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Of course, you’ll need to start practicing your public speaking skills to get through this class. But the skills you acquire by working your way through this book will also help you as you complete your degree and participate in additional educational opportunities throughout your life. Those later opportunities may include adult-education workshops, higher-level degrees, or professional development courses. Instructors in all types of courses may ask students to stand up on the first day of class and introduce themselves as well as explain what they hope to get from the class.

Many instructors also require students to deliver oral presentations on research projects and other coursework. Students with strong public speaking skills can share their findings more effectively than those with a limited background in presenting speeches. Think about students who have given oral presentations in your classes; most likely you’ve noticed that those who give thoughtfully crafted and skillfully delivered presentations make a better impression on the instructor and the rest of the class. Equally important, the information they offer is probably more useful to listeners than information delivered by less skilled speakers.

Public speaking skills also enhance your ability to participate in campus activities. If you belong to an organization or a club, team, sorority, or fraternity, you may want to speak out at a group meeting or represent your group before the student senate or other campus organizations. When you present an effective speech to these audiences, you boost your chances of achieving your goal—whether it’s persuading your sorority to take up a new social cause or convincing the student senate to fund a campus job fair related to your major.