Public Speaking on the Web

The World Wide Web offers numerous resources for public speaking. At the Speaking Center, our staff is constantly searching for web sites that provide excellent information and resources. As you are aware, the quality of information on the web ranges from superb to poor. Therefore, we will investigate and evaluate web site prior to posting links on this page. We also provide a brief annotation to help you determine if the site is useful for your project. Contact the Speaking Center if you find a web site that will be beneficial for others in preparing an oral presentation.

Finding a Topic

international debate educational association (http://idebate.org): IDEA explains what debate is, why it's useful and describes debate formats. The "Debatabase" covers different topics by describing background information, listing pros and cons for each side of the issue and suggesting further reading. There are also debate exercises and discussion forums.
debate central (http://www.debate-central.org/): Debate Central is for high school students who are participating in a specific debate program where one topic is debated each year. There are a lot of resources dealing with the yearly topic, but what might be most helpful is the section on debate formats and cross-examination procedures (under the "Learn Debate" button on the top menu). Maintained by the National Center for Policy Analysis.

rhetorical theory and practice

american rhetoric (http://www.americanrhetoric.com): There is a speech bank where speeches are available in text, audio and sometimes video formats. The site features "Speech of the Week" and a list of the top 100 speeches, as well as a collection of speeches from movies. The "For Scholars" section provides a list of academic journals and a collection of audio clips of figures of speech used in rhetoric.
silva rhetoricae (http://rhetoric.byu.edu/): A guide that covers a wide variety of aspects of classical and renaissance rhetoric. Terms and rhetorical figures are explained, as well as different styles and techniques that are used. There is a timeline that gives an overview of rhetoric from 425 BCE to 1623. Put together by Dr. Gideon Burton of Brigham Young University.
Quintilian's Institutes of Oratory (http://honeyl.public.iastate.edu/quintilian/): This is a set of encyclopedias on the art of oratory, discussing Roman educational practices in both scope and depth. From Lee Honeycutt of Iowa State University, who serves in the English Department's Rhetoric and Professional Communication section.
Aristotle's Rhetoric (http://honeyl.public.iastate.edu/Rhetoric/): An online version of Aristotle's Rhetoric, compiled by Lee Honeycutt of Iowa State University.
Tutorial on PowerPoint and Delivery (Baruch College): An interactive and visual tutorial that explains techniques of PowerPoint design and presentation delivery. There is information about how to create an outline and a list of further resources. A section of pros and cons outlines the advantages of using Power Point as well as the potential pitfalls. Povided by Baruch College.
PowerPoint is Evil by Edward Tufte: In a Wired Magazine article, Tufte argues that "the PowerPoint style routinely disrupts, dominates, and trivializes content," making it a crutch for public speakers.

argument

oyez (http://www.oyez.org/): Oyez is a multimedia archive devoted to the Supreme Court's work. There is information about cases from 1792 to present and includes audio material from 1955 and onward. Browse among justices and cases or take a virtual reality "tour" of the Supreme Court building.
argument fallacies (http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/fallacies.html): "This handout is on common logical fallacies that you may encounter in your own writing or the writing of others. The handout provides definitions, examples, and tips on avoiding these fallacies." From the Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.