Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 12th edition

Published by Pearson (March 16, 2023) © 2024

  • Steven A. Beebe Texas State University - San Marcos
  • Susan J. Beebe Texas State University - San Marcos

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For courses in Public Speaking.

The preeminent guide to preparing and presenting speeches with the audience in mind

Winner of a 2024 Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA) McGuffey Longevity Award

Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach is the comprehensive guide to the speech-making process with an emphasis on keeping listeners at the heart of the approach. Focusing on diverse audiences, ethics, and communication apprehension, authors Steven and Susan Beebe prepare students to deliver speeches while keeping their listeners foremost in mind.

The 12th Edition incorporates new examples, illustrations, and the latest research, plus updated coverage of sex and gender, ethnicity and race, and culture. In addition, new Technically Speaking boxes explore digital trends.

Hallmark features of this title

  • The authors' polished prose, concise style and lively voice engage readers.
  • Powerful and interesting examples, both classic and contemporary and drawn from both student speakers and famous orators, resonate with student speakers.
  • Coverage of ethical and diverse speaking is integrated throughout the text to stress that these issues are an essential part of being an audience-centered speaker.
  • Developing Your Speech Step by Step boxes provide students with extended examples of how to implement audience-centered speechmaking concepts.
  • Integrated pedagogical features guide students as they learn. These include learning objectives, recap boxes and chapter-ending study guides.

New and updated features of this title

  • NEW: Technically Speaking feature boxes explore contemporary digital trends and potential technology roadblocks in public speaking. Topics include Zoom fatigue, deepfakes and preparing a podcast.
  • NEW: Fresh examples and illustrations provide both classic and contemporary models to help students master the art of public speaking. These include both student speeches and speeches delivered by well-known people.
  • NEW: Coverage of mediated public speaking integrated throughout the text emphasizes the ways in which the rapid growth of communication technology has changed our interpersonal interactions. In addition, Appendix B, Mediated Public Speaking, includes updated content.
  • UPDATED: A significantly revised Chapter 5, Analyzing Your Audience, offers updated coverage of sex and gender, ethnicity and race, and culture. In addition, key topics such as identifying demographic information about your audience are covered in separate sections.
  • NEW: A pair of new speech transcripts appears in Appendix C, Speeches for Analysis and Discussion: a transcript of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's powerful 2022 speech before a joint session of the US Congress and a new student speech on fast fashion.

Features of Revel for the 12th Edition

  • A Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety in Chapter 1, delivered via an interactive survey, helps students conquer communication apprehension. It enables students to assess their confidence level, receive their score immediately and continue reading about how to improve speaking anxiety.
  • Audio excerpts throughout the text highlight effective speech examples and reinforce learning. Students can listen to audio clips while they read, which brings examples to life in a way that a printed text cannot.
  • UPDATED: Engaging new media and interactives include videos, self-check quizzes, journal and shared writing prompts, and interactive tables.
  • UPDATED: Table 8.1: Organizing Your Main Points has been transformed into an interactive table that enables students to quiz themselves on the 5 organizational patterns discussed in Chapter 8, Organizing and Outlining Your Speech.
  • NEW: The text's appendices include 4 new videos, including Greta Thunberg's powerful “How Dare You!” speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019 and a discussion of whether it's ever okay to use profanity in public speaking.
  1. Speaking with Confidence
  2. Presenting Your First Speech
  3. Speaking Freely and Ethically
  4. Listening to Speeches
  5. Analyzing Your Audience
  6. Developing Your Speech
  7. Gathering and Using Supporting Material
  8. Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
  9. Introducing and Concluding Your Speech
  10. Using Words Well: Speaker Language and Style
  11. Delivering Your Speech
  12. Using Presentation Aids
  13. Speaking to Inform
  14. Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking
  15. Using Persuasive Strategies
  16. Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes

APPENDICES

  1. Speaking in Small Groups
  2. Mediated Public Speaking
  3. Speeches for Analysis and Discussion

About our authors

Steven A. Beebe is Regents' and University Distinguished Professor emeritus at Texas State University. He served as Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State for 28 years and concurrently as Associate Dean for 25 years. Steve is the author or co-author of 14 widely used communication books, most of which have been through multiple editions (including Russian and Chinese editions), as well as numerous articles, book chapters and conference presentations. He has been a Visiting Scholar at both Oxford University and Cambridge University in England. He made international headlines when conducting research at Oxford; he discovered a manuscript that was the partial opening chapter of a book that was to be co-authored with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis called Language and Human Nature. Steve's book, C. S. Lewis and the Craft of Communication, chronicles Lewis's contributions to communication. He recently received the Scholar of the Year Award from the Religious Communication Association for his C. S. Lewis scholarship. Steve has given lectures and academic presentations in Europe and Asia, and has played a leadership role in establishing new communication curricula in Russian universities. He has received his university's highest awards for research and twice for service, has been recognized as Honors Professor of the year, received the Texas State Everette Swinney Excellence in Teaching Award twice, was designated a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, and was named Outstanding Communication Professor by the National Speaker's Association. In 2013 he served as President of the National Communication Association. His passions include his family and a lifelong love of music; he is a pianist and organist and a struggling cellist.

Susan J. Beebe's professional interests and expertise encompass both oral and written communication. Sue has co-authored 3 books and has published a number of articles and teaching materials in both English and communication studies. She has received the Texas State University Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching and in Service and the College of Liberal Arts Awards for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, in Teaching, and in Service. After serving as Director of Lower-Division Studies in English for 11 years, Sue retired in 2014 from the Department of English at Texas State. An active volunteer in the community of San Marcos, Texas, Sue was the founding coordinator of the San Marcos Volunteers in Public Schools Program and has served on the San Marcos School Board, the Education Foundation Board and the Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee. The Texas Classroom Teachers' Association has honored Sue with the statewide Friend of Education award, and the San Marcos school district has presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Sue enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family.

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