A MUST-HAVE for your public speaking library:

Beebe, S.A. and S.J. Beebe (2009).

Public Speaking: an audience-centered approach. (7th ed.).

Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Isbn 9780205642304 Rrp $109.99

The firm Pearson Education New Zealand based in Auckland has an excellent supply of public speaking texts. I use the representative Nicola Poole as she is well versed in the best texts for teaching our topic.  Her email address is Nicola.Poole@pearsoned.co.nz.

The book that I have chosen to present to you is just one of the range of texts that is current and is reader-friendly. The topics that are included in this text are exactly what is required for the senior public speaking examinations and include:

• an overview of the speechmaking process • ethics • audience analysis •

• interviews • introductions and conclusions • oral versus written language •

• characteristics of effective delivery • the use of visual aids •

• using power point • informative / persuasive speaking •

•the inclusion of ethos/pathos/logos • speaking in small groups •

It is inclusive of all of the aspects of public speaking that feature throughout the grades of the public speaking examinations and offers a number of speeches for analysis and discussion. There is no one text that contains absolutely everything a student needs to know, but certainly this Beebe and Beebe book will give you the answers to most of your questions all within one set of covers. It is in stock now as I have just ordered it for our final university examinations in a few weeks.

While you are corresponding with Nicola you may well like to ask her about other comparable public speaking texts.

Meredith Caisley