In an era when students are supposed to be turning their backs on traditional liberal arts education in favor of a more career-oriented approach, debate is holding its own. Debate, perhaps more than any other extracurricular activity, successfully bridges the gap between academics and careers. (MLW)

Describes a student-centered grading system utilized in a high school public speaking course in which students evaluate and grade peer performance. Management of this system is facilitated through a computerized spreadsheet. The template designed to organize records of student grades and advantages of this grading system are discussed. (MBR)

Concluded that the videotape recorder could be used effectively as an instructional feedback tool without fear of serious negative effects on speaker performance or on the emotional condition of students. (PD)

Includes books, monographs, journal articles, and dissertations listed under the following headings: public address, theatre, and mass communication. (PD)

This study reports on a pilot study of a public speaking class in which problem-based learning and service-learning were combined in a freshman engagement course. The paper describes how the two elements were combined and provides assessments that used the University of California-Berkeley Service-Learning Attitudinal Survey, narrative responses…

This paper offers a summary of two aspects of effective speaking in public, whether it be with co-workers, supervisors, friends, or a group of little-known or unknown others. One aspect of public speaking is the level of sincerity, and the other is the level and variety of skills used. The paper first considers sincerity and then, it discusses the…

This paper presents materials used in a "short course" on using Ebonics and bilingual code switching to facilitate clarification interactions in communication classrooms and multicultural public speaking. After beginning with a detailed agenda for the two-and-a-half hour short course, the paper presents seven speech communication…

The Communication Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) turned to the Speech Communication Association (SCA) for guidance in responding to a mandate for ongoing outcome assessment issued by the Alaska State Regents for Higher Education. Faculty involved in the baccalaureate CORE Communication service courses at UAF turned to the…

In response to online discussions regarding whether communication educators should teach students in public speaking how to utilize Microsoft PowerPoint for developing visual aids, this paper identifies arguments both for and against the practice. The paper begins by delineating the three relevant questions and describes the positions offered by…

This topical bibliography and commentary consists of research summaries which address the challenges of creating an effective public presentation. The research articles discussed in the bibliography/commentary are geared toward teaching students to better present information with an emphasis on the primary importance of content above empty…

Noting that introductory public speaking and performance studies classes are often met with great anxiety and trepidation, this paper describes and categorizes the necessary student and audience behaviors at three levels of involvement: 1) pre-performance, 2) post-performance, and 3) audience participation. Teachers can show students how to apply…

Teaching the basic public speaking course during the summer session requires the teacher to compress a semester's worth of activities into one month or 20 two-hour classroom sessions, requiring organizational skills to ensure that all relevant instructional activities are addressed. This paper outlines a plan of instruction specifically designed…

Written by 10 middle school students, this booklet provides information needed to become a youth consultant in the service learning field. Section 1 provides a job description of a youth consultant. It lists duties of a youth consultant at school and locally, statewide, or nationally. Section 2 sets forth the selection criteria for youth…

Discussion sessions, with tape recorded self-analysis, aided drug addicts on methadone therapy to present public speeches about their drug experiences. (CH)

Teacher uses a sales technique approach to develop public speaking confidence in his pupils. (RK)