本书属于大学英语听说课二年级课程教材。本教材将系统阐述公共英语演讲的基本技巧，引导学生系统地学习演讲的主要环节，诸如选题、听众分析、材料收集、材料组织、开头和结尾的策划、语言及非言语手段的运用等等。本教材共四个部分：演讲概述，演讲准备过程，演讲呈现以及演讲的种类。教材分十六个单元，每单元自成一体，重点针对演讲的某一特定环节进行论述。每章设计学习目的提示、具体内容路数和要点归纳总结。本书还提供相关的经典演讲分析。

                                                   Unit 1 Introduction to Public Speaking 001
   Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 002
   Part ⅡAppreciating the Speech 011
   Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 013
   Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 015
   Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 017
Unit 2 Ethics in Public Speaking 021
   Part ⅠBuilding a Deeper Understanding 022
   Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 027
   Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 029
   Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 031
   Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 033
Unit 3 Selecting Topics 037
   Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 038
   Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 045
   Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 046
   Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 048
   Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 049
Unit 4 The Body of the Speech 051
   Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 052
   Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 058
   Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 063
   Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 064
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 066
Unit 5 Beginning and Ending the Speech 069  
Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 070  
Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 077  
Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 079  
Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 080  
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 081  
Unit 6 Outlining 085  
Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 086  
Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 095  
Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 097  
Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 100  
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 102  
Unit 7 Use of Language 105  
Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 106  
Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 112  
Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 117  
Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 120  
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 123  
Unit 8 Analyzing Your Audience 127  
Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 128  
Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 134  
Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 138  
Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 140  
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 142  
Unit 9 Skills of Delivery 147  
Part Ⅰ Building a Deeper Understanding 148  
Part Ⅱ Appreciating the Speech 153  
Part Ⅲ Turning Theory into Practice 156  
Part Ⅳ Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems 157  
Part Ⅴ Developing Critical Thinking 158  
Unit 10 Use of Visual Aids  163
   Part Ⅰ  Building a Deeper Understanding  164
   Part Ⅱ  Appreciating the Speech  171
   Part Ⅲ  Turning Theory into Practice  173
   Part Ⅳ  Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems  175
   Part Ⅴ  Developing Critical Thinking  177
Unit 11 Informative Speech  179
   Part Ⅰ  Building a Deeper Understanding  180
   Part Ⅱ  Appreciating the Speech  187
   Part Ⅲ  Turning Theory into Practice  189
   Part Ⅳ  Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems  192
   Part Ⅴ  Developing Critical Thinking  196
Unit 12 Persuasive Speaking  199
   Part Ⅰ  Building a Deeper Understanding  200
   Part Ⅱ  Appreciating the Speech  207
   Part Ⅲ  Turning Theory into Practice  210
   Part Ⅳ  Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems  213
   Part Ⅴ  Developing Critical Thinking  217
Unit 13 Speeches on Special Occasions  221
   Part Ⅰ  Building a Deeper Understanding  222
   Part Ⅱ  Appreciating the Speech  228
   Part Ⅲ  Turning Theory into Practice  233
   Part Ⅳ  Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems  234
   Part Ⅴ  Developing Critical Thinking  236
Unit 14 Impromptu Speaking  239
   Part Ⅰ  Building a Deeper Understanding  240
   Part Ⅱ  Appreciating the Speech  245
   Part Ⅲ  Turning Theory into Practice  247
   Part Ⅳ  Resolving EFL Learners’ Problems  250
   Part Ⅴ  Developing Critical Thinking  

本教材的所有编写成员均为中国人民大学外国语学院大学英语教学部的授课教师，教学经验和教学科研成果丰富。所有编者均已有十多年甚至二十多年的教学经验，一直以来承担了大学英语读写和英语听说课程的教学工作，深谙中国人民大学各个专业本科生的专业特征和英语听说整体情况。编写团队中的所有老师都主编或参与编写过各种大学英语或专业英语教材。