Town meetings or public forums arranged to discuss issues of interest to citizens are as old as the settling of the United States, and they continue today as part of the democratic system. The Public Agenda Foundation maintains this tradition through a special series of community forums, known as the National Issues Forums (NIF), that annually…

Program evaluation shows that a mixed behavioral format emphasizing practice situations produces results similar to traditionally operant or desensitization formats, with less attrition in attendance. Statistically significant changes on fear inventory scores is the measurable outcome of the program. (Author)

A three-part study of the forms of rhetorical criticism is offered. Part one reviews the nature of genre criticism, enumerates several concepts of form and the types of genre criticism they produce, and discusses the implications of this relationship between form and genre. Part two is an essay on the methodological implications of form-grounded…

Basic to the process of effective communication are the elements of practice and understanding. This paper proposes using a 9- to 10-lesson unit employing the one-point speech as a vehicle for practice prior to a longer, more involved activity. The advantages to this approach are that the student is initiated without being overwhelmed, the skills…

Four forces are likely to alter the direction of speech education: science and technology, communication research, the rising cost of college education, and the new value system of youth. As a result of these factors, the following changes in speech education are recommended. The "practical public speaking" emphasis should be subordinated to…

A brief description, analysis, and history of a self-instructional system to teach high school students the basic skills used in public speaking is presented. Instructional procedures in the system generally follow a two-step sequence: the student first views a film and then either a) progresses through a corresponding unit of programed material…

Describes a study using the accentuation theory to predict differential effects of heckling on speaker credibility and attitude change, depending on whether the audience identifies with the heckler or the speaker. (JMF)

Reports research results supporting the hypothesis that public speakers exhibit a psychological pattern of speech anxiety similar to the physiological pattern of speech anxiety. (MH)

The author lists guidelines intended to help school administrators improve their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills. (DS)

Examines audience reactions to informative public speakers' use of self-disparaging humor. Concludes that speakers using such humor may be perceived as more humorous, but also run the risk of reducing their perceived competence, having the audience associate with them less, and producing speeches that are rated as less interesting. (MM)

Examines arguments used in three United Nations Security Council debates which contradict the conclusion that different nations use different argumentative forms and think differently. Finds that the nature of data and the relative emphasis on principle as a negotiating strategy were more characteristic factors. (MS)

Reproduces portions of the first lecture given to the Philosophical Society of Aberdeen, Scotland--George Campbell's discussion of eloquence of 1758. Explains the importance of this document, asserting that it reveals the "belletristic" roots of Campbell's theory, and proves that his differentiation on the "ends" of speaking…

Analyzes selected speeches by feminists active in the early Afro-American protest, revealing differences in their rhetoric and that of White feminists of the period. Argues that a simultaneous analysis and synthesis is necessary to understand these differences. Illustrates speeches by Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Church Terrell. (JD)

Compared neuro-linguistic programing treatment for anxiety with self-control desensitization of equal duration and a waiting-list control group in treating public speaking anxiety. Results indicated that neither treatment was more effective in reducing anxiety than merely waiting for one hour. (Author/MCF)