This paper addresses the hybrid communication course and its tradition of teaching students a variety of important communication skills. The three-fold mission of the hybrid course in teaching interpersonal, group, and public speaking skills places the hybrid communication course in an important position at the dawn of the 21st century. Even…

This essay develops the position that the basic public speaking course is in need of reevaluation. Topics discussed include the importance of adopting a critical pedagogical stance, Paolo Freire's (1983) banking versus problem-posing concepts of education, the problems arising from the prevalent use of teaching assistants as public speaking…

An instructor's idea of using required e-mail as a communication link with students in the basic public speaking course sprang from his work with Gerald M. Philips in the pioneering reticence program he developed at Penn State University in the 1970s and 1980s. The instructor's focus in teaching a basic communication course has always been more on…

A seven-credit-hour block course, which includes Public Speaking (three institutional credits), Basic Writing (three program credits), and Reading (one program credit) was created at Murray State University to give at-risk freshmen an opportunity to take a university credit course (Public Speaking) while strengthening their reading and writing…

Integrating theory and practice, this book is designed to teach presentation skills to students of technical communication, whose careers will involve making complex scientific and technical information accessible to a variety of audiences (including lay audiences). It focuses exclusively on technical communication and provides a rich,…

Students develop skills from learning to listen and from having someone listen to them. While most educators assume that listening is a matter of choice, not ability, listening is actually something students have to be taught to do well. This topical bibliography and commentary summarizes several research studies which provide insight into skills…

Noting that fear of public speaking is shared by people of all types, the second edition of this book offers practical, easy-to-follow strategies for confident and effective public speaking. The book discusses the following aspects of public speaking: what to talk about; how to research a topic; how to organize a speech; how to keep an audience…

Recently, when employers of entry-level engineers were asked to prioritize the need for further instruction, over 60% of these employers identified communication skills as the primary curricular element needing increased emphasis. Two of the top 10 required skills ranked as important to engineering practice related to making oral presentations.…

Describes six types of critique hours that can be used as a forum for the interchange of ideas among students. Through their own self-appraisal students gain a respect for each others' attitudes, philosophies, creativity, and other attributes. (JR)

Results indicate that using the generic pronoun "she" can negatively affect perceptions of social attractiveness for all speakers; it particularly affects a male speaker's perceived competence. The generic "they," however, did not hinder perceived credibility in any way; in fact, it enhanced females' perceived competence. (PD)

Focused on the applicability of the communication concerns framework (self, task, and impact) to students in basic speech courses. Found that students entering basic interpersonal courses had more task than self or impact concerns, and students entering the public speaking courses had as many task as self concerns. Discusses implications for…

The lecturer's first job is to get the students' attention. Techniques to hold the students' interest include: adapting the lecture to the audience; covering a few topics in depth rather than many superficially; and putting variety in the format. Nonverbal communication is as important as the content of the lecture. (JN)

Reports on two do-it-yourself treatment programs for dealing with stage fright. One program followed a systematic desensitization paradigm; the other was a handout listing 16 strategies for understanding stage fright. Higher ratings were given to the handout strategy. A list of the 16 strategies is included. (Author/RC)

Discusses Richard McKeon's architectonic productive art method and its application to the pedagogy of invention. (Defines architectonic productive art as a systematic method for recognizing the organizing principles in the inquired subject which is itself an organizing system.) (PD)

The political speech is a unique kind of document that reflects the socio-historic climate of its time. Two historical events (Dunkirk and the Falkland Islands Crisis) and a principal protagonist from each are discussed, and the speeches of these two individuals are analyzed in order to find similarities and differences, and to find their basic…