Deal, C. (2001, September 15). Preparing & delivering oral presentations: Organizing and outlining your topic. HampdenSydney College Speaking Center Online. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://people.hsc.edu/faculty-staff/cdeal/students/orgaout.htm. Claire Deal covers organizational patterns for informative speeches, organizational patterns from persuasive speeches, introductions, conclusions, and transitions. There are not just tips here, but she includes examples as well. A useful starting point.

(No author, no date). Essayorganization. The Citadel Writing Center, The Citadel. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://www.citadel.edu/citadel/othersev/wctr/essayorg.htm. This site is designed for writers of papers, but it covers the essentials of getting started, general organization, organizing main points, tips for introductions, and tips for conclusions—the same kinds of things speakers need to be concerned about when preparing a speech for presentation.

Mazur, Beth (2000 May). Revisiting plain language. Plain Language Partners, Plain Language Center. Originally from Technical Communication 47(2) (Journal of the Society for Technical Communication). Retrieved. February 5, 2005, from http://plainlanguage.com/BPL2.html. Mazur offers practical, straightforward suggestions on the plain language process, organization clarity, writing for real people. layout and design, and writing that works. Although her ideas are designed for writers, they apply as well as speakers who desire clarity and a strong connection to audience members.

McCoy, S. & S. Gogdill (2004, November 15). Developing an introduction: The top-down model. Literacy Education Online (LEO), The Write Place, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html. Here, the authors answer the questions: What is an introduction, what is the function of an introduction, how can I write an introduction, what goes in an introduction, and do all introductions have four sentences? They do the same for conclusions at http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html.

McGavern, N. (2002, March 4). Public speaking pointers: Speaking up. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://wed.mit.edu/urop/speaking.html. This information was taken from Speaking Up, MIT Freshman Advisor Seminar 055, and in the ten pages McGavern covers preparation for speaking, writing for speaking, mapping the content of your speech, writing elements and speaking elements, the audience and you, using visuals, and a final section "On the Day of Your Speech—Avoid Panic!" This ia a great list of practical suggestions in each of the categories above.

McManus, J. A., & J. MacManus (1998). Arco's how to write and deliver an effective speech, 3d ed. (Arco's How to Series) New York: Macmillan. This is a 116-page, practical guide to every aspect of public speaking from researching to writing and delivering polished, professional-sounding speeches.

Morgenstern, J. (1998). Organizing from the inside out. New York: Henry Hold and Company (an Owl Book). Morgenstern's basic steps, covered in sections 1 and 2, apply to all projects that require organization: analyze, strategize, and attack. In sections 3 and 4, she shows how to apply these steps. Morgenstern addresses the psychological issues and practical challenges that face you when challenged by chaos. Although she applies her principles to home and mobile offices, bathrooms, closets, kitchens, kid's rooms, garages, schedules, and technology, they remain the same when applied to speech preparation.

(No author, no date). Outlining your points. Virtual Presentation Assistant, Communication Studies Department, University of Kansas. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://www.ku.edu/cwis/units/coms2/vpa/vpao.htm. Although only one-and-a-half pages long, this handout covers organizational patterns and then provides tips on introductions and conclusions. The University of Kansas's Virtual Presentation Assistant offers tips, suggestions, and links to all aspects of speech preparation and presentation.

Petress, K. C. (n.d.). The value of outlining your ideas. University of Maine. Retrieved. February 5, 2005, from http://www.umpi.maine.edu/-petress/essay/5.pdf. This is an outlining case study Petress prepared for a communication conference paper he was going to present. It shows, with specific examples, how he outlined his ideas in stages, expanding, refining, and sequencing his ideas in parallel layers of complexity as his work stages developed. A practical and helpful explanation of how the development of a complete outline should work.

St. John, R. (2005, January 1), The public speaker's page: Outlining the speech. Maui Community College. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://manicc.hawaii.edu/staff/stjohn/publicspeakers/outlining.html. Ron St. John has links to his information on organizing the informative speech outline, and using connectives in the informative speech. He provides a sample outline, a check sheet to help you prepare, organize, and outline your speech, and a blank template for outlining your informative speech. There is much more here if you click on the marginal topics listed on St. John's home page.

(No author). (2001, October 8). Writing speeches. The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://www.unc.edu/depts/ucweb/handouts/speeches.htm. In this excellent and comprehensive online guide to writing speeches, the authors offer more than simply lists and tips. Their focus io on "the process of writing a speech—from deciding on a topic to actually delivering the speech. Consequently," they explain, "we've divided this handout into the following sections: prewriting, drafting, practicing, revising/editing, and delivery" (p.1). The information is well-written, well-edited and well-presented.

Allyn, David. (2004) I can't believe I just did that: How (seemingly) small embarrassments can wreak havoc in your life—and what you can do to put a stop to them. New York: Jeremy P. TarcherfPenguin (A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. On the flyleaf ofthe book it says, "You blush, your throat tightens, your mind races, and all you want to do is run away and hide." What Allyn is talking about is the fear of embarrassment that can undermine your ability to get ajob done effectively. He is a social scientist, and one of his main areas of concern—or primary examples—is public speaking. But, whatever the situation, he demonstrates how the fear of embarrassment can seriously affect one's ability to communicate clearly and produce the results you are after. There is a program of self-encouragement and a guide to how to transform spirals of shame into spirals of success. This is a useful book full of real-life examples that will help everyone overcome feelings of embarrassment, shame, humiliation, and other feelings of incompetence.

[No author]. (No date). Designing effective oral presentations. The Rice On Line Writing Lab (Rice Owl). Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http://www.rut.rice.edu/~riceowl/oralpres.html#top. Covers all aspects of speech preparation and presentation including information on conversational style and visual aids. In part 2, there is a full section on "Choose an Effective Delivery Style" and using "Techniques to Enhance Audience Comprehension," "Using Visual Aids," and "Practice, Practice, Practice." Useful, practical advice here for beginners.

Esposito, J. E. (2000). In the spotlight: Overcome your fear ofpublic speaking and performing. Greenwich, CT: Strong Books. Esposito reveals great sensitivity, wisdom, and passion as she guides readers on a path to overcoming their fears and discovering their new-found freedom and power in self-expression. She provides numerous methods and strategies for getting beyond stage fright. This is a practical and helpful book especially for those who avoid public speaking situations, do not speak up during meetings, steer clear of voicing their opinions, and sidestep promotions to avoid having to make presentations.

Flocker, Michael. (2003). The Metrosexual Guide to Style: A Handbook for the Modern Man. Cambridge, MA: De Capo Press (A Division of the Perseus Books Group). In this 168-page, power-packed, handbook, Flocker discusses general etiquette, dining out, art and culture, music, books, and film, fashion and personal style, good grooming, body and fitness, sex and romance, home decor, and the metrosexual mind-set. He describes the perfect gentleman as always punctual, shakes hand firmly, polite at all times, does not interrupt, does not swear in public, always controls his temper, and never raises his voice, discusses or displays money, nor grooms himself in public. Let's say that you have little dating experience, or that you have not experienced much beyond your own little world, this is a great book to build your knowledge, experience, poise, and confidence. It is well written, short and to the point, and covers a wide range of information.

Gottesman, D., and B. Mauro. (2001). Taking center stage: Masterful public speaking using acting skills you never knew you had New York: Berkley Publishing Group. The authors are directors of Center Stage Communications, a consulting firm specializing in applying acting techniques to the business world. They offer serious advice on such issues as defining and clarifying objectives as well as suggestions for overcoming stage fright. They claim that real actors find the truth in the situation and bring many different aspects of themselves to each role and then live their role as honestly as they can within the fictional parameters of the play. Contains numerous exercises.

Hardisty, T. (2003, Autumn) How not to become a jelly. Delivering a better presentation. Study Zones. Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http://lis.newport.ac.uk/sz/publications/How_not_to_become_a_jelly.pdf.

Humes, J. C. (2002). Speak like Churchill, stand like Lincoln: 21 practical secrets ofhistory's greatest speakers. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing. Humes attempts to unlock the secrets of history's greatest speakers. As an author, historian, world-renowned speaker, and the speechwriter for five American presidents, he reveals some of the tricks famous speakers have used to speak, persuade, and win listeners to their side.

Spade, K. (2004). Style. New York: Simon & Schuster. In this 111-page book, Spade discusses the process of finding style whether it is in books, movies, art, design and architecture, or tradition and modernism. Second, she looks at style from start to finish which includes everyday style, style in the office, at play, and for a party. In addition, she looks at accessory, seasonal, and travel style. Her final section is on maintaining style: forever clothes, wardrobe classics, organizing your closet, wardrobe ABCs, caring for your clothes, and jewelry. The explanations appear short but solid, the pictures are clear and in color, and there is no unnecessary verbiage or fluff in this book. This is a valuable resource for females who want to weigh, compare, and test their own taste and judgment.

St. John, R. (2002). Preparing speeches. Speech Department, The University of Hawaii at Maui Community College. Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http://www.hawaii.edu/mauispeech/html/preparing_speeches.html. This is one of the most complete websites for speakers on the Internet. Here Ron St. John has the ten steps for preparing a speech, and each is a hyperlink to complete information on each topic: selecting a topic, composing your specific purpose, central idea, and main points, researching your speech, being audience centered, supporting your speech, outlining your speech, selecting visuals, practicing your speech, using creative visualization, and presenting your speech on speech day. This is an excellent resource that includes sample speeches.

[No author]. (No date). Visual support. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http://www.sas.upenn.edu/cwic/docs/vs1.doc. For a 3-page document, this is an excellent explanation of visual support. It covers "General Advice," "Quick Advice on Designing Charts and Graphs," "Quick Advice for Projecting Information," "Computers," "PowerPoint," "Overhead projectors," "Slide projectors," "Video," and "Visual Aid Stand (holds posters, posterboard, or blank paper)."