Offers a brief sampling of four essays describing a variety of approaches to argument and persuasion. Reiterates some useful definitions and distinctions, discusses classical rhetoric, connects the teaching of argument to eleventh grade U.S. literature, and shows how to teach students to respond to literature by asking "why" questions…

A practical guide to designing and delivering interesting and effective presentations for adult audiences, this book covers the five stages of a presentation and offers tips for executing each one. The book discusses stage fright and how to use it, and it explores the use of macro maps for staying focused during presentations. The book also…

James E. Murdoch's contributions to the arts were widely diversified. Aside from acting, the man was interested in both the practical and theoretical aspects of elocution. The thread of continuity which existed between elocution and interpretation became apparent to Murdoch through his analysis of the works of Sheridan, Walker, and Rush, the…

A rules-based approach to the problems of debate (such as that proposed by the American Debate Association) will fail to provide a solution to debate's ills and may only increase the problems. Debate's current problems have to do with debate performance, e.g., speaking rate, poor quality evidence, and irrational arguments. A solution to these…

This article is in response to Michael Burgoon's call in "Communication Education," October 1989, for the divorcing of speech education from the discipline of communication. It is argued that the lack of isomorphism between speech education and behavioral research in communication reflects a serious imbalance within the discipline, one…

Weaver Award winning speech communication instructor Craig Streff believes the most important goals of his interpersonal communication instruction are a strong cognitive and affective base, without which practical interpersonal skills are not likely to be developed. Given this overview, what he considers to be the most significant points of the…

Professional and personal success is related to a person's ability to listen, speak, read, and write effectively. As with other acquired abilities, communication skills must be supported and reinforced in a variety of contexts. Colleagues in the Speech Communication Association have raised valid issues regarding the appropriateness and…

Standardized tests can be a valuable part of a value-added assessment package which attempts to determine what students gain from the college experience in general, and from communications courses in particular. The critical issues concerning assessment center around who will evaluate what skills and values with which instruments. Within the…

"Speaking Across the Curriculum" (SAC) has become a catch-all label for a variety of programs aimed at teaching oral communication skills to a large body of students in settings other than the typical public speaking class. Such programs offer both threats and opportunities to the speech field. In many programs, faculty in other…

If speech instructors are to teach students to recreate for an audience an author's intellectual and emotional meanings, they must teach them to use human voice effectively. Seven essential elements of effective vocal production that often pose problems for oral interpretation students should be central to any speech training program: (1)…

An index of appropriate games for nine areas of speech communication and information given on sources, cost, time required to play, grade level, number of players involved, and a brief description of each game. (CH)

How speech teachers can detect voice disorders. (CH)

Methods for evaluation by peers in student teacher and student clinician education. (CH)

Following a brief discussion of the works of the philosopher Jacques Maritain, who viewed the educational process as the art of helping individuals to realize the nature of that which is inherent in them, this paper analyzes the implications of Maritain's views for the discipline of speech communication. The paper suggests that education in speech…

RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A SELF-MONITORING METHOD OF TEACHING PROPER INTONATION AND INFLECTION PATTERNS TO THE DEAF. THIS TEACHING METHOD INCLUDED USE OF A VISUAL DISPLAY WHICH IS BASED ON PITCH INFORMATION DERIVED FROM A LIVE SPEECH SIGNAL. FOUR PROFOUNDLY DEAF CHILDREN WERE THE SUBJECTS FOR THE EXPERIMENT. A…