The Speaker:
The Tradition and Practice of Public Speaking

2nd edition

by Joseph M. Valenzano, III and Stephen W. Braden
ISBN: 978-1-59871-522-4

Speech is both a skill and a field of study. Today, however, the rich tradition of speech communication studies is either reduced to a few quick mentions of Aristotle and Cicero or, at worst, lost altogether. Why have we forgotten where we come from and, more importantly, why are we not sharing those origins with our students? In this book we bring that extensive tradition to the forefront of public speaking instruction while also maintaining the skills aspect of public speaking pedagogy. In short, we help you understand the "why" behind the "how" in effective public speaking. In this improved second edition, we remain focused on that core mission of re-introducing the link between the rhetorical tradition and public speaking pedagogy, and time has allowed us to enhance the way in which we fulfill that mission.

Textbook Features

Emphasis on Rhetorical Theory -  We connect the ideas of rhetoric with the practice of public speaking throughout the textbook. We begin with a chapter devoted to an introduction to classical rhetorical theory and then show students how those ideas actually play out in speech today throughout the rest of the textbook.

Spotlighting Theorists -  In each chapter we introduce students to the life and ideas of particular theorists whose work contributes to how we teach public speaking today. These sidebars explore the stories behind the people whose ideas we discuss throughout the book, making it more interesting and personal for them as readers.

Speaking of Civic Engagement -  New to the second edition, these additions help put the emphasis of public speaking back on speech by briefly introducing students to significant speeches from the past and present. These speeches tie in with the concepts of the chapters in which they appear and help to both model good speeches as well as show students some ways to notice unique aspects of finished presentations.

Summary Graphs and Charts -  Since many of the ideas and theorists we discuss can get a bit complex, we created several charts and graphs throughout the book to help students more easily access and understand those concepts. This will help visual learners as well as students who retain information from the prose within the chapters.

Review Questions -  At the end of each chapter we provide several review questions meant to get students to do more than recall and review material. These are designed to get students to question and think about the ideas presented in the chapter and how they can affect the way they construct speeches and consume messages.

Activities for Action -  These new tools appear at the end of each chapter and provide the reader (or instructor) with ideas for how to learn the concepts from each chapter in a more active manner. They include suggestions for individual as well as group activities.

Instructor Materials -  We have created a very extensive and practical set of materials to help instructors effectively deliver the textbook to their students. These include updated lecture notes, test questions, and PowerPoint slides for each chapter.

Student Speech Videos -  There are now 15 video examples of student speeches (available on the right side of this page). There is at least one student speech example for every type of speech we discuss in the book, and in most cases there are good and bad versions of each speech. Most of the speeches also come with outlines done in the format we teach students to use in the textbook. Additionally, most of the videos come with a set of discussion questions and talking points to help instructors and students identify what principles from the text are exemplified in each speech.