The Challenge of Effective Speaking

Do you want to ace your public speaking course? All you need to know, including all of the skills that will help you become a confident speaker and conquer speaking anxiety, are thoroughly covered in THE CHALLENGE OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING, 14e. A favorite with students, this best seller guides you through six key "Speech Planning Action Steps". The result? You'll learn how to prepare and deliver strong speeches that get you good grades in your public speaking course! You'll be guided through topic selection, audience analysis and adaptation, effective research (including appropriate use of Internet resources), organization (with an emphasis on outlining), and language and delivery. The new 14th edition of this nationwide best seller also including many online tools, including videos of actual student speeches accompanied by Interactive Video Activities that help you develop and strengthen your public speaking skills. Authors Rudy and Kathie Verderber, together with new coauthor Deanna D. Sellnow, have grounded this new edition with the latest research to give you an exceptional resource for creating and delivering your speeches.

Rudolph F. Verderber is Distinguished Teaching Professor of Communication Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati and former National Speaker's Association Professor of the Year -- as well as one of the all-time best-selling communication studies authors. The strength of his basic texts lies in his ability to explain and exemplify concepts, theories, and skills to introductory level students. His Cengage Learning texts -- COMMUNICATE!, THE CHALLENGE OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING, COMM, and SPEAK -- have a reputation for being student favorites due to their accessible presentation of theory and skills.

Kathleen S. Verderber is Associate Professor of Management Emeritus at Northern Kentucky University. In addition to consulting with various civic, professional, and business organizations, she has published numerous journal articles and has presented papers at many communication and management conferences. She is a co-author of COMMUNICATE!, THE CHALLENGE OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING, COMM, and SPEAK, all with Cengage, and author of INTER-ACT: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, CONCEPTS, SKILLS, AND CONTEXTS with Oxford University Press. She holds an MA in speech communication as well as an MBA and a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Cincinnati.

Deanna D. Sellnow, PhD, is Professor of Strategic Communication in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida and conducts faculty development workshops on instructional communication pedagogy. Published in regional, national, and international journals, her research focuses on the rhetoric of popular culture, particularly music as communication, and instructional communication as it occurs in conventional and nonconventional classrooms, as well as in risk and crisis contexts. She is co-author of COMMUNICATE!, COMM, SPEAK, and THE CHALLENGE OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING, all with Cengage.