Chapter Summary
Chapter Summary
Public speaking is a highly complex activity with a long, distinguished history. In this chapter you have learned that public speaking is a powerful means of communication that occurs in multiple contexts. In each of these contexts, public speaking takes on a unique form. For instance, speech acts in small groups are vastly different than mass-mediated addresses. Regardless of how different these contexts are, all public speeches are based in the oral tradition and the study of rhetoric. Rhetorical study is typically traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome even though many different cultures practiced the art of rhetoric. Many of the concepts developed during these ancient times continue to have resonance today. Lastly, we offered a brief overview of the general areas of public speaking and some noteworthy speakers. In US history alone, public speaking has been a catalyst of change, a means of national support, and a conduit of understanding. So as you embark on your course of study, remember, speaking in public is more than it seems, it is a moment of possibility, when individuals become active citizens leaving their private lives to momentarily enter a public one.
