Equips students with a firm grounding in the how’s and why’s of public speaking by providing an ideal balance of theory and skills while placing an important emphasis on critiquing, ethics, and critical thinking. Written in a casual, lively style and clearly organized, this edition of Mastering Public Speaking builds on its previous success. The Fifth Edition retains its popular and distinctive emphasis on the ethical contract between speaker and listener and on the value of critiquing speeches to improve one’s own skills. Students also learn how to think critically as they choose speech topics, conduct research, organize content, select language, manage nervousness, and deliver speeches. The Fifth Edition features a heightened emphasis on the role of new technology in the public speaking process and shows students how to effectively use the latest in technology to research and deliver speeches. Full of student examples from both two- and four-year schools, Mastering Public Speaking adds interest and relevance to all aspects of the speech-making process.