Exploring Public Speaking in its original ebook form is a usable, zero-cost textbook for college-level basic public speaking courses or courses that include basic public speaking skills as one of their primary learning outcomes. This print version contains the same material found in an ebook adaptation remixed by the Communication Studies faculty of Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN. This is an independent work; no endorsement by the college is implied. While this open education resource is assembled for the benefit of PSCC students, you are welcome to use it. Our aim is to hold the cost for a quality textbook down as low as possible, with the cost to the buyer only being what it costs to print and distribute this book.
We believe this text addresses all the subjects that traditional publishers' books would address in an appropriate writing style and with appropriate college-level learning theory in mind. The appendices address some additional topics that might be excluded from most texts, but that we believe add to the experience: learning theory, plagiarism, speaking online, speaking to diverse audiences, and humor in public speaking. In the third and fourth editions we have added "case study" examples and some different outline samples.
We think this book is especially useful in coverage of PowerPoint, audience analysis and responsiveness, ethics in public speaking, persuasion, special occasion speeches, and structure of speeches. Because it was written by communication professors with decades of experience in the classroom, we are aware of the needs of basic public speaking students.