Argues that physical geographers should be able to articulate ideas, sustain a coherent argument, present a case confidently to a critical audience, and be able to operate effectively within groups. Presents two simulations which emphasize integration, synthesis, and presentation of material, thereby teaching academic content and developing…

Describes Senator Albert Jerimiah Beveridge as a leader in two early twentieth-century movements: imperialism and progressivism. Indicates that Beveridge's success demonstrates the possibility that rhetors can adapt to changes in the rhetorical situation without surrendering their personal convictions. (JK)

Examines the narrative accounts of the aesthetic performance experience as related by high communication apprehensives (HCA's) and low communication apprehensives (LCA's). Indicates that while both HCA's and LCA's commonly label themselves as apprehensive about performance, their characterizations of the performance experience differ significantly…

Examines the ideas in the parochial sermons of Thomas Cradock of Baltimore County, Maryland. Argues that Cradock's pulpit rhetoric expressed what Richard Weaver, a southern scholar, has called the "roots" of southern thinking. Claims that these roots had begun to develop even earlier than Weaver traces them and from a denominational…

Describes a debating program in a Pennsylvania high school, in order to show how debating can sharpen students' intellectual dexterity. Debate promotes critical thinking, careful listening, and effective use of library resources. (TE)

Surveyed former collegiate debaters to obtain a profile of their education and present occupation and to find out (1) their perceptions of debate and the NDT and (2) their recommendations for coaches and students. Discusses implications of the findings for debate as an educational activity. (PD)

Describes how a computer can be used to help instructors evaluate classroom speaking. Discusses the value of a computerized system of speech criticism. (PD)

Since revision is an integral part of writing instruction, a study explored the value that students attach to guided revision of their speaking outlines prior to presenting the speech. Subjects, 140 students taught by five different instructors, both ranked and rated the helpfulness of 10 instructional approaches in improving their public speaking…

Although few leaders will attain the legendary status of Mother Jones, social movements depend upon practitioners of drama to interest others in their quest. In the contemporary classroom, the blending of the rhetoric of social movements with the creation and performance of reader's theater in honors public speaking has produced extraordinary…

This collection of representative speeches delivered by public officials and other prominent persons contains addresses to both large and small organizations, given both on ceremonial occasions and on less formal occasions. The collection contains school commencement addresses, addresses to government bodies, speeches to international…

This paper is an analysis of how competitive debate organizations have solved many of the criticisms that have been leveled at political and (specifically) presidential debating and, thus, provides models that presidential debates can be patterned after to improve the quality of the debating that is taking place in the political realm. The paper's…

This paper delineates an exercise where students are encouraged to give their point of view to a quotation received (the activity is an adaptation from the Impromptu Speaking event in Competitive Forensics). The paper states that students are to explain the meaning of a quotation (topic themes may be from ecology, education, environment, life,…

Good citizens need good communication skills, and the task is left to departments of communication to give students the communicative skills they need to take part effectively in a participative democracy. This paper presents a short discussion of the pedagogical issue that is of supreme importance for the citizens of democracies--the issue of how…

Current complaints about academic debate can be answered by more careful coaching and judging, not by the elimination of debate programs. (CH)

When fourth graders videotaped speeches on books and hobbies, interest and enthusiasm increased and oral performance improved. (SP)