In light of inconsistent research findings, a study examined the relationship of traitlike public speaking apprehension to the competence of public speakers, as well as the mediating role of gender in that relationship. Subjects, 105 students from a variety of majors and enrolled in 7 sections of a public speaking fundamentals course at a southern…

Students in an honors section of a basic public speaking course asked for a final examination which was not multiple choice. Taught from a multicultural perspective, the course emphasized dialogue, excitement, and democratic principles, as well as issues regarding group differences and how power relations function to structure racial and ethnic…

In 1991, in response to a mandate from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Cameron University developed a Communication Assessment Program to measure and assess the competency level of students in writing and speaking. The communications assessment sub-committee considered several options for assessing student skills in writing,…

A study extended the work of M. Allen and R. Preiss (1990) that analyzed the issues in public speaking textbooks and the level of accuracy with which scientific information is represented. A total score analysis of 112 textbooks showed no significant improvement in the accuracy of textbooks over time or with new editions. Findings of the…

For a public speaking instructor, his involvement in forensics as a graduate student led to the use of cameras as an instructional tool. Video technology can be used in the classroom to maximize overall student performance. All graded speeches were videotaped and evaluated in class, which allowed students an extra opportunity to view their peers,…

Rhetorical criticism and the way it is taught has evolved considerably over the past 30 years. In the 1950s, virtually all instructors used the same textbook and the "effect" model of teaching was used universally. White males were virtually the only speakers studied, and the classical tradition held complete dominion. A historical…

A study explored the possibility for the use of a modification of the Stroop test (a cognitive instrument that relies on the production of spontaneous responses) as a selection screening instrument in programs for students with public speaking anxiety. Subjects, 44 students in the special public speaking anxiety sections and 63 students enrolled…

With certifying end-of-program achievement as their goal, a group of educators conducted a pilot assessment program at Northeast Missouri State University in 1992. The program called for the videotaping of each student's third speech to be assessed by outside judges. The present study attempted to determine if videotaping and self-evaluation…

Over the last several years the increased speed of delivery in debate tournaments has made it difficult for judges to keep up with a debate during a round of competition. The responsibility for communication should be upon each debater to deliver his or her arguments, with intelligence, to the judge or critic. Debate is an oral communication…

Sound philosophical principles of coaching can enhance forensic programs as a whole while providing fulfilling student experiences. A forensic education philosophy involves recognizing the place and function of such values as freedom of expression, honesty, and creativity. Promotion of surface skills alone is an inadequate rationale for…

Considering the rhetorical strategies four 19th-century black women employed to address various audiences can be helpful in the continuing struggle to find effective means of teaching writing to college students. These four women used a variety of strategies to reach audiences which were, to one degree or another, hostile to them because of their…

Communication teachers and forensics coaches open up students to new ideas, to new experiences, and to new cultures best when they encourage students to explore new ideas and challenge old ones. Learning has taken place when a student comes to really understand a new concept whether through the research necessary to develop, test, and prove the…

Debaters have several poor word-choice and word-formation habits that detract from their ethos as advocates as well as from the clarity of their arguments. In many instances, debaters, to their competitive and educational detriment, employ habitual phrases, questionable redefinitions, and poorly coined new words. Many currently popular debate…

Much progress has been made in recent decades in improving the quality and quantity of speech competition. The forensic community has endorsed a justification of forensics that emphasizes its educational value. Some critics complain that current competition structure creates detachment from educational opportunities and leads to pandering to…

Studies indicate that there is a general lack of availability and use of women's speeches in college speech curricula. By incorporating more women's speeches as models, instructors of the basic course in speech can present a more complete picture of American public speaking while also encouraging women in these classes to feel less muted in their…