The Natural Speaker, 6/e

Randy Fujishin, West Valley College

The Natural Speaker is a concise, practical, inexpensive, student-friendly guide to public speaking that explores the basic skills necessary to present a natural, effective, and rewarding speech to any audience.

By providing a basic knowledge of speech construction, practice, and delivery, this text is designed to enhance and improve students' natural speaking strengths. Featuring a warm, simple, and humorous writing style, The Natural Speaker presents the fundamental concepts and skills required for effective speaking.

Features:

• Presents a warm, friendly, and inspirational introduction to public speaking with an emphasis on real-life application of communication skills.
• Increases students’ awareness of and sensitivity to culture through its multicultural and intercultural perspective on public speaking.  

New to This Edition:

• Brings greater attention to plagiarism and the ethical considerations of the public speaker in a new section on this important topic. 
• Expands and develops the original discussion of the four categories of analysis with a new section on audience analysis.
• Provides stronger coverage of the critical topic of information gathering using direct observation, surveys, interviews, and the speaker contact person .
• Offers students significant help and specific suggestions in a new section that focuses on getting the most from analyzing their own speeches.

What Reviewers Are Saying about The Natural Speaker:

“The Natural Speaker effectively deals with the emotional side of public speaking.  It is easy to read and provides valuable insights. It is a textbook with a good balance of academia and personality.  If more textbooks were written in the style of The Natural Speaker, students could actually enjoy their reading assignments.”

–James A. W. Medina, Park University

“The Natural Speaker is the perfect complement to my Public Speaking classes. It is less formulaic and more practical.”

–Stephen Moro, Thomas College

“I feel that The Natural Speaker, while containing a wealth of information, never loses sight of the student.” 

–William E. Hysell, Mohawk Valley Community College

1. Communicating with Others.

    What is communication?

    The components of communication.

    The principles of communication.

    Attitude is more important than aptitude.

    Communication skills for your life.

    Communication activities.

2. Giving Yourself Permission.

    The only way we grow.

    Giving yourself permission to make mistakes.

    A permission list for speakers.

    Giving yourself permission to overcome your fear of speaking.    

    Why are you so nervous?

    Public speaking is different from conversation.

    Some encouraging words about stage fright.

    Will I ever get rid of these butterflies?

    Adventure and growth, not safety.

    Communication activities.

3. Giving Your First Speech.

    Your first speech.

    Public speaking.

    Three principles for public speaking.

    Four speaking methods.

    Your message.

    Your speech organization.

    Your delivery.

    Being an ethical speaker.

    Helpful hints for your first speech.

    Impromptu speaking.

    Communication activities.

4. Selecting Your Topic.

    It's your choice.

    Brainstorming possible topics.

    Determining your speaking purpose.

    Determining your specific purpose.

    Selecting your main points.

    Analyzing your audience.

    Gathering Audience Information.

    Speech preparation questionnaire.

    Communication activities.

5. Gathering Your Material.

    What to look for.    

    Where to look for speech information.

    How to record your speech information.

    The evidence three-step.

    Communication activities.

6. Organizing Your Speech.

    Speech organization.

    The body.

    The introduction.

    The conclusion.

    Constructing your speech outline.

    Sample outline.

    Sample Key Word Outline.

    Speaking Notes.

    Communication activities.

7. Delivering Your Speech.

    Characteristics of good delivery.

    Elements of good delivery.

    Speech practice.

    Your delivery between speeches.

    Listening to others speak

    Viewing your speech videotape/CD.

    Communication activities.

8. Informing Your Audience. 

    Goals of informative speaking.

    Designs for informative speaking.

    Language use for informative speaking.

    Types of informative speeches.

    Answering questions from the audience.

    Sample informative speech outline.

    Sample Key Word Outline.

    Communication activities.

9. Persuading Your Audience. 

    Basics of persuasion.

    Aristotle's three persuasive proofs.

    Types of persuasive speeches.

    Communication activities.

    Sample persuasive speech outline.

    Sample Key Word Outline.

10. Becoming a Speaker.

    Two ways of viewing public speaking.

    Benefits of becoming a lifelong speaker.

    Developing the heart of a speaker.

Index.