Icebreaker: A Manual for Public Speaking, Fifth Edition

As with the previous editions of this concise, well-priced guide to public speaking, the fifth edition provides a solid foundation for beginning public speakers. People who have had little or no experience in giving a speech will welcome the authors' clear, easy-to-follow approach on how to prepare, research, and deliver speeches. Rather than bombarding readers with theories and concepts that often intimidate and serve as barriers to learning and understanding, Smith and Tague-Busler alleviate the confusion, difficulty, apprehension, and anxiety that can plague beginning public speakers. The authors place the elements involved in giving an effective speech in a familiar context--that of planning a trip or vacation. They also show how many of the steps used in preparing a speech for a group of people can be effective in communicating interpersonally. Types of speeches; topic selection; purpose of the speech; audience analysis; focus of the topic; source selection and information gathering; audio-visual aids; outlines, introductions, conclusions, and bibliographies; overcoming anxiety; listening; and small group communication are among the important topics covered. Features include speech evaluation forms, glossary of key terms, student exercises, study questions, applications to everyday life, and key points listed at the beginning of each chapter.