This is a new section I wrote for the new edition of Essentials of Public Speaking. But I thought it might be of use to anyone planning a similar speech. Here, then, are a few guidelines and a sample speech with some notes. The Speech of Self-Introduction The speech of self introduction is one of the standard speeches normally required in a public speaking course. It is also a speech that produces a great deal of anxiety—not only because it is normally given at the start of the semester but also because it puts the total focus on the speaker. This assignment is often used to create a community ..read more

Ethics in Public Speaking I wrote this for the new edition of Essential Elements of Public Speaking, 7th edition (Hoboken, NJ: Pearson, 2021) but I thought it might be useful for any class in public speaking as a way of introducing the dimension of ethics and clarifying what is and what is not plagiarism. Because your speech will have an effect on your audience, you have an obligation to consider ethics—issues of right and wrong, or the moral implications of your message. When you develop your topic, present your research, create persuasive appeals, and do any of the other tasks related to pub ..read more

  Universals of Choice Joseph A. DeVito* Universals are qualities or characteristics of a process or concept that are present in all instances. For example, if we consider the universals of language, we’d find that all languages have nouns and pronouns, all languages have a deep and surface structure, and all languages have vowels and consonants (Greenberg, 1963). A universal of choice, the subject of this paper, then, is a characteristic that is present in all choice-making acts.      Along with many of the social sciences, communication is (and has been for at least ..read more

Here's a more positive view for communication majors. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/best-jobs-for-communications-majors-2059631 http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more

Here is a sobering report on the five college majors students most regret. Unfortunately, communication is one of them with 27% of students regretting their selecting communication as a major--with the most common complaint that it was too general. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/12/the-5-college-majors-american-students-most-regret-picking.html http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more

Another interesting article on workplace communication. http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more

Here's an interesting article on an important but rarely discussed (at least in our interpersonal texts) issue/problem: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-say-no-white-lie-honesty-rejection/ WELL-BEING//October 17, 2019 How to Decline an Invitation Without Hurting Your Relationship Expert-backed strategies to RSVP “no” to anything and protect your well-being. By Alexandra Hayes, Multimedia Reporter http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more

How to Deal With People Who Interrupt You at Work Your voice deserves to be heard, even if it’s not the loudest in the room. By Rebecca Muller, Assistant Editor at Thrive Global NBC / Contributor/ Getty Images Whether you’re presenting in a team meeting, or pitching an idea to a group of executives, having a colleague interrupt you at work can be a stressful experience. Aside from the fact that it’s rude, the interruption itself can hold you back from getting your point across — and when it happens often, it can make you less passionate about the work you’re doing, and less happy at ..read more

Here is a good example of what you don't say speaking louder than what you do say. A perfect classroom example: http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/florida-governor-desantis-backtracks-after-omitting-lgbtq-reference-in-a-proclamation-on-shooting-at-the-pulse-gay-nightclub-62015045885 http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more

Here's an interesting and relevant article on the importance of interpersonal skills, especially in the workplace. https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-highlight-interpersonal-skills-in-interviews-and-resumes http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com ..read more