Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach (6th Edition) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The unique, audience-centered approach of this top-selling text emphasizes that success in public speaking depends on how listeners interpret the message. Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach brings theory and practice together in an understandable and applicable manner. Its distinctive and popular approach emphasizes the importance of analyzing and considering the audience at every point along the way, with marginal icons highlighting audience-related discussions. This model of public speaking serves as a foundation as the text guides students through the step-by-step process of public speaking, focuses their attention on the importance and dynamics of diverse audiences, and narrows the gap between the classroom and the real world.

From the Back Cover

Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach brings theory and practice together in an understandable and applicable manner. Its distinctive and popular approach emphasizes the importance of analyzing and considering the audience at every point along the way, with marginal icons highlighting audience-related discussions. This model of public speaking serves as a foundation as the text guides students through the step-by-step process of public speaking, focuses their attention on the importance and dynamics of diverse audiences, and narrows the gap between the classroom and the real world.

New and Exciting Features

• A “talking” version of the Audience-Centered Speech-Making Wheel appears on the inside front cover for easy reference.
• Expanded coverage of speaking with confidence, including applications of the latest communication research with concrete suggestions to help students better manage speaker anxiety and communication apprehension, has been moved to Chapter 1 to encourage speaking with confidence right from the start.
• “Developing Your Speech Step-by-Step” boxes provide a model for students as they work on their own speeches. Students follow the steps of a successful student speaker as she works through the speech-making process.
• “Great Speakers” boxes feature profiles and photos of contemporary and classic speakers. Students see how speech-making techniques have worked for the experts.
• Coverage of editing a speech has been added to Chapter 11.
• A new section providing strategies for responding to questions during a speech has been added to Chapter 13.
• MySpeechLab (www.myspeechlab.com) is a state-of-the-art, interactive and instructive solution for introductory public speaking and accompanies the new 6th Edition of Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach. Designed to be used as a supplement to a traditional lecture course, or to completely administer an online course, MySpeechLab combines an E-book, multimedia, video clips, speech preparation activities, research support, tests and quizzes to completely engage students.
• Video clips, available on MySpeechLab for sample speeches featured in the text, allow students to see and hear the model speeches.

Praise for Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach

“I have seen a number of speech textbooks in my teaching career. I think the Beebe and Beebe text is one of the best on the market. There is a good theory base and practical, hands-on examples for students to use.”

“The students have said to me that they're glad there isn't a lot of 'dry, boring stuff' in the text. Little do they know, but the 'theory stuff' is in there, but it isn't dry and boring. ”
Ann Marie Jablonowski, Owens Community College

“I love the information on classical rhetoric-where was this information when I needed it?-so clear, so concise and so organized. ”
Linda Kurz, University of Missouri- Kansas City

“Your book does a great job of explaining the theory and then giving practical examples of how to apply it. ”
Cara Schollenberger, Bucks Country Community College

“Kudos to Beebe and Beebe for including the various aspects of culture such as individualistic and collectivistic.…”
Carla J. Harrell, Old Dominion University

Product Details

• Paperback: 494 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 6 edition (April 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205449832
• ISBN-13: 978-0205449835
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read- great to use, April 24, 2000

By	Katherine Brown (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach (Paperback)

This is a really good book. I used it for a college class on public speaking, and I would have been lost without it. It covers things that you always forget to include, and great hints on how to increase your confidence and persuade an audience. For someone like me who was terrified, but no longer is of public speaking, and for those who just need a refrsher course, this book is brilliant.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sixth and Ever Better Edition, July 10, 2006

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You can't say that the audience-centered concept used in this book was pioneered by them. After all, in the first paragraph the authors give credit to Aristotle for defining the elements of speechmaking as 'of speaker, subject and person addresed - it is the last one, the herer, that determines the speaker's end and object.'

The first edition of this book, about 15 years ago, set the tone for what has now become the sisth edition, with each edition improved by audience feedback and new educational concepts. The general concept of keeping the audience at the center of of the speakers mind through all of the steps in the process.

Of course, this does not mean that the speaker tells the audience only what they want to hear; to do that would not convey anything to the audience but a good feeling. Some of the example speeches, 'I Have a Dream,' Martin Luther King, Jr., speak to people holding views very opposed to his.

The highly illustrated book is carefully organized with a mixture of text, tables, drawings, comments and questions to maintain the students interest while educating him. Indeed these techniques are some that can be used by the student in his speeches.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Justice, August 13, 2009

By	Justice "justice" (anywhere) - See all my reviews

I placed an order for the Public Speaking An Audience Centered Approach 6th edition on July 11 and was told the book would arrive around July 17 or August 3 and it is now August 13 and I still don't have my book. Can you please refund my money back. Thank you.