Building Your Voice: Powerful Public Speaking in the 21st Century provides a strong foundation for effective and meaningful public speaking in an age of “screen cyborgs”—a time when more people rely on screens to communicate than ever before. This interactive e-book guides readers through the process of delivering a broad array of public messages, from special occasion addresses to persuasive speeches, with passion and preparation.
Brandon O. Hensley, Ph.D., is an award-winning college educator and organizational communication consultant. Most recently, he was a Lecturer and Graduate Faculty member at Wayne State University in the Department of Communication, serving as Basic Course Director of the Public Speaking course and as Coordinator of Assessment for the College of Fine, Performing, & Communication Arts. In 2020 he was awarded the Wayne State University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. His other published works are about student loan debt, bullying in U.S. education, faculty working conditions, and the power of critical storytelling to achieve change in society.
Chapter 1: A Return to Speaking and Active Listening in 21st Century Communication
Chapter 2: Channeling Energy into Passion and Cultivating a Confident Voice
Chapter 3: Brainstorming, Selecting Topics, and Preparing for Speeches and Speaking Engagements
Chapter 4: There’s Power in Your Verbal and Nonverbal Delivery: It Takes PRACTICE
Chapter 5: Building Blocks of Powerful Public Speaking: Researching, Organizing, and Outlining Your Speech
Chapter 6: Language and the Audience in Public Speaking (Don’t Forget Us!)
Chapter 7: Beginning and Ending Your Speech Powerfully
Chapter 8: Special-Occasion Speaking: Do it Powerfully with Storytelling
Chapter 9: Informative Speaking: Delivering Knowledge Powerfully
Chapter 10: Power and Responsibility in Persuasion and Argumentation
Chapter 11: Ethics as Your Compass in Public Speaking (and Life)
Chapter 12: Critical Storytelling: Personal Narrative and Critical Reflection in Public Speaking
Chapter 13: Public Speaking Outside the Classroom
Chapter 14: Rising above Technology and Social Media: Public Speaking Challenges and Opportunities in the Twenty-First Century