge of effective Speaking is a very user friendly book that highlights the most important areas for an introductory public speaking course. The examples are relevant and the feedback from my students over the years has been very positive."

"The text is both student-friendly and teacher-useful. It is well-written and provides sensible, up-to-date information in a pleasing manner. The support available is excellent in terms of multimedia, web, and CD."

Rudolph (Rudy) F. Verderber (Ph.D., University of Missouri) is the distinguished teaching professor of communication emeritus at the University of Cincinnati and one of the nation's leading authors of communication textbooks. During his tenure at the University of Cincinnati, where he was head of the university's Communication Department, Dr. Verderber taught more than 25 different courses, 10 of which he originated. Considered one of the university's finest teachers, he received the Dolly Cohen Award for Outstanding Teaching (two such awards are given at the university each year), and in 1994, he was named Distinguished Teaching Professor, an honor held by only four faculty members across the university. In 1996, he received the National Speakers Association Outstanding Professor Award. His primary areas of expertise include rhetoric, public address, argumentation, and interpersonal communication.Kathleen S. Verderber (PhD, University of Cincinnati) is Associate Professor of Management Emeritus at Northern Kentucky University. She holds an MA in Speech Communication as well as an MBA and a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Verderber has consulted with various civic, professional, and business organizations. She has published numerous articles in several journals and has presented papers at communication and management conferences. She is the coauthor of the very successful human communication text COMMUNICATE!Deanna D. Sellnow (Ph.D., University of North Dakota) is director of undergraduate studies of communication at the University of Kentucky. She served as associate professor of communication, director of the Public Speaking Fundamentals Program, and supervisor of graduate teaching assistants at North Dakota State University, where she taught for 17 years. After earning her master's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Dr. Sellnow completed the Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota. She has received numerous honors for public speaking, teaching, and research, including the American Forensic Association's National Events Tournament Champion in Communication Analysis, North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association's Scholar of the Year, and Outstanding Teacher at North Dakota State University.

1. Introduction to Public Speaking. 2. Developing Confidence Through the Speech Planning Process. 3. Effective Listening. 4. Determining a Speech Goal that Meets Audience Needs. 5. Adapting to Audience. 6. Researching Information for Your Speech. 7. Organizing and Outlining the Speech. 8. Completing the Outline: Creating the Introduction and the Conclusion. 9. Creating and Using Visual Aids. 10. Practicing Speech Wording. 11. Practicing Delivery. 12. Informative Speaking. 13. Persuasive Speaking: Reasoning with Your Audience. 14. Persuasive Speaking: Motivating the Audience. 15. Ceremonial Speaking: Speeches for Special Occasions. 16. Increasing the Effectiveness of Problem Solving Discussion.