Effective Public Speaking
Lead Author(s): George Griffin and Contributors
Student Price: Contact us to learn more
Top Hat Intro Course - Designed to teach the skills and build the confidence your students need to become effective public speakers.
What is a Top Hat Textbook?
Top Hat has reimagined the textbook – one that is designed to improve student readership through interactivity, is updated by a community of collaborating professors with the newest information, and accessed online from anywhere, at anytime.
- Top Hat Textbooks are built full of embedded videos, interactive timelines, charts, graphs, and video lessons from the authors themselves
- High-quality and affordable, at a significant fraction in cost vs traditional publisher textbooks
Key features in this textbook
Key features in this textbook
Interactive learning
- Over 125 speech videos offer a diverse representation of students presenting common mistakes and best practices
- Learners can experience examples “without embarrassment”
- Audio and video assignments allow students to submit speech videos and assignments for professor and peer review
Dynamic assessments
- Built-in assessment questions are embedded throughout chapters
- Students get the opportunity to read a little, then do a little
Included slide decks and multimedia features
- Instructors get a full set of slide decks aligned to each chapter of the book
- Each deck comes with interactive questions, videos and eye-catching visuals
Comparison of Public Speaking Textbooks
Consider adding Top Hat’s Effective Public Speaking textbook to your upcoming course. We’ve put together a textbook comparison to make it easy for you in your upcoming evaluation.
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
Pricing
Average price of textbook across most common format
Up to 40-60% more affordable
Lifetime access on any device
$121.80
Hardcover print text only
$99.29
Hardcover print text only
$114.52
Hardcover print text only
Always up-to-date content, constantly revised by community of professors
Content meets standard for Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology course, and is updated with the latest content
In-Book Interactivity
Includes embedded multi-media files and integrated software to enhance visual presentation of concepts directly in textbook
Only available with supplementary resources at additional cost
Only available with supplementary resources at additional cost
Only available with supplementary resources at additional cost
Customizable
Ability to revise, adjust and adapt content to meet needs of course and instructor
All-in-one Platform
Access to additional questions, test banks, and slides available within one platform
Pricing
Average price of textbook across most common format
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
Up to 40-60% more affordable
Lifetime access on any device
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
$121.80
Hardcover print text only
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
$99.29
Hardcover print text only
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
$114.52
Hardcover print text only
Always up-to-date content, constantly revised by community of professors
Constantly revised and updated by a community of professors with the latest content
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
In-book Interactivity
Includes embedded multi-media files and integrated software to enhance visual presentation of concepts directly in textbook
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
Customizable
Ability to revise, adjust and adapt content to meet needs of course and instructor
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
All-in-one Platform
Access to additional questions, test banks, and slides available within one platform
Top Hat
George Griffin, Effective Public Speaking, Only one edition needed
McGraw-Hill
Stephen Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition
Pearson
Beebe & Beebe, Public Speaking Handbook, 5th Edition
About this textbook
Lead Authors
George Griffin, Professor of SpeechKeiser University
George Griffin earned his degrees at the University of West Florida and Auburn University. He has been teaching college, business seminars and workshops for over 30 years, while still doing public speaking engagements for non-profit organizations. Currently, he is serving as the Professor of Speech at Keiser University, Orlando, and as Adjunct Professor at Stetson University. George is also the author of “STAGE FRIGHT! A Student-Friendly Guide to Managing the Jitters.”
Contributing Authors
Wade CorneliusNew Mexico State University
Kathryn DederichsUniversity of St. Thomas
Morgan GintherInstructional Designer at Texas A & M
Luke GreenSt. Cloud Technical and Community College
María Elena BermúdezGeorgia State University
Daryle NaganoEl Camino College
Wendy YarberryFlorida State College at Jacksonville
Allen DavisIndiana University
Jasmine RobertsOhio State University
Krista MacDonaldDoña Ana Community College
Explore this textbook
Read the fully unlocked textbook below, and if you’re interested in learning more, get in touch to see how you can use this textbook in your course today.
Chapter 2: Homework Questions
The most effective public speakers have found a way to totally eliminate any stage fright.
True
False
Visualizing success is a method that can relieve some of the anxiety related to public speaking.
True
False
If making eye contact with the audience causes you anxiety, you should simply look over their heads to the back of the room. That will look natural to the audience.
True
False
“Emulating success” means that you imitate someone else when delivering your speech.
True
False
The more notes you use during the speech, the more confident you will feel.
True
False
One of the common suggestions to control nervousness when you step in front of an audience is to imagine everyone in the room is sitting in their underwear, and you are the only one fully clothed. That way your brain thinks that everyone else is uncomfortable, but not you. Does this work?
Yes
No
Oh, HELL no!
The best way to take control of your stage fright is to start working on it:
Well before the day of the speech
The day of the speech
During the speech
After the speech is done
All of the above
If you have a high degree of speaking anxiety, you should try all of the following except:
Using tension-release techniques
Accepting fear as normal
Imagining yourself giving a perfect speech
Using positive self-suggestions
One recommendation for relieving tension is to memorize:
Your introduction
Your conclusion
Both the introduction and conclusion
Your entire presentation
The best way to do relaxation breathing is:
Quick shallow breaths
Deep, slow breaths
“Power breathing” so your cheeks puff out
Holding your breath until your heart stops pounding
Which of the following is a true recommendation for controlling nervousness:
Stand behind the lectern so the audience can’t see if you are feeling shaky
Look over the heads of the audience to avoid eye contact
Prepare more notes than you will really need, just in case
Replace the negative thoughts about your upcoming speech with positive thoughts
“Consider the Big Picture” means:
If the speech doesn’t go as well as planned, so what?
It’s okay if I don’t give it my best effort.
The speech in class is only for practice anyway.
Keep things in perspective; don’t make small mistakes bigger than they are.
Once the speech is over, name three things you can do to help boost your confidence.
Take a look at the picture below. Does the speaker look confident or nervous? Click on any part of the picture that gives away how the speaker is feeling.
