Author: Benjamin Jacob and Colin Lowell

ISBN: 978-0-9998294-3-1

About the Book: Your Turn! focuses on your right—your responsibility—to speak up, let your voice be heard and speak well in public forum situations. As a society grows, the need for improved governing grows. Educated, responsible citizens of a community are then required to make careful, intelligent presentations to express their views eloquently. That is a challenge that can be met if the message is well-organized, well-practiced and well-delivered. This book will offer three sections, each with a focus on one of those requirements. Section One will help with delivery; communication anxiety (CA) is always included in ‘greatest fears’ lists, the world over. (McCroskey, 1985) While upwards of 96% of the planet’s humans experience a measurable level of CA, that does not mean we must surrender to it and fumble our way through an important speech. We must conquer that beast! Section Two helps you research and organize your speech, once you have decided if your general purpose is to be Informative or Persuasive; we support the notion that if these two are different, then different patterns of organization will be superior for each. Section Three offers examples of outlines for each general purpose.

The sections are presented in the best order of completion. Begin with the fill-in-the-blank pages and exercises in Section One. Even those with very mild to moderate CA will benefit from reviewing Section One. It offers not only understanding of the source or sources of your CA, but explanations of perceptions that prevent people from overcoming their CA. Through deeper understanding of CA, its causes and cures, the speaker will be able to manage or completely vanquish CA.

Section Two begins the journey to making a successful speech. It takes you from the earliest point, choosing a General and Specific Purpose, through brainstorming for a topic, to choosing, researching and developing a formal outline and a delivery outline. Section Three walks you through a presentation, from the preparation outline, to presentation aids (PA), choosing delivery systems, such as Power Point or Prezi, designing PA tricks and techniques, citing sources to avoid plagiarism and lend credibility, delivery techniques and strategies and walks you through a presentation with a key work outline.

Now, it’s Your Turn!