Public Speaking and Civic Engagement

Key features for this book include: A strong introductory chapter establishes public speaking as a form of civic engagement, connecting public speaking to democratic citizenship and advancing the characteristics of the responsible citizen-speaker. From the beginning, readers will learn to think of public speaking as a way to serve their communities as well as a way to personal growth and personal success. An extensive stand-alone chapter on ethics is coupled with discussions of ethical implications of speaker and listener choices in every chapter throughout the text,thus emphasizing the rights and responsibilities of ethical citizenship (and the education, mind-set, and skills associated with such citizenship). All of this will aid in a reader’s understanding of the ethical implications of the choices they make. “Focus on Civic Engagement” boxestell stories of everyday people, young and old, making a difference in society by getting involved in community affairs. The stories will serve as an inspiration to students while also solidifying course concepts. A comprehensive discussion of communication apprehensionhelps readers understand what communication apprehension is and how to manage it through strong preparation and commitment to substantive issues. A distinctive chapter on ceremonial speaking in the democratic societyshows readers that ceremonial speeches have a prominent role in articulating and reinforcing social values. A focus on real-world controversies and eventswill engage readers in the book and allow them to use concrete examples to explore a wide array of controversial issues, including how actual groups may mislead. Strong emphasis on critical thinkingencourages readers to think analytically about messages they receive as well as those they send. Stressing critical thinking is crucial, especially in the media age that students are living in, because it elevates what is being taught beyond effective “techniques” to usable applications. Readers learn to create better, more powerful presentational aids by exploring topics such as visual literacy, visualization, and the problems of an over-reliance on PowerPoint-- all elements of the idea that nonverbal images often shape perceptions and actions. A u nique chapter on group deliberationaddresses public deliberation in such contexts as town meetings, National Issues Forums, etc. This section integrates traditional small group research with literature on deliberation and dialogue, helping readers understand the kind of civic environments they can and will be speaking in. Ancillaries written by the authors include an extensive test bank, a video package including speeches by civic figures, and an instructor’s manual with special civic engagement featuresincluding essays by scholars who have published extensively in the area of civic engagement as well as additional exercises, activities, and instructional tips to encourage the on-going incorporation of civic engagement. Public Speaking and Civic Engagement Blog -Maintained by the authors, this site (www.personal.psu.edu/jmh32/blogs/civicengagement) offers a forum for people teaching public speaking. Readers can visit the site to participate in an online discussion where they can post comments, offer their own ideas, or simply get in touch with the authors of the book.Hogan, J. Michael is the author of 'Public Speaking and Civic Engagement', published 2007 under ISBN 9780205604661 and ISBN 0205604668.