Synopses & Reviews
This concise, practical textbook demonstrates the many ways in which culture influences the public speaking process in contemporary settings. International business, workforce diversity, cross-cultural healthcare, multicultural education, changing domestic demographics, and the growing global interdependencies of all nations have created an environment where public speakers must be aware of the role that culture plays in all communication contexts.
Public Speaking in a Multicultural Society: The Essentials moves students from basic concepts to more detailed subjects, but avoids encyclopedic, in-depth treatment of many nonessential theoretical considerations. Every chapter offers a wide selection of domestic and international examples of cultural diversity in order to illustrate concepts. The examples are designed to increase student awareness of such current multicultural and international issues as AIDS, immigration, Iraq, Afghanistan, and family values, without advocating any specific positions.
Features:
* Contains material on how to adapt the various aspects of public speaking to a multicultural setting and addressing multicultural audiences
* Offers comprehensive applied and theoretical coverage on how different cultures view and react to communication
* Fuses theoretical and pedagogical practices with "real life" public speaking experiences
* Provides practical suggestions for overcoming speech anxiety, and describes methods for improving critical listening skills
* Includes a discussion of the ethical dimensions of public speaking
* Discusses how to critically evaluate reference sources, with an emphasis on the Internet
* Explores effective employment of visual aids, including electronic visual media and cutting-edge technologies that support and enhance public speaking
* Integrates activities and exercises at the end of each chapter
* Enhances student understanding with chapter summaries and discussion questions
* Supplemented by a comprehensive Instructor's Manual/Testing Program that features learning goals, outlined chapter summaries, a test bank including essay questions, and a sample syllabus
Table of Contents
1. Communication and Culture The Importance of Communication
The Communication Process
The Components of Communication
Culture
Communication and Culture
Managing Communication Apprehension
2. Preparing a Message
Topic Selection
Narrowing a Topic
Formulating a General Purpose
Formulating a Specific Purpose
Selecting a Title
Determining the Best Method of Delivery
Using Notes
Practicing the Speech
3. Adapting the Message
The Importance of Audience Analysis
Audience Assessment
Acquiring Information About Your Audience
Appraising the Speaking Occasion
4. Supporting the Message
The Importance of Evidence
Forms of Verbal Support
How to Test Evidence
How to Use Evidence
Culture and Evidence
Research: Finding and Using Supporting Evidence
Locating Resources
Using the Library
Using the Internet
Citing Research Material
Ethics in Research
5. Organizing the Message
The Importance of Organization
Core Statement
Preparing Main Points and Subpoints
Organizational Patterns
Organizational Patterns and Culture
Outlining the Message
6. Displaying the Message
Value of Visual Aids
Culture and Visual Aids
Considerations for Selecting Visual Aids
Non-electronic Visual Aids
Electronic Visual Aids
Preparing Visual Aids
Using Visual Aids
7. Presenting the Message
The Importance of Delivery
Visual Perceptions of the Speaker
Culture's Influence on Visual Aspects
Aural Dimensions of Presentation
Dialects
Aural Dimensions and Culture
Improving Delivery
Addressing the Multicultural Audience
8. Connecting Ideas in the Message
Preparing the Introduction
Preparing the Audience for the Speech
Introductions and Culture
Preparing the Conclusion
Summarizing
Guidelines in Using the Conclusions
9. Sharing the Message
Types of Informative Speeches
Preparing a Speech to Inform
Selecting Supporting Material
Organizing an Informative Speech
10. Influencing Others With the Message
What Is Persuasion?
Types of Persuasive Presentations
The Goals of Persuasive Speaking
Formulating a Specific Purpose
Analyzing the Audience
Preparing Supporting Materials
Organizing a Persuasive Speech
Structuring the Persuasive Speech
Persuasion and Culture
Persuasion and Ethics
11. The Medium of the Message
Understanding How Language Works
Words and Their Meanings Are Learned
Language and Intercultural Communication
Characteristics of Effective Style
Ethics and Language
Improving Language Habits
Ethical Responsibilities of Communication